Man reports being robbed at gunpoint

WARREN – A man walking on Second Street in Warren said he was robbed at gunpoint late Wednesday.

Mitchell D. Johnson of Main Avenue S.W. told police he was walking south on Wood Street nearing Second Street when he saw four men walking the same direction at a distance behind him. He turned onto Second Street and walked faster, and they increased their speed until they caught up with him, the police report states.

One of the men held a silver handgun while another emptied his pockets of a cell phone and $43. Johnson said his wallet, including his identification, was returned to him. He was not injured, the report states.

Johnson described the robbers as black men in their early 20s, one of whom wore a gray sweatshirt and had dreadlocks.

Greene trustees seek fiscal officer applicants

GREENE – Greene Township trustees are looking to fill the position of fiscal officer after the recent resignation of the officer.

Trustees will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the township hall, state Route 87 and Durst Colebrook Road, to receive resumes.

Individuals interested in filling the position are asked to bring their resumes and letter of interest to the town hall.

Culvert work planned in Southington

SOUTHINGTON – Phalanx Mills Herner Road between state Route 534 and Herner Countyline Road will be closed today through Monday for culvert replacement work.

The Trumbull County Engineer’s office is recommends the following detour: north on Route 534 and west on Herner Countyline Road.

Food bank sending water to Toledo

YOUNGSTOWN – Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley will ship more than 1,000 gallons of bottled water to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. The water will leave around 11 a.m. today.

They join other Ohio food banks in pitching in to get safe drinking water to Toledo area residents after reports of contaminated water supplies earlier in the week.

Michael Iberis, executive director, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley said food banks are the key leaders in Ohio’s emergency food assistance network.

“Our most pressing and ongoing work is providing food in the event of emergencies related to job loss, illness and other hunger-causing crises. But we are also here as a network to respond in the event of emergencies like the water contamination in northwest Ohio, ” he said.

Vehicle theft ring suspects indicted

YOUNGSTOWN – Five Trumbull County residents were indicted by a Mahoning County grand jury Thursday on 10 counts in connection to a theft ring stealing from unlocked car and trucks.

Indicted were Rex Putnam, 34, of Warren; Roxann Putnam, 32, of Warren; Mark Mansfield, 30, of Niles; Tera Watters, 24, of Niles; and Keith Sarrach, 23, of Niles.

Each faces one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, one count of felony burglary, one count of attempted theft, four counts of felony theft and three counts of receiving stolen property.

In late June, Putnam and Mansfield, both of Niles, were arrested when Mahoning County deputies and members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force raided a home on Huntley Drive in Howland.

Watters, Sarrach and Putnam were arrested after a string of thefts in Poland during a separate raid.

Officials said that during the raid, they found five duffel bags full of suspected stolen merchandise, including cell phone and GPS units believed to have taken from unlocked vehicles around southern Mahoning County, including Canfield.

Investigators reported having at least 25 thefts in the Canfield area the past couple of months, with dozens more in other communities in southern Mahoning County.

Tribune Chronicle

At a glance

Warren pedestrian robbed at gunpoint

WARREN – A city man reported being robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night in the 1400 block of Kenilworth Avenue S.E. while walking to the store.

Charles Long, 27, of Kenilworth Avenue S.E., told police said he was walking north around 11:45 p.m. when a male with a black hoodie came from behind him and pointed a gun, according to a Warren police report. He told police he tried to run, but the assailant stuck the handgun into his chest, reached into Long’s pockets and took his money, the report states.

The gunman ran toward Youngstown Road, the report states. He was was described as wearing dark jeans and a dark T-shirt, with a black and white bandanna covering his face.

Warren man indicted on child porn charges

WARREN – A Trumbull County grand jury handed up indictments Wednesday morning on 15 felony counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor against Eric W. Filicky, 26, of Scott Street, Hubbard.

Last month, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations, assisted by Hubbard police and the Trumbull County Child Pornography Task Force, arrested Filicky after Trumbull County prosecutors filed charges of pandering sexual materials.

Investigators raided the house where he was staying on July 21 and confiscated electronic devices, including telephones, flash drives and other equipment.

Painesville man listed as Fugitive of the Week

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Walter ”Pookie” Tate, who is listed as the Fugitive of the Week.

Tate is wanted by the U.S. Marshals and the Painesville Police Department in connection to a homicide. He is accused of shooting James Brown, a family member, on July 4 after an argument at a family party.

Tate is described as a 37-year-old black man standing approximately 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Tate has ties to Painesville, Cleveland and Detroit. He also has a previous address near the 20500 block of Sunset Drive in Warrensville Heights.

Anyone with information should contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to 847411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available.

Child falls off slide at Mosquito Lake park

BAZETTA – A toddler was transported Wednesday to St. Joseph Health Center after falling off of a sliding board at Mosquito Lake State Park. The 2-year-old boy was listed as breathing but unresponsive when emergency crews arrived just before 5:30 p.m., according to reports.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the park, also responded. An ODNR spokeswoman said the incident occurred on the beach, but no other information was available.

The child’s condition was not released as of late Wednesday. The identity of the child and family also were not released.

Police kill rifle-wielding man at Ohio Wal-Mart

BEAVERCREEK – A man in a southwest Ohio WalMart store waved a rifle at customers, including children, and was fatally shot by police when he wouldn’t drop the weapon, according to police and a recorded 911 call from a witness.

Authorities say a customer also died after suffering a medical problem during the evacuation of the store Tuesday. Police identified her as Angela Williams, 37, of Fairborn.

Police identified the man shot Tuesday night at a WalMart in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek as 22-year-old John Crawford of Cincinnati. He died at a hospital.

Staff, wire reports

At a glance

Agency to offer child support amnesty plan

WARREN – Trumbull County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) is offering license reinstatement and contempt warrant amnesty through the end of August.

Men and women whose license has been suspended can request for it to be reinstated in exchange for paying one month of their obligation, plus $1 on their debt. Those with contempt warrants for failing to appear at a child support hearing or not reporting to jail to serve their child support-related sentence may have their warrant withdrawn under the same arrangement.

For more information on the amnesty programs, call CSEA at 330-675-2732.

Fran DeWine in town to campaign today

WARREN – Fran DeWine, wife of Republican Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, will be at the Warren Women’s Club, 708 N. Park Ave., at 2 p.m. today to campaign for her husband’s re-election.

Mike DeWine, seeking a second term, is being challenged by Democrat David Pepper, a former councilman in Cincinnati and commissioner of Hamilton County.

Eastern Gateway has 48th lowest net price

STEUBENVILLE – Eastern Gateway Community College has been ranked the 48th-lowest for net price of attendance in the United States.

The net price of the college is $3,360 as compared with the national average of $7,160 among the 1,200 public, two-year higher education institutions, according to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics data report.

The net price is calculated after scholarships and grant aid are applied and considers in-state, in-district students.

The report also stated EGCC’s net price is the second-lowest among two-year colleges in Ohio and lowest in its service district and the surrounding area.

Eastern Gateway has centers in Warren and Youngstown.

Mathews BOE to meet about sewer project

VIENNA – The Mathews Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Baker Elementary library to discuss the potential impact of the sewer construction project on district operations and other matters. Action may be taken.

Man, 90, gets 4 years in wife’s ‘mercy’ killing

ELYRIA – A 90-year-old Avon man has been sentenced to four years in prison for killing his wife of 65 years – but he could be released after serving six months.

Robert Shaw was originally charged with aggravated murder for smothering his 84-year-old wife, Virginia, in November 2008. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in June as part of a plea deal.

Shaw’s daughter thanked prosecutors and the Lorain County judge during a hearing Monday for how they treated their father.

Shaw’s attorney had said his client killed his sick wife to end her suffering caused by medical problems. The attorney said Monday his client accepts responsibilities for his actions and is at peace with the sentence.

Staff, wire reports

At a glance

Probation revoked for Howland man

WARREN – A 20-year-old Howland man was sentenced to three years in prison Monday after he was found guilty of a probation violation after avoiding a prison term in May.

Jesse Lee Ellsworth of Bayberry N.E. was sentenced in May by Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Peter Kontos to complete a program at Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (NEOCAP), but was aggressive toward staff members and other clients in the program, thus not completing the program, according to a probation officer.

He was convicted of receiving stolen property and burglarizing the home of attorney Ned Gold on Bayberry, who spoke on behalf of Ellsworth, a neighbor.

Young boy reports sex assault by teen

WARREN – A city teen accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old boy is facing a felony rape charge.

The 4-year-old, also a Warren resident, reported last Friday that he was assaulted by the 15-year-old boy sometime after July 1, according to a Warren police report.

The teen was taken into police custody and booked into the Trumbull County Juvenile Justice Center, the report states.

No other information was provided.

Police: Man hits Lowe’s employee, steals tools

WARREN – A man who stole power tools from a home improvement store hit an employee who met him at the door as he was leaving, police said.

Police received a complaint on Friday from a loss prevention manager at Lowe’s, 940 Niles Cortland Road S.E., Warren. The manager reported that a white male wearing a green jacket, blue jeans and red shirt came into the business about 6 p.m. Thursday and grabbed $249 in power tools, according to a Warren police report. The man hit the female employee before running from the store and getting into a white truck, reports state.

The police report indicates that the incident was recorded on the store’s video surveillance camera.

YSU to hold installation for Tressel on Aug. 18

The ninth president of Youngstown State University will be installed during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Beeghly Center on campus.

James P. Tressel will give an address as well as the oath of office during the event, which is open to the public. Free parking will also be available. A reception will follow the installation ceremony.

The ceremony will be streamed live at www.horizonleague.org/live/11613.

Warren streets to close for Italian Festival

WARREN – Several streets in downtown Warren will be closed Wednesday through 9 a.m. Monday for the Italian American Festival.

Roads closed during the festival are West Market Street from North Park Avenue to Main Street, Mahoning Avenue from High Street and Market Street, High Street from Mahoning Avenue to North Park and Harmon Avenue.

Ohio may establish its own poet laureate

COLUMBUS – Ohio is one of six states that don’t have an official state poet – but a bill in the Ohio Legislature could change that.

A bill that has passed the Senate would create the position of Ohio poet laureate.

Chiquita Mullins Lee, a program coordinator with the Ohio Arts Council, told The Columbus Dispatch that popular music has helped create awareness about the powerful art of poetry. That makes the establishment of the Ohio position timely.

The bill says qualifications for the job would include “proven history in poetry that includes works published in books, anthologies, literary journals, or magazines …”

While 44 states have an official poet, the role is a more recent trend, with many states establishing it only within the past 20 years.

Staff, wire reports

At A Glance

Howland to meet

on annexation

HOWLAND – Howland Township trustees will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the township administration building for the purpose of approving an annexation agreement between the township and the city of Niles.

Bristol Library

Board to meet today

BRISTOL – The Bristol Public Library Board of Trustees will hold its regular meeting at 9 a.m. today at the library.

Hubbard to hold National Night Out

HUBBARD – Hubbard Township and Hubbard City police departments will join together for the annual National Night Out from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Kyle Pavilion at Harding Park off Roosevelt Drive.

This is the fifth year that Hubbard has participated in the annual event, which focuses on educating the public on crime and drug prevention. The public can meet safety forces.

The event will include a car show, softball game between the township and city, food and a chance to meet the Hubbard varsity football team.

The annual Night Out began 31 years ago and has been held nationwide the first Tuesday in August.

For information, call 330-534-8477, Ext. 352.

Drug charges filed against liquor permits

COLUMBUS – State investigators filed more than 200 drug-related administrative charges against liquor permits in Ohio last year.

The Ohio Investigative Unit says its agents filed 267 administrative charges against liquor permits for drug use, possession, sales and sales or possession of drug paraphernalia in 2013.

The state agency enforces Ohio’s liquor laws and says allowing or even participating in illegal drug activity violates liquor permits.

Administrative charges are presented to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission. That group has the authority to issue penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocation of liquor permits.

Village attempts to downsize council

ROGERS – Village Council will have to wait until next year to seek voter permission to downsize.

Council was scheduled to meet in special session to consider placing a ballot issue before voters in the Nov. 4 election that, if approved, would allow the size of council to be reduced from six members to five.

That meeting was canceled after village Fiscal Officer Dale Davis told Mayor Sandy Chambers that it appeared the issue can only be placed before voters during years when elected village positions are on the ballot. The next election involving Rogers council members is November 2015.

Davis learned this after sending a draft of the proposed resolution to Adam Booth, county elections board director, who said village official races only occur in odd-numbered years.

“You can’t do it in an even year. You have to do it at a time when you are holding municipal elections, and this is not the year for municipal elections,” Booth said. “They can do it (downsize) and it’s legitimate. They just have to wait to put it on the ballot.”

The village of 235 has been having problems for years finding enough people willing to serve on council, let alone run for mayor, and it was only recently they found a fifth person willing to serve.

They decided to pursue the downsizing option after being unable to find anyone in the village over the past six months interested in taking the vacant sixth council position.

Staff, wire reports

At a glance

Three already in race for state schools seat

Three people, so far, are running for a seat on the State Board of Education in District 7, a six-county region that includes all of Trumbull County.

Up for the nonpartisan seat are Michael Charney of North Kingsville, Sarah E. Fowler of Rock Creek, who was elected to the seat in 2012 to fill an unexpired term, and David A. Spencer of Kent.

The district also includes all of Ashtabula, Geauga and Portage counties and portions of Lake and Summit counties. The 19-member board that has 11 district representatives and eight at-large representatives creates policy and makes recommendations for kindergarten through 12th grade education in Ohio. The deadline to file to run is Aug. 6.

Warren man charged with rape of boy, 13

WARREN – A city man charged with the rape of a 13-year-old boy was being held at the Trumbull County Jail in lieu of $100,000 after his arraignment on Friday.

Gary S. Kachenko, 56, of 626 Phillips Drive S.W., who was arraigned in Warren Municipal Court, is due back in municipal court next Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Details about the case are sketchy. However, a Warren police report indicates that the investigation was initiated July 21 when officers were called to Kachenko’s home, where they received a complaint “about a possible assault on a minor” at a nearby residence.

Court records list July 20 as the date the offense allegedly occurred.

Resurfacing plans made for West Market Street

WARREN – This time next year, work will be under way to improve one of the main roads that heads into and out of Warren.

The city intends to begin work to resurface about 2.5 miles of West Market Street between Lovers Lane and Main Street in July 2015. The project includes planning, asphalt resurfacing, as-needed concrete repairs, curb ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and new markings and signs.

It’s estimated to cost about $1.4 million with federal funds covering 80 percent.

Questions or comments can be submitted through Aug. 29 to Paul Makosky, director of Warren’s Engineering, Planning and Building Department, 540 Laird Ave. S.E. or by phone at 330-841-2973.

U.S. senator to headline Democratic fundraiser

CANFIELD – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, will headline the 2014 Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman’s dinner Aug. 22 in Canfield.

Anyone interested in attending may contact party treasurer Ric Clautti at 330-502-2997, online at www.mahoningcountydems.org or on the party’s Facebook page. Tickets for the event that will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. cost $500 a piece.

Booker, elected to the Senate in 2013, previously served as Mayor of Newark, N.J.

Turnpike director to lead Health Department

COLUMBUS – Ohio Gov. John Kasich has tapped the state’s turnpike commission director to lead the Department of Health.

Kasich says Rick Hodges, a former state lawmaker with experience as a health care manager, has proven management ability to lead the department.

Kasich also named public health clinician Dr. Mary Applegate as the agency’s interim medical director and said she’ll support Hodges by focusing on medical issues.

Kasich says Hodges successfully changed turnpike operations to cut costs and led a new bonding effort to help improve Ohio roads linking to the turnpike.

The state’s former health director, Dr. Theodore Wymyslo, joined a trade association representing community health centers after stepping down in February.

Staff, wire reports

At a glance

Hearing set for man in arson case

AUSTINTOWN – A preliminary hearing for a man accused of setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home has been set for next Wednesday.

John Petroff, 41, of Youngstown, is charged with five counts of aggravated arson. He is being held at the Mahoning County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Petroff is accused of setting fire to the woman’s Navarre Avenue home, the garage and a truck, reports state.

The woman, who had a restraining order against Petroff at the time, told police that her dogs alerted her to the fire just after midnight Wednesday.

A neighbor told police that he saw Petroff running away and that his clothes were on fire. The neighbor chased Petroff to the back of a house on Potomac Avenue, where police arrested him.

Warren to conduct hydrant flushing

WARREN – The city of Warren Water Department will conduct fire hydrant flushing in the city’s southeast section from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday starting Monday.

Utility Services Director Robert Davis said tap water may be discolored, but the water is safe to drink. Water customers are advised to run faucets before using them or doing laundry.

Davis said the flushing of the hydrants is mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

TNP extends mural deadline

WARREN – Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, of TNP, is extending the deadline for artists to submit sketches for a public mural to 10 a.m. Monday

The chosen artist will be given $6,000 to paint the mural on a wall at the site of the former Mahoningside Power Plant on Summit Street N.W. The wall is 11 feet tall and 100 feet long.

For more details, call TNP at 330-599-9275 or email at matt@tnpwarren.org.

Fire crews called to Amish business

MESOPOTAMIA – Fire crews from several area departments were called to Custom Pallet Manufacturing Thursday morning to extinguish a fire at the Amish-owned building.

Reports state that a sawdust bin caught fire just after 9 a.m., destroying the bin at the North Girdle Road business.

The fire was contained within the hour and no injuries were reported.

Pot on stove cause of Warren fire

WARREN – Fire officials have confirmed that the Wednesday night fire at a duplex at 317 Parkman Road N.W. was caused by a pot on the stove in the kitchen of the upstairs apartment.

Warren fire Chief Ken Nussle said the blaze caused significant damage to the upstairs, especially the kitchen area.

Four occupants upstairs, including a 6-month-old girl, and one resident downstairs escaped and were out of the structure before emergency crews arrived around 7:30 p.m. Two people suffered minor injuries but did not seek medical attention.

Damage is estimated to be about $20,000 to the structure and $10,000 to the contents. The listed owner is Patty Helmick, according to the Trumbull County Auditor’s Office.

Tribune Chronicle

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