METRO DIGEST || Airmen return today to Youngstown base

Airmen return today

VIENNA

More than 60 members and two aircraft of the 910th Airlift Wing were to return today to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station after a 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While deployed, the airmen, members of the 757th Airlift Squadron and the 910th Maintenance Group here, were assigned to the 746th and 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadrons.

During their overseas tour, they completed 1,275 flying hours, flew 604 sorties, moved 4,311 passengers, hauled 1,813 tons of cargo and transported 36 patients during more than 300 missions. They also flew humanitarian missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Allegiant flight delays

VIENNA

The flights of two planeloads of passengers heading for St. Petersburg and Orlando, Fla., from Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport on Allegiant Airlines were delayed several hours Thursday before taking off.

The flight scheduled to leave for St. Petersburg at 6:30 p.m. did not board passengers until about 10:30 p.m., and the flight supposed to leave at 7:30 p.m. for Orlando was scheduled to leave about 11:30 p.m., said Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the local airport.

Dickten said the original plane to St. Petersburg had a fuel leak, and the other was delayed in St. Petersburg for maintenance issues. He said all the passengers received complimentary food at the airport restaurant.

Robotics Challenge set

AUSTINTOWN

The Mahoning Valley is hosting the inaugural Robotics Challenge, the FIRST competition in Northeast Ohio. The opening ceremony will feature Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel, who will kick off the competition at 9 a.m. Saturday in Austintown Fitch High School’s main gym. The Robotics Challenge boasts 22 teams from Ohio and Pennsylvania. Six local teams will participate: Austintown, Warren Harding, Champion, Girard, Canfield and Cardinal Mooney.

The competition is scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m., and admission is free. Please bring a nonperishable food item to the event to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Library closing

CANFIELD

Canfield Library will close at the end of Saturday to prepare for the building of the new library at the same site. According to a release from the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Canfield library, 43 W. Main St., will be emptied and demolished. The groundbreaking for the new library is Oct. 3, and a temporary library location will open Oct. 1 at Mill Creek Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road. The hours of the temporary facility will be 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Man robs gas station

WARREN

A gunman robbed the Pit Stop gas station, 1001 Elm Road, at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday. One of three employees in the business said the robber pointed the gun at his face while demanding the register drawer. The suspect then pushed him out of the way and took the drawer and fled. Two other employees working at the time said they didn’t know the robbery was occurring.

Girl injured in fight

WARREN

A 14-year-old Warren G. Harding High School student suffered minor injuries after being assaulted by a 16-year-old female student at the high school.

Police said the two girls were arguing when the older girl “became enraged” and struck the younger one. The older girl also pulled out a knife, but the report doesn’t indicate that the knife was used. Police recovered the knife. No charges were filed, according to a police report.

Streets closed for events

YOUNGSTOWN

These downtown streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday for the Steelathon Race: Walnut Street and Lincoln Avenue to Phelps Street to Rayen Avenue to Commerce Street. Due to the fourth annual Silly Science event Sunday, West Federal Street will be closed between Phelps and Market Street/Central Square from 2 a.m. through 8 p.m. Sunday.

Sunset at the Farm

CANFIELD

Mill Creek MetroParks will present Sunset at the Farm at the MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The event is a chance for attendees to watch the sunset, listen to folk music, roast marshmallows over the campfire, explore the animal barn and a corn maze, watch cider and homemade apple-butter demonstrations and take a tractor-drawn wagon ride. The event is free and open to the public. Pony rides and face-painting will be available for a small fee.

Farm bureau meeting

CANFIELD

The Mahoning County Farm Bureau has set its annual meeting for Oct. 1 at A La Cart Catering, 429 Lisbon St.. The event will begin with a social reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner at 7. The annual meeting will highlight the activities of the past year and lay the groundwork for programs in the upcoming year.

Active farmer members will have the responsibility of voting on proposed policies as well as electing board trustee and delegates to the 2015 Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. There also will be a code of regulations change to consider. All Mahoning County Farm Bureau members are invited. Tickets are $16 each. Call the bureau office at 440-437-8700 for information. Reservations are due by Thursday.