Ruling: Man died of natural causes

Ruling: Man died of natural causes

YOUNGSTOWN

A man found dead inside a North Side home late Tuesday morning appears to have died of natural causes, police said.

Officers were called to a home in the 500 block of Redondo Road home about 11 a.m. after a fire crew broke down a door and discovered an elderly man inside dead. Neighbors called 911 because they said they had not heard from the man for four days and none of their calls were returned or visits answered.

The doors were locked when the fire crew arrived, which is why fire crews had to break down a door.

Neighbors said the man had lived in the home for at least three years. Police did not release his name. The Mahoning County Coroner’s office was called.

Homeless man faces drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested a homeless man Tuesday on drug charges.

At 10:40 a.m., police found John Stanley Douglas, 40, sleeping behind the steering wheel of a parked car on Pine Hollow Drive and with a syringe on his lap.

Douglas, who owns the car, told police he had just finished doing $30 worth of heroin, and has been parking in the area because his mother lives down the street. After searching the car, police found two additional syringes — one containing suspected heroin — and a metal pan holding an aluminum can used to heat the heroin. Police cited Douglas for drug possession and possession of drug-abuse instruments.

United Way Day at OH WOW!

YOUNGSTOWN

Today will be United Way Day at the OH WOW! Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology, 11 W. Federal St.

Guests will earn free admission from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. by wearing a United Way Day of Caring T-Shirt.

All other proceeds from paid admission today also will benefit the United Way.

Bumper crop of corn

YOUNGSTOWN

Last summer, a field of sunflowers bloomed across the street from the church rectory at St. Patrick Church, 1410 Oak Hill Ave. Community gardeners and 4-H members are harvesting a bumper crop of corn for a corn roast on church grounds from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today. The event is free, but reservations are requested.

Every day throughout the summer, community gardeners worked with the active group of 4-H members to weed and water their plots and the acre of corn that has been flourishing in a space that formerly housed abandoned buildings. For reservations, call the church office, 330-743-1109.

MCESC partners with Struthers schools

STRUTHERS

Mahoning County Educational Service Center announced a partnership with Struthers City Schools.

The district has leased the former Manor Elementary School to MCESC.

Ron Iarussi, MCESC superintendent, said the county moved three K-6 special-education classrooms to the Manor building which houses three preschool programs.

“The move separated elementary students from high-school students and gives them a great learning environment,” Iarussi said. The move also provided the Manor building with a principal, Jim Mayberry, a full-time secretary and a social worker. The elementary students also now have a playground, gymnasium and cafeteria. All classrooms also have an educational assistant.

The county has an additional 27 special-education classrooms housed in other districts.

Two men arrested on drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested two men from out of town Monday in a North Side neighborhood on drug charges.

At 5:15 p.m. Anthony Sabella, 36, of Hubbard, was found coming out the back door of a house on Roslyn Avenue and getting in his car. Police pulled him over, and he appeared nervous and told officers he had a spoon in his pockets for preparing heroin. Inside the car, police found a dose of heroin and three needles. He was arrested on charges of possession of drugs/heroin, possessing drug-abuse instruments and drug paraphernalia and taken to the Mahoning County jail.

About 7:15 p.m. police also found Thomas Zachary, 29, of Mercer, Pa., sitting in a SUV in the parking lot of an apartment building on West Dennick Avenue. He was questioned because of the number of drug arrests in the area, and he also appeared nervous. Police found two needles where he had been standing and found a crack pipe in his pocket. He was cited for possessing drug-abuse instruments and drug paraphernalia and released.