Road will be closed for Soap Box Derby
Road will be closedfor Soap Box Derby
YOUNGSTOWN -- Fifth Avenue will be closed between Grant and Wood streets from 5:30 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday for the third annual Greater Youngstown Area Soap Box Derby. Races will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. During evening hours, traffic will be permitted to cross Fifth Avenue at Lincoln, but all other portions of the road will remain closed.
Sex offender sentenced
YOUNGSTOWN -- Sherry M. Johnson, 31, of East Lucius Avenue was sentenced to three years' probation Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. She pleaded guilty in April to one count of attempted sexual battery for having sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy last year. Judge Robert Lisotto ordered Johnson to undergo sex offender counseling. The victim's family felt the sentence was appropriate, said Deena Calabrese, assistant prosecutor.
Man in drug caseheld without bond
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 44-year-old man arrested on drug trafficking charges is being held in jail without bond. A U.S. District Court judge in Youngstown ordered Arthur Clinkscale, 44, of Covington, to remain in jail Wednesday until a detention hearing. The hearing is scheduled for Monday, officials said. Clinkscale was arrested Tuesday by federal, state and local officials. Frank D'Alesio of Youngstown office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said Clinkscale's arrest was the result of an eight-month investigation, during which several undercover buys were made. Police believe Clinkscale was a major distributor of powder and crack cocaine.
Fireworks charge
AUSTINTOWN -- Police here said they found a quarter-stick of dynamite designed to be used as a firework Tuesday evening in the car of a Youngstown man. The man, 30, of South Belle Vista Avenue, was issued a summons alleging misdemeanor possession of fireworks. He also was charged with driving under suspension. Police pulled the man over for having a defective exhaust around 7:45 p.m. on Mahoning Avenue near Edgehill Avenue. The firework was next to the driver's seat.
Taco Bell robbed
YOUNGSTOWN -- A man with a shotgun under his leather trench coat held up the Taco Bell at 3726 Market St. on Wednesday morning, reports show. The gunman, who wore a blue ski mask, threw a purple cloth bag at the manager and told her to open the safe and register. She complied, and the robber ran out with about $500 in bills and assorted rolls of coins.
Many car break-insreported in Austintown
AUSTINTOWN -- Sixteen reports of car break-ins and attempted break-ins have been filed here since Tuesday. The locks on many of the cars had been pulled out, and stereos, CDs, cash and cell phones were stolen. The break-ins occurred in several locations around the township, including on Raccoon Road, Fountain Square and in the parking lot of Regal Cinemas on Mahoning Avenue. Witnesses reported seeing two men breaking into some of the cars.
Train hits truck
GIRARD -- A Youngstown truck driver was injured Wednesday evening when his tractor-trailer was struck by a train. William Crawford, 66, of Hubbard Road, was in stable condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown. According to the accident report, Crawford was driving the rig east along Byers Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. when it was struck by an Ohio Central Railroad train. The report said the truck was driven in front of the train. Crawford was taken to the hospital after complaining of head, neck and pelvic pains. No citation was issued. The truck is owned by LAS Recycling Co. of Girard.
More traffic stopsplanned in Hubbard
HUBBARD -- Hubbard Township police will have additional officers on duty this Friday and Saturday. The officers will target speed, safety-belt and child-restraint violators. Memorial Day weekend enforcement resulted in 23 citations and 27 written warnings. The overtime will be paid for through a $12,376 grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.