SQUIRREL CAUSES OUTAGE

Squirrel causes outage
About 5,500 Ohio Edison customers in the Mahoning Valley were cut off from electricity for just more than two hours Wednesday morning. A spokesman for Ohio Edison said a squirrel made its way into a large transformer and blew several fuses at 9:45 a.m., cutting electricity to 5,508 Struthers, Poland and Boardman residents. Power was restored by 12:01 p.m.
The Struthers Fire Department said the transformer is located just west of Youngstown-Poland Road.
On U.S. Route 224, traffic signals at several intersections did not receive power. Poland police kept the traffic signal working at the intersection of Route 224 and Main Street with a generator during the power outage. Boardman, Poland and Struthers police and fire departments said there were no incidents as a result of the outage.
Lifeguard training
YOUNGSTOWN -- The American Red Cross offers lifeguard training at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane. Classes are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Jan. 6. The one-week program is available for $135 per participant. There is a physical pretest to qualify that includes a 500-yard swim using specific techniques, as well as a deep dive. For more information, contact Guido P. Jannetti Jr., director of operations, Mahoning Chapter American Red Cross at (330) 726-6063.
Shelters receive $5,000
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Greater Youngstown Point Inc., was one of 19 Ohio shelters to receive assistance from Charter One Bank. The Point, 322 Wick Ave., received $5,000.
Charter One Bank pledged $75,000 to the Shelter Heating Assistance Campaign, a fuel assistance initiative to help defray heating costs for 19 emergency and homeless shelters across the state. Heating costs are expected to increase by at least one-third this year after recent hurricanes' effect on U.S. energy production.
Charter One's parent company, Citizens Financial Group, launched the initiative throughout New England last year and has expanded this year's campaign to help shelters in the Midwest.
Man shot while walking
WARREN -- A 19-year-old Warren man was in the intensive care unit of Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital, being treated Wednesday for a bullet wound of the left leg.
David C. Liccardi, of Francis Avenue Southeast, told police he was walking in the 1900 block of Hazelwood Avenue Southeast in the Trumbull Homes housing complex about 7 p.m. Tuesday when shot by an unknown gunman.
Possible interruptions
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners plan to begin their weekly public meeting at 10 a.m. as scheduled on Tuesday. But they might have to recess that session to attend the county's swearing-in ceremony, which is to begin at 10:30 a.m. that day at the courthouse.
If that occurs, the commissioners' meeting will reconvene after the swearing-in ceremony. Former county solicitor John Hodge is to be sworn into office as a common pleas court judge. Also to be sworn into office are John Bongivengo as district attorney, Perry Quahliero as sheriff and Jerry Cartwright as a district justice. Commissioners said there also will be a county salary board meeting at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Trustees to be sworn in
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township's two trustees were to be sworn in today by Judge Thomas Townley at the township administration building. Re-elected trustee Fred Bobovnyk and newly elected trustee William Miller begin their new four-year terms Sunday.
Performers at library
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Bardic Wind, a medieval performance duo, will present a show at the New Castle Public Library at 2 and 7 p.m. today. The performances are free and open to the public.
Man won't have to sign
STONEBORO, Pa. (AP) -- A councilman-elect in this Mercer County borough will be allowed to take office without signing a Cold War-era loyalty oath. Gerald Massey, 71, won a two-year seat on the Stoneboro council in November after a write-in campaign. But the Marine Corps veteran and retired philosophy professor balked when borough officials told him to sign the Pennsylvania Loyalty Oath, signed into law in 1951 in an effort to keep communists out of government positions. Massey has said he is willing to take the normal oath of office to uphold the state and national constitutions.