Pritchard's garage, home damaged by fire

Pritchard's garage, home damaged by fire
AUSTINTOWN -- A fire at 2104 Meridian Road caused about $18,000 worth of damage to the garage and contents of the home of township Trustee Bo Pritchard.
The fire happened around 1 a.m. Thursday when a car fire in the garage spread to a riding mower, according to a township fire department report.
The cause is under investigation. No one was hurt.
Close call in shooting
YOUNGSTOWN -- An argument over phone use evolved into gunfire in a Burnett Street house when a 16-year-old girl grabbed a rifle and fired a few shots in the vicinity of her 14-year-old sister, police said. Members of the Tactical Response Team entered the house Wednesday afternoon through a side door but didn't find the suspect inside. Police did find a bag with 51 rounds of .22-cal. ammunition and six spent shells, reports show.
Elderly man scammed
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 90-year-old Park Hill Drive man who provided blank checks after being told that he had won money is the latest victim of a phone scam, police said. The victim, accompanied by his son, filed a police report Thursday. The victim estimated the loss from his bank account at $8,000. The elderly man told police that he had received several phone calls over the past few months and sent the blank checks to pay for a mailing service that was supposed to send his winnings. Someone filled in such company names as Subscription Services, Med Tech and Interactive Financial Consultants on the checks, reports show.
Firefighters injured
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two firefighters were slightly injured at the site of a burning house at 535 Lee Ave. around 3:15 a.m. Thursday when they jumped to avoid a collapsing wall, the fire department said. Firefighter Ronald Moran injured his knee and Firefighter Brian Dothard injured his wrist. Officials said the fire at the vacant South Side house was intentionally set.
The house was allowed to burn down because of safety concerns. Damage was estimated at $10,000. Records show the property is owned by Jagdish Singh of Tallmadge.
Meeting, tour canceled
WARREN -- A city council meeting and neighborhood walking tour that was scheduled for noon Saturday at Third Street and Highland Avenue Southwest has been canceled because of predictions for inclement weather, according to the council clerk's office. City council members had scheduled the meeting to discuss ways to combat drug trafficking in that neighborhood.
Guilty in fire-setting
CANFIELD -- A man who set his bedroom on fire in a building that houses six apartments pleaded guilty to criminal endangering.
George Panno, 43, of 6321 St. Andrew's Drive, Apt. 12, entered his plea Feb. 8 in Mahoning County Court here. He was fined $250 and must pay $65 in court costs. He was given a suspended jail sentence of 180 days, 40 hours of community service and 12 months' probation.
Panno originally was charged with drug abuse and possession of drug-abuse instruments. He set his room on fire after playing with an electric igniter on a propane torch, officials said. A county sheriff's report said that Panno admitted smoking crack cocaine several hours before the fire. He fell asleep and woke up to find his bed on fire.
Prison for sixth DUI
YOUNGSTOWN -- Paul Stillion, 44, of North Johnson Road, Sebring, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison on his sixth conviction for driving under the influence. He appeared earlier this week before Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. She also suspended Stillion's driver's license for three years and fined him $1,000. Stillion also is charged with domestic violence in a 2005 case.
Sub teachers approved
LOWELLVILLE -- Lowellville Board of Education has approved Brenda Ingalls, Christine Colella and Gina Grapevine as certified substitute teachers at a rate of $70 per day; and employed Richard Popio for maintenance help at $15 per hour as-needed. The board met Wednesday.