Drug arrests up

Drug arrests up

SOUTHINGTON

Statewide, arrests and drugs seized by the Ohio State Highway Patrol are up significantly this year compared with 2011, said Lt. Brian Holt, commander of the Southington Post.

Troopers have seized 27,875 grams of heroin in the first six months of 2012 — a 327 percent increase over the same period in 2011, Holt said.

Troopers have seized more than double the amount of marijuana during the first six months of 2012 compared with that period in 2011.

Drug arrests of all types are up 30 percent.

Bridge closed

NEWTON FALLS

The historic Newton Falls Covered Bridge is closed for repairs after another accident involving a truck that tried to drive through.

The truck apparently was being driven by someone unfamiliar with the area, and it damaged a scissor truss at the top of the bridge Saturday, said Don Barzak, spokesman for the Trumbull County Engineer’s Office.

The bridge has been closed since the accident and most likely will remain closed until the truss is repaired, Barzak said.

The damage was less serious than what took place in July 2009, when a doughnut shop driver from Canton drove completely through the structure, damaging trusses from one end to the other. Repairs that time cost $21,070. The bridge was closed about nine months.

Signs tell motorists that trucks are not permitted on the bridge.

Garden open house

YOUNGSTOWN

Multiple trees were stolen from the community garden at Williamson and Erie streets earlier this year, but its creator Lois Martin- Uscianowski is having an open house to showcase the new and improved garden to the community.

The open house will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the garden and will include music, food and drinks. The open house is free to the community.

In April, someone stole multiple fruit trees from the property after Martin- Uscianowski acquired a grant to buy the trees.

Police car donated

Austintown

Greg Greenwood presented Austintown Police Department’s DARE program with the keys to a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze on Thursday.

The presentation was at Greenwood Chevrolet, 4695 Mahoning Ave., in Austintown. The car, which was donated by Greenwood Chevrolet, will be used by the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer, Detective Jeff Toth.

Water to be shut off

COLUMBIANA

On Tuesday, water will be shut off in parts of the city from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a hydrant and valve replacement. The area affected includes East Friend Street from South Elm Street to James Street, James Street from East Park Avenue to Friend Street and Fitzpatrick Avenue. When water is reinstated, a “boil advisory” will be in effect for this area until test results are available on whether the water is safe.

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