Killer's delay opposed

Killer's delay opposed
WARREN -- Saying that it's solely an attempt to delay his execution, the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office opposes an extension for a double murderer to file documents.
Charles Lorraine was convicted in November 1986 of killing Raymond Montgomery, 77, and his wife, Doris, 80, in their home on Haymaker Avenue Northwest.
In October, Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court dismissed Lorraine's claim that he is mentally retarded and should be spared the death penalty.
Lorraine's attorneys had wanted more time to appeal that dismissal.
In their response opposing the extension, Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins and LuWayne Annos, an assistant prosecutor, wrote that the prosecutor's office rarely opposes motions for extensions to file briefs.
But they called the motion a delaying tactic to forestall Lorraine's "inevitable date with death." No execution date has been set.
Youngstown's money
WARREN -- At a meeting 4:30 p.m. Monday at Avalon Inn, Trumbull County leaders will discuss the possibility of getting a piece of Youngstown's $25 million federal grant.
Ohio's U.S. Senators have already rebuffed a request by Commissioners James Tsagaris and Joseph J. Angelo to split the money originally intended for a Youngstown convocation center.
The meeting, billed as a "Trumbull County Economic Development Summit" was called by Commissioner Dan Polivka, who is engaged in a four-way primary race to keep his seat.
Training approved
CHAMPION -- Trustees approved attendance at a refresher course for the township clerk and assistant clerk to brush up on new laws, computer programs and accounting techniques at a total cost of $150.
Two Champion safety officials, one from the fire department and one from the police department, were approved to attend Homeland Security Preparedness training at Kent State Trumbull campus at a total cost of $100 on Feb 24 and April 6.
The board also discussed replacing the old emergency medical services van with a new one at an estimated cost of $71,200.
Trustees scheduled a private meeting to interview a candidate for a reserve fire position, after which trustees also plan to discuss pay raises for reserve fire department employees.
The township's budget this year is $3,755,666.
Law speaker set for YSU
YOUNGSTOWN -- Dr. Paul Finkelman of the University of Tulsa College of Law in Oklahoma will speak at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Youngstown State University to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Brown vs. Education decision.
Finkelman, a Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law, will speak on the topic "Brown vs. Board of Education: The Most Radical Decision in the Supreme Court's History" in the Humphrey Room of Kilcawley Center. He will also give a lecture for the YSU College of Arts and Sciences at 4 p.m. in the same location on "The Intellectual Roots of Modern Racism: Proslavery Science in Antebellum America." Both events are free and open to the public.
Finkelman's 2 p.m. presentation will be the kickoff for a series of commemorative events planned by a local committee to mark the 50th anniversary of the landmark decisions.
Drug buyer shot in face
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 32-year-old Toronto, Ohio, man told police he was shot in the face Monday in his pickup truck on Griffith Street after he paid $20 to a drug dealer. Police interviewed the victim at St. Elizabeth Health Center, where he drove for treatment about 11:30 a.m. Police collected as evidence a syringe, lighter and rock of suspected crack cocaine from the truck.
Bond set in gunfire
YOUNGSTOWN -- Bond has been set at $75,000 cash or surety for Bernard C. Barnes Jr., who is accused of shooting at city Councilman Clarence Boles, D-6th, Saturday morning. Barnes, 22, of West LaClede Avenue, will be back in municipal court Feb. 11 for a preliminary hearing. Boles told police that he had asked Barnes, who was walking in the middle of West LaClede with another man, to move over so that he could drive by. Boles said Barnes fired several shots. The councilman was not injured.