Fire from smoking in bed

Fire from smoking in bed
NILES -- A fire official blames smoking in bed for a fire early today that seriously injured a city man.
John Dawkins, 40, of 324 Prospect, was in critical condition this morning in the burn center at Akron Children's Hospital after receiving initial treatment at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Fire Capt. Randy Ciminero said Dawkins suffered third-degree burns to the upper portion of his body. He was smoking in bed when flames broke out shortly after 12:30 a.m. Although there were no smoke alarms in the two-story house, Dawkins' brother, Donald, who also lives there, was awakened by the smoke.
Donald Dawkins and his other brother, Terry, who lives on nearby Sheridan Avenue, managed to get their brother out of the house, Ciminero said.
The captain placed the damage at a total of $10,000 -- $5,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents.
Police-rescue ribbon
AUSTINTOWN -- Police Sgt. Steven Garstka received the police-rescue ribbon Monday for trying to save the life of a Canfield man who drowned. Garstka waded into the retention pond in the Heron's Landing development, off of New Road, at about 8:30 a.m. Oct. 30 to try to find Gary Wells, 44.
Wells, a laborer for the Heron's Landing developer, was in a canoe that capsized in the pond. Garstka flipped the canoe over and paddled to the middle of the retention pond; however, he could not find Wells. Mahoning County dive team members pulled Wells from the pond about 90 minutes later.
Garstka received the ribbon from police Chief Gordon Ellis at Monday's trustees meeting.
Federal workplace safety investigators are looking into Wells' death.
Counterfeit $20 bills
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Canfield man's 2002 Lexus, stolen in Youngstown last month, turned up Monday -- with 40 counterfeit $20 bills inside it, reports show.
Patrolman Jim Welch spotted the car on Mahoning Avenue about 11 a.m. and pursued it to a driveway on North Evanston Avenue. The driver ran off.
Welch said he saw the passenger, Isaac Green, 48, of Hammaker Street, stuff a brown paper bag into the door pocket. The officer found the counterfeit money in the bag.
Green faces charges of receiving stolen property and criminal simulation.
Expert will lectureon women's health
NILES -- Author Ann Louise Gittleman, an expert on weight loss and women's health, will give a lecture and sign books at Cindy's Health and Vitality Center, U.S. Route 422. The presentation is free.
"Welcoming Fat Back Into Your Kitchen for Health, Beauty and Weight Loss" will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday. The program will focus on Gittleman's success with the Fat Flush Program, which teaches participants how the right kinds of fat are essential for a person's well-being.
Gittleman is a certified nutrition specialist and has been a frequent guest on several national programs, including "Dr. Phil," "The View" and "Good Morning America."
Nine-bridge rehabilitation
RAVENNA -- Residents have until Nov. 27 to submit comments to the Ohio Department of Transportation on a plan to rehabilitate nine bridges on state Routes 5 and 82, and a 47-year-old bridge on state Route 82 over Mosquito Creek. The bridges are all between Perkins Jones Road and state Route 11.
The project will not have an impact on the environment, officials say. One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during construction. The $6.5 million project is expected to begin in fall 2004 and be completed by spring 2005.
Birdseed fund-raiser
HOWLAND -- The TAMPEEL Environmental Education Program will have a birdseed fund-raiser Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Howland Park. Different mixes and sizes are available to feed all kinds of wild birds. Proceeds will benefit the TAMPEEL Program.
TAMPEEL operates field trips for local students to engage in hands-on nature study. Howland Park is located at the end of Rosegarden Drive from East Market Street, across from Leo's Ristorante.