Homeland Security grant

Homeland Security grant
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency has received a $581,947 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Walter Duzzny, EMA director, said the money will be used to buy equipment for local safety forces to use in responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incidents.
The county has received more than $800,000 this year in homeland security funding toward the purchase of such equipment, Duzzny said.
Investigating phone bill
AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating a report that someone in Toledo used a Backwater Cove man's name and Social Security number to charge $7,000 in phone calls.
The man called police Monday after learning about the bill. He said he didn't know anyone in Toledo.
Crime watch meeting
NORTH LIMA -- The next Beaver Township crime watch meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the activity center of Shepherd of the Valley, 9111 Sharrott Road. It is open to the public.
Postmaster Bill Saltsman from the North Lima Post Office will speak on packaging for the holidays, holiday mailing and the overall operations of the post office, including how addresses are established. Local crime statistics and holiday safety tips will also be discussed.
Gun, alcohol charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- A report of gunfire at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the 2900 block of South Avenue resulted in the arrest of Wilbert V. Tolley, 58, of Williamson Avenue on charges of discharging a firearm within city limits, having a weapon while intoxicated and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Tolley told police he did shoot a gun and said it was in the trunk of his car, reports show. Officers found a 20-gauge shotgun and .32-caliber revolver in the trunk. They collected two spent rounds from inside the car along with shotgun ammunition, two knives and a can of beer.
Boys accused of theft
YOUNGSTOWN -- Four boys in a stolen 1990 Pontiac abandoned it on Glenaven Avenue about 12:30 a.m. today and ran from police, who caught one of them on Heasley Street.
A 14-year-old West Chalmers Avenue boy was locked up and will face charges of receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and curfew violation.
The Chaney High School student told police that his friend was bored and decided to steal the car, reports show.
School knife case
YOUNGSTOWN -- A fifth-grader at West Elementary School who had a knife in her purse has been charged with conveyance of a dangerous weapon on school property and assault on a teacher, who allegedly was struck Wednesday afternoon.
The 10-year-old Kenmore Avenue girl had handed the purse to her teacher and said there was a knife in it, police said.
Utility poles damage cars
BOARDMAN -- Seven cars were damaged when a Centerville man's tractor-trailer hit a telephone wire, pulling it and three utility poles down onto the vehicles.
Police said Kelvin L. Hicks, 41, was in the parking lot of American Envelope at 2:50 p.m. Wednesday when he attempted to exit onto McClurg Road. Hicks' trailer got caught on a utility wire, which caused the telephone poles to be ripped out of the ground.
Of the seven cars, four were parked in the business's parking lot and three were driving by on McClurg. All were damaged, but most the damage was minor, police said. No one was injured.
Hicks was not ticketed as of this morning.
Party to benefit fire crew
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- A NASCAR party will begin at noon Sunday at the Mahoning Township Community Building on U.S. Route 224.
Food and beverages will be provided and races will be shown on a big-screen TV. There also will be door prizes.
The $12 admission fee will benefit the Mahoning Township Volunteer Fire Department.
School board to meet
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- The Springfield Board of Education will meet in special session from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at New Springfield Church of God, 3649 Garfield Road, to discuss district finances, the district's five-year forecast, and pupil enrollment projection, officials said.
No action is expected to be taken.