METRO DIGEST

Ex-coach surrenders

HUBBARD — A former Brookfield middle school coach accused of sexual battery surrendered to authorities here Wednesday.

George Swogger, 24, of West Liberty St., turned himself in at Girard Municipal Court. He had been sought by police on a warrant accusing him of sexual battery of a girl under age 16.

Detectives have said the warrant was based on a criminal complaint and the investigation of an incident report filed by the accuser July 22.

Swogger had been employed by Brookfield schools last year on a supplemental contract as an assistant middle school track coach.

He served in that capacity only and worked with middle school boys and girls during track season, school officials said. The contract was not renewed this year.

School forum tonight on Austintown levy

AUSTINTOWN — Township residents are invited to attend an open forum to discuss a proposed bond issue.

The Austintown school board will be on hand at 6:30 tonight at the middle school cafeteria to listen to public opinion and comment on a proposed 2.9-mill bond levy to be placed on the ballot this fall.

The levy would help fund the district’s share of a $50 million facility expansion project for two new school buildings. If passed, the state would fund 47 percent of the cost and the district would be responsible for the remaining 53 percent, about $26 million.

The project would fund two new buildings for kindergarten through grade five. The new buildings would be on the site of the current Frank Ohl Intermediate and Watson Elementary schools.

Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said it would not be in the district’s best interest to let an opportunity for a “buy one, get one free” deal with the state slip away.

DUI crackdown Friday through Labor Day

BOARDMAN — Township police will join with thousands of other law enforcement agencies throughout the country in a crackdown on impaired driving Friday through Labor Day.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to drunk driving,” said Capt. Jack Nichols. “Because our department is committed to saving lives and reducing injuries as a result of alcohol-related crashes, we are going to be intensifying our enforcement during the crackdown.”

The department will be supplementing its regular patrols with high-visibility enforcement patrols and participating in sobriety checkpoints and saturation blitzes. Funding for the extra patrols is provided by the Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle While Impaired Task Force and the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

Free school supplies

YOUNGSTOWN — Third Baptist Church, 1177 Park Hill Drive, will have its 11th annual School Supply Giveaway at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 in the church fellowship hall. This year, families are encouraged to attend a family movie night sponsored by the Baptist Training Union; it will include popcorn and other snacks. School supplies will be distributed immediately afterward. Among school items available are notebooks, pencils, pens, binders, crayons, scissors, glue and more. About 150 students were supplied last year. This is the first year the church has sponsored the giveaway with the church’s Board of Christian Education. For more information, contact the church office at (330) 743-0640.

Window fan sparks fire

SALEM — A fire at 656 E. Third St. damaged an upstairs bedroom and sent smoke throughout the house, the fire department reported. The fire broke out at 10:15 a.m. Monday after a fan fell out of a window and ran continuously unattended, finally igniting the carpet, the department said. No one was home at the time.