Rape, kidnapping case

Rape, kidnapping case
GIRARD -- Christopher Fenton, 24, of Crestview Avenue, Warren, has been bound over to the Trumbull County grand jury on charges of rape, kidnapping and aggravated burglary.
Fenton waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday before municipal Judge Michael A. Bernard. He remains in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
Fenton is accused of breaking into the woman's home, putting a knife to her when she went into the bedroom, and sexually assaulting her numerous times while her children were home.
Body is found burned
YOUNGSTOWN -- Police are trying to identify a man whose badly burned body was found near a burned-out car in Crandall Park shortly before 5 a.m. today.
A UPS driver spotted the burning car in a ravine that runs parallel to Redondo Road and notified authorities, said Detective Sgt. John Kelty.
The body was found on the ground behind the car, which had been driven into the ravine from Tod Lane.
According to Kelty, a local license plate was on the car, but police aren't sure if it belongs on the vehicle.
Contract for supplies
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners awarded a $44,802 contract to ACME Steak Co. Inc. of Youngstown, to supply janitorial supplies to all county departments for six months. The contract, awarded on the basis of competitive bidding, will save the county $40,000 over the period of a year, officials say.
Autopsy on inmate
WARREN -- Preliminary results of an autopsy of a county jail inmate "did not reveal any trauma or foul play," sheriff's officials said. A statement by the sheriff's department stated that "at this time Robert Allen Edwards' death appears to be an accidental drug overdose." Final autopsy results will be available in six to eight weeks, coroner's officials said. The autopsy showed that a prescription pain patch was found in Edwards' stomach. The sheriff's department also said jail personnel found remnants of a prescription pain patch when they were administering CPR to Edwards early Monday. Officials said the pain patch contains fentanyl, a painkiller. The patch is to be worn on the skin and is not to be ingested, officials said.
Girard council position
GIRARD -- Three men and a woman have expressed an interest in filling a vacant city council seat.
Fifteen precinct committeemen will meet at 6:30 p.m. March 22, in the gymnasium in city hall to replace Democrat Joseph Manente, who resigned his at-large seat Feb. 25.
Nick Melfi, chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party, said Wednesday that the four have contacted him about filling the post.
They are Leo Grimes, former councilman and president of council; Joseph Christopher, former mayor and councilman; Pete Shelby, a newcomer whose family has been involved in politics; and Deanna Teter Maynard, who has helped raise money to keep the senior citizen van operating. Her husband drives the van.
Melfi said a candidate must be nominated from the floor before a secret ballot.
Mathews school board
VIENNA -- The Mathews Board of Education meeting scheduled for March 20 has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. March 27 in the board office, 4434B Warren-Sharon Road, Vienna.
2nd Ward meeting
WARREN -- A community meeting has been called in the city's 2nd Ward to discuss ways to enhance the northwest side of town. Councilman Alford Novak, D-2nd, called the meeting for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Church, 1346 Vernon St. N.W.
He's inviting neighbors, representatives from neighborhood businesses, a member of the city board of education and the school district's truancy officer. Novak said discussion will include cleanup of dilapidated rental properties and problems with juveniles who loiter when they should be in school.
Trumbull siren test
WARREN -- Communities in Trumbull County will take part in a statewide test of tornado sirens Wednesday at 9:50 a.m.