Suspicious porch fire

Suspicious porch fire

YOUNGSTOWN

Police said someone set fire to a piece of porch furniture at a house in the 200 block of Boston Avenue while five or six people were asleep inside. Firefighters were called to the home around 4 a.m. Tuesday and quickly extinguished a fire on the fabric covering of a free-standing porch swing. There was a strong odor of gasoline at the scene, police said. Smoke detectors alerted the family, and everyone got out safely, police said. The family identified a city man as a possible suspect, telling police he had threatened to kill a family member.

Bicycle program

Columbiana

Columbiana Auxiliary Police will have a bicycle-safety program, inspection and rodeo at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Firestone Park’s football field parking lot. A bike will be given away, along with other prizes for youths in preschool and higher grades. Free helmets will be distributed. Columbiana bike licenses used for identification also will be available.

Elections board

Youngstown

Mahoning County commissioners rescheduled Thursday’s meeting with elections board officials to Tuesday. The two sides need to discuss cuts at the board, which is on pace to be $185,000 over its $1.32 million budget this year. The board has suggested cutting 40 to 100 voting precincts and laying off or eliminating two to four clerks.

14-year sex assault

new castle, pa.

A Moravia Road man is accused of sexually assaulting a victim, now 24, since he was 6, Pennsylvania State Police here said. The abuse occurred from 1992 to 2006, they said. Patrick Kofalt, 53, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors, sexual assault, sexual abuse of children and endangering the welfare of children. He was taken to Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $125,000 cash bond.

Annual car/bike show

YOUNGSTOWN

Christian Assembly of Youngstown, 5050 South Ave., is having its annual car and bike show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. This year’s benefit also will include a bike run. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the run starts at 9. Registration is $5, and the run costs $5. All show donations will benefit Hospice Forum Health. There also will be live music, food and beverages, face-painting, cornhole toss and a Chinese auction.

Girard house fire

GIRARD

Damage was estimated at $40,000 in a house fire caused by a malfunctioning roof-vent fan.

Firefighters said the homeowner, identified only as an elderly woman, was cooking and didn’t know her house was on fire until alerted by neighbors.

Firefighters said one of the neighbors crawled onto the roof with a garden hose but was unable to extinguish the blaze.