House fire investigation

House fire investigation
WARREN -- Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that caused $45,000 worth of damage to a residence at 1960 Burton St. S.E. about 7 p.m. Monday. Christal Jethrow and her five children were not home when the fire started. Firefighters noted that the family cat died in the blaze, but a dog was rescued. The Trumbull County Chapter of the American Red Cross is helping the family.
Flu shots in Niles
NILES -- The city health department will administer flu shots beginning Monday to people of all ages. The shots will be given from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the department in the city building, West State Street while vaccine supplies last. No appointments will be taken. Cost is $5. Bring Medicare cards.
Santa Claus is coming
NILES -- Santa Claus will arrive downtown at 7 p.m. Monday at the justice center.
The event, sponsored by Niles Lions Club, will include lighting of the tree, caroling, Salvation Army Band and refreshments.
Council tape is missing
WARREN -- The city council clerk told police someone stole a cassette tape from the council room.
The tape is a recording of four recent council committee meetings, said Darla K. Neugebayer.
The clerk said she discovered the tape missing Monday afternoon.
The city is required to keep audiotapes of all council and council committee meetings, she said.
Food bank donation
YOUNGSTOWN -- Customers can buy paper turkeys at local Rite Aid stores for $1 each through Dec. 22, and the money will be donated to Second Harvest Foodbank to feed hungry people in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Customers will have the opportunity to sign their names and hang the turkeys in the store to encourage others to give.
Last year the program generated more than $150,000 for Second Harvest in Ohio and Michigan.
Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley, on East Midlothian Boulevard, provides food to more than 20 agencies in the three counties, including church pantries, homeless shelters, shelters for battered women, and child and adult day-care centers.
Youngstown Connection
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Connection -- a 12-member song and dance troupe representing city high schools -- will be at a news conference in New York City.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani will have the press conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday at a fire station near ground zero, where the World Trade Center's twin towers collapsed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The group also will perform at 9 and 11:50 a.m. in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will be broadcast live on WFMJ-TV Channel 21.
Two face drug charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two people suspected of drug dealing were arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court on drug charges.
Eric Cochran, 22, of Youngstown, and Nicole Rozier, 22, of Niles, are charged with conspiracy to traffic in narcotics with a firearm.
They each face a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted, said Frank D'Alesio, resident agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Youngstown.
The charges stem from a raid Friday on a home at 223 S. Cedar St., Niles, in which drugs, weapons, cash and records were seized, said Niles Police Chief Bruce Simeone.
D'Alesio said Cochran is being held in the Trumbull County jail without bond pending a Monday hearing. Rozier's bond is set at $50,000.
In a related matter, Donna Tabor, 40, of East Second Street, Niles, was arraigned Monday in Niles Municipal Court on a drug abuse charge.
Police said she was in the Cedar home when it was raided. She is free on $500 bond pending a Jan. 7 trial.