Downtown streets closing for CityScape

May 28, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

North Phelps Street between Federal and Commerce Streets will be closed for 2014 CityScape for Downtown Youngstown from 3 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Camp helps children learn to cope with grief

ROGERS

Good Grief at Camp Frederick is a free camp for youths age 8-15 who have experienced a loss. The program seeks to integrate therapeutic activities with the fun and challenges of the camping experience.

Participants will learn that grief is a normal feeling and that they are not alone in their grief experience. Camp Frederick teaches that it is OK to have fun while grieving and helps campers understand that they are forever connected to their loved one.

The camp takes place July 27 through Aug. 1 and is accepting applications. For information or a camp application, visit www.campfrederickohio.com, or call 330-227-3633 .

OSHP increases arrests over Memorial Day ’13

COLUMBUS

The Ohio State Highway Patrol made more impaired-driving arrests and issued more seat-belt citations this Memorial Day weekend — from Friday through Monday — than during last year’s holiday weekend.

Troopers made 757 arrests for operating a vehicle while impaired — an increase of more than 7 percent over last year. They also cited 7,278 vehicle occupants for safety violations — an increase of more than 19 percent.

In addition, preliminary statistics show 13 people died over the weekend in traffic accidents, which is a decrease of five deaths compared with 2013. Three of the fatalities are OVI-related, patrol officials said.

Marshals arrest man over hostage situation

liberty

A fugitive who was wanted in connection with a hostage situation in Liberty was arrested and was in the Trumbull County jail.

Ralph W. Smith Jr., 35, of Youngstown, was arrested by U.S. marshals on a warrant filed by Liberty police, said Liberty detective Capt. Toby Meloro. He said Liberty got the call about the arrest at 9 a.m. Tuesday. He did not know when or where the arrest took place. A call to the U.S. Marshals office was not returned.

Smith was wanted in a three-hour standoff May 18 at 3198 Hadley Ave. He and two other people were accused of breaking in at 12:30 p.m. and holding eight people, including a 4-year-old, at gunpoint.

The dispute was over a car the suspects said was stolen from them, a police report indicates.

NAACP youth council

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown NAACP Youth Council will have its second meeting this month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of Youngstown, 2105 Oak Hill Ave., on the city’s South Side.

Discussion topics are the past and present in the civil-rights movement, the concerns of young people, and the opportunity to participate in a Detroit trip in August. The three places to be visited Aug. 15 are: The Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, Motown Historical Museum and the African World Festival.

L.K. Williams, a retired teacher, is the council’s acting adviser. She can be reached at 330-788-1005 or by email at naacp.yc600@gmail.com.