Woman fights mugger

Woman fights mugger
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 49-year-old South Avenue woman struggled to no avail with a purse snatcher who approached as she walked up to her front door in the 3300 block, police said. The thief ran west on East Auburndale Avenue Wednesday afternoon. Officers followed footprints in the snow through back yards but lost them in the 300 block of East Lucius Avenue. The purse contained $30 and the victim's driver's license, reports show.
Rental properties in Youngstown robbed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Items were stolen from three vacant rental properties that were broken into on Shehy Street and Parkcliffe and Ohio avenues, police said. A water meter was taken from 468 Parkcliffe, copper pipes from 2035 Ohio and kitchen cabinets from 1566 Shehy, reports show. The thefts were reported Wednesday afternoon.
Personnel changes
YOUNGSTOWN -- Personnel changes in the police department's Street Crimes Unit take effect Sunday. Police Chief Jimmy F. Hughes is moving Detective Sgt. Patrick Kelly to the detective division and Patrolmen Marc Gillette, Greg Mullennex and Brian Voitus to the patrol division. Joining the SCU are Detective Sgt. Kevin Mercer and Patrolmen Patrick Mulligan, Doug Pesa, Joe Moran and Malik Mostella. Hughes has also selected Detective Sgt. Rick Alli to serve as public information officer, replacing Lt. Robin Lees, who is taking command of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.
Traffic accident
ELLSWORTH -- A Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Edward Lanterman of Diamond collided with a Norfolk-Southern train at 4:35 a.m. Thursday on Palmyra Road just east of Bailey Road, said a spokesman with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Canfield post. Lanterman, 29, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center. His injuries were not life-threatening, the patrol said. Lanterman was traveling east on Palmyra and the train was southbound over the crossing when the pickup hit the train's last three cars, the patrol said.
Law program set
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Bar Association's annual People's Law School will feature lawyers discussing the court system, domestic relations, elder law, bankruptcy and more. The 10-week course will begin Tuesday at Boardman High School. Sessions will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Program coordinators are Attys. Lynn Maro and Ted T. Macejko Jr. Registration is $25. Checks should be sent to the bar association at 114 E. Front St., Youngstown 44503. Call (330) 746-2933 for information.
Hagan files candidacy
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd, filed nominating petitions Thursday to run in the Democratic primary for the 60th Ohio House District. Hagan, who lost last year's Youngstown mayoral race, can't seek re-election to his Senate seat because of the state's term limits law. He is the third Democrat to file for the seat. Four other Democrats have said they will submit nominating petitions by the Feb. 16 deadline for the May primary.
Gas well explodes
SEBRING -- An oil and gas well on village-owned property blew up, but no injuries or damages were reported. Fire Chief Jim Cannell said the well is on 18th Street near the village's sewer treatment plant. It exploded around 6 p.m. Wednesday. No one was near the well at the time. Cannell said such explosions occur about once per year in the village. Belden & amp; Blake Oil Co. of North Canton owns the well, the chief said. Firefighters responded with two trucks and waited until company representatives arrived.