METRO DIGEST || Highly visible patrols

Highly visible patrols

BOARDMAN

The police department is supplementing its regular patrols with high-visibility enforcement patrols this week.

Officers are targeting all violators for driving offenses, including speed, distracted and impaired driving and seat-belt usage, according to a news release. Motorists are advised to use extra caution in Boardman from 5 to 7 p.m. today during trick-or-treat hours.

The funding for the additional patrols is provided by state and federal grants.

Smoldering material may have caused fire

BOARDMAN

Fire investigators believe smoldering material in an ashtray is responsible for a Monday fire that sent a man to the hospital.

Fire crews were called to 1550 Tamarisk Trail about 11:35 a.m. Monday and saw smoke pouring out of the house. Firefighters said everyone was out of the house by the time they arrived. Investigators said it appears a man who resides at the house emptied the contents of an ashtray that apparently still had hot embers in it into a trash can.

The man was burned on his hands and foot and was taken by helicopter to an Akron hospital for treatment, officials said.

The estimated damage was $7,000 to the property and $22,000 to the contents, records stated.

Kids perform musical

BOARDMAN

One hundred second-grade students from Stadium Drive Elementary performed a musical Halloween program Tuesday for senior residents of Vista Center in Boardman.

The students were under the direction of Dean Wilson, a 38-year veteran of the Boardman’s music-education program.

Educational course

Youngstown

The Help Hotline Crisis Center is offering a six-week mental health educational course called WRAP — Wellness Recovery Action Plan — for anyone suffering with depression or other mental-health issues.

The course starts Monday and will be from 5 to 7 p.m. every Monday evening at the Help Hotline Community Center, 1344 Fifth Ave. To register for classes, call 330-747-5111.

Fracking meeting

Youngstown

Frackfree Mahoning Valley and the Frackfree American National Coalition will have a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown’s Channing Hall, 1105 Elm St.

This is the first in a series of town-hall-style meetings the groups are having to provide information and answer questions about fracking, which they oppose.

Thursday’s meeting will include a presentation about earthquakes and drilling-related topics by Ray Beiersdorfer, a professor of geology at Youngstown State University.

Search for carjacker

YOUNGSTOWN

Police are looking for the armed man who carjacked an elderly woman in her driveway Monday evening.

According to police reports, the 69-year-old Euclid Avenue woman pulled into her driveway shortly after 5 p.m. She got out of her 2006 Chevrolet Impala and was headed into the house when she was approached by a 5-foot 2-inch black male who appeared to be in his teens.

The man pulled out a revolver and demanded the woman’s keys. The woman handed the man her keys, and he took the car, backing out of the driveway and picking up another man who had been waiting on the sidewalk.