Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure
GIRARD -- An East Prospect Street woman told police a man exposed himself to her children as they walked home from school Wednesday.
Police reports say the 14- and 9-year-old noticed a blue car stopped at Highland and Prospect streets, and when they looked to see why the car was not moving, the man leaned back, exposed himself and then drove off.
Firefighters injured
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city firefighter suffered a broken leg and two suffered shoulder injuries while fighting two separate fires at vacant East Side residence.
Jim Sapp, 36, broke his leg as he was leaving a truck at the 150 S. Jackson St. fire Thursday morning, said Battalion Chief Tim McGarry. Eric Swanson, 30, suffered a shoulder injury when a ceiling fell on him. No details were available about how Ron Russo sustained a shoulder injury.
Firefighters cleared from the 12:35 a.m. fire around 2 a.m. and returned about two hours later, McGarry said.
Swanson and Russo continue to work, but Sapp remains off as his leg heals. McGarry said the injury puts a crunch on the department, where 15 firefighters were laid off in August. One of the city's eight fire stations has been closed and closings rotate at other locations.
If another firefighter calls off, McGarry said, the department will be forced to shut down an additional truck.
Cops seek arsonist
YOUNGSTOWN -- Authorities continue to search for an arsonist who set three fires in vacant buildings along St. Louis Avenue.
Youngstown Fire Lt. Alvin Ware said investigators are questioning possible witnesses in the South Side neighborhood and have posted signs offering a $5,000 reward through the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee, a coalition of insurance companies.
The fires, at 4:45 a.m., 5:50 and 6 a.m. Wednesday, gutted buildings at 2304 Hillman on the corner of St. Louis Avenue, 319 St. Louis Ave. and 363 St. Louis Ave.
Anyone with information is asked to call the arson bureau at (330) 782-0055.
Store for adults
BOARDMAN -- Ambiance: The Store for Lovers will be opening its doors in a plaza on U.S. Route 224 across from the Southern Park Mall by the end of the month.
The store, which will sell adult games, lingerie and other intimate items, is not labeled as a sexually oriented business, but trustees still opposed its coming here.
7 thefts from cars
AUSTINTOWN -- Police here received seven reports of thefts from cars Wednesday and Thursday. Two of the cars were parked on South Raccoon Road, and the rest were parked on Northfield, Kerrybrook and Westchester drives, Victoria Road and Selkirk Avenue.
Stolen items included car stereos, change and keys. Windows had been broken on some of the car.
Store reports robbery
BOARDMAN -- Dollar General store on South Avenue was robbed of more than $17,200, police reports show.
Store employees told police they think the money was taken from a safe by a former employee over a four-day period at the beginning of the month. No arrests have been made.
Cash register stolen
COITSVILLE -- Thieves stole two bottles of liquor and a cash register from Donald Lockett VFW Post 6488 on Coitsville-Hubbard Road.
Police were called to the site by an alarm company around 4 a.m. Thursday. They said a window was smashed, an empty cash register was missing and another had been tampered with. A steak knife was left lodged in the cash drawer. Also missing was a bottle of cognac and a bottle of vodka.
Drums removed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Litter control officers who found three 55-gallon drums in a field in the 1500 block of Thornhill Avenue around 10 p.m. Thursday called the fire department, who in turn called for a hazardous materials team.
Firefighters said one drum was leaking and they detected the smell of diesel fuel. The drum was turned over to prevent additional leakage. The area around the drums was then taped off before the drums were removed today by the Haz-Mat team.
Spirit Nite in Liberty
LIBERTY -- Community Spirit Nite will begin at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the high school football field. There will be food and games, and high school players, coaches, cheerleaders and the marching band will boost the spirit at 7 p.m. A fireworks display by Zambelli Inc. will begin at dark.
The event is sponsored by the Liberty Park Improvement Committee, township trustees and the school board.