2 arrested at checkpoint

2 arrested at checkpoint
AUSTINTOWN -- Mahoning County safety officials pulled over 3,579 cars and arrested two people during a sobriety checkpoint Friday evening.
The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force set up the checkpoint from 7 to 11 p.m. on Mahoning Avenue as part of an enforcement program to combat drunken driving during the holidays.
The task force arrested one person for disorderly conduct while intoxicated.
The task force also issued 27 citations for seat-belt violations, including three for lack of child restraints.
Burglary suspect sought
YOUNGSTOWN -- State law enforcement officials are looking for the accomplice of a Youngstown man, who police believe was involved in a Medina County Jewelry Store burglary Dec. 18.
Stephen Blasko, 38, of Youngstown was arrested at the scene of an early-morning burglary at Artistic Jewelers in Wadsworth, but Wadsworth Police and the members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification believe an unknown accomplice escaped with a safe that had about 400,000 worth of contents. Blasko was charged with possession of criminal tools and is in Medina County Jail on a 150,000 bond.
The accomplice is described as being 5 feet 10 inches with a medium build and between 25 to 29 years old. Anyone with information is asked to call the Wadsworth Police Department at (330) 334-1511.
Budget vote postponed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council has postponed voting on the adoption of the 2007 budget until learning whether the city's application for a 2.9 million loan has been approved. Council had intended to vote on the proposed 12.6 million spending plan Thursday. But lawmakers will instead vote at a special meeting at noon Friday. The loan would be used to pay off an end-of-year budget deficit. Officials said the loan is part of their strategy to keep the state from declaring the city financially distressed under Act 47. If that happens, the state would tell officials how to run the city and devise a recovery plan. Council is also looking at increasing the wage tax from 1.6 percent to 1.8 percent.
Probing man's death
NEW CASTLE -- New Castle police are investigating the murder of a 23-year-old city man. Arthur Cheeks Jr. was found dead inside a bullet-riddled vehicle outside his home on 32 W. Terrace Ave at 11:43 a.m. Saturday.