Heater is likely fire cause

Heater is likely fire cause
LIBERTY -- Fire officials believe a gas heater is to blame for a house fire Thursday night that caused an estimated $185,000 damage.
Fire Chief Michael Durkin said his department was called shortly before 10 p.m. to the home of Delores Westover at 675 Underwood Ave. The chief said Westover and her son smelled smoke and found the garage ablaze. The heater was hanging from the garage ceiling.
Firefighters were at the scene for six hours. Durkin said that because of the way the house was built and because the neighborhood does not have waterlines, the fire was difficult to extinguish. Firefighters had to lay 1,000 to 1,500 feet of hose to a hydrant. Fowler, Girard, Vienna and Weathersfield fire departments helped.
Durkin estimated the damage at $65,000 to the older two-story frame house and $120,000 to the contents. The garage contained antique cars and there were antique firearms in the house.
Vehicular homicide case
YOUNGSTOWN -- Myra Hernandez, 31, of Magnolia Avenue pleaded no contest Thursday in municipal court to vehicular homicide. The charge was filed after a crash that killed her 5-year-old son Alexander in May. Judge Robert P. Milich sentenced Hernandez to 90 days in jail, suspended it all, and placed her on five years' nonreporting probation. She was fined $25 for not using a child restraint. The judge also ordered that Hernandez, who has a temporary instruction permit, not drive for two years. Alexander was one of eight children riding in a seven-passenger van hit broadside when it went through a stop sign at Catalina Avenue and Wirt Street.
Seminar for parents
YOUNGSTOWN -- A free seminar for parents of special-education children will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Masonic Temple, 223 Wick Ave. Guest speaker is Gabrielle Spangler of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Learning Disabilities.
Topics include individual education plans, available services and special-education pupils' rights. Sponsor is the Masonic Children's Learning Center for Dyslexic Children. Parking is free.
Motorist reports robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Salem man who stopped for the stop sign at the East Bound Service Road and Belmont Avenue at 5:15 p.m. Thursday told police he was robbed after being distracted by a woman who got in the passenger side of his car and asked if he wanted to party. The woman's accomplice approached the driver's-side window, pointed a gun and demanded money, reports show.
The 47-year-old Virginia Avenue man turned over $80, then the gunman snatched a cell phone off the dash and both suspects ran, police said.
Clerks issued citations
YOUNGSTOWN -- Clerks at two Market Street stores -- Jordan's Market and Rite Aid -- were issued citations Thursday charging them with illegal sale of cigarettes to an underage person. At Jordan's, Carrie Lattyak, 26, of East Myrtle Avenue sold cigarettes to a 16-year-old sent into the store by the vice squad, police said. The teenager then went into Rite Aid and was sold a pack of cigarettes by Lovie Barnes, 23, of Ferndale Avenue, police said. The clerks were expected in municipal court today for arraignment.
Recruiting foster parents
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County Children Services Board will have a recruiting event for foster and adoptive parents at Youngstown State University's homecoming game. A "Tailgate Tent" will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The first 50 people to stop by will receive a general admission ticket.
Anniversary dinner
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts, a local political organization, is holding its fifth anniversary dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased from members of the group or by calling Andy Hamady, its secretary-treasurer, at (330) 757-1395.
Lottery winner
YOUNGSTOWN -- Carolyn M. Yurak of Youngstown is the second winner to claim one of six top $100,000 prizes in Wednesday's Buckeye 5 drawing. She filed a claim Thursday in the Youngstown regional office.
After mandatory federal and state tax withholdings totaling 28.5 percent, Yurak will receive a check for $71,500. She picked her own numbers. The winning numbers were 4-7-14-19-23.
Yurak bought her winning ticket at Video Encore, 618 Youngstown Poland Road, Struthers. This agent receives a $500 bonus for selling a winning ticket.