Glass art exhibit planned

Glass art exhibit planned

WARREN — Mahoning Avenue’s oldest-surviving house will open its doors to the public for a free glass art exhibit Sunday.

The Upton House, at 380 Mahoning Avenue N.W., will exhibit an array of Bristol glassware, a richly colorful form of Victorian glass.

The open house will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. For information, call (330) 395-1840 or visit www.uptonhouse.org.

Phone card theft reported

YOUNGSTOWN — The manager of a Mahoning Avenue convenience store told police that a surveillance video shows an employee activating $675 worth of Visa and phone cards without ringing up the sale on the register. Because the cards cannot be deactivated, the loss stands at $675, reports show. The theft was reported Tuesday and has been assigned to the detective division.

Cops warn of scam artists

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Police are warning retailers to be alert for two men who have pulled off a quick-change scam recently at three businesses in the area.

The men select a small item and pay with cash. They are given change, then ask for change in different amounts, confusing the clerks into giving them more money than they’re owed, police said.

Large fuel theft reported

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Three hundred gallons of diesel fuel were stolen from a business in the 2000 block of Kirila Way, city police reported.

The theft occurred sometime over the weekend, police reported. The fuel is valued at $1,437.

Niles woman wins lottery

NILES — Phyllis Ziegler of Niles recently won $55,000 playing the Ohio Lottery’s Rolling Cash 5 game. The ticket was purchased for $1 at Robbins Beverage.

Enrolling in United schools

HANOVERTON — Parents wishing to enroll new pupils in the United schools for the 2008-09 school year must call the district to secure a registration appointment for next week.

Registrations will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at United Junior/Senior High School and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at United Elementary on those same days.

Parents or guardians should call the district at (330) 223-1521, the high school at (330) 223-7102 or the elementary at (330) 223-8001 immediately to secure an appointment and arrange to pick up registration packets in both school offices Thursday.

Children’s birth certificates, social security numbers and immunization records must be brought to registration. Parents or guardians must also have two proofs of residency and any custody documents, if applicable.

Outdoor camp planned

HOWLAND — The township summer youth and recreation program will have an outdoor adventures camp from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Aug. 8 at Howland Township Park for children ages 6 to 13. Participants should bring athletic shoes and attire.

Cost (includes a T-shirt) is $20 for residents and $35 for nonresidents. Checks should be made payable to Summer Youth Sport Rec Program and mailed or dropped off at Howland Township Administration Building, 205 Niles-Cortland Road N.E., Warren, 44484. Call (330) 856-2340 for more information.

Packard museum gets gift

WARREN — The National Packard Museum received the gift of two Packard Caribbean automobiles during the 19th Annual Car Show, which was two weeks ago. A matching pair of 1956 automobiles were delivered to the museum from Napa, Calif., a gift from the late Stephan Williams, a noted Packard collector.

The Caribbean convertible received is No. 16 out of 276 convertibles the Packard Motor Car Co. of Detroit produced in 1956 and sold new at the Earle C. Anthony Dealership in San Francisco for $5,995. The Caribbean hardtop is No. 233 of 263 Caribbean hardtops Packard built and sold new at the Studebaker-Packard Dealership in New York City for $5,495. Both Caribbeans are three-toned in Dover White, Naples Orange, and Corsican Black. Both vehicles feature 372-cubic-inch, V-8 engines and power windows. The museum is at 1899 Mahoning Avenue, N.W., adjacent to W.D. Packard Music Hall.

Health help bus to visit

YOUNGSTOWN — On Aug. 13, the Help is Here Express will visit Youngstown Community Health Center, 726 Wick Ave., from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The express bus is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance and helps uninsured patients find programs that provide free or nearly free prescription medicines. The patient assistance provided by the PPA is free. Trained staff members will be on board the bus for assistance, and those members can help patients access more than 475 patient assistance programs.

Low-income patients and patients who are uninsured or underinsured can benefit from the free service given by the “Help is Here Express.”

For further information visit www.pparx.org or call (888) 4-PPA-NOW.

Fire damages business

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire at Struthers Metal Service, 2800 Intertech Drive, started in a dust collector bin and did an estimated $150,000 damage, said Battalion Chief Tim McGarry. He said the bin is used to collect dust from steel grinding and has paper filters inside. Because steel shavings will explode if hit with water, the fire had to be extinguished with dry chemicals and carbon dioxide, McGarry said. The cause of the 8:11 a.m. fire on Tuesday is under investigation.

Man charged with break-in

POLAND — An Olde Winter Trail man accused of entering Poland Seminary High School over the weekend is to appear in Struthers Municipal Court on Sept. 24, charged with breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and inducing panic.

Township police arrested Brian Mentges, 22, about 10 p.m. Friday inside the school. Mentges initially told police that he had been hired to work at the school. He had keys to the building. After police contacted school officials, Mentges acknowledged that he isn’t employed by the district. He said he found the keys to the school. Mentges isn’t accused of taking anything from the school or causing damage inside. Video surveillance shows him walking around inside the school building, talking on his cellular phone, a school official said.

Rape reported in Sharon

SHARON, Pa. — A 51-year-old city woman told police she was raped by a man who left a bar with her Tuesday morning. The woman told police that she and the man, whom she’d met at the bar on Division Street, left at 2:30 a.m. In an alley parallel to the 500 block of McClure Avenue, the man made sexual advances, which she resisted, she told police. The man struck her, knocked her down and raped her, she told police. She went to Sharon Regional Health Center afterward.

Local ‘Idol’ auditions set

NILES — One local singer will be a step closer to his or her “Idol” dreams this week at the Eastwood Mall. Television channel WYFX 17/62, the local FOX affiliate, is hosting tryouts for the station’s eighth season of “American Idol” on Thursday. Judges will choose one talented singer to audition for “Idol” producers in New Jersey in August. Registration will be at 2 p.m., and auditions will begin at 3 p.m at the mall. Applicants must be between 16 and 28 years old and provide a valid photo ID.

Truck converters stolen

YOUNGSTOWN — Catalytic converters were cut off three city parks department trucks parked at the Stambaugh golf course sometime before the Gypsy Lane facility opened Tuesday morning, police said. The theft was discovered by a supervisor just past 7 a.m. Reports show the three converters are worth a total of $1,500. The case has been assigned to the Scrap Theft Unit.

In Warren, converters were taken from eight cars at Agree Auto Sales, 4126 Youngstown Road S.E., some time over the weekend, the dealership reported. Scrap yards contacted say the devices are being stolen and resold for around $100 and more apiece, though Atlas Recycling Inc. of Warren and Niles Iron and Metal reported that they pay only $10 each for the devices, which are part of a vehicle’s emission controls.