$1M grant in Niles

$1M grant in Niles

NILES

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, announced a $1,007,352 award to the Niles Fire Department from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

“This grant provides funding for additional manpower only, and I am pleased that it is at no cost to the city,” said Niles Mayor Thomas Scarnecchia.

Added Fire Chief David Danielson: “This SAFER grant is sorely needed for the Niles Fire Department with the city being in fiscal emergency. This will enable the department to get to the authorized staffing level for the first time since 2007. I would like to thank Lt. John Stevens for writing for this and Rep. Ryan for the assistance he provided in obtaining this grant.”

Added charge

YOUNGSTOWN

A man wanted on a municipal court warrant picked up an additional charge after being accused of lying to police.

According to a police report, officers pulled over a car driven by James Gilmer, 35, of Willis Avenue, about 7:40 p.m. at Commerce and North Hazel streets downtown because of an expired temporary tag, and when officers asked Gilmer for his information, he gave them a false name.

When police found out the name was false, they confirmed Gilmer had warrants, reports said, and he was charged with obstruction of official business and taken to the Mahoning County jail.

Drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

Police said they found two needles, two crack pipes, a dose of suspected heroin and a Suboxone strip in a car they pulled over about 8:05 p.m. Tuesday at South and East Florida avenues on the South Side.

According to a police report, Joshua Kosa, 33, of North Jackson, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on charges of possession of drugs, possession of drug-abuse instruments and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Reports said the car was searched after Kosa, the driver, told police he had a needle in his pocket.

More drug charges

BOARDMAN

Two men face drug-related charges after township police arrested them Tuesday night.

Officers found Campbell resident Benjamin Mumford, 42, of Whipple Avenue passed out in his car in the parking lot of Home Depot on Southern Boulevard.

They saw a hypodermic needle in his car and found a bag of suspected heroin after a search, according to a report. He was charged with drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Later that night, police found township resident Nicholas Burnett, 31, of Erskine Avenue in his car on the front lawn of a house on Southern Boulevard. Officers reportedly saw Burnett had a burnt spoon and a syringe in his hands while the car was still running.

An ambulance took Burnett, who had difficulty regaining consciousness, to St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital. Police charged him with operating a vehicle while impaired and possession of drug paraphernalia after the hospital discharged him.

Mumford was taken to the Mahoning County jail, and Burnett was released to his home.

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