Ruptured gas line forces evacuations

Ruptured gas line forces evacuations

PETERSBURG — A ruptured Dominion East Ohio gas line Monday afternoon forced evacuation of 20 homes and three businesses in the town into the late evening.

Matt Gebhardt, interim Springfield Township fire chief, said workers from Dave Sugar Excavating Co. of Petersburg hit the gas line at about 1 p.m. near the town square while working on a waterline installation project.

As of 10 p.m. Monday, the evacuees were being housed in St. John’s Lutheran Church. Officials expected the evacuation to last until about midnight.

Dominion chose not to shut down the line completely, Gebhardt said, because that would shut down gas to East Palestine to the south, he said. Instead, the flow of gas was reduced from 82 pounds per square inch to about 45 pounds, he said.

Contract-talks report

LIBERTY — Trustees will have a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the township administration building to discuss the status of contract negotiations with several township unions. Trustees may adjourn into an executive session.

Memorial service set for law enforcement

YOUNGSTOWN — The annual law enforcement memorial service will be at 10 a.m. May 23 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Via Mount Carmel.

The event is being hosted by Mahoning County deputies’ Fraternal Order of Police, Youngstown FOP and Youngstown State University FOP. Lunch will be provided immediately after the service.

Survivors of fallen officers are asked to contact either Deputy Lisa Beam at (330) 480-4942 or Deputy Lennard Burke at (330)742-5880 as soon as possible so lunch reservations can be made for them.

All others who want to attend the luncheon after the service also need to contact Beam or Burke for reservations as seating is limited.

A police motorcade will leave the Minimum Security Misdemeanant Jail on Commerce Street at 9:30 a.m. Those wishing to participate in the motorcade must be at that jail no later than 9:15 a.m.

OVI task force reports on checkpoint results

NORTH LIMA — The Mahoning County Operating Vehicle Impaired Task Force arrested one impaired driver during a sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. Saturday until 12 a.m. Sunday on Market Street in Beaver Township.

The checkpoint was conducted as part of a comprehensive and intense enforcement program to stop impaired driving in Mahoning County. Results: 2,269 vehicles checked; 23 vehicles diverted; one OVI arrest (refused to be tested); three driving-under-suspension arrests; and one restraint citation.