Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Woman reports being grabbed and robbed
WARREN
A city woman, 34, reported being grabbed from behind on Austin Avenue Southwest at 9:20 a.m. Monday while walking her dog.
The man, in his 30s with midlength hair and beard and a scar above the right side of his upper lip, asked for a cigarette and to use her phone.
When she said no, he grabbed her around the neck and restrained her, causing injuries to her neck. The investigating officer observed marks on her neck.
The man bent her over at the waist, and she scratched his face, but he let her go when she screamed for help, she said. He ripped a necklace off her neck and took a ring from her finger and left, she said.
Warren Fire Department to give promotional exam
WARREN
The Warren Fire Department will give the promotional exam for entry-level firefighters from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 10 at Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road NE.
The Warren Civil Service Commission will accept applications at the Warren Fire Station on South Street from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 31 and 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 4.
A reason for the exam is to provide a list from which to hire 15 firefighters with the city’s recently awarded two-year, $2.4 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters grant.
City officials have accepted the grant, but the city has a half-percent income tax on the ballot Nov. 8, and Mayor Doug Franklin has not given a clear answer as to what they will do about the grant if the income tax fails. The city doesn’t have to begin hiring under the grant until Feb. 20, Franklin said.
Merger for Habitat
YOUNGSTOWN
Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley will announce Thursday its merger with the Habitat affiliate in Northern Columbiana County.
The merger will have HFHMV serving Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, making it a true “Mahoning Valley” service area. Proposed merge date is Jan. 1. The board of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Columbiana County voted to merge after months of serious discussion and preparation to centralize administrative functions, according to a news release.
Road-salt pact expected
WARREN
Apparently there will be no drama this year over road-salt prices, with Trumbull County paying $44.55 per ton.
The county commissioners today are expected to award a contract to Compass Minerals America Inc. of Overland Park, Kan. The contract’s $44.55-per-ton price is good through July 31.
Jack Simon, an assistant to county Engineer Randy Smith, said he believes the price is down from this time last year when it was $55.97 per ton because of the mild winter last year, “and everybody’s [loading] docks are all full.”
Most of the county’s highway departments participate in the county’s bulk-salt buying and storage program, so the salt at the county engineer’s office can be used up quickly, Simon said.
The county paid $66.75 per ton for the salt it bought during the summer last year.
Car hits headstones
GIRARD
A car hit five headstones Tuesday morning after crashing into Girard Cemetery on North State Street.
A police report says the driver veered off the roadway into the cemetery at about 11 a.m. The fire department responded to the scene due to the car’s ruptured gas tank. No injuries were reported.
Campbell financial audit lists recommendations
CAMPBELL
A financial audit of the city released Tuesday includes recommendations for improvement. The state auditor completed the report for the year ending Dec. 31, 2015. The audit noted that expenditures for multiple funds exceeded the amount of money appropriated plus the prior year’s encumbrances – which is contrary to Ohio law and contributes to negative fund balances.
Additionally, the audit found monthly bank reconciliations were not always completed in a timely manner. After council members raised this issue earlier this year, the finance director promised he will complete reconciliations more quickly. Lastly, the audit noted irregularities relating to the way the city posts receipts and disbursements.
This year, the city moved to an electronic rather than manual system for this process, which should resolve some of the issues. The city responded to all the audit’s findings by stating the city would implement the state’s recommendations.
Narcan needed for driver
WARREN
The driver of an SUV that flipped and hit another car in Warren had to be revived with Narcan while he was still upside-down inside his vehicle.
The crash shut down a portion of South Street on Monday, according to 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.
Police say Bradley Maughan, 27, admitted to snorting heroin right before he got behind the wheel.
Police say he lost control of his SUV while traveling westbound on South Street Southwest. They say he drove into a parking lot, narrowly missed telephone poles and then plowed into oncoming traffic before he hit another car.
The driver of the other car, Mychael Porterfield suffered bruises and a sore back.
The TV station reported police plan to charge Maughan with operating a vehicle impaired and failure to control his vehicle.
Record park attendance
BOARDMAN
Boardman Park recorded an all-time record attendance of 3,000 people for its Family Friendly Haunted Wagon Rides last weekend.
The park also had triple the number of attendees at its Boo Thru the Woods event, with 2,100 this year, compared to 700 last year.
The park’s Halloween programming continues the next two weekends. Wagon rides are Saturday and Sunday and Oct. 28 and 29. Tickets will be sold from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with rides starting at dusk.
For information, visit www.boardmanpark.com or call the park office at 330-726-8105.