$75,000 house fire

$75,000 house fire

BOARDMAN — A pizza delivery man called 911 and grabbed a garden hose upon discovering a house fire. The Tuesday evening blaze caused about $75,000 damage to the house in the 700 block of Cherrywood Court. No one was injured, and a cause hasn’t been determined.

9th arson in 9 days

SHARON, Pa. — Sharon firefighters were called to their ninth arson fire in nine days. A fire was intentionally started in a restroom of the former PDS Car Wash, 530 S. Dock St. The building was vacant and had been for sale, firefighters said. It is owned by Shirley Hofius of Florida. Firefighters said there was mostly smoke damage to the building. Someone apparently entered through a small window.

Police Chief Mike Menster said officials do not believe this fire was related to last week’s string of arsons. Two people are in custody charged with fires started at vacant houses on North Sharpsville Avenue and First Avenue. Another fire early Monday was set in the facade of a business on Budd Street. No arrests have been made in that blaze.

Moonda appeals

AKRON — Donna Moonda’s notice of appeal has been sent to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The former Mercer County woman was sentenced last Friday to life in prison in the May 13, 2005, death of her wealthy husband, Dr. Gulam Moonda. Her attorneys told the judge they would be filing an appeal during the sentencing hearing for the 48-year-old woman from Hermitage, Pa.

Trained for disasters

JOHNSTON – John E. Williamson of Johnston Township has become the first Trumbull County emergency responder to complete Homeland Security training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Miss.

Williamson is a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Johnston Fire Department, a member of the Trumbull County Hazardous Materials Team and a dispatcher at the Trumbull County 911 Center.

During the weeklong course, Williamson received training in 10 responder disciplines, including weapons of mass destruction response, emergency management, hazardous materials, health care and public safety communications.

Development grant

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners on Wednesday voted to seek a $2,500 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to promote development. The project is designed to provide aid and information to companies that may be working on the proposed Baard Energy plant near Wellsville. The estimated $4 billion project could begin next year.

The county’s chambers of commerce have raised part of the funds for a Web site. Visitors will be able to go from the site to the Web site for a specific chamber and links to businesses, facilities or attractions in the various areas of the county. Carla Douglass, executive director of the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce, said the site also would help promote tourism.

Stray-animal bill

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — City council is considering creating an ordinance that would address stray animals. Tuesday, lawmakers discussed a draft of an ordinance that would require dogs to be leashed. Councilman Chet Orelli, who proposed the measure, said he did so in response to residents’ complaints about unleashed dogs. Although the draft deals with dogs specifically, Orelli explained the final version of the measure likely would also address stray cats in the city. Lawmakers said they have received numerous complaints about stray cats.

Appliance collection

AUSTINTOWN — The township is holding an appliance collection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the township building, 82 Ohltown Road. The township will accept refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers, stoves, freezers, water heaters, water softeners and other appliances made primarily of ferrous and nonferrous metal. There is no charge for freon removal. The township will not accept electronics, tires and household hazardous waste. For more information, call the township at (330) 792-8584.