DUI task force

DUI task force
WARREN -- The Trumbull County DUI Task Force will be looking for drunken drivers this weekend and Monday (St. Patrick's Day).
Participating police departments are Bazetta, Brookfield, Champion, Girard, Hartford, Howland, Johnston, Liberty, Lordstown, McDonald, Niles, the sheriff's department, Warren city, Warren Township and Weathersfield.
Liberty schoolssell vacant lots
LIBERTY -- The school board sold two 40-by-150-foot vacant lots just southwest of the former high school building Wednesday to CRE Holding Corp. for a total of $9,000.
The board said the land isn't needed for educational purposes.
Superintendent Lawrence C. Prince said he thinks the land will be developed.
The board adopted next school year's calendar, with classes starting Aug. 25 and ending June 4.
The next board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 7 at the high school community room.
Nature preserve plan
WARREN -- The Trumbull County Planning Commission is working on a plan to preserve 135 acres of undeveloped wetlands on Elm Road in Bazetta Township for a potential nature preserve.
The property extends to Mosquito Creek and could eventually be linked to a nature preserve in Howland, said Trish Nuskievicz, an environmental planner with the commission.
The commission is applying for $637,500 in Clean Ohio funds to buy the property and asking its owner, American National Bank of Parma, to donate the other $212,500 of its appraised value.
New fire chief
HARTFORD -- Trustees have appointed Ben Anspach fire chief.
His office hours will be Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rape reported
WARREN -- A Ferderle Street woman told police a man raped her 15-year-old niece.
The report was made around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police are investigating.
Sexual assault report
WARREN -- A 10-year-old girl told police she was sexually assaulted by two 10-year-old boys last weekend.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said two detectives have been assigned to the case.
The girl said she was walking from Hall Street to West Avenue Saturday afternoon when she was assaulted near the railroad tracks on West Avenue.
Traffic patrols
GIRARD -- Police will conduct increased traffic patrols Saturday through March 31.
Officers will be looking for speed and seat-belt violators between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Overtime will be paid from a state grant.
Warren ward meeting
WARREN -- Councilman Robert Holmes III, D-4th, will conduct his monthly ward meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hippodrome, High Street N.E.
Kathleen Mosko, chairwoman of the citizen group Safe Streets Now Commission, will talk about what people can do to improve neighborhoods.
Warren fire
WARREN -- Firefighters are investigating a blaze that caused $15,000 worth of damage to a Parkman Road N.W. home.
Firefighters responded to the blaze that started around 11 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
Officials believe the fire may have been caused by a toddler playing with a lighter.
Retired-group event
VIENNA -- Buckeye Chapter 111 of the Retired Enlisted Association is having a two-day event Friday and Saturday at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Potential new members are welcome.
Enlisted retirees with at least 20 years of service and active duty personnel with at least 10 years and thinking about retiring are eligible to attend.
Check-in times are 7:30 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
Veterans benefits and other matters of interest to military retirees will be discussed.
Call Sgt. 1st Class John R. Ayers of Akron at (330) 744-3486 during the day, or Chapter 111 president, Larry Fitzgerald at (330) 864-1017.