Man fuels fight with fire

Man fuels fight with fire

YOUNGSTOWN — A trash fire behind a house in the 2000 block of Pointview Avenue late Sunday morning turned out to be property of the resident’s girlfriend, police said.

Jonathon Martin, 21, was charged with misdemeanor arson. He pleaded no contest at arraignment Monday in municipal and will be sentenced Dec. 3, the clerk of courts office said. Firefighters said Martin was attempting to put the fire out when they arrived. Police and fire Capt. Alvin Ware of the arson bureau were called to the scene.

Martin’s girlfriend told police that, during an argument, he took her clothing and footwear worth about $900, her purse and $170 and burned it all up in the backyard, reports show.

Copper piping stolen

YOUNGSTOWN — Roughly 20 feet of copper pipe cut from a hot-water tank was stolen from Byrd Brothers Wash Rack on Valley Street, along with tools and a sweeper, police said. A witness told police that he heard people in the parking lot at 10 p.m. Sunday and saw them loading items into a van. The van pulled away before he could get a license number.

Firefighters promote Prevention Week

BOARDMAN — Township firefighters will have an open house and ice cream social from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the main fire station, 136 Boardman-Poland Road, marking Fire Prevention Week.

The event will include a tour of the fire station, fire extinguisher demonstrations, an extrication demonstration, safety tips and other activities. Fire Prevention Week began Sunday and runs through Saturday.

Budgets to be reviewed

CRAIG BEACH — Village council’s public safety committee meets at 7 p.m. today in council chambers to discuss issues relevant to the village’s police and fire departments. Among the discussion topics will be review of the police department’s 2008 appropriations and budget and its upcoming 2009 budget, and review of the fire department’s 2008 contract and recommendations for 2009.