Metro digest

State fire marshal probing house blaze

YOUNGSTOWN — The state fire marshal is investigating a fire that caused more than $100,000 damage to a West Side residence.

The preliminary damage estimate in the 12:30 a.m. Wednesday blaze was $70,000 to the house at 512 Ashley Ave. and $30,000 to its contents, said Fire Battalion Chief Timothy McGarry, adding that the $100,000 figure was almost certain to rise.

The owners and occupants of the house are Robert Edwards, a retired city police detective, and his wife, Sharon.

Among the items lost were a car, three motorcycles, a hot-tub room that was added to the back of the house, tools in the garage and an outbuilding with a lawn tractor inside.

McGarry referred all other questions as to the fire’s origin and circumstances to the state fire marshal’s office.

One of two teens injured in fatal accident improves

WARREN — The condition of one of the two teens who survived a car accident on State Road in Champion on Monday night has been upgraded to satisfactory, while the condition of the other remains critical.

Kaylynn Barco, 17, of Southington, is now satisfactory, a spokeswoman at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital said Wednesday evening.

Ellen Becker, 18, of Struthers, is still critical, a spokeswoman for St. Elizabeth Health Center said.

The girls were passengers in a car driven by Christie Manchester, 17, of Southington, who was killed when her car left the road at 11:37 p.m. and hit two trees, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

Police seeking gunman who beat his ex-girlfriend

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are searching for a man who beat his ex-girlfriend then chased the woman down with a gun.

According to police, officers received a call about a woman being chased on the East Side by a man carrying a firearm at 11:11 p.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived, they found the 32-year-old Campbell woman standing in the 1600 block of Shehy Street.

The woman told police her ex-boyfriend followed her to a friend’s house, then assaulted her. She started to run, reports say, and he pulled out a handgun and chased her up the street until she was able to hide in a field.

Reports say the incident was witnessed by two of the woman’s friends, but one declined to be listed as a witness.

Visitor from Leetonia robbed on friend’s porch

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are looking for the men who committed an armed robbery in the city. A 25-year-old Leetonia man told police he was sitting on a friend’s porch in the 200 block of East Ravenwood Avenue on the South Side on Tuesday evening when two young males came onto the porch, one holding a handgun, and demanded money. The man told police he handed over his wallet and the two robbers left.

The victim also told police a young male came to the porch earlier in the day asking if wanted to buy some drugs. He said he refused the offer but put the man’s number in his cell phone.

Man found guilty of aggravated menacing

STRUTHERS — Stephen Koscelansky, 19, of Harvey Street, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of an amended charge of aggravated menacing Wednesday in Struthers municipal court. He originally was charged with felonious assault in an incident July 28 involving an off-duty police officer.

The officer said Koscelansky tried to ram his car, drove erratically, did a high-speed U turn and aimed his car at the officer’s vehicle.

Koscelansky was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 174 suspended and will start his time Friday in the Mahoning County jail. He also was fined $50.

5th loss for Leetonia levy, but board will try again

LISBON — The Leetonia Board of Education’s bid for a new levy was defeated for the fifth time Tuesday, and papers were filed Wednesday to put it back on the ballot.

Complete but unofficial results from the Columbiana and Mahoning County elections boards showed 745 people voted against the issue snd 596 people voted for it during the special election. The 8.8-mill emergency levy would have raised $578,000 a year.

Kim Meek, Columbiana elections director, said the district had approved the sixth try before Tuesday night and only had to file the documents at the elections board to have it put on the November ballot.

The tax, if approved, would add $269 in property tax a year to a $100,000 home.