METRO DIGEST || Go Baby Go Saturday at OH WOW!

Go Baby Go Saturday

CANFIELD

Volunteers from Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Youngstown State University’s Physical Therapy program, local electricians, teachers and more will host Go Baby Go in conjunction with OH WOW! children’s museum from 8:30 to 1 p.m. Saturday at 7300 N. Palmyra Road. Go Baby Go is a nationally known program that enables children 5 and younger with disabilities to experience the thrill and movement of driving a motorized car. The cars are modified to accommodate physical disabilities including cerebral palsy, down syndrome and spina bifida. For information, contact Bev Lankitus at 330-881-2906 or B.Lankitus@Mahoningesc.org.

Crash injury

WARREN

A vehicle rammed a utility pole at the intersection of East Market and Charles streets at about 9:57 p.m. Thursday. At least one person was injured and transported to a local hospital, according to the Trumbull County 911 Center. The severity of the person’s injury or whether passengers were in the vehicle were not known.

Teacher investigation

LIBERTY

Township police are investigating a substitute teacher for reported improper conduct. Liberty schools Superintendent Stanley Watson said the district contacted police Tuesday after a student reported the substitute to a principal. He declined to elaborate on the allegations. The teacher had worked in several district buildings, but was most recently at Liberty High. The substitute will not return to the district while the inquiry is pending.

Dog owner cited

CAMPBELL

A man faces a misdemeanor citation after police responded Wednesday evening to a complaint of a pit bull-mix dog running loose in the area of Hyatt Avenue. Chelbe Knox, 25, of Campbell will appear Jan. 31 in municipal court on the citation.

Neighbors had complained to police in the past about the dog “aggressively charging at them,” a police report states.

Hubbard phone scam

HUBBARD

Police are urging residents not to fall for a scam targeting city utility customers. Officials say callers are claiming to be city employees, then say the resident has an overdue utility bill and ask for payment information over the phone. The city does not take utility payments over the phone and has no plans to do so in the future. If you receive a call, notify police at 330-534-1133.

YWCA homeless grant

YOUNGSTOWN

The YWCA of Youngstown received a $26,650 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental health and Addiction Services to partner with the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board to assist homeless people with mental illness and addiction problems in maintaining housing through the organization’s transitional housing program. More than 64 percent of participants have a history of mental illness or addiction.

Damascus robotics win

BELOIT

Damascus robotics teams placed first in Ohio and will advance to the final competition. Since Damascus Elementary School Robotics Club was launched last fall, the 16 robotics teams competed in a worldwide Wonder League Robotics competition and out of the 16 West Branch School District teams, seven received perfect scores. Of the 5,347 teams competing, West Branch took first place in Ohio in both the 6- to 8-year-old and 9- to 12-year-old age brackets.

Coitsville trustees

COITSVILLE

Greg Haren has been elected chairman of Coitsville Township trustees. Trustee Phyllis Johnson is vice chairwoman. The board voted to have its regular meetings at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month, excluding July and August. Study-session dates and times will be published in The Vindicator and also on the township’s electronic message board.

Nature photo exhibit

YOUNGSTOWN

Mill Creek MetroParks will begin accepting entries for its Nature Photography Exhibit Tuesday.

Amateur photographers can submit entries and fees at Ford Nature Center through Feb. 5. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Exhibit categories are wild animals, plants – wild or not, wild scenes, people in parks, Mill Creek MetroParks scenes, wild with a human touch, monochrome, and young photographers. The free exhibit will be on display to the public Feb. 18-March 12 at the center. For information or to download an application, visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Pete’s Pride volunteers

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University’s Pete’s Pride program’s participants have now contributed 4,000 volunteer hours. President Jim Tressel created Pete’s Pride – which now has more than 1,300 volunteers – in 2016 to get alumni, parents, faculty, staff, fans and community members involved with the university.

Participants take part in a variety of tasks and activities aimed at recruiting new students, mentoring current students and engaging recent graduates. Volunteers assist with enrollment, career development and outreach efforts. Activities include participation in Crash Day and Experience Y Day visit programs, representing YSU at community events and participating in community-service projects.

Stream Protection Rule

COLUMBUS

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has joined 12 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit to challenge a Department of the Interior regulation called the Stream Protection Rule, which, among other changes, would increase testing of streams associated with mining, Proponents say the added regulations are long-overdue for ensuring water quality. In a statement, DeWine describes the rule as “unlawful” and burdensome for the coal industry.

Coat, clothing giveaway

YOUNGSTOWN

East Side Crime Watch, 1001 Oak St., corner of Fruit St., is having a coat and clothing giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon today. Recipients must bring bags and identification.

Poland trustees

POLAND

Township trustees approved erecting a stop sign on the southwest corner of Renwick Drive at10th Street.

The corner is the only part of the four-way intersection in the village and the township wants to install a stop sign there for traffic safety, officials said Wednesday. Trustee Joanne Wollet first proposed the sign to village council Nov. 15; council approved it Dec. 20. The other three corners already have stop signs. A 50-day temporary sign will be installed before the permanent sign. Trustees also hired Jessica Lewis as part-time police secretary at an initial pay of $10 per hour for up to 30 hours a week.

An annual $1,000 contribution was given to the Mahoning County Crisis Response Team. The last day to recycle Christmas trees is Jan. 31; contact the township road department at 330-757-0733.