METRO DIGEST || Shop for Cause to benefit new pound

Shop for a Cause event

YOUNGSTOWN

Friends of Fido and Mahoning County Dog Pound, collaborating with Macy’s, are participating in the Shop for a Cause event today through Sunday.

Participants can buy a $5 shopping pass for Macy’s bonus savings available at all nationwide stores. All proceeds from ticket sales go to Friends of Fido for a new pound. Participants also are automatically entered into a drawing for a $500 Macy’s gift card.

To buy a ticket, call 330-717-2151 or 330-360-4385. For information, visit www.friendsoffidomahoning.org.

Toddler alone in lot

WARREN

Police were notified when a girl, 3, was found walking alone in a parking lot in the 1600 block of East Market Street at 12:11 p.m. and later learned she was about three-tenths of a mile from her home.

When police went to the child’s home in the 400 block of Kenilworth Avenue Southeast, no one was home, and the front door was “wide open,” police said.

Police found the girl’s stepfather at another address, and he directed police to the house where the child’s mother lives. Police told the woman she would probably be charged with child endangering.

Woman is sentenced after church break-in

WARREN

Michelle L. Rafferty, 33, of Patricia Drive in Girard, was sentenced to six months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to breaking and entering and possessing criminal tools for a break-in at Shiloh Gospel Church, 1310 Shannon Road, Liberty, in June.

She stole food and a small amount of money. Police found her near the church, and DNA found in the church matched Rafferty, prosecutors said. She was sentenced by Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Animal Charity takes 36 animals from house

YOUNGSTOWN

Thirty-six animals were taken from a house on Youngstown’s South Side Wednesday night, and the organization says it is one of their biggest seizures in recent history, according to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

Dog cages were overflowing at Animal Charity on Market Street in Boardman. “When it was all said and done, we took in 25 adult dogs and nine puppies and two cats,” said Mary Louk, board president for Animal Charity. “I’ve got to check the numbers, but I believe this will probably be the biggest hoarding case we’ve had since we took in 200 about four years ago,” Louk said.

The animals were taken from a home on Weston Avenue. Louk says conditions of the house were not pleasant, with the smell being described as “pretty bad.”

911 will use feature

WARREN

The Trumbull County 911 Center plans to begin using a feature in its database to provide first-responders with more information about the special needs of specific individuals at addresses throughout the county.

The system already is used to list potential hazardous materials that firefighters might encounter at various locations.

Expanding that use will inform first-responders if a house contains someone who is physically or intellectually disabled, for instance, said Ernie Cook, county 911 director.

Expanding the system will require hiring a data-entry worker, and notifications will be given to the public to use a link on the county commissioners’ website to provide such information to the 911 center, Cook said.

The county commissioners have authorized the funding to hire the additional worker. Cook hopes to add the link to the website and hire someone within a couple of months.

Man is stabbed during robbery attempt

WARREN

A man whose age and address were not provided suffered a stab wound to the right side of his chest and had crashed into a crosswalk light at the corner of West Market Street and Southern Boulevard early Thursday.

Police found the man outside the truck on his back, bleeding. The victim and another man who helped interpret because of a language barrier told police the man had been stabbed at the Avon Oaks apartments on Southern Boulevard during a robbery attempt.

The victim was taken by ambulance to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Car rolls over on I-680

BOARDMAN

A car rolled over on Interstate 680 southbound, south of Midlothian Boulevard, at about 3 p.m. Thursday.

According to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said the cause is undetermined.

The driver was taken to the hospital and her condition was unknown late Thursday night.

Jeep hits poles, flips

AUSTINTOWN

A Jeep struck two utility poles and flipped over on Mahoning Avenue near Wickliffe Circle Thursday afternoon.

Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said the driver was thrown from the vehicle when the vehicle rolled over just a little after noon.

The driver, who was not identified, was transported to an unspecified hospital to be treated for nonlife-threatening injuries.

Officials said distracted driving may be to blame for the accident, which is under investigation.

Church offers produce

YOUNGSTOWN

Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 920 Dryden Ave., will offer produce and food bags from 10 a.m. to noon today Proper identification is required. Bring containers.

Closed for repairs

NILES

The city closed West Federal Street at the corner of West Federal and Main Street on Thursday for two or three days as that portion of the street undergoes construction for a sanitary-sewer break.