Motorcycle run planned

Motorcycle run planned

WARREN — The second annual Sgt. Chuck Sines Memorial Motorcycle Run will be held starting at noon Sunday at the Horseshoe Bar at the corner of Market Street and Pine Avenue. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. Cost is $15 per motorcycle and $5 per rider.

Garage sale to be held

WARREN — The Upton Association will hold its annual garage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Upton House, 380 Mahoning Avenue N.W., across the street from city hall. Items for sale can be dropped off from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday and 2-4 p.m. Thursday.

Youths charged in fire

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Three youths will be charged in juvenile court in connection with last week’s fire at the former Kmart building in the Field Club Commons shopping plaza in Neshannock Township. Township police said three boys have been identified as those who took a ladder from a construction site and then climbed to the roof on Thursday. Construction material and the roof were set on fire, police said. One boy will be charged with arson, criminal mischief and trespassing, the two others with criminal mischief and trespassing. Police did not release the boys’ ages.

Drowned man’s ID released

LISBON — The Columbiana County Coroner’s Office on Monday released the name of a man who apparently drowned at Guilford Lake State Park. Jaron Putman, 22, of New Jersey, had been swimming near a private dock during a family picnic and disappeared about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. His body was recovered about 90 minutes later. The coroner’s office is still investigating the cause of the man’s death. The office said an autopsy will not be performed.

Christofaris drops out

LISBON — Casey L. Christofaris on Friday withdrew his bid to run as an independent in the Salem mayor’s race. Christofaris, of 7446 E. Fifth St., had filed his petition in May. He gave no reason for his withdrawal in a letter to the Columbiana County Board of Elections. His move leaves the city with Democrat Councilman Clyde Brown and Republican Perry Township Trustee Jerry Wolford competing for the post.

Baby’s death investigated

LEETONIA — Police Chief John M. Soldano said an investigation is continuing into the death of a two-month-old boy. Soldano said Monday that the Summit County corner’s office will perform an autopsy. The unresponsive boy was found about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 269 Oak St. He was taken to Salem Community Hospital, and then taken to Akron Children’s Hospital. The infant died Sunday morning. The chief said it would be premature to release any further information. He said he has been working on the case “non-stop.” The Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office is working with his department, he said. Prosecutors couldn’t be reached.

Contempt of court hearing

LISBON — A hearing will be at 11:20 a.m. Aug. 17 to determine whether a Warren lawyer will go to jail for contempt of court. Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike had found George Kafantaris in contempt twice this year. Kafantaris represented Andrew Irwin, who was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. The lawyer then claimed that new evidence merited a new trial. Judge Pike heard testimony on the new evidence claim, but upheld the jury’s verdict. Kafantaris was found in contempt in part after announcing he had evidence about the real killer as the jury returned its verdict. The lawyer is also appealing Judge Pike’s decision on the motion for a new trial, claiming he has new evidence. Irwin was convicted of killing a woman he knew in order to get drugs.

Man injured in attack

WARREN — A 25-year-old city man remains hospitalized after being stomped by a group of men in front of his home during the weekend. Police reported that the man, of Central Parkway Avenue, was arguing with his girlfriend in front of his home at nearly 3 a.m. when he noticed the men watching him. Police reported that the man, who was highly intoxicated, walked toward the men and said something to them before he was attacked. He sustained facial injuries. His mother told police one of the men told her, “He’s lucky I didn’t shoot him.” He remains in fair condition in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown.

Decision on drug charges

WARREN — Local and federal prosecutors will be consulting to determine the level of charges that will be filed against the target of a drug raid. City police Lt. Thomas Skoczylas said a house in the 800 block of Dover Avenue Southwest was raided Thursday, netting police 100 bindles of suspected heroine, a small amount of crack cocaine, a 45-caliber pistol and scales. The homeowner wasn’t charged, as the investigation continues, though police said buys of Ecstacy had been made at the residence. A woman and her two small children were at the house at the time of the raid.

Drug abuse, trafficking

YOUNGSTOWN — Police checking on suspicious activity at a apartment at 940 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard said they arrested Charles M. Pullen, 25, of Selma Avenue, on aggravated drug trafficking and drug abuse charges. Police said they were initially unable to locate the apartment’s tenant but found Pullen inside around 10:20 p.m. Sunday. He told them he had been sleeping in a second-floor bedroom, and police said he told them they could check to see if anyone else was inside. Officers said they checked the bedroom where Pullen had been and found 31 pieces of suspected crack cocaine spread out into six piles, a plastic bag containing more suspected crack and another bag with suspected heroin, as well as some drug paraphernalia. Pullen was held for arraignment Tuesday in municipal court.