Firefighters get grants

Firefighters get grants

The Youngstown and Hermitage, Pa., fire departments received federal money for equipment purchases. Youngstown will get $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Award. Hermitage will get $79,900. The federal government created the program in 2002 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Robbery suspect sought

NEW SPRINGFIELD — A man using a knife held up the Point Party Shop at 9805 South Ave. Extension around 7 p.m. Tuesday, said Police Chief Matt Mohn. The clerk told police that the robber first asked for a pack of cigarettes and then pulled out the weapon. He is described as white, mid-20s, 6 foot 1 inch and 220 to 240 pounds with short dirty blond hair. He was wearing big brown sunglasses and a dark green Army-type parka. The clerk turned over about $180 and the suspect left on foot, Mohn said. Anyone with information should call (330) 542-2895, Detective Michael Tablack.

Church break-in

LIBERTY — Township police are looking into a break-in at the Liberty Community Church on Tibbetts Wick Road.

Officers were making a routine check of the church grounds at 5 p.m. Tuesday when an abandoned car was found in the parking lot. The car’s doors were unlocked and the keys were in the ignition. A window at the church had been broken. Inside the church were muddy footprints leading to an office door that had been smashed in. The office was ransacked, but police said they are not certain if anything was taken.

Police have questioned the owner of the car who lives a short distance from the church.

Grant for program

YOUNGSTOWN — Catholic Charities Regional Agency received a $2,500 grant from the Key Foundation of Key Bank. It will be used for HOPE, a free financial education program, offering training in goal setting, banking, budget development, financial loans, tenant rights, home maintenance and safety. After completion, participants get $100 for the first $100 they save. The program is offered to adults living in transitional housing, shelters or their vehicles.

Meeting rescheduled

NORTH LIMA — The South Range school board monthly meeting originally scheduled for Monday evening has been moved to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Middle School in Greenford.

Offer to remove dam

WARREN — Trumbull County MetroParks members are considering an offer from the Ohio Department of Transportation to remove the dam on the Mahoning River near the Canoe City MetroPark in Leavittsburg at the state’s cost.

Alan Knapp, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said the planning commission staff supports the dam removal because it would reduce the amount of flooding in the nearby Meadowbrook neighborhood. Removing the dam would lower the river level 5 feet and cause it to narrow. The downside to the removal is that the river would be only a couple of feet deep near Canoe City, and that would make pontoon boating impossible, Knapp said.

Disposal services fined

MEADVILLE, Pa. — Three waste-disposal businesses were fined a total of $131,000 for numerous and persistent violations. Vogel Disposal Services Inc. of Butler County, Pa., Tri-County Industries Inc. with offices in Grove City, Pa., and Valley Waste Services Inc. of Beaver County, Pa., were all cited for violations by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The violations were noted during trash truck inspections in October and November 2006 and June 2007 at Tri-County Landfill Inc.’s transfer station in Pine Township, Mercer County and at Seneca Landfill, Lancaster Township, Butler County. Under the settlement, Vogel was assessed $83,500, Tri-County was fined $45,000, and Valley Waste will pay $2,500.