2 held in purse thefts

2 held in purse thefts

BOARDMAN — Just more than 24 hours after two women had their purses snatched at township businesses, police had both men believed responsible in custody.

Police and members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force arrested Roosevelt Lewis III, 27, of Rosewood Avenue, Youngstown, about 11:30 a.m. Thursday at a home on Lyden Street on the city’s east side. He is charged with robbery, accused of taking the purse of a female employee at Purpose Money, U.S. Route 224 as the woman arrived at work about 10 a.m. Wednesday. Lewis and the woman struggled over the purse. Lewis dropped his cell phone at the crime scene as he fled.

Sgt. Glen Riddle said that Lewis ran about a block when police arrived at the Lyden home before police caught and arrested him.

Police arrested Carmine J. Ramunno Jr., 26, of Struthers, on Wednesday night and charged him with theft. He surrendered to authorities at the police station. He is accused of taking a woman’s purse about 11 a.m. Wednesday from a shopping cart at Rulli Brothers, South Avenue.

ACT test class

BOARDMAN — FedEx Kinko’s Copy and Shipping Center on U.S. Route 224 will be the site of an ACT college admission test preparation class for students planing to take the Dec. 13 test.

The tuition for the 13-hour course is $175, and the sessions will run for five consecutive Sundays beginning this weekend. There will be both a morning class from 10:30 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. and an afternoon class from 2 to 4:35 p.m. Registration can be arranged by calling David Diciccio at (330) 755-2710.

Contract for bridge

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners approved a contract with HDR Engineering Inc., Pittsburgh, for preliminary engineering, final design, appraisal and consultation of the Ohl Street Bridge in Greenville. The project is funded by state and federal sources.

Cost is $452,516 and the engineering and design phase is expected to take two years. Bids will then be advertised for construction. The bridge is now posted with a 3-ton limit, which prohibits truck traffic. It is one of two major crossings in Greenville over the Shenango River.

Also Thursday, commissioners approved a $33,6127 real estate tax refund for tax years 2002 through 2008 for Parkside Manor, an apartment house in Sharon. Tax Collector Michael DeForest said he could not comment on the refund because the matter is in litigation.

17-year-old raped

SHARON, Pa. — A 17-year-old Sharon girl told city police she was raped by a stranger who forced his way in as she let her dog out, police reported. The rape happened at 9 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of Spearman Avenue, said police Chief Michael Menster.

The girl told police a large man dressed all in black approached her and said, ‘Let me in or I’ll kill you.’ The girl was taken to Sharon Regional Health System.

YSU Halloween party

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University’s Office of Housing & Residence Life will have a Multicultural Halloween Celebration from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Beeghly Hall.

There will be a costume contest, music, games and food and entertainment from cultures around the world. There will be a $5 charge for non-YSU community guests.