Neglected dogs discovered

Neglected dogs discovered

YOUNGSTOWN — Two dogs, one dead and one alive, were found at a house on Steel Street, said Dave Nelson, assistant Mahoning County dog warden. Nelson said the residents of the house in the 500 block apparently moved out and left the animals. He said no food or water was found for the dogs but the house does have heat. Someone made anonymous calls about the situation last Friday but was unable to reach a humane agent, he said. The small mixed-breed dog found alive Monday afternoon had been going in and out of the house through a back door left ajar, he said. The open door made the house very cold, he said. Nelson said the dog will be available for adoption at the pound, and he will contact the city prosecutor to see what charges can be filed.

Movie-rental robber flees

WARREN — City police are looking for a man who robbed the Movie Gallery store on Parkman Road Northwest at gunpoint Sunday. The man entered the store just after 9 p.m., pointed a gun at the clerk and ran off with the entire money drawer from the cash register. The store clerk saw the man leave in an older pickup truck. Police have surveillance video of the robbery.

Home intruders shoot man

YOUNGSTOWN — A 33-year-old Mayfield Street man was shot in the right leg after he opened the door at his West Side home and argued with two intruders, a witness told police. The intruders attempted to handcuff the victim, Eric C. Burgy, before he was shot around 10:20 p.m. Sunday, reports show. No motive for the shooting or argument was given. The suspects fled on foot. Burgy was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment.

Jewish service fills in

YOUNGSTOWN — B’nai B’rith, Mahoning Lodge 339, a local Jewish service organization, will sponsor Operation Snowflake on Christmas Day. Lodge members will fill in for regular volunteers at hospitals who will be spending Christmas with their families.

B’nai B’rith members will cover the information and gift shops at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Forum Health Northside Medical Center, St. Joseph Health Center and Sharon Regional Health System. Coordinators are Neil and Denise Altman.

Student charged in fight

SHARON, Pa. — A student at Sharon High School was charged with aggravated assault after an altercation with a teacher.

Police said Nicholas Sawyers, 18, of Irvine Avenue, was arrested at the school around 11 a.m. Monday. Police said he punched teacher Paul Torr in the face then bit him in the wrist. Torr was treated at Sharon Regional Hospital, police said.

Sawyers was arraigned at District Justice Henry Russo’s office Monday afternoon, then released on $7,500 bond. Police Chief Michael Menster said Sawyers is charged with aggravated assault rather than simple assault, because teachers are in a protected class in the state crimes code. Sawyers’ preliminary hearing is at Russo’s office at 1 p.m. Jan. 7.

Family escapes house fire

LEAVITTSBURG — No one was injured by a fire that destroyed a home at 2222 North River Road.

Gregory and Sheryl Olney were awakened about 3:45 a.m. Monday after their son smelled smoke coming from the garage, said Warren Township Fire Chief Kenneth Schick. He said by the time the department arrived on scene, the fire had spread to an apartment on the second floor of the home.

He said high wind made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the blaze, which took nearly seven hours to put out.

The Braceville, Champion, Bristol, Farmington, Howland, Lordstown, Mesopotamia, Newton Falls and Southington fire departments assisted on the call. Schick said damage was estimated at about $75,000, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.