Thursday, June 16, 2016
Stronger animal laws
COLUMBUS
Individuals who seriously injure pet dogs or cats or kill police dogs or horses will face increased criminal penalties, under legislation signed into law this week by Gov. John Kasich and set to take effect in about three months.
Under the new law, those who “knowingly cause serious physical harm” to companion animals would face felony charges. Under current law, such abuse is considered a misdemeanor on a first offense and a felony on subsequent violations.
Awaiting results
WARREN
Police are awaiting toxicology results to determine what caused a fatal, single-car accident June 6 on Tod Avenue Northwest near Moncrest Drive.
The Trumbull County Coroner’s office ruled that Robert Spencer, 52, of Champion died from multiple blunt traumatic injuries and ruled his death an accident. Coroner’s investigators and Warren police, however, are waiting for toxicology results in about two months to provide more answers.
There were indications of alcohol use, but also questions about possible medical issues, said Capt. Robert Massucci. There were no indications that Spencer made any attempt to take evasive action to avoid the crash. He was not wearing a seat belt when his vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a tree at about 2:30 p.m.
Meals for homebound
WARREN
SCOPE Senior Services of Trumbull County and Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley have partnered to provide free groceries through the summer to the elderly homebound.
SCOPE currently delivers three days a week all over Trumbull County to more than 150 citizens every two weeks. The bulk of those live in a “food desert,” including parts of Warren and many rural areas.
Among the items distributed are peanut butter, milk, orange or grape juice, cereal, beef stew, chunk chicken, elbow macaroni, canned vegetables, canned fruit and cheese.
To apply for food, call 330-399-8846.
Bullets hit house
YOUNGSTOWN
Police found bullet holes in a home Tuesday after a woman in the 1100 block of Woodside Avenue said someone shot at her home.
Officers were called at about 3:25 p.m. to an East Side home, where reports said two men pulled up in front, accused her of pointing a gun at their nephew, fired two shots and left.
Officers found bullet holes in a window and an awning, reports said. No one was injured.
Ads to help kids
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County Children Services Board approved a $4,061 contract with National CineMedia that will place the board’s foster and adoptive parent recruitment video advertisement on a total of 27 screens before movies begin at Cinema South and Tinseltown, both in Boardman, and the Austintown Plaza Cinema, during a peak theater-going period between Sept. 16 and Jan. 5, 2017.
CSB also plans to have a similar message on a $2,000 billboard in the main concourse at Eastwood Field in Niles for the duration of this year’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers baseball season.
It also plans to spend $20,700 with the Lamar Advertising Co. on messages with the same theme on five Mahoning County billboards for six months beginning in July.
Coping with grief
YOUNGSTOWN
A Time for Recovery Outreach, a program for young people age 14 to 21 to offer motivation through education for those experiencing a transition, will offer meetings at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s main branch, 305 Wick Ave. An orientation class is set for Saturday, and the speaker will be evangelist Ramona Martin. Each meeting is from 2 to 4 p.m. The focus of a July 2 meeting will be grieving. Special guest speaker will be Amanda Hilderant of Hospice of the Valley.
Medieval Festival
WARREN
Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE, will present Midsummer’s Knights third annual Medieval Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and full-contact jousting from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children from 5 to 13 years old, and free for those 4 and younger.
The family-oriented event will highlight the sights and sounds of medieval life.
Drive-by shooting
YOUNGSTOWN
A Tod Lane man is in the Mahoning County jail on $30,000 bond after being arraigned for a Tuesday shooting in which no one was injured.
Tyrell Martin, 36, was arraigned Wednesday in municipal court on a charge of felonious assault before Judge Elizabeth Kobly. He was arrested at Parkview and McFarland avenues at about noon Tuesday.
Reports said a 28-year-old man told police he was driving at Garfield and Overland avenues at about 11:10 a.m. Tuesday when a car passed him by and someone fired at him. Reports said the victim then drove to the police station to make a report.
Martin was arrested after he was spotted in a car, reports said.
Burglary video
STRUTHERS
A city store owner hopes security camera video will help identify suspects who burglarized her business.
It happened at Vapor Express Inc. on Youngstown-Poland Road before sunrise Wednesday.
One man, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, smashed the front-door window and proceeded to fill three bags with merchandise, said a report from 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.
An accomplice, whose face was not concealed, was posted outside as a lookout.
Store owner Patty Bondar says an inventory will determine the total value of what was taken.
Anyone who may have information about the suspects should call Struthers police at 330-755-9849.