Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Fire investigation
NEW CASTLE, Pa.
Officials announced Monday that they are investigating the death of a man in a house fire early Saturday as a homicide.
The details of the investigation and the identity of the victim were not released as of Monday, according to a press release.
Firefighters responded about 5:30 a.m. to the fire on the 300 block of Phillips Street on the city’s south side.
The house was split into two apartments. The victim lived in the second-floor apartment.
Police have yet to charge anyone in the man’s death or to say whether he died from the fire or some other cause.
Police have also yet to say whether they believe the fire was an accident or arson.
Racial obscenities
WARREN
Police and the resident of a home on Meadowbrook Avenue Southwest found racial obscenities had been spray painted throughout the first and second floors of the home early Sunday during a break-in. The male resident, age 35, is black.
The man called police at 1:14 a.m. Sunday to report that he had come home and found property on the steps of his house and didn’t know if someone was inside.
An officer found that the home had been broken into through a locked door. Inside, the officer found the home ransacked and computers and other items had been removed.
Monthly test of sirens
Hermitage, Pa.
The Hermitage Fire Department will conduct its monthly test of the area’s weather warning sirens at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The test will include activation of the Clark, Farrell, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wheatland weather sirens.
Citizens are asked to disregard the alerting sirens during the test.
Spring cleanup
Youngstown
Workers at Lake Park Cemetery will begin spring cleanup of gravesites March 15. All Christmas and artificial decorations must be removed by that date.
Also, all Christmas wreaths must be removed from Belmont Park Cemetery by the same date.
Meeting planned
Youngstown
The Youngstown Neighborhood Charter Review Committee will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Newport Public Library, 3730 Market St.
Block-watch meeting
Youngstown
Buckeye Eyes & Ears Block Watch will meet at 6:30 p.m. today at the former Word of Grace Church, 2734 Mount Vernon Ave.
Public invited
NEW MIDDLETOWN
The public is invited to attend village council’s Community Affairs Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. March 8 at the New Middletown Municipal Building to discuss a date and time for a community Easter egg hunt.
Anyone or any group interested in being a part of the hunt can attend the meeting, contact the village at 330-542-2846, contact The Postmark or the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Free screenings
YOUNGSTOWN
Small Smiles Dental Center of Youngstown, 3353 Mahoning Ave., is offering free dental screenings during “Healthy Smile, Happy Child Day” today from 9 to 11 a.m. as part of an effort to promote healthy smiles during Children’s Dental Health Month in February.
Voting concerns
COLUMBUS
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted said he’s concerned that the planned closures of U.S. Postal Service mail processing facilities, including the one in Youngstown, could impact voting in the state.
In a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahue, Husted wrote Monday that the closures would result in mail needing to be shipped out of state for processing causing delays.
Also, Husted said all active voters will receive an absentee ballot application before the November general election causing an increase in the number of mailed-in ballots.