Power outage

Power outage
CAMPBELL -- Most of Campbell and a section of Youngstown's East Side were without power for about 45 minutes today.
The outage occurred at 9:20 a.m. after a fault at an industrial customer-owned substation in Campbell caused a back feed into the Ohio Edison electrical system, said Paul Harkey, Ohio Edison's area manager.
The outage affected 2,879 customers in Campbell and on Youngstown's East Side, he said.
At 10:07 a.m., all but three industrial customers -- including the one that caused the outage -- had power restored, he said.
Purse stolen
BOARDMAN -- Township police were called to the BW-3 parking lot at Southern Park Mall on Saturday afternoon where a 47-year-old Campbell woman was found unconscious on the ground.
Police later discovered that the woman had been struck on the back of the head and her purse was taken around 6:30 p.m. The police report listed no injuries for her. The purse contained about $70.
This is the second time within a month that a woman has been struck in the head and her purse taken in the township.
Decorations damaged
BOARDMAN -- Township police are investigating numerous reports of vandalism of Christmas decorations on personal property.
Several people called Sunday evening to complain about overturned, broken or otherwise damaged decorations. None was stolen. No suspects are listed.
Auto theft arrest
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 east on Mahoning and then north on Steel Street, where the driver jumped out and ran through an alley.
The officer gave chase and caught Richard W. Varble, 25, of Midland Avenue. Varble was arrested on charges of auto theft and resisting arrest. He was due in municipal court today for arraignment.
Break-ins at businesses
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three businesses were broken into over the weekend, with cash taken from two.
Early Sunday, police discovered a gate bent out and the overhead door open at Inglis Muffler, 1908 South Ave. The owner told police that a car inside the business, with tools inside, was taken.
At 1:18 a.m. today, police were sent to the Red and White Market at 823 Elm St., where they found a window had been broken to gain entry. Cash, cigarettes and jewelry were taken.
At 1:50 a.m. today, police were sent to Isaly's at 3309 South Ave., where the door glass had been broken out. The cash register was damaged and about $200 stolen, reports show.
Motor violations
YOUNGSTOWN -- A car with no lights behind Kirkmere Elementary School, South Schenley Avenue, around 8 p.m. Sunday caught the attention of a police officer, who pulled it over.
It turns out that the driver, Tyrone Hayden, 21, of Murray Street, Campbell, was driving under suspension, police said. Hayden was issued a traffic citation, then taken to the Mahoning County jail after a check revealed that he also was wanted on a warrant from Campbell on charges of no operator's license and driving an unsafe vehicle.
Trustees to meet
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township trustees will have a special meeting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to close the 2002 books.
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 and how to find help.
Dedication planned
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge was scheduled to return home today to dedicate a nature center at Presque Isle State Park.
The 60,000-square-foot nature center will include classrooms, administration offices and nature exhibits when it opens in 2004.
Ridge was governor when he released $25 million in state funds for the project Oct. 4, 2001 -- the same day he accepted his new position in the Bush administration. The center will be named for Ridge.