METRO DIGEST || Purse snatched at church

Purse of woman, 86, snatched at church

NORTH LIMA

Beaver Township police are investigating a purse-snatching at a local church.

Police said an 86-year-old woman’s purse was stolen about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday while she volunteered at a food- distribution center at Mount Olivet United Church of Christ, 410 W. South Range Road. Her purse contained cash and all of the woman’s credit cards and was last seen in the church kitchen, reports state. Anyone with information is asked to call Beaver police at 330-549-5338.

Tax course in Warren

Warren

Savvy consumers who wish to increase their tax knowledge can enroll in a free weeklong basic income tax courses offered by Liberty Tax Service in January.

Courses start Jan. 2. No prior tax experience is necessary to register and take the class. The curriculum is designed to cover the fundamentals of basic income tax preparation. Lessons are structured to cover the latest tax changes, credits and forms that can be filed with an individual tax return. Class schedules are flexible.

Robbery arraignment

NILES

Matthew A. Barnes, 20, of North Chestnut Avenue, was arraigned Wednesday in Niles Municipal Court on one count of aggravated robbery. He’s accused of robbing a pizza delivery person at gunpoint Dec. 12.

Barnes is accused of stealing cash at 9:08 p.m. at 118 N. Chestnut Ave., near Barnes’ house at 110 N. Chestnut Ave.

Barnes was arrested Wednesday and appeared before Judge Thomas Townley the same day. Judge Townley set bond at $20,000. If convicted, Barnes could receive up to 11 years in prison.

Rite Aid robbery

WARREN

Five or more black men wearing masks and dark clothing robbed Rite Aid, 2840 Youngstown Road, at 10:34 p.m. Wednesday.

One of the males put a gun to the back of the neck of one of the two female employees and took a cellphone out of her hand, then forced her behind a cash register.

The man ordered the woman to the floor while he took cash from the safe. One man took two DVD players on the way out of the store, reports say.

Another man pointed a gun at the other employee’s head and ordered her to a cash register, where he took cash.

Robot team sponsored

austintown

The FIRST robotics team No. 3193 Falco Tech at Austintown Fitch High School was one of 900 teams to receive sponsorship support from JCPenney.

FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, according to its website.

The veteran team will spend six weeks designing and building an original robot for the FIRST Regional Competition scheduled for March 8-10 in Pittsburgh.

Children Services provides 1,000 gifts

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Children Services were able to dole out more than 1,000 gifts for children and families this holiday season.

Every December for the past 31 years, children services has organized an annual gift distribution in the form of toys, games, bikes, clothing, shoes, boots, gift cards, food baskets and winter outerwear.

Donors this year included St. Charles Church of Boardman, Mahoning County Child Support Enforcement Agency, Poland Post Office, Taylor Kia of Boardman, Turning Point Counseling, Victory at Liberty Church, Bike Nashbar, State Alarm, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Ryan’s Carpet and Sandi’s Family Hair Care.