4 face charges in robbery of grocery store manager

4 face charges in robberyof grocery store manager
NEWTON FALLS -- Arraignments were scheduled this morning in municipal court for four adults accused of robbing the store manager at IGA, 140 Superior St., on Sunday.
Jeremy M. Marsh, 18, Shelley D. Reakes, 20, and Michael A. Karpenko, 19, all of Newton Falls, each face one count of aggravated robbery. Gregory J. Hawkins, 19, of Ravenna faces one count of complicity to aggravated robbery.
Police say the four robbed the manager of the store early Sunday. A steel pipe and a crow bar were used as weapons, police say.
An undisclosed amount of money was taken.
Steel mill catches fire
FARRELL, Pa. -- Sparks from a burning torch were blamed for a fire at Duferco Farrell Corp.
Fire Chief Joseph Santell said firefighters were called to the hot mill in the steel processing plant about 1:15 p.m. Sunday when workers were unable to contain the blaze.
Santell said sparks ignited grease in a pit in the mill, and two Duferco employees suffered some smoke inhalation.
"It looked worse than it was," Santell said, noting that the smoke was visible from the fire station about three blocks from the plant.
Exhaust fans in the building blew the smoke into the air, making the fire appear worse than it was, he said.
Fire crews were quickly able to knock down the flames, and the fire was extinguished with about 20 gallons of foam, Santell said.
Crews from Sharon and Hermitage were called in to support Farrell firefighters.
Purse snatcher gets away
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- State police are looking for a man who robbed an elderly woman in a grocery store parking lot.
Police said the 69-year-old woman was robbed as she put groceries in her car trunk at 10:25 p.m. Saturday at the Shop 'N Save in the Westgate Plaza.
The woman struggled with the robber as he grabbed her purse from her left arm, police said. The man then ran off with the purse and got into a car, described as an older burgundy colored sedan.
The robber was a black man, possibly in his teens, 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (724) 598-2211.
338th Army Band
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 338th Army Band will perform patriotic tunes as a tribute to troops and their families at 7 p.m. Thursday at Judge Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek Park.
The 40-member, Columbus-based band features musicians from all over Ohio. The band will be here as part of its "Tribute to Freedom Tour" of Ohio cities.
The pavilion is in the park's Wick Recreation Area at Belle Vista Avenue and McCollum Road.
Decorative pond tour
CANFIELD -- Thirty-one homeowners in Mahoning and Trumbull counties will open their yards to the public Saturday and Sunday in the third annual tour of decorative ponds.
The drive-it-yourself tour is sponsored by the soil and water conservation districts in both counties and Colonial Gardens, all of which have tour books available for $5.
Tour proceeds benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Summer Enrichment Program for Handicapped Children of Trumbull County.
Call (330) 533-2231.
Habitat house for nurse
YOUNGSTOWN -- Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County will dedicate its 10th new home at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 1901 Porter Ave. on the East Side.
The home goes to Linda Thompson, a school nurse at East Middle School, and her three children, ages 11, 9 and 8. The family put in the 350 hours of work in building the three-bedroom, one-bath home as the agency requires.
The Mahoning County Habitat group has built or rehabilitated 16 houses since 1989.
Salem pub robbed
SALEM -- Someone entered a downtown business and stole an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register, police reported.
The theft occurred at Rickey's English Pub, 151 E. State Street.
The crime was reported about 12:44 a.m. today. It's believed the money was taken after 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.