Extreme putrid smell found at Youngstown house

YOUNGSTOWN — A housing code enforcement officer said she was “smacked right in the face” by the extremely putrid smell coming from the property at 253 E. Philadelphia Ave.

Laura Fulmer’s inspection then turned up the source of the odor. She found a van and two other vehicles parked in the driveway — all filled “floor to ceiling” — with molded, rotted fruit, vegetables, produce, eggs, flowers and full milk jugs. The vehicles also contain canned goods, kitchen utensils, empty soda pop containers, empty food wrappers and other items that Fulmer said in her report are consistent with flea market sales.

Fulmer said “bees, gnats and horseflies are swirling inside and outside the vehicles creating a public health hazard.”

The property owner, Sandra J. Leonard, 52, received misdemeanor citations on Tuesday charging her with one count each of noxious odors and failure to maintain an exterior structure.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com