GASOLINE SPILL IN SALEM

Gasoline spill in Salem
SALEM -- An auto-body repair shop accidentally spilled gasoline into a sewer drain, causing an evacuation in the 800 block of New Garden Avenue, the fire department reported. Bob's Complete Auto Body on New Garden spilled about 5 to 15 gallons in the drain Saturday, and people were smelling gasoline fumes in their houses, said Lt. Lance Ritchie of the fire department. People were evacuated because the fumes posed the risk of an explosion, he said. He said the fire department got the call about 10:30 a.m., and by 2:30 p.m. people were allowed back in their homes. The department flushed water through the sewer and used a special fan in a manhole to draw fumes out, he said. Ritchie added that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was also at the scene and is still investigating what happened.
Suspicious package OK
BOARDMAN -- Boardman police and the Youngstown Police Department's bomb squad investigated a suspicious package in the parking lot of the Best Buy store on U.S. Route 224. Police said the call about the package came in at 7:20 p.m. Saturday. The package, which had no writing on the outside of it, turned out to be nothing dangerous, police said. They had no information Saturday evening about what was in the package.
Impaired-driving alert
The Trumbull County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will conduct overtime saturation patrols through New Year's Day. Officers will be out in full force throughout the county specifically looking for drivers who had too much to drink. The OVI Task Force wants to remind all holiday revelers that so-called "buzzed driving" is drunken driving. Designate a sober driver before the festivities begin, task force officials say.
Free flu shots
FARRELL, Pa. -- Free flu shots will be given from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Farrell fire hall, Spearman Avenue entrance. The clinic is being sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Minority Health Center and the Community Health Partnership. For information, call (724) 981-3856.
Stop-smoking program
FARRELL, Pa. -- The Love Thy Neighbor smoking-cessation program will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at First Baptist Church, 1120 Darr Ave. Registered nurses Jacque Walker and Emmagene Williams will be the facilitators. The program is sponsored by the Minority Health Center.
Trash pickup delayed
WARREN -- City trash pickup will run one day late for the week beginning Monday. Also, live Christmas trees can be dropped off at the Packard Music Hall parking lot until Jan. 20, when they will be ground. Follow the signs, and don't drop them off at the curb.