Woman reports assault

Woman reports assault
AUSTINTOWN -- A woman who lives in Westchester Square Apartments told police a man sexually assaulted her early this morning in the complex parking lot.
The woman said she was walking home from a friend's house on Woodhurst Drive about 2:30 a.m. when a man in a pickup truck approached. The woman said she didn't know the man. The man, however, agreed to give the woman a ride home. He drove her to Westchester Square and sexually assaulted her, the woman said. She said she ran out of the truck and into her apartment afterward.
Personnel moves
COITSVILLE -- Township trustees removed Gene Hvizdak from the board of appeals and appointed him to the zoning board. Trustees appointed Mary Jarrett to replace Hvizdak on the board of appeals, and appointed Gordon Davis to the audit committee.
Trustees also approved the hiring of a new auxiliary police officer, Jeff Saluga, during a special meeting Thursday.
Attempted-murder charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police charged Ralph Muldrow, 18, of Shehy Street late Thursday with one count of attempted murder and one count of felonious assault in the wounding of two people outside a house in the 800 block of Cameron Avenue at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday.
Muldrow got into an argument with Edward Watson, 20, of Cameron, then went to a car, got a handgun and began shooting, police said. Watson was shot once in the lower back, and Paul Jackson, 37, also of Cameron Avenue, was grazed in the forearm. Muldrow was scheduled for a video arraignment today.
Arson ruled in house fire
YOUNGSTOWN -- The fire department ruled arson was the cause of a fire that heavily damaged an unoccupied 11/2-story frame house at 50 Poplar Ave. The fire reported at 5:54 a.m. today caused an estimated $25,000 in damage to the structure, fire officials said. The house is owned by John Cox of Youngstown.
Grant Center program
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Grant Center program on how to use FC Search, the Foundation Center's database on CD-ROM, will be at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 in the Main Library Meeting Room, 305 Wick Ave. "Getting Started with FC Search" is free and open to representatives from nonprofit organizations who wish to learn about this database, which provides information on funding sources and fund raising. It is not open to individuals seeking grants. Reservations may be placed by calling the Main Library, (330) 744-8636, and pressing "2" at the phone prompt for "Reference Information."
Hubbard council to meet
HUBBARD -- City council will meet in special session at 7 p.m. Monday in the city administration building. Council's meeting scheduled for last week was canceled because of a tornado threat.
Fire station still closed
LIBERTY -- The Belmont Avenue fire station will remain closed until further notice. Fire Chief Michael Durkin said Thursday that the station was closed Monday night because about a foot of sewage backed up into the building. Those with emergencies can call 911 or go to the Logan Avenue station, which remains open.
Meeting canceled
CANFIELD -- The township trustees meeting set for Monday has been canceled. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 11.
House fire extinguished
SALEM -- Perry Township firefighters were assisted by several other fire departments in battling a blaze at a home at 1983 state Route 9. The fire was reported about 12:28 a.m. Thursday, said Perry Fire Chief Al Hofmann, who said he wasn't sure of the name of the home's occupant. A loss estimate was unavailable this morning.
The cause of the fire in the two-story wooden-frame home appears to have been an electrical malfunction, Hofmann said. A Damascus firefighter was treated at Salem Community Hospital after being overcome by smoke while fighting the fire. Assisting Perry were firefighters from Damascus, Winona, Hanoverton and Beloit.
Church lawn damaged
SALEM -- Someone drove a vehicle onto the lawn of a church and purposely spun the tires to damage the turf, Perry Township police said.
The vandalism occurred late Wednesday or early Thursday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1610 State Blvd., police said.