Arraigned in beating

Arraigned in beating

YOUNGSTOWN — The two men accused of severely beating 29-year-old Robert Walton at his Ohio Avenue home were video-arraigned Monday in municipal court. Judge Robert P. Milich set bond at $1 million each for William Rotan, 30, of Youngstown-Hubbard Road, Hubbard and Jose Reyes Jr., 29, of Romaine Avenue, Boardman. They are each charged with attempted murder and felonious assault. They will be back in court Monday for a preliminary hearing. Walton remains in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Police sent to his home at 5 a.m. Friday found the door open and obvious signs of an attack, including overturned furniture and a broken pool cue. Walton had injuries to his back, side, torso and face.

Four vacant house fires

YOUNGSTOWN — Four vacant houses were deliberately burned over the weekend, the fire department said. At 10:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters sent to 1637 Atkinson Ave. on the East Side found the structure fully engulfed in flames. Damage was set at $10,000, a total loss. Earlier Sunday, at 4:30 a.m., crews were sent to 445 Pyatt St. on the South Side and allowed the house to burn down for safety reasons. Ohio Edison was called to the scene because a utility pole and transformer nearby were burning. Damage to the house was set at $10,000, a total loss. On Friday night, fire was showing on the first and second floors when crews arrived at 2540 Taft Ave. on the South Side at 10:15 p.m. Firefighters said it appeared the fire was started in a rear pantry off the second floor. Damage was set at $10,000 and demolition requested. At 5:15 p.m. Friday, fire was set at 145 Thornton Ave. on the North Side, the scene of a homicide five days earlier. A fire had also been set at the structure Nov. 19. Damage from Friday’s fire was $5,000, a total loss.

Green Party meeting

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Greens, a part of the Ohio Green Party, is meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Casa Ramirez Mexican Restaurant on Mahoning Avenue. The Greens will discuss the political party’s platforms as well as upcoming events, environmental issues and fundraisers.

Computer training

YOUNGSTOWN — Warriors Inc. will hold a community computer training session from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Hope Building, 2733 Market St. The session is free. Warriors is an enrichment program for young men. To register, call Wendy Robinson at (330) 783-5440.

Tax tips at library

COLUMBIANA — Susanne Liptak of H&R Block will be offering tax tips at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Columbiana Public Library. People can learn how to do their taxes more efficiently and possibly save money. Registration is required by calling (330) 482-5509.

Court dates set in theft

HUBBARD — A woman
accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the Hubbard Little Eagles youth football
organization now has two new court dates.

Susan Hettrick, 37, of Buena Vista Road, was due to appear before Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday for a pretrial hearing. Hettrick was given another pretrial hearing date of Jan. 14.

Hettrick was also given a court date of Feb. 25 where she will have a trial by jury.

According to police reports, Hettrick transferred more than $17,000 from the Hubbard Little Eagles savings account to her personal account.

Police say Hettrick made a series of transfers from the account between March 2006 and May 2007. She is charged with felony theft and is currently free on $12,500 bond.

Hettrick did make restitution on some of the missing money.

Despite the loss in funds, the youth football team, through a series of fundraisers, was able to take the field during the 2007 season.