Chevy contract OK’d

Chevy contract OK’d

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control approved a $9,000-a-month contract Thursday with Eric Ryan’s JAC Management Group to manage the Chevrolet Centre for at least four months, retroactive to Nov. 1. The contract also includes four additional one-month options.

Police seek robber

BOARDMAN — Police are looking for a man who robbed a Market Street discount store shortly after he attempted to rob a Youngstown store. Officer Michael Sweeney said that about 5:45 p.m. Thursday, the robber, described as a black man, dark-complectioned, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing between 170 pounds and 180 pounds, walked into the Family Dollar at Market and Hillman Way. The man said he had a gun and demanded money from a store clerk. The officer said the man threatened to shoot if the clerk didn’t comply, although employees didn’t see a gun. After the clerk handed over cash from the register, the robber, who was wearing dark blue work pants, a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and a green and white Green Bay Packers jacket, got into a blue/gray late 1980s or early 1990s Buick and it drove off. Shortly before the township robbery, a man matching the same description attempted to rob a Family Dollar on Glenwood Avenue in Youngstown, but he wasn’t able to get into the business, township Chief Patrick Berarducci said. The chief said police have video of the township robbery.

Indecent exposure

BOARDMAN — Employees at a South Avenue discount store reported a man masturbating in the store’s parking lot. An employee at Dollar General told police that a man came into the store about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday and made a purchase with cash. He then left and went to his vehicle. Two women then came into the store and said the man was masturbating. The man then left, heading south on South.

Fatal accident

LISBON — Larry K. Smith II, 29, of Endley Road, Lisbon, was killed in a one-vehicle crash that took place on state Route 39 in Yellow Creek Township about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday. The Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Smith was driving a pickup truck west and drove off the left side of the road and struck a tree. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Picking up leaves

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Officials announced the city’s public works department will begin picking up leaves on Monday. They said the bags should be placed between the curb and the sidewalk. Any type of bag is acceptable. Grass clippings, shrubs or branches should not be placed in the bags with the leaves. Workers will continue collecting leaves as necessary.

Recycling bins planned

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Bessemer residents will soon have a place to recycle. Lawrence County commissioners plan to vote Tuesday to place county recycling bins outside the Village Pharmacy, located just outside the borough on Pa. Route 317. There is currently no other means of recycling near the borough, commissioners said. In other business, commissioners decided at Thursday’s caucus meeting to vote on a $2,500 donation to the New Castle YMCA to be used in the construction of a new hockey rink near Cascade Park. The donation is only a portion of the estimated cost, they said. Commissioners will have their regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Shenango Township Municipal Building.

Robbers are sought

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are searching for two men who held two Wal-Mart customers at gunpoint and took their money. Police said the two victims, women ages 22 and 23, were seated in a vehicle at the Union Township store at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday when a gunman came to their car window and demanded money. A second man stood at the passenger-side window. Police said both men were wearing bandannas over their faces and hooded sweat shirts.

Ruling under review

LISBON — Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said Thursday he will have to review a judge’s ruling before deciding what to do with a criminal drug case. Judge C. Ashley Pike of common pleas court has ruled that all the physical evidence from the search can’t be used against Jason E. Petrich, 30, of Park Avenue, East Palestine. He’s charged with possession of marijuana and several related crimes that allegedly occurred in May 2006. Judge Pike said an unidentified East Palestine officer threatened to harm Petrick’s dog and coerced an agreement to enter and search the house.