2 arsons probed

2 arsons probed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Firefighters responded to two intentional fires early Monday on Lexington and West Ravenwood avenues, reports show. The first call came in at 4:16 a.m. for 912 Lexington, a vacant two-story house on the North Side. For safety reasons it was allowed to burn down. Loss was set at $15,000. The second blaze, at 8:09 a.m., was confined to the kitchen of 428 W. Ravenwood, a vacant one-story house on the South Side, the fire department said. Loss was listed at $5,000.
Jolly Joe's break-in
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the second time in two weeks, someone broke into Jolly Joe's, a restaurant-bar at 3718 Sheridan Road, police said. The latest break-in was discovered around 10 a.m. Sunday. Once inside, the burglar pried open two cash registers, one in the bar area and one in the pizza shop. As with the first entry on March 27, phone lines had been cut. The business was unable to open Sunday without phones or cash registers, police said. The amount of cash taken wasn't immediately known.
Extra time for taxes
COLUMBIANA -- City residents will have extra time to file their income tax returns till next Monday. City Hall will be closed Friday for the Easter holiday. Returns should be placed in the night deposit in the drive-thru at city hall.
Dann dropped from suit
WARREN -- A Bedford, Ohio, man has dropped Atty. Marc E. Dann from a lawsuit he filed last month over a conviction in Warren Municipal Court for a charge called importuning that was ruled unconstitutional a year earlier. Atty. Randi A. Barnabee filed a notice of dismissal in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Friday. Barnabee represents Keith E. Phillips, who brought the suit against Dann, Judge Thomas P. Gysegem and others. Phillips was charged with committing the crime in Warren. Dann, who is also state senator from Liberty, was originally named because his firm represented Phillips in the case.
Woman arraigned
YOUNGSTOWN -- Tamica Fields, who police said shouted obscenities Sunday at the congregation inside Family Worship Church on Belmont Avenue, was arraigned Monday in municipal court. Her bond was set at $105,000 on charges of criminal damaging, resisting arrest and two counts of felonious assault. She will be back in court April 19. Police said she threw a rock through a church window and glass struck the bishop. No motive was given. Two patrolmen found Fields, 31, at her Crandall Avenue home around noon Sunday. The officers said she used a closed fist to punch one of them and broke the other's glasses and hurt his shoulder during a struggle. The judge also found her in contempt of court Monday in a prior theft case and sentenced her to 60 days in jail.
Arson and vandalism
GIRARD -- Police are investigating what has been deemed an arson and act of vandalism at a Liberty Street home. Reports say a homeowner in the 500 block of Liberty Street told police someone threw rocks through a window in his home at 4:17 a.m. Sunday. The homeowner said his family has been involved in an ongoing feud with another family that recently involved gunfire. Police were called to the home again at 7 a.m. after a van had been set afire. The burning vehicle also singed part of the house.
Pittsburgh Wi-Fi?
PITTSBURGH -- City council was expected to consider a plan to create a citywide Wi-Fi network. Mayor Bob O'Connor and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership hope a system can be in place in time for baseball's All-Star game at PNC Park in July. Details on the network are being negotiated with US Wireless Online. The company will likely offer free Web surfing for two hours, then charge for use, officials said. The estimated cost is about $525,000. A vote is expected today.