'Severe' potholes reported by several motorists

'Severe' potholes reportedby several motorists
YOUNGSTOWN -- A city police officer checked out reports at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday that several vehicles were damaged when they hit "severe" potholes on the Fifth Avenue eastbound on-ramp to the Madison Avenue Expressway. At that time, Youngstown State University campus police, also on the scene, notified the street department of the problem, as did the city police dispatcher. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the same city officer was sent to the same location for a possible three-car crash. What the officer found was that three cars had struck the same potholes that had been reported earlier to the street department. Two of the drivers were able to use spare tires and leave, the third car had to be towed, reports show. The street department was notified again of the problem.
Preparing for inmatesat East Side prison
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Northeast Ohio Correctional Center on the city's East Side will be capable of accepting federal detainees March 10 at the earliest, but no contract to do so exists, said Steve Owen, spokesman for Corrections Corporation of America, based in Tennessee. In preparation for inmates, the privately owned prison on Youngstown-Hubbard Road has hired 133 workers, who are in various stages of training, Owen said Wednesday. That many staffers could handle up to about 300 prisoners, he said.
Hudson on board
YOUNGSTOWN -- City council appointed Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, on Wednesday to fill an open seat on the board of downtown's redevelopment agency, the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. Hudson fills a seat left vacant with the departure of architect Greg Strollo. CIC recently moved Thomas Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and a joint appointee of the mayor and council president, to a seat newly dedicated to the chamber. The CIC board also moved Charles P. Sammarone, city water commissioner and former council president, from a city council-appointed seat to the joint mayor-council seat. That opened a seat to be appointed by city council, which Hudson fills.
Charged in damage
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Three Westminster College students are charged with criminal mischief and firing an air rifle across a highway after a nearby retirement home was damaged. Police said Christopher L. Castillo, 21, of Austintown; Matthew R. McLaughlin, 20, of Randolph, N.Y.; and Zachary R. Saxman, 21, of North Versailles, Pa., were charged after police found damage to windows at the Shenango On The Green retirement home, 238 S. Market St., on Jan. 8. Police said exterior screens and window glass were damaged by BBs from an air rifle. Police said the shots were fired from a second-story window of the Alpha Sigma Pi house across the street. They searched the house Jan. 8 and found a large quantity of BBs and an air rifle. Police Chief Carmen Piccirillo said Castillo, McLaughlin and Saxman told police they had no intention to shoot at or damage property at Shenango On The Green, but were trying to hit street signs.
Special meeting
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township residents are encouraged to attend a special trustees meeting with Consumers Ohio Water Co. to discuss the possibility of water service for Petersburg. It is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Petersburg Fire Station 2.
Deodorizer contract
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners will renew a $6,467 contract to have Rochester Midland Corp. of Rochester, N.Y., install and maintain restroom deodorizers. Competitive bids were not solicited for the contract. However, county administrator Tony Carson said that it was advertised on Trumbull County's Web site for about a month. No companies responded to the ad.
Candidates' debate
WARREN -- The Warren Downtown Business Association is sponsoring a debate among candidates for Trumbull County commissioner at 7 p.m. Tuesday in W.D. Packard Music Hall. Both Democratic and Republican primary candidates will participate, organizers said.
Indicted on gun charges
CLEVELAND -- A federal grand jury has indicted two Youngstown-area residents on charges they illegally possessed guns, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Swapnilok S. Desai, 22, of Motor Inn Drive, Liberty, a citizen of India, is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms -- two .22-caliber pistols -- on Jan. 13. In the other case, Ralph Riddle Jr., 26, of West Hylda Avenue, Youngstown, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after he reportedly had a loaded .45-caliber handgun Jan. 9. He previously had been convicted of robbery.