Woman found safe

Woman found safe

AUSTINTOWN — A woman who disappeared from her workplace Monday has been found safe. Austintown police said Janet Johnson, 45, of Struthers, who was missing from Southern Care on Ashley Circle in Austintown, was found around 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Comfort Inn off Interstate 80 in Hermitage. Detective Sgt. Dan Kosco said police in Hermitage don’t suspect she was kidnapped. He would not elaborate on why she was at the hotel. Co-workers reported Johnson missing Monday morning after they got to work to find the lights on in her office and her cell phone on her desk, but her purse and her car missing.

Man held in girl’s rape

AUSTINTOWN — A man accused of raping an 8-year-old girl was arrested and is in the Mahoning County Jail. Harry Fraley, 61, whose last known address was at the Royal Mall apartments in Niles, is being held until his arraignment at 9 a.m. Tuesday in common pleas court. He was indicted Thursday by a Mahoning County grand jury and was arrested on a warrant Monday. Fraley is accused of three counts of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition. Police said he molested the girl while he stayed with her family in Austintown over the summer. He could face life in prison if convicted.

2 held on arson charge

YOUNGSTOWN — Two men were taken into custody around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday at 274 North Heights Ave. on the North Side after a fire was intentionally set at the vacant two-story structure, the fire department said. Police were sent to the house in response to a report of a break-in. Derek J. Garland, 20, of Venloe Road, Poland, and Jon-David Robbs, 22, of East Dewey Avenue, were arrested on charges of arson and breaking and entering. A carpet and pizza box were found smoldering on the third floor. Damage was set at $1,000. A digital camera found on Robbs revealed photos of a large fire and a baby drinking a beer, police said. At the jail, a camera phone found on Robbs revealed photos of a baby with a beer and several people smoking off a hybrid water pipe. Earlier Tuesday, at 12:39 a.m., firefighters sent to 2032 Elm St. found the vacant house fully engulfed in flames and allowed it to burn down for safety reasons. Reports show the fire was intentionally set. Damage was listed at $15,000, a total loss.

Gas rupture closes road

BOARDMAN — U.S. Route 224 between Mill Creek Park and Lockwood Boulevard was closed from about 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday because of a gas line rupture. Workers from the Ohio Department of Transportation were installing a traffic signal and hit the line.

Shuttle buses for shows

WARREN — Buses will shuttle patrons from parking spots in the Packard Park Complex to the W.D. Packard Music Hall for Warren Civic Music Association shows. The special buses, which can accommodate the handicapped, will run free of charge. The association’s first concert of the season will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday featuring the Oak Ridge Boys. Bus service will be offered from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and after the concert until all vehicles have left the parking areas. Terry Thomas, president of Community Bus Services, said there will be seven buses at each of the association’s six concerts.

Steel, copper stolen

WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. — Nearly 400 pounds of steel and copper were stolen from T. Bruce Campbell Construction on Carbaugh Street. Southwest Mercer County Regional Police were called at 8:44 a.m. Monday to investigate. They said sometime over the weekend 10 pieces of stainless steel, which were 36 inches in diameter and a half-inch thick, and 36 pieces of stainless steel were taken. The total weight of all the steel was believed to be 300 pounds. And 100 pounds of copper wire also was taken, police said. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police at (724) 983-2720.

Vacant house burns

SHARON, Pa. — Sharon firefighters are investigating a fire that destroyed a vacant house at 234 First Ave. They were called to the home at 10:39 p.m. Monday. The fire started on the front porch and moved through the first and second floors. A neighboring, occupied house had some damage to its siding, firefighters said.