Williamson closing until November

Williamson closing until November

YOUNGSTOWN

Williamson Avenue over Interstate 680 will be closed beginning Tuesday until early November for bridge repairs. The Woodland Avenue bridge over I-680 also is closed for repairs until early October.

I-680 will continue to have various nighttime lane restrictions from Belle Vista Avenue to Market Street between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. for shoulder work. This work is part of a $14.1 million project to rehabilitate seven bridges along I-680. The project is scheduled to be complete in July 2013.

Computer sparks fire on West Side

YOUNGSTOWN

An old computer left too close to a desk started a house fire at 108 S. Hazelwood Ave. on Friday morning that caused $25,000 damage.

The woman living there and two people who had come to visit were away from the house at the time the fire started, Batallion Chief Rich Russo said.

The woman had hooked up a new computer Thursday and left the old tower turned on under a desk with the fan side of the computer up against the desk, Russo said.

The computer apparently ignited the varnish on the desk, which burned two rooms of the house and caused extensive smoke damage.

A passerby called 911 after seeing smoke and fire coming out a window.

The woman’s insurance company provided the woman and her guests with temporary housing, Russo said.

VGRIP crime blitz gets 1st indictment

CLEVELAND

A federal grand jury indicted a 24-year-old Youngstown man on a charge of being a felon in illegal possession of a gun, the U.S. attorney said. The indictment against David Pete is the first federal charge filed this year in the VGRIP (Violence Gun Reduction and Intervention Program), the federal prosecutor said.

Pete is charged with possessing on June 10 a .357- caliber pistol and ammunition after a burglary conviction in Mahoning County. The case was investigated by Youngstown police and the Youngstown office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Farrell man indicted

PITTSBURGH

A federal grand jury here indicted a Farrell, Pa., man on charges of possessing with intent to distribute 1.1 pounds or more of cocaine and possessing 21 firearms in furtherance of that crime.

If convicted, Raymond Anthony Napolitan, 48, faces 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $1.25 million or both, the U.S. attorney said. The case was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Drug Task Force and the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department.

SUV rams building

GIRARD

Police are investigating damage to a vacant building at 812 N. State St. early Friday by a sport-utility vehicle.

The vehicle had been driven into the building, but no one was around when the damage was discovered, police said.

Filmmaker seeks extras in the Valley

BOARDMAN

A variety of talent is needed for an upcoming feature film. Those interested must be available for filming all day and night Tuesday and Wednesday. They will be paid for serving as extras.

The filmmaker is seeking people between age 18 and 23. If you are interested and want to be submitted to the filmmaker for possible selection, call 330-726-6441, or email your picture and sizes to lemodeln@aol.com.