Vacant house fire on city’s South Side

October 18, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — A fire captain jumped out a window early Friday while at the scene of a vacant house fire at 968 Campbell St. He was not injured. Crews sent to the South Side fire just before 1 a.m. found the double garage burning and said flames spread to the house.

Firefighters were ordered out of the house for safety reasons and the structures were allowed to burn down. Damage was set at $24,900, a total loss. The cause is under investigation.

Drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN — A man stopped for speeding after police saw him pull away from a known drug house on the East Side was charged with possession of cocaine, a felony, reports show. Adam J. Dapolito, 26, of Cranbrook Drive, was arraigned Friday in municipal court and will be back Oct. 28 for a preliminary hearing.

Members of the Street Crimes Unit followed Dapolito on Thursday evening on Forestview Avenue and pulled him over on McGuffey Road for traveling 45 mph. The speed limit is 25 mph. Police said they saw several small rocks of suspected crack on his lap and an open bag of crack on the floorboard.

Purse-snatcher escapes

BOARDMAN — A 20-year-old township woman told police a man snatched her purse in the parking lot of a Market Street discount store. The woman said she was walking in the lot of Family Dollar at about 7 p.m. Thursday when a man approached her and asked if she wanted to buy a video game console.

She said no, and he told her she could find him on Cleveland Street if she changed her mind. The woman started to walk away when the man grabbed her purse and fled toward Midlothian Boulevard. He took out $25 in cash, dropped the purse and continued running.

Comic tour has last laugh

YOUNGSTOWN — The Last Comic Standing Live Tour, scheduled to come to Powers Auditorium on Sunday, has been canceled, according to a news release from the promoter. Ticket holders can get a refund at the Powers Auditorium box office or by calling the Funny Farm Comedy Club, according to Tony Spano of the Funny Farm.

An allergy alternative

YOUNGSTOWN — Children with food allergies now have an option other than traditional trick-or-treat activities. The sophomore religion classes of Ursuline High School are hosting an alternative event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the school’s auditorium and on the third floor. The classes will provide treats in honor of Respect Life Month. The event is being put on by the Parents of Allergic Kids organization, whose goal is to raise awareness of children’s allergies to certain foods such as peanuts, peanut oil, milk, wheat and eggs.

Church throws fall party

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Community Church on state Route 46 is having its first Trunk and Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The “alternative fall party” is open to children ages 3 to 15 who are accompanied by an adult. Kicking off with a costume parade at 5 p.m., the event will also feature candy and treats for children. Participants are invited to Fellowship Hall for sloppy joes, chips, punch, games and prizes for costumes. Preregistration is preferred, and children are asked not to wear scary costumes because of the wide age range. For more information call (330) 797-8656.

Cemetery cleanup

NILES — The caretaker at St. Stephen Cemetery has requested that all decorations be removed from graves by Oct. 31 for all cleanup. Any left after that date will be discarded. Fall and winter decorations may be placed on the graves after Nov. 7.

A taste for the Valley

YOUNGSTOWN — Second Harvest Food Bank’s 17th annual Taste of the Valley raised $630,000 worth of food to families in need. Valley restaurants prepared dishes for the 600 guests at Stambaugh Auditorium.

For awards, chef judges from outside the area selected Tapazza, Youngstown, best appetizer; Scacchetti’s, Boardman, best entr e; Nicolinni’s Ristorante, Boardman, best dessert; and Spread Eagle Tavern & Inn, Hanoverton, best overall.