Stolen pickup truck recovered at YSU

Stolen pickup truckrecovered at YSU
HUBBARD -- A city-owned pickup truck stolen from in front of the Hubbard Municipal Building on March 2 is back in service. Police reports say Ed Palestro Jr., electric foreman for the city, left the 2000 Chevy truck running in front of the municipal building March 2. When he came back out to the parking lot, reports said, the truck was gone. Police officers at Youngstown State University found the truck parked in a university parking garage Saturday with a parking ticket affixed to the windshield. The license plates had been switched and the word "Hubbard" had been scratched off the doors. The original plates were found crumpled inside the vehicle. A toolbox containing tools valued at about $300 was also taken from the vehicle.
Towing fee raised $10
BOARDMAN -- Township trustees have increased by $10 the fee paid to towing companies that provide service to the police department. The companies provide service to the department on a rotation basis and, at a trustees meeting last month, requested their fee be increased from $65 to $90. At a meeting last week, trustees agreed to increase the standard tow fee to $75. The fee is charged by the companies to customers and represents the first increase since 2000. Trustees also voted to keep the vehicle storage fee at $10 per day. The new tow fee takes effect May 2, and trustees will take public comment in writing or at public meetings until that time.
Resident escapes fire
LOWELLVILLE -- Fire ignited by an electrical short caused an estimated $10,000 damage to the home of June Lewis at 333 Jackson St. The fire, reported at 6:45 a.m. Thursday, started in the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom in which Lewis was sleeping. The fire was reported by a neighbor. Lewis escaped without injury, Fire Chief William Meehan said. Fire damage was limited to the ceiling and attic, but there was smoke damage throughout the two-story, wooden-frame home. The Lowellville Fire Department received mutual aid from the Western Reserve Fire District.
Committee race pullout
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown has withdrawn as a Democratic candidate for the 33rd state central committeeman position. Boccieri, D-61st, remains the only Democrat seeking the 33rd Ohio Senate District seat in the May 2 primary. The main responsibilities of a state central committee member are to discuss Democratic political strategy, vote to endorse candidates and elect the party chairman. Remaining in the Democratic committeeman race on the May 2 ballot are outgoing state Rep. Sylvester D. Patton Jr. of Youngstown, the incumbent; Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally of Youngstown; and Andy Hamady of Poland, head of the Democrats of the 17th and 6th Districts, a local political organization.
Hockey and charity
YOUNGSTOWN -- Join the Youngstown SteelHounds and WFMJ on St. Patrick's Day weekend as they work to eliminate hunger in the Mahoning Valley. There will be green ice to skate on, green beer to drink, and SteelHounds players will wear green jerseys. On March 17, the SteelHounds will face off with the Colorado Eagles at 7:05 p.m. Any fan bringing two nonperishable food items to the game will receive a voucher for a free ticket to the March 22 game vs. Fort Worth. On March 18, the SteelHounds present Cheesy Noisemaker Night. Each fan is being asked to bring a box of macaroni and cheese to use as a noisemaker to cheer on the SteelHounds as they battle the Colorado Eagles at 7:05 p.m. Each fan bringing a box of macaroni and cheese will be issued a voucher for a free ticket to the game vs. Fort Worth. All of the food will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
Block watch meeting
GIRARD -- Third Ward Councilman Tom Seidler says there will be a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Girard Free Library for the 3rd Ward Neighborhood Block Watch. Ward residents are encouraged to attend.
Fire investigated
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal was called to investigate a suspicious fire at 321 Park Ave. New Castle Fire Chief Jeff Scrim said the fire started outside a door of the vacant home and continued up the side at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. Once inside, firefighters found two boxes of illegal fireworks. Police said owner Kevin Winkle told them he has not lived in the house for three months.