Baby dies in home

Baby dies in home
YOUNGSTOWN -- A baby boy who weighed 5 pounds 6 ounces when born Jan. 29 weighed 4 pounds after being pronounced dead Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Health Center, police said.
The ambulance crew that responded to 151 W. Boston Ave. at 5:30 p.m. told police that the baby appeared to be malnourished and emaciated.
Although those in the house said the baby had stopped breathing 10 minutes before the ambulance crew arrived, rigor mortis had already started, reports show.
"At no time did any family member show up at the hospital," an officer wrote in his report.
The infant had been left in the care of a 14-year-old girl, who told police the boy's mother and two other adults had gone shopping at 5 p.m. for a car seat.
Aside from the baby-sitter, police found three other children in the house, ages 12, 9 and 3.
The death is under investigation.
Sentencing in shooting
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Hammaker Street man could get 19 years in prison when he is sentenced for firing a gun toward a crowd of people. A sentencing date has not been set.
Timothy Clay, 24, was found guilty this week of two counts of felonious assault and two firearm specifications.
Visiting Judge Charles J. Bannon of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court ordered that a background check be done on Clay before he is sentenced. Judge Bannon is a retired common pleas judge sitting by special assignment of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Assistant prosecutor Robert Andrews said Clay fired several shots at people who were standing outside a house on Stansbury Drive on Oct. 10, 2003. No one was struck by the shots.
The shooting stemmed from an "ongoing problem" between Clay's nephew and someone who lived at the house, Andrews said.
Featured speakers
YOUNGSTOWN -- Candidates for Mahoning County commissioner will be the featured speakers at the Sheridan Crime Watch meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive.
Group's endorsements
NORTH LIMA -- The South County Democrats, a political organization in Mahoning County since 1973, endorsed the following candidates (* denotes incumbent): 6th Congressional District: Ted Strickland*; 60th Ohio House District: Sylvester D. Patton Jr.*; State Central committeeman: Glenn W. Garwig III; State Central committeewoman: Kathleen N. Duzzny; county commissioner (1/2 term): Anthony Traficanti; county commissioner (1/3 term): John A. McNally; recorder: Ronald V. Gerberry*; sheriff: Randall Wellington*; and prosecutor: Paul J. Gains*.
Truck rolls over on ramp
AUSTINTOWN -- A tractor-trailer rolled over on the ramp to Interstate 80 east from state Route 11 Tuesday afternoon, spilling a small amount of diesel fuel and 30,000 pounds of metal coil. There were no injuries.
Firefighters were called about 3 p.m. to clean up about five gallons of diesel fuel that spilled. They stayed until 5:40 p.m., when the truck was righted.
Reports don't say what caused the truck to roll.
Exposure report
CANFIELD -- Police are investigating a report that a male student pulled down his pants in front of a female teacher Tuesday morning at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center.
The teacher told police the student dropped his pants about 10 a.m. She said he had been upset about an assignment and was trying to get out of it.
Reports don't list the student's age.
Construction blasting
GIRARD -- Blasting for construction of the state Route 711 Connector resumed Tuesday, according the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Explosions will occur throughout February, usually in the afternoons each day if weather permits.
The work is part of the $59.8 million connector project.
Animal shelter open house
LORDSTOWN -- The Animal Welfare League's shelter will conduct a Valentine week open house Monday through Feb. 14.
The shelter at 545 Brunstetter Road S.W. is open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.