School fire extinguished

School fire extinguished

YOUNGSTOWN — Firefighters extinguished a fire in the roof of St. Stephen of Hungary School, 858 Wilson Ave., early Friday that caused $60,000 in damage. The school building, located next to St. Stephen of Hungary Catholic Church, was not being used as a school in the Diocese of Youngstown school system, officials said. There was no damage to the church.

Fire Capt. Alvin Ware said the department responded to the fire about midnight. The Rev. Nicholas Mancini, pastor of St. Stephen’s, told firefighters that workers had been in the building Thursday repairing window damage from vandalism. The building was secure when firefighters arrived. Investigators don’t know the cause of the fire, Ware said. The fire was called in by a passer-by, he said.

Poland man, 19, draws assault and gun charges

AUSTINTOWN — A 19-year-old Poland man is charged with felonious assault and carrying a concealed weapon after he was accused of striking a 44-year-old Austintown man with brass knuckles in front of a home on Westminster Avenue early Friday.

Police charged Michael E. Harver of Knollwood Avenue after they chased and caught him about 3:15 a.m. Police found a pair of brass knuckles in his pocket. He will be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday in County Court in Austintown.

Witnesses told police Harver and a 17-year-old Austintown boy had “jumped” and beaten the victim, who was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center. If convicted on the felonious assault, Harver could be sentenced to up to eight years in prison.

Charges are pending against the 17-year-old.

OVI checkpoints planned

The Trumbull Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will operate two separate OVI checkpoints to deter and intercept impaired drivers today. One checkpoint will be in Bazetta Township and the other will be in Fowler Township. Funding for the OVI Task Force is provided by a grant through the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Police probe shooting

WARREN — Police are investigating a Friday barroom shooting that left Mark A. Dukes Jr., 31, of Fulton Street, seriously injured in Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Police were called to the G S Lounge in the 2300 block of West Market Street shortly before 2:15 a.m. in response to gunfire. Dukes had been shot and taken from the basement by ambulance before police arrived, and the gunman had fled.

Crime sweeps continue

NILES — Police Chief Bruce Simeone said sweeps of high-crime areas to find wanted felons will continue. “It worked, and we’ll do it again,” the chief said Friday of Thursday sweeps at Royal Mall and Circle Street apartments that resulted in the arrests of four people wanted for drug trafficking and probation violations.

The sweep was done by city police, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, U.S. Marshals Task Force, Trumbull County Adult Probation Department, Niles Municipal Court Probation Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Youngstown police K-9 unit and the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

War re-enactment

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County Historical Society is helping to sponsor a French Indian War re-enactment today and Sunday at the Boy Scout Camp at Custaloga Town near Milledgeville, Pa. The event is free. The two days will include re-enactments, camp life, and educational events.

Bill Philson, historical society executive director, joins Dr. David Dixon, Benjamin Scharrff, and Chris Kubiac in a French Indian War Symposium from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. today at the Indian graveyard. Those attending should bring lawn chairs.

Salem drug searches

SALEM — Columbiana County Drug Task Force served two search warrants Friday and discovered suspected marijuana at both locations. No one was arrested but charges are pending. The first warrant was served ay 9:57 a.m. at lot eight in the Salem Mobile Home Park on Benton Road. Suspected marijuana, scales, and two cars were confiscated.

The second was served at 12:31 p.m. at 4801‚Ñ2 Washington Ave. Marijuana, scales, and one car were confiscated.