Penguins take road trip

Penguins take road trip
COLUMBUS -- Youngstown State University's penguin mascots are appearing this week in Columbus.
YSU is taking eight 7-foot-tall colorfully decorated penguin sculptures to the Ohio Statehouse, where they will be displayed through Sunday as part of an effort to publicize the school and the Mahoning Valley.
The exhibition starts with a reception at 5 p.m. today in the Capitol atrium. After the reception, the sculptures will be moved to the hallways that lead to the Capitol rotunda.
The pieces are decorated based on various themes, including the state seal, the eight U.S presidents from Ohio, and Youngstown-area sports heroes.
Charged with assault
AUSTINTOWN -- A 33-year-old Kirwan Drive man accused of repeatedly hitting his mother with a chair was in the Mahoning County jail today. Vincent Roberts is charged with felonious assault, reports show. His mother, Rita Roberts, 62, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center. Her condition was not immediately available. Reports state that Vincent Roberts broke through the locked door of the home he shares with his mother around 8:30 p.m. Monday and began hitting her with a chair. Police said he was enraged that his mother would not let him in the house.
Concession stand break-in
CAMPBELL -- Police are investigating a break-in at the soccer field concession stand in Roosevelt Park. According to police, a volunteer discovered the front window pushed open and several containers of candy, chips and Gatorade missing Friday when she went to restock candy and snacks.
Prescription drugs stolen
YOUNGSTOWN -- Someone kicked in the kitchen door at a house on Greenwood Street on Monday evening and stole prescription drugs, including 60 OxyContin pills, that had been prescribed for the 71-year-old resident. The woman, recently released from a hospital, told police that she was in the living room and heard a loud noise around 7:30 p.m. By the time she made it to the kitchen, the thief had already taken the pills and left.
Abuse investigation
CAMPBELL -- Mahoning County Children Services is investigating the possible abuse of a 10-month-old boy bruised around his face and neck.
A police report says the child's mother told them Friday that she left the child with his father for about five hours Thursday afternoon and that when she picked him up he had the bruises.
A report from Forum Health Northside Medical Center's emergency department states that the attending physician thinks the injuries were due to possible abuse.
Domestic violence charge
CAMPBELL -- Police charged Patrick Phelan, 20, of Chambers Street with domestic violence after his 13-year-old brother told them the man had held a gun to his head during an argument. A neighbor who saw the man with the gun notified police. After being arrested, Phelan was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center because he told police that he was feeling suicidal and tried to overdose on pills, the report says.
Microwave stolen
YOUNGSTOWN -- A window was smashed, possibly with a brick, to get into the kitchen area of the city street department on Teamster Drive and a microwave oven worth about $150 was stolen, reports show. The theft was discovered Monday. Police said they found blood on the window and the floor, indicating the suspect may have been injured while entering through the broken window.
Fires investigated
LIBERTY -- Firefighters are investigating two blazes Monday afternoon and this morning. Fire Chief Michael Durkin said firefighters were called to a mobile home fire about 1:30 p.m. Monday at 40 Marla Lane in the Bell Air Mobile Homes Park off Belmont Avenue. Durkin said the fire that appeared to be electrical but accidental caused $22,000 damage to the structure and $8,000 damage to its contents. There were no injuries, although two cats and two dogs died. Owner Brenda O'Neil was at work at the time of the blaze. Arson is believed to have caused $15,000 damage to three vehicles at Major Movers, 1875 Tibbetts-Wick Road, about 3 a.m. today. Two box trucks and a bucket truck were set ablaze.