Father acquitted

Father acquitted
WARREN -- A jury deliberated 30 minutes before acquitting 32-year-old David Griffin of charges of permitting child abuse and endangering children.
Prosecutors said Griffin's ex-wife accused him of injuring their child during visitations.
The jury began hearing the case Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Fire in high-rise
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- A Friday morning fire that forced the evacuation of a nine-story, 101-unit senior citizen high-rise is listed as accidental, but the exact cause is still under investigation, according to Fire Lt. Steve Thompson.
The fire, reported at 8:23 a.m., was confined to a second-floor apartment, where it originated in the living room, at Greenville House, 9 Penn Ave.
There were no injuries, and no damage estimate was available.
Literacy workshop
YOUNGSTOWN -- Project Opportunity, a local adult literacy program, will be conducting a free two-part workshop later this year to train volunteer tutors who will help teach reading to adults.
The workshops will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 at the post office on South Walnut Street.
Volunteers have to attend both workshops to serve as a tutor.
To register, call Project Opportunity at (330) 747-7555 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Minority health panel
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gov. Bob Taft has re-appointed Dr. Kenneth G. Cowens of Youngstown to the Ohio Commission on Minority Health for a term ending Sept. 2, 2003.
The commission promotes health and the prevention of disease among members of minority groups.
Members are compensated for expenses only.
1st-time home buyers
YOUNGSTOWN -- Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Youngstown is sponsoring a first-time home-buyer workshop Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This free workshop is designed to cover basic home-buying information such as determining affordability, budget and credit problems and the application process. It will take place at Family Service Agency, 535 Marmion Ave., Youngstown.
All participants will receive a certificate of attendance that will satisfy the education requirement for some mortgage programs.
There is no cost for the workshop. Call (330) 782-9113 to register.
New plates coming
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing its red, white and blue bicentennial license plate Monday for all new and replacement plates.
About six million bicentennial plates have been made by Monday by Ohio Penal Industries at Lebanon Correctional Institution in Warren County.
There are 11.7 million registered vehicles in the state; 2.4 million have blue-and-white plates. BMV officials seek to replace all blue and white plates by 2003.