Anti-abduction program

Anti-abduction program
HUBBARD -- Escape School, a national child abduction program featured on "Oprah Winfrey," "Good Morning America" and other shows, will be presented at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 in Hubbard Public Library.
The program teaches children of all ages several techniques for escaping from someone who attempts to accost them, including how to tell the difference between "good" and "bad" strangers, the common things abductors use to lure children to them, how to escape from the street or a vehicle and how to find help.
Trustees to meet
MECCA -- The special township trustees meeting set for 7 tonight is for payment of final year-end invoices.
The township previously announced that it was for awarding a contract for the Morrell Ray Road project.
Financial aid workshop
BROOKFIELD -- The high school will sponsor its annual financial aid workshop at 7 p.m. Jan. 8 in the cafeteria.
Nina Conner from Kent State University Trumbull Campus will provide information on all aspects of the financial aid process.
Auto theft charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Manhattan Avenue woman who started her 1994 Buick LeSabre and went into her West Side home while it warmed up returned to find it gone early Saturday.
The car was seen by a patrolman at a Dairy Mart gas pump on Mahoning Avenue, just as a report of its being stolen was broadcast.
The officer pursued the car to Steel Street, where the driver jumped out and ran through an alley.
Richard W. Varble, 25, of Midland Avenue was arrested on charges of auto theft and resisting arrest. He was due in municipal court today.
Robbery suspect sought
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for James Jones, 33, of Mills Way, who is charged with robbing a convenience store.
A warrant has been issued on charges of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats.
Police say Jones is accused of robbing the 7-Eleven on Highland Avenue at 5:04 a.m. Friday and the clerk recognized him.
The clerk told police the robber came up to her window and told her he was planning to rob the convenience store. He then put a blue bandanna over his face and had a second one over his hand which appeared to be covering a gun.
He handed the clerk a note that told her not to make any sudden moves, then demanded money. The clerk handed over about $300, police said.
Cigarettes stolen
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Someone smashed a glass door at the Red Apple Kwik Fill on Wilmington Road and stole 10 to 15 cartons of cigarettes.
Police said a store security video shows a man entering the store at 2:48 a.m. Sunday. He is described as a thin man wearing a covering over his face.
Credit card theft
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said someone stole a gun, $7, and a Discover credit card from the backpack of a Grove City man at United Community Hospital in Pine Township.
The items were taken between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday and police said the credit card was later used at Kaufmann's in the Shenango Valley Mall to make $1,813 in purchases.
Police didn't say why the victim had a gun at the hospital.
Slug hits house
MERCER, Pa.-- Pennsylvania State Police said they think an errant slug from a deer hunter's muzzleloader rifle hit a house in the 1100 block of Palmer Road in Fairview Township.
Police said the slug went through a wall into the living room between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Friday.
Deer spotted in city
SALEM -- It's common for deer to be spotted on the outskirts of the city, but some recently made a bolder foray.
Police were called about 4:19 a.m. Sunday by a gas station employee who spotted four deer near East State Street and Southeast Boulevard in the heart of the busy east side commercial district.
The animals were gone when police arrived.
Smoke kills man
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A Center Street man died in a fire at his home early today.
Details were unavailable this morning, but Dr. David Hoyt, Mercer County deputy coroner, said Jason Allen Gladd, 21, of 635 S. Center St., died in the blaze that broke out around 2:30 a.m.
Hoyt pronounced Gladd dead of smoke inhalation at 3:30 a.m.
Fire department officials remained at the scene through midmorning. A state police fire marshal was called to help pinpoint the cause of the blaze.