Drums reported missing

Drums reported missing
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tenor drums belonging to Youngstown State University and worth $900 were taken from a 2003 Dodge Dakota on Tuesday, police said. A 20-year-old musician told police he had been loading equipment into the vehicle in the 200 block of Madison Avenue and when he returned to load more equipment found the drums missing, reports show.
Theft on North Side
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 58-year-old man who lives in the 500 block of Madera Avenue on the North Side told police his wife woke him just before 6 a.m. Tuesday to tell him lights were on in the house. He checked the house and found five brass statues worth $275 missing. Also taken was his wife's 2005 Chevrolet Malibu. The keys had been taken off her key ring, reports show. Police said the back bathroom window was open and the back door ajar.
Charged in robbery
GIRARD -- A Youngstown man accused of robbing a Hubbard bank will be back in Girard Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Howard Ahart, 43, of Lloyd Street, waived his right to a speedy trial during an arraignment Wednesday. He remains in Trumbull County Jail on $40,000 bond.
Ahart is charged with felony robbery, failure to comply with the order of a police officer and theft. The robbery and failure-to-comply charges each carry penalties of up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The theft charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Ahart could also permanently lose his driver's license.
Teens face charges
NILES -- Two 17-year-olds have been charged with aggravated robbery with a firearm in the Oct. 2 robbery of a woman in the parking lot at Carnegie Arms Apartments on Youll Street, police said Tuesday. The juveniles are being detained at the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center.
Pumpkin Patch Festival
NILES -- The Pumpkin Patch Festival will be Friday through Oct. 31 at Niles Presbyterian Church, corner of Robbins Avenue and Crandon Street. The events run from noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
During the pumpkin festival weekends, kids games, a bake sale, craft sale and food and drinks will be provided.
During the Oct. 22-23 Family Fun Weekend, admission will be $2 per child with proceeds going to the Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund.
Austintown cleanup set
AUSTINTOWN -- The Austintown 20/20 committee will have its second Austintown Clean Sweep from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The cleanup will focus on the two gateway signs to the township on Route 46 in the Silica Road area (north entrance) and Route 46 in the New Road area (south entrance). Participating groups will repaint and clean the signs and clean up litter near them.
Organizations interested in participating in 20/20 projects can call (330) 793-4058 or visit the Web site at www.austintown2020.org.
Target practice OK'd
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Police Chief Joseph Consiglio said township residents are permitted, under state law, to use guns for target practice in their back yards as along it's done in a safe manner.
A resident recently complained to police about his neighbor's engaging in target practice in his back yard, expressing concern abut a stray bullet hitting in his direction.
But Consiglio said there are no township laws that can prevent the practice.
He said police have to rely on provisions in the Ohio Revised Code and the county prosecutor.
If target practice is not done in a safe manner, police have a right to tell the shooter to stop, Consiglio said.
Beaver Twp. matters
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township trustees have hired an assistant to the township zoning inspector. Jean Dougherty is scheduled to begin assisting Michele Swope, zoning inspector, on a part-time basis Nov. 21.
Trustees, at their monthly meeting Tuesday, agreed to pay Dougherty $9.50 an hour. Dougherty is replacing Sandy Lewis, who resigned June 2 to accept another job.
In other news, trustees accepted the resignation of park board member Ken Frost. Frost said he is leaving the park board because of other obligations.
Trustees announced they will not meet Nov. 8 because of the general election. Their next monthly meeting was moved to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the township administration office.