Warren firefighters probe blaze that left 2 dead

Warren firefighters probeblaze that left 2 dead
WARREN -- City firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that killed two people.
The fire broke out about 2:29 a.m. today at the two-story wood frame home at 150 Ohio Avenue.
According to reports, firefighters located two bodies in the upstairs of the home about 2:48 a.m. The bodies were taken to Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Firefighters and the Trumbull County Coroner's office declined to release the victims' names. Autopsies are being performed this morning, officials said.
Weathersfield policechase driver into city
YOUNGSTOWN -- A stolen 1997 Mercury Cougar being pursued by Weathersfield police at 7:45 p.m. Thursday on Salt Springs Road continued into Youngstown, struck a car at Mahoning and Belle Vista avenues and then, after the driver jumped out, crashed into the front porch of a house at 1755 Mahoning.
The driver ran through rear yards of South Maryland Avenue. The Cougar, stolen out of Campbell, sustained heavy front end damage. As of press time, the driver remained at large.
Class to join workshop
ROOTSTOWN -- The Leadership Mahoning Valley class will be among 400 participants in an all-day regional community leadership workshop Thursday at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
Participants in 13 Northeast Ohio leadership programs will attend the conference, which will feature Dr. David Sweet, president of Youngstown State University, and Hunter Morrison, director of urban studies at YSU, among the speakers.
Reporter to lecture
YOUNGSTOWN -- Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Alfred Lubrano presents "Crossing Class Boundaries: Blue Collar Roots, White Collar Dreams" as part of the Youngstown State University Center for Working-Class Studies 2003-04 Lecture Series at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the presidential suites in Kilcawley Center. The event is open to the public.
Lubrano is the author of "Limbo: Blue Collar Roots, White Collar Dreams." A contributing writer for GQ magazine, he has won various national writing awards. He also has been a commentator for National Public Radio since 1992.
For more information, contact John Russo at (330) 941-2976 or jbrusso@ysu.edu or Sherry Linkon at (330) 941-2977 or sllinkon@ysu.edu.
First Night job opening
YOUNGSTOWN -- The First Night Youngstown board of directors is seeking to hire an events coordinator, a part-time position.
The pay hasn't been determined. First Night is a nonprofit organization that stages a nonalcoholic, family-oriented arts celebration downtown Dec. 31.
People interested in the position can send r & eacute;sum & eacute;s to the organization at 34 Federal Plaza West, Suite 1107, Youngstown, 44503. For more information, call the First Night office at (330) 742-0445.
Man with shotgun fleesafter clerk foils robbery
LIBERTY -- A robbery was foiled Thursday night at a motel when the desk clerk noticed the gun was a toy.
Police reported that a man entered the Days Inn on Motor Inn Drive and demanded cash. Noticing the would-be robber was carrying a toy shotgun, the clerk refused to hand over the cash. The man fled.
Police picked up two local men, but they were released because the clerk couldn't identify either of them. Capt. Richard Tisone said he believed the men were lookouts. While questioning the men, police found a gym bag in a ditch that contained a stolen .22-caliber pistol.
Trafficking charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- After police stopped DeWaylon R. Bruton, 19, of Hillman Street on Thursday night on Cottage Grove for having no front license plate, they discovered he was driving on a temporary permit without a licensed driver in the car and then found 11 bags of suspected marijuana.
Bruton was charged with aggravated trafficking in marijuana and the car was towed.
Man faces drug charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three bags of suspected crack cocaine were found on Gerjuan Johnson when his parole officer searched him Thursday, police said. Aside from a parole violation on a robbery conviction, Johnson, 48, of East Dewey Avenue was charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs.
Johnson told police that he and a friend were headed to the blood bank to sell the crack and that he would receive $10 for helping his friend sell it, reports show.