Obama office to open

Obama office to open

WARREN — Gov. Ted Strickland will be at the opening of Barack Obama’s Ohio for Change office at 164 High Street N.E. on Saturday. Volunteers and supporters will gather at 4 p.m. to find out more about how to get involved with Obama’s campaign for president.

Senior data collected

LIBERTY — Organizers of the Liberty Senior Watch Program are in the process of gathering names, addresses and phone numbers to be included in the township police/fire senior watch database. The information will assist township professionals in keeping close personal contact with elderly residents. Police and fire personnel will make calls and visits to those on the list.

Township officials are also looking for anyone willing to sign up as a volunteer in the senior watch program. Those interested should call (330) 759-1315.

Conviction could bring 50-year prison term

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County grand jury indicted a 38-year-old man on a series of charges that could land him in prison for up to 50 years if he is convicted.

On Thursday, the panel indicted Hester Howell, of Glenwood Avenue, on charges of kidnapping, felonious assault, attempted murder and domestic violence with gun specifications, and being a felon with a gun.

Howell’s 41-year-old girlfriend said he made her take off her clothes on July 8, beat her and fired an assault-type gun between her legs in his residence. She escaped and was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Training about trees

YOUNGSTOWN — The City Forester and Planning Department will have a training session for Youngstown’s first Tree Inventory and Assessment Program using the state-of-the-art i-Tree software.

Volunteers, who needn’t have prior tree knowledge, are asked to attend the training session scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave.

Bank robber escapes

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The First Commonwealth Bank on North Liberty Street was robbed at 11:19 a.m. Thursday, New Castle Police said. Police said a man wearing a black, hooded sweat shirt entered the bank demanding money. He had a handgun.

Police said he left with an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot.

The New Castle department and the FBI are investigating. Anyone with information can call (724) 656-3585 or (724) 656-9300.

No one home at fire

YOUNGSTOWN — No one was home when fire started Thursday morning at 52 Wesley Ave. on the West Side, said Battalion Chief Frank Rosa. The fire was confined mostly to the living room. Rosa said a preliminary estimate of the damage is $5,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents.

Women thwart invasion

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Two city women were victims of a home invasion, city police report. The women, who live on Ray Street, told police two men entered their home at 11:50 p.m. Thursday, with one pointing a gun.

The women managed to convince the men that they didn’t have anything of value, police said, and the men left.

Man shot after drive

YOUNGSTOWN — A 40-year-old Burlington Avenue man told police he was shot behind his right ear and the car he was driving was taken by two men late Wednesday. The victim said they asked for a ride to a store around 9:30 p.m. and he picked them up on Belmont Avenue. One of the men got into the back seat and one into the front seat. The one in the back seat put a gun to the driver’s head when he pulled into a store parking lot on Belmont Avenue and fired, reports show. He was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.