Competent for trial

Competent for trial
WARREN -- A Youngstown man has been found competent to stand trial in the February slayings of two people. John Staples, 24, of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, was indicted in March on two counts of capital murder.
He is accused in the shooting deaths of Hope E. Houser, 34, of Campbell, who was employed by Burdman Group in Youngstown, and Wynn Bogan, 23, of Lowellville, a Burdman client.
Burdman Group provides vocational rehabilitation under a contract with the Mahoning County Mental Health Board. Staples also was a client.
Houser and Bogan were shot in the back of their heads at Belmont Avenue and Gypsy Lane as they sat in the front seat of a Burdman van. Houser was driving the two men to a work site.
Arrested in burglary
WARREN -- A 24-year-old homeless man has been arrested on charges of aggravated burglary and assault. Detective Dan Mason said Matthew Reed was arrested this morning. Mason said Reed is accused of breaking into the home of an 81-year-old Buena Vista woman and assaulting her May 24. The victim was not seriously injured, Mason said. Reed is scheduled to appear in municipal court later today.
Mason said he was able to arrest Reed because of the help of Detective Daniel Kosco of the Austintown Police Department. Mason said some of the checks taken from the victim were cashed at a store in Austintown.
Strawberry festival
CORTLAND -- The Trumbull County Farm Bureau's annual Strawberry and Cream Festival will begin at 8 p.m. June 14 in the Lakeview High School cafeteria.
Entertainment will be provided by performer Danny G. All farm bureau members and their families are invited.
For more information, contact the bureau office at (440) 437-8700.
Suspected marijuana
CAMPBELL -- Five bags of suspected marijuana were found on a 16-year-old boy in a restroom at Campbell Memorial High School Wednesday afternoon. According to police reports, a 14-year-old boy was also in the restroom. The 16-year-old told police the suspected marijuana belonged to the younger boy. The juvenile officer is investigating.
Seniors admit vandalism
POLAND -- Six Poland Seminary High School seniors will be punished for vandalizing Poland Middle School with spray paint last month.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn said the six boys admitted the vandalism shortly after graffiti was found on outer school walls May 23.
Zorn said it is a senior tradition to paint the silver bell in front of the middle school. However, these boys took it a step too far, Zorn said, painting graffiti on the south wall, rear walls and sidewalk.
Power washing and sandblasting costs totaled about $2,600.
Zorn said the boys avoided criminal arrests by paying for the costs. They also were suspended, will not be allowed to attend graduation ceremonies and will complete community-service projects over the summer.
Patrolman talks womanout of bridge jump
SALEM -- Police closed the West State Street railroad overpass for about three hours early today while a patrolman talked a 19-year-old East Liverpool woman out of jumping off the bridge.
Patrolman Scott Shoaff said he was driving west on West State Street just after midnight when he saw a woman step over the metal railing on the south side of the bridge. As he approached her, the woman began shouting at him to stay away or she would jump. Shoaff called other patrolmen, the Salem Fire Department and an ambulance to the scene.
Shoaff said he talked to the woman for two hours and 40 minutes, and with the help of counselors from the Help Hotline crisis service, he was able to talk her out of the jump. She went voluntarily to Salem Community Hospital for evaluation, Shoaff said.