Special prosecutor chosen

Special prosecutor chosen
YOUNGSTOWN -- Atty. Steven Michiak has been appointed special prosecutor in a drunken-driving case against Judge Robert Lisotto of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Michiak is an assistant prosecutor in Portage County. He's serving at no cost to Mahoning County, said Prosecutor Paul Gains. Judge Lisotto, 57, of Canfield, is charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of failure to signal before a turn. The case is pending in Mahoning County's area court in Canfield.
Bicycle safety program
AUSTINTOWN -- Bike safety day will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Kirk Road Trailhead of the Mill Creek MetroParks Mahoning Bikeway. Bicycle police from various departments will distribute safety information, and Austintown Glenwood Cycle will conduct bicycle safety checks. The event is sponsored by Mahoning Safe Communities and the Mahoning Valley Safe Kids Coalition.
Fire station open houses
BOARDMAN -- The township fire department will have open houses at the three township fire stations -- Boardman-Poland Road, Shields Road and South Avenue -- from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to mark Fire Prevention Week, which began Sunday. Refreshments and information about fire safety will be available.
Counterfeit bill found
AUSTINTOWN -- Police confiscated a counterfeit $20 at Wal-Mart, 6001 Mahoning Ave., on Saturday, after a customer received it with change. According to a police report, a woman paid for her purchases using a debit card and asked the cashier for $20 in cash. When she tried to use the money at another store, a cashier there refused to accept it, stating that it was counterfeit.
Store owners to speak
YOUNGSTOWN -- The owners of the new Sparkle Market, to open next month at Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard, will be guest speakers at the Sheridan Crime Watch meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmont Drive.
Teens charged after chase
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police pursued a 16-year-old Chaney High School student in a stolen car on the South Side and apprehended him at 11:30 p.m. Monday after he jumped from the car and ran on West Warren Avenue. Police first saw the 1987 Oldsmobile race through a parking lot on Erie Street, almost striking their cruiser.
The East Boston Avenue boy faces charges of receiving stolen property, fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest and having no driver's license. He was taken to the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.
His passenger, a 16-year-old East Boston Avenue girl, was taken home and issued a citation charging her with curfew violation and obstructing official business. Police said she gave them a fake name when first questioned, and they didn't discover her true identity until they heard her mother call her by name.
3 Ohio women robbed
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said three Ohio women were robbed at gunpoint as they left the Elephant & amp; Castle Pub and Restaurant adjacent to the Grove City Factory Shops on Pa. Route 208 in Springfield Township. The women, a 59-year-old and a 65-year-old from Parma and a 43-year-old from Seven Hills, told police they were getting into their car around 8:30 p.m. Friday when a man with a gun approached them and demanded their purses. He fled the immediate scene on foot, but witnesses reported seeing a vehicle fleeing the scene, police said. No description was given.
Special bags for leaves
GIRARD -- The city requires the use of paper lawn bags for the leaf pickup. Bags are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15 at the street department, 943 S. State St. The first five bags are free with proof of residency, such as photo ID and utility bill with matching addresses. Additional bags are five for $1. They will be collected with the regular garbage pickup.
Annual fall festival
McDONALD -- The McDonald Lions Club will host its annual fall festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in Ramsey Pavilion. The festival features various activities and apples, cider and more for sale. Also, the village fire department will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Residents are welcome to meet with firefighters, visit the station and see the equipment.