Roof burns

Roof burns

WARREN

A fire burned the roof of the former Institutional Foods, 2927 Mahoning Ave., starting about 6 p.m. Monday. Preston Balut, a volunteer Warren Township firefighter, saw the fire while getting gasoline at the Get Go gas station across the street and called 911.

The building is being renovated and was getting a new roof when the fire began, an official with the Warren Township Fire Department said.

Warren Township was assisted by the Warren, Champion and Howland fire departments.

Gunshot wounds

WARREN

Two men suffered gunshot wounds and went to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital for treatment at 4:45 p.m. Monday.

The men, both 25 and of Warren, said the shooting took place in the 1100 block of Oak Knoll Avenue Southeast just south of Youngstown Road.

Lt. Jeff Cole, spokesman and officer in charge at the Warren Police Department, said he could not comment on whether police found any evidence of a shooting at the Oak Knoll address, how serious the gunshot wounds are, how many times they were shot, or what may have led up to the shootings.

Runaway horse killed

NEW CASTLE, PA.

A runaway horse was killed after the Amish buggy it had drawn was struck by a car late Monday afternoon, police said. The buggy, driven by a Volant couple, pulled out of the Aldi grocery store on West North View Avenue at 5:38 p.m. and was hit by a car driven by a Hubbard woman.

The horse got loose, ran toward Wilmington Road in Neshannock Township, then turned around and ran into the back of the Hubbard woman’s car. The horse ran down Maitland Lane, where it was hit head-on and killed by a sport utility vehicle driven by a New Castle woman, police said. The SUV was destroyed. No people were injured in the crashes.

Man arraigned

WARREN

Tedy J. Mendez II, 24, of Laird Avenue in Warren and Western Place in Austintown was arraigned Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court on charges related to the injuries suffered by his 4-year-old daughter.

A judge set bond of $350,000 and entered not-guilty pleas to felonious assault and felony child endangering, the second charge being added Tuesday by Warren police.

Mendez returns to court at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday if he’s not indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury by then.

Police charged Mendez Monday after his daughter was examined at ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital Sunday and found to have various injuries, including bruises to both sides of her face, arms and elbows, and her entire back side. If convicted, Mendez could get more than 15 years in prison.

Woman who died in fire is identified

CHAMPION

The Champion Fire Department has identified the woman who died in Monday morning’s house fire at 6033 Mahoning Ave. as Laura Saunders.

Saunders, 49, was home alone at the time of the 11:50 a.m. fire that destroyed the back and side of the house.

Saunders, who had a disability and used a wheelchair, was found dead of smoke-related injuries in the kitchen.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday it is still investigating, and the cause is still undetermined, but the fire started in the garage.

Military benefits

AUSTINTOWN

Military veterans and their families have a chance to express concerns or ask questions about government benefits, educational opportunities and health care at a Department of Veterans Affairs town-hall meeting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Austintown Senior Center, 100 Westchester Drive.

According to the VA, the meeting is a listening session designed to be an open forum for local VA leadership to benefit from local input from veterans, their families and beneficiaries, veteran service organizations and other nongovernmental and community organizations.

Veterans and their survivors are invited to express their opinion on VA health care and benefits. Service officers will be available for private consultation on benefits.

3rd case of vandalism

BOARDMAN

The Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities reported a third case of vandalism to its vehicles last week.

Police said windows were smashed out of a truck and damage was done to the doors of the truck and to a bus.

Rocks were observed near the damaged vehicles, according to a police report filed Friday.

Two other similar incidents were reported last week, with damage done to two other buses.

The total damage to all four vehicles is estimated at more than $5,000.

Township police set up a camera in the area before the most recent incident. Suspects may have been caught on camera, according to the report.

Boardman schools to have news conference

BOARDMAN

The Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence scheduled a news conference at 9 a.m. today at Superintendent Frank Lazzeri’s office at Center Middle School, 7410 Market St., to announce the fund, in partnership with the Boardman Education Association, would present three grants worth $1,500 to teachers.

Tim Harker, technology teacher at Center Middle School, will receive a grant to purchase “LittleBits tools.”

Whitney Resch and Shannon Carchedi, Center Middle School science teachers, will receive funds to purchase iPads for their classrooms.

Brittany Krestel, Stadium Drive second-grade teacher, will purchase more than 100 audio books for a classroom listening center.