Fire at vacant house

Fire at vacant house
YOUNGSTOWN -- A fire was intentionally set at a vacant two-story house at 554 Lakewood Ave. around 10 p.m. Tuesday, the fire department said.
Firefighters found the first and second floors engulfed in flames. The heavy fire conditions precluded entry. Damage was set at 5,000, a total loss.
Septic system workshop
WARREN -- The Trumbull County General Health District will be hosting a workshop, "Caring For Your Septic System," for Trumbull County homeowners from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The workshop will be held at the Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center, 520 West Main St., Cortland. The purpose of the workshop is to educate homeowners on proper septic system maintenance and the measures to take to avoid septic system failures. The workshop will consist of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer period.
The workshop is open to all who are interested. For more information, contact the Trumbull County General Health District at (330) 675-2489. For directions to the Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center, please call the Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District at (330) 637-2056, Ext. 101.
Free story time
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Children's Museum of the Valley, 139 E. Boardman St., is announcing a new free story-time program for children that will occur every Friday, beginning this week.
This program is funded through a grant from the Senator Maurice & amp; Florence Lipscher Charitable Fund.
The story time will run from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Parents and their children will then enjoy admission-free play at the museum until noon. Participants will be engaged in the storytelling with a short activity to follow. December's stories will highlight the theme, "Let There Be Light!"
Parking is available in the USA Parking Deck on Champion Street. More information is available by calling at (330) 744-5914 or by sending e-mail to info@valleykids.org.
Septic pumping notice
COITSVILLE -- The Mahoning County District Board of Health is mailing septic system pumping reminders to 348 Coitsville Township residents.
There is no law that requires homeowners to have their septic tanks pumped. However, the board thinks that pumping can help keep many septic systems operating properly that would have otherwise malfunctioned and threatened public health, said Matthew Stefanak, county health commissioner.
BB gun in school
AUSTINTOWN -- An 11-year-old boy brought a BB gun to Austintown Middle School, township police report.
The boy brought in the unloaded gun Wednesday morning, police said. He showed it to another pupil and then tried to store it in a nearby locker, the report said.
A pupil who was standing by and saw the incident told a teacher, who told the school principal. The gun was confiscated and the boy's mother was called, the report said.
Fire department grant
AUSTINTOWN -- The township fire department received 2,500 from Wal-Mart under the store's Safe Neighborhood Heroes program, said fire Chief Andrew Frost.
This is the second year the department has received an award under the community grant program, Frost said.
He said the department will buy a new self-contained air tank with the money.
Santa Claus display
WARREN -- Santa Claus figures of different styles and ages are on display at the Sutliff Museum in Warren during December and January. Gathered over many years by a local collector, there are Santas carved of wood, made of fabric, molded in porcelain; some are antique and some are modern. All are gems from a collection of more than 200 figures.
The Sutliff Museum, on the second floor of the Warren Trumbull County Public Library, is free, wheelchair-accessible, and open to the public from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and by appointment at other times. For more information on the museum call (330) 399-8807, Ext. 121, or (330) 399-6766.