Wednesday, February 22, 2006
False bomb threat
SALEM -- Two Salem area companies were evacuated briefly Monday after a caller phoned in a false bomb threat.
The call was made to the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office at 11:56 a.m., with the caller saying there were bombs in Sekely Industries Inc., 250 Pennsylvania Ave., and Quaker Manufacturing Corp., 187 Georgetown Road in Perry Township. City and township police said each company was evacuated and searched. Workers returned when no bomb was found. Salem police said the call was traced to a city pay phone.
Another Salem business, Fred's Pharmacy, 1136 E. State St., also told police it had received a threat over the phone at 12:04 p.m. Monday. It was not clear whether the threat was related to the other call.
Cell phone investigation
BOARDMAN -- Police are investigating a report of a male high school student whose cellular phone allegedly contained nude photographs of a juvenile girl. No one has been charged, and the police report doesn't indicate the age of either the male student or the girl. The school's resource office spoke last week to the principal, who indicated the boy was sent to the principal's office for having a cell phone in class.
An assistant principal described the boy as upset and agitated that the teacher had taken his phone. The boy then told the assistant principal that he had nude photos of a juvenile female on the phone.
Dollar General robbed
YOUNGSTOWN -- A soft-spoken and polite white or Asian man in his mid-20s robbed the Dollar General Store in the Lincoln Knolls Plaza after having the clerk ring up a 20-ounce soft drink, reports show. The suspect, who said he had a gun in a pocket of his black-hooded sweater, told the clerk to give him everything from the register around 8 p.m. Monday. The clerk complied and handed over roughly $220, reports show. Police checked the area but didn't find the suspect.
Purse snatched
YOUNGSTOWN -- A purse snatcher who put a gun to the head of a 64-year-old Cooper Street woman outside her home ran to a waiting car after the robbery at 6 a.m. Tuesday, reports show. The purse contained insulin, syringes, personal papers and $55. The woman's companion told police he started to chase the getaway car but, fearing the gun, stopped when the suspect turned toward him.
New Castle council
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council's regular meetings begin at 6:30 p.m., starting Thursday. Council's scheduled meetings are on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, except June, July and August, when the meetings will be on the fourth Thursday only, in council chambers at the city building, 230 N. Jefferson St. Work sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. the Tuesday before each regular meeting. Council recently adopted an ordinance changing the start time of its scheduled meetings from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Teddy Bear Day party
YOUNGSTOWN -- Children 10 and younger are invited to bring their teddy bears or favorite stuffed friends for a Teddy Bear Day party at the Ward Beecher Planetarium at 1 p.m. Saturday at Youngstown State University. The planetarium's own Wilbear will host a tea party with drinks, snacks and favors, followed by the stars in the planetarium and "Wilbear's Adventure." Space is limited to 50 children. Call (330) 941-3616 for reservations.
Fire investigation
YOUNGSTOWN -- The cause of a fire at 325 Kenmore Ave. on the South Side remains under investigation. The fire, confined to the first floor Monday evening, did about $2,000 damage to the vacant two-story structure. Firefighters said it appeared the rear door may have been forced open.