Critical condition

Critical condition
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 23-year-old city man was in critical condition this morning in St. Elizabeth Health Center after being shot in the shoulder and back Monday afternoon at Carroll Street and Oak Hill Avenue. Hospitalized was Jason Fields of Cordova Avenue, who was found by police lying in a front yard with a bloody shirt after the shooting at 1:56 p.m. Witnesses said they heard several gunshots, and one witness reported seeing a car flee north on Oak Hill from Carroll. Police were unable to interview Fields at the hospital.
Special meeting
CAMPBELL -- City council will have a special caucus meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at city hall to discuss possible legislation.
Store sued over fight
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city man who says he was hurt when two brawling men knocked him into a fruit stand in January is suing the Glenwood Avenue store where it happened. The suit was filed Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Rudolph Cox of Winona Drive says in the suit that he was standing in line to make a purchase at Park N Shop Super Market when a fight broke out at the front of the line. The suit says Cox was knocked head-first into a fruit stand, and two large men landed on top of him. The suit says the store's clerk did not try to break up the fight. It does not specify what type of injuries Cox suffered. He is seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
No bids on land
AUSTINTOWN -- Township officials said Monday they have received no bids for nine acres on Woodridge Drive that they hoped to sell for about $126,000. Township trustees had expected to open bids for the property at Monday's meeting. Trustee Lisa Oles, who had proposed selling the land to raise money for the financially strapped township, said that officials from Leonard Kirtz school on Woodridge Drive expect to discuss buying the land after they finish negotiations with their employee unions this fall. Trustee David Ditzler has expressed concern that Kirtz plans to use the property as a site for a bus garage that would disturb nearby residents. Oles also said Monday that a contractor hired by the Mahoning County Engineer's Office is set to start paving South Meridian Road today, and that the contractor will pave New Road after South Meridian Road is complete.
Concession stand vandals
YOUNGSTOWN -- The West Side Patriots Organization concession stand at Kirkmere Playground on Kirk Road was broken into and vandalized over the weekend. A vice president with the organization told police Monday that he found a window had been kicked out and the rear door opened. Candy, potato chips and soda worth about $20 were taken and feces was left on a football helmet, police said. A fire extinguisher was sprayed all over the inside of the concession stand, reports show.
Shot while driving
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jesse Spragling, 27, of Sherwood Avenue was in stable condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center after being shot while driving a van on the Madison Avenue Expressway at 11 p.m. Monday. Police counted 12 bullet holes on the rear driver's side door. Spragling told police the shots came from a dark-colored car passing by. Spragling was issued a citation charging him with driving under suspension. He will be transferred to the Mahoning County jail when released from the hospital.
Free on bond
STRUTHERS -- A 19-year-old Poland man is free on $200 bond pending his arraignment Wednesday on charges of criminal damaging and drug abuse. Stefan L. Syrjanene, of Knollwood Avenue, was arrested Friday night after a resident reported seeing him shooting at streetlights in the area of Snyder Avenue and Herman Street. Police confiscated a pellet gun and a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana.