Struthers street closing

Struthers street closing

STRUTHERS — Poland Avenue will be closed between the Struthers Library and Terrace Street from 8 a.m. to noon today for sewer repairs, said Edward Wildes, safety service director.

Youngstown fires

YOUNGSTOWN — Occupants of 711 E. Lucius Ave. discovered the house filling with smoke and flames coming from the floor joists under the fireplace hearth, reports show. The fireplace had been used Wednesday evening.

One resident tried to put out the flames at 5:40 a.m. Thursday with a garden hose but was forced out by the smoke. Everyone got out safely, and firefighters extinguished the flames.

Damage was set at $2,500.

Earlier, at 3 a.m. Thursday, firefighters were sent to the vacant house at 561 E. Philadelphia Ave. The fire started in a first-floor hallway. Damage was set at $5,000, and the cause is under investigation.

Tax-form help for seniors

YOUNGSTOWN — The Area Agency on Aging 11’s long-term care ombudsman staff and volunteers from Youngstown State University are visiting Beeghly Oaks Nursing Home, 6505 Market St. Building D, Boardman, beginning at 9 a.m. today, and Pembrooke Place Nursing Home, 850 E. Midlothian Blvd., Youngstown, later in the day to assist residents with their income tax forms so they can receive their $300 economic stimulus payment.

The deadline to file for the 2008 payment is Oct. 15. Seniors or retirees who no longer file income taxes are still eligible for a $300 stimulus payment if they received at least $3,000 in 2007 from Social Security, Social Security Disability, Veterans Benefits, and/or Railroad Retirement Benefits. The $300 stimulus payment does not go to the nursing home, and can be used by the resident, said John Saulitis of the Area Agency on Aging.

For more information, call (330) 746-2938.

Critical condition

SHARON, Pa. — A Sharpsville woman was in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center after the pickup truck in which she was riding hit a telephone pole, police said.

Police said Marlena Tunstall, 28, had to be freed from the truck after the accident in the 600 block of Sharpsville Avenue at 2 a.m. Thursday.

The driver of the pickup, Christian L. Cline, 30, of Masury, Ohio, is charged with driving under the influence and aggravated assault with a vehicle, police said.

Confusion over mail

SALINEVILLE — A family was surprised when it began to receive mail for a convicted sex offender.

Columbiana County Sheriff Ray Stone said Thursday that the mix-up was caused by the post office, and the mail — and living arrangements — have been straightened out.

The offender went to the post office to get the address to report it to the sheriff’s office as required by law. The address is 13 on a street in the village, but the post office told him it was 14. The family’s address is 14 on the same street.

Stone said there had been confusion over mail to the properties in the past.

Crash leaves 3 injured

MERCER, Pa. — Three people were hospitalized after a car accident in Pine Township, state police in Mercer reported.

The accident happened at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday on state Route 208, police said.

A minivan driven by Scott Grossman, 27, of Grove City crossed the center line and hit the front of a garbage truck, police said. Grossman and his passengers, Gloria Grossman, 56, and Jerry Grossman, 73, both of Grove City, were taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. They were in critical condition Thursday, the hospital said.

The driver of the garbage truck, James Odum, 35, of Niles, was treated at Grove City Medical Center and released, the hospital said.

His passenger, Nicholas Lander, 19, of Franklin, Pa., was not injured.