Police searching for Austintown girl, 17

Police searching for
Austintown girl, 17

AUSTIN-TOWN — Police are searching for a 17-year-old girl who has been missing since Jan. 3. Judy Garcia got into an argument with her mother and left their home on Westminster Avenue, a police report says. Her mother, Sherry Garcia, reported her missing Jan. 5. Detective Sgt. Raynor Holmes said anyone harboring the girl could be charged with custody interference. Holmes said police don’t suspect foul play at this time.

Normal pickup

YOUNGSTOWN — Residential garbage collection within the city will not be affected by the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Waste Management will follow its normal pickup schedule. City residents should place their garbage at the curb for their regularly scheduled collection date.

Joint statement OKs
president of YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — The Executive Committee of Youngstown State University’s Academic Senate and the university’s Labor Management Council have issued a joint statement of support for university President David Sweet and his wife, Pat, in connection with the Christmas-week gunfire that damaged their Liberty Township home. The Sweets were out of town when their home was struck by gunfire. Police reported finding eight .22 caliber spent bullet casings at the curb in front of the home. No arrests have been made The committee and council issued their statement to the campus community Thursday, saying they hope the person or persons responsible will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.

Bring pets indoors

WARREN — The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County reminds pet owners that the cold weather expected this weekend and beyond makes outdoor pets vulnerable to injury or death. The organization encourages pet owners to keep pets indoors at night when cold weather hits or to make sure the animal has straw bedding, additional food and water. To report animals not receiving proper shelter, call (330) 399-2086.

Theft by deception

BOARDMAN — Any residents who were contacted by phone in the past several days by Tyrone E. Parker soliciting cash donations for local fire departments should call Detective Greg Stepuk at (330) 726-4144 or (330) 729-1285, said Chief Patrick J. Berarducci. Police have charged Parker, no age or address given, with theft-by-deception. Police said he has been pocketing the cash donations he solicited and picked up in person.

Police: Man jumps
in front of cruiser

LIBERTY — A distraught 32-year-old Tibbetts-Wick Road man was admitted to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown after police say he purposely jumped in front of a police car. Township police reports say an officer was driving on Belmont Avenue near Lincoln Street early Friday when the man jumped in front of the cruiser “in an obvious attempt to be struck by the responding officer’s vehicle.” The officer spun the cruiser 180 degrees trying to avoid the man. Reports say the man hid behind nearby bushes, then put his hands in his pocket to simulate having a gun when the officer tried to approach him. The man was placed in handcuffs and taken to the hospital for observation. The man, reports say, told officers he had just left his brother’s grave.

New state arts grant

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — State Rep. Chris Sainato of New Castle, D-9th, announced that Lawrence County has been awarded a $1,410 state grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for ongoing cultural activities in the community. The grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on the Arts, is part of an ongoing regional arts funding partnership with the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts. The program provides grants to local and regional arts organizations and programs. Sainato said the arts grants help communities recognize and appreciate the valuable service local artists provide in the community.