Arena plans open house

Arena plans open house
YOUNGSTOWN -- Valley residents can get their first look at the new Youngstown Convocation Center during an open house from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. There will be entertainment for those attending.
Warren armed robberies
WARREN -- City police are investigating two armed robberies. A Kenilworth Avenue man told police he was getting into his vehicle parked at his home about 12:50 a.m. Thursday when he was confronted by a man brandishing a handgun. He was ordered to drive to a store, was robbed of $20 and was told to return home -- where the thief fled. The man told police a car then drove past and three gunshots were fired at his home.
Two women told police they had been at their bank and were on Red Fox Run about 11:30 p.m. Thursday when two men approached and took an undisclosed amount of money from them at gunpoint.
Candidates forum set
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Junior Civic League and the Community Mobilization Committee will sponsor a public forum for candidates running for Youngstown mayor, council president and school board at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the New Bethel Baptist Church, 1507 Hillman St.
Library book sale
LEETONIA -- Hardback and paperback books will be sold from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Saturday at the Leetonia Public Library.
Pizza challenge planned
LEETONIA -- The Leetonia Ruritan Club's third annual pizza challenge will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Leetonia school cafeteria.
Local pizza vendors will be competing for the best-pizza award. The winner will be chosen by the vote of the tasters.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and children age 6-12 and free for those age 5 and younger. Tickets are available at Shopper's Choice-Marathon in Washingtonville or from any Leetonia Ruritan member. Proceeds will benefit the Ruritan community emergency fund.
Bar operator is charged
YOUNGSTOWN -- A search warrant was used to enter Bruno's, a bar at 2626 Mahoning Ave., and police charged the operator, Bruno Portolese, 61, of that address with operating a private club and sale of alcohol without a permit. The bartender, Elizabeth Kosko, 42, who also gave the Mahoning Avenue address, was charged with sale of alcohol without a permit. The search was Wednesday afternoon. Both were arraigned Thursday in municipal court. They will be back in court Dec. 9 for a pretrial hearing. Police said they found 13 liquor bottles behind the bar and cans of beer in two coolers and the refrigerator.
Boy, 8, hurt on hayride
CANFIELD -- An 8-year-old boy who was hurt in a hayride accident was in serious condition Thursday, according to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department.
Caleb Owens, 407 Orchard Dr., Cortland, was hurt Saturday while at a Halloween party at 4400 Augusta Hills Court in Canfield Township, according to a department report.
About 22 children were riding in a trailer being towed by a tractor when Caleb fell off, the report said. His head and shoulder were run over by the back wheel.
The boy was taken by helicopter to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.
School levy events
STRUTHERS -- The Struthers Committee for Better Education is holding several events to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions about the 6.9-mill school levy on the November ballot. An information tent will be set up from 6 p.m. until kickoff at tonight's football game, and, on Monday, WKTL Radio will have a question and answer session from 5 to 7 p.m. Also, an open forum at Struthers Middle School will take place at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3.
Niles council hearing
NILES -- City council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers about proposed legislation that would place restrictions on landfills within the city.