Search nets drugs, arrest

Search nets drugs, arrest
NILES -- The police search of a Maple Avenue home turned up suspected crack cocaine and resulted in the arrest of a city man.
Ron Jones, 37, of Maple Avenue, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Niles Municipal Court on various drug charges.
Jones was arrested by city police Wednesday after a search warrant was executed at his apartment Tuesday night.
According to reports, officers from the Niles police department, including the narcotics unit, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation searched the residence and found a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, marijuana and various prescription pills, including OxyContin.
The warrant was executed following a two-month investigation by the agencies, during which several undercover drug buys were made from the residence.
Equipment for 911 bought
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners bought $432,000 worth of radio equipment for the county 911 operation.
The gear, to be located on towers throughout the county, will allow more efficient use of radio frequencies for police and fire departments, said Tim Gladis, the county 911 director.
Money for the equipment, to be purchased from Stanley Communications of Boardman, comes from a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Request targets dogs
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township residents are being asked to keep their dogs at home because the township has received numerous complaints about dogs running loose, Trustee Chairman James Stoddard said.
The township does have a leash law, Trustee John Vogel noted. It requires owners of any dog to keep the dog physically confined or restrained on the owner's premises, or on a leash. Dogs can run unleashed if they are in the company of the owner or keeper and are involved in hunting under lawful restrictions.
Teaching fire prevention
MINERAL RIDGE -- Randy Pugh, Weathersfield Township fire chief, said the township fire department observed October as fire prevention month by sending seven volunteer firefighters to Seaborn Elementary to educate pupils on fire prevention.
Pugh said the firefighters were able to get to every classroom in a two-week period, but told trustees the department is out of fire prevention literature and will need more for next year.
He also told trustees the department is investigating sponsoring a class supported by the state fire marshal at each of the three township fire stations to counsel children who set fires. He said further details will be available later. He noted the township had a number of arson cases this summer and fall, adding: "This is something we feel strongly about because of some arson fires we have had."
Trustees OK guidelines
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township trustees approved a new set of guidelines Tuesday that will become part of township law in 30 days that defines and sets rules for planned unit developments.
A PUD allows a variety of housing types on a large area of land in a pre-planned environment. It also allows more flexible standards for lot size and setbacks than normally permitted under township regulations.
Trustees also rezoned nearly 20 acres on the south side of Liberty Street now zoned for agricultural use to Residential-A for single-family homes.
Developer Mark Jaber plans to buy the land from the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 2722 W. Liberty St.
Both matters had been approved and recommended to trustees by the township zoning commission in October.
Deadline for assistance
WARREN -- People who suffered damage during late summer flooding have until Nov. 18 to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency by calling (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 (TTY) or logging on at www.fema.gov.
Individuals should be prepared to give their contact information and Social Security number, as well as insurance information.
Boy charged in assault
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 13-year-old East Middle School boy was arrested Wednesday afternoon at the school and charged with assault of a teacher.
The teacher told police that she was punched and kicked by the Choice Court boy.
Reports don't say what provoked the attack.