Liberty house fire causes extensive damage

Liberty house fire
causes extensive damage

LIBERTY — Firefighters from five departments assisted Liberty firefighters in extinguishing a fire Friday afternoon at a two-story house at 304 East Liberty St. Damage to the house, located just east of Belmont Avenue, was estimated at around $100,000, said Liberty Capt. Bob Catchpole. He said the house was nearly a total loss. Homeowner Walter Zyskand his son, Richard Zysk, escaped unhurt before firefighters arrived at the 3:51 p.m. fire. Firefighters had to enter the house through the rear because of personal effects blocking entrance to the front door, Catchpole said. Catchpole said he is investigating the possibility that the fire started in or around a car in the garage. The fire spread to the house from the garage. Firefighters from Vienna, Brookfield, Weathersfield, Youngstown and the Youngstown Air Reserve Station assisted. Liberty firefighters remained at the scene until nearly 9 p.m.

Subbing for hospital staff

B’nai B’rith Mahoning Lodge 339, a local Jewish service organization, will be sponsoring “Operation Snowflake” on Christmas Day. Members will substitute for the staff at local hospitals to enable them to spend the Christmas holiday with their families. B’nai B’rith members will cover the information desks and gift shops that are usually open on Christmas Day at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Forum Health Northside Medical Center, St. Joseph Health Center and Sharon Regional Health System. Coordinators of the event are Neil and Denise Altman. They may be reached at (330) 261-4868 or (330) 360-2165 and by e-mail at neil@cboss.com or dswaltman@yahoo.com.

Sentenced in DVD theft

MERCER, Pa. — A judge in Mercer County Common Pleas Court sentenced James Grimm, 23, of Orange Drive, Warren, to 123 days to 23 months in the Mercer County Jail for misdemeanor retail theft. Court documents state he stole 20 DVD movies valued at $281 from Wal-Mart, 3300 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage, in September 2005.

No tax increase in Union

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Union Township residents will not have a tax increase in 2008. Supervisors unanimously passed a budget with a $1.2 million general fund, which includes a $75,000 carry-over balance from this year. Millage will remain the same with no increase needed because of additional revenues coming from a municipal services tax which was imposed in the township in 2007. That tax costs $42 per year for each person who works in the township and makes over $12,000 per year. Last year’s general fund was $1.07 million.

Clothing drive scheduled

YOUNGSTOWN — Dutchess Dry Cleaners and Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries are encouraging consumers to donate their unwanted Christmas gifts, slightly used and unwanted clothes to the cleaners in January for their annual clothes-recyling program, Project Wear & Share. The clothes, which should be in salable condition, will be passed to Goodwill and then sold to help fund its programs. The donations will be used to fund job training and other programs for people with disabilities and other employment obstacles. The winter season is a slow period for Goodwill and donations are few. The donations help keep a constant flow of merchandise to the stores. Consumers who donate to one of the six accepting locations will receive a coupon for $5 off their next $20 order from Dutchess Cleaners. Throughout January, the following locations are accepting donations: Austintown, Boardman, Boardman Plaza, Hermitage, Liberty and Niles.