Metro digest

Fire victim identified

HUBBARD — Fire Chief John Clemente identified Mark Burnhouse, 22, as the victim in an apartment fire at 10:42 p.m. Nov. 28 at 261 Clingan Road. Clemente attributed the fire to an overloaded electrical extension.

The fire broke out in the upstairs apartment at the duplex, Clemente said. The downstairs tenant called the fire department.

The fire started in a room the victim was using as an office or spare room, Clemente said. That room was gutted, and the rest of the apartment was heavily damaged by smoke.

Clemente said he is waiting for the coroner to issue a cause of death.

Housing, property issues

YOUNGSTOWN — The executive director of the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative and an East Side citizen activist were to speak today to Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, about federal assistance for housing and property issues in this area.

Kirk Noden, MVOC’s executive director, and Sybil West, a citizen activist, planned to ask Donovan to provide additional funding and that HUD officials visit the area to get a better understanding of the challenges of the Valley.

The meeting was to be today in Donovan’s office. Noden and West were to speak to Donovan for about 10 minutes.

The meeting was organized by National People’s Action, a group that works on housing and financial-reform issues.

The MVOC works to unite groups to work together to increase the quality of life in urban neighborhoods in the Valley.

Candidacy announced

NILES — Councilman Edward Stredney, D-3rd, announced Tuesday he will run in next spring’s Democratic primary for 65th District state representative.

Democrat Sandra Stabile Harwood, the incumbent state representative, is completing her fourth term and is ineligible to run again under the state’s term-limits law.

Stredney, 28, serving his third term on council, says the primary issue for him is jobs in the Mahoning Valley. “I’m hoping as a legislator to clear the way for communities to work together to bring businesses in,” Stredney said.

The councilman, who was first elected to office in 2005, is married and has two children.

Bound over to grand jury

WARREN — The case of a Parkman Road man charged with stealing a mountain bicycle from a Raymond Street man and then pulling a knife when confronted has been bound over to a grand jury.

Michael C. Walker, 23, waived a preliminary hearing in Warren Municipal Court on Tuesday. He faces charges of felonious assault and breaking and entering.

Ryan McCleary, 29, said he knows Walker and determined through his own investigation that Walker had taken several items from McCleary’s house Nov. 21. McCleary called police. Before police were able to investigate, however, Walker returned to McCleary’s house Nov. 22 and stole the mountain bike, McCleary said. McCleary caught Walker and got the bicycle back before Walker pulled the knife, police said.

McCleary and a deputy sheriff working security nearby kept Walker from getting away until police arrived and arrested him.

Christmas parade

HUBBARD — The 20th annual Christmas parade will be at 5:30 p.m. Saturday starting at Hubbard High School.

The parade route will travel along Hall Street from the school to West Liberty and end at the municipal building, 220 W. Liberty. There, Santa will be available for photos. Cookies and hot chocolate will be available.

The parade will feature Christmas floats, the HHS band, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Boy Scouts and businesses.

Sponsors are Devine Shop and Save, Hubbard Little Eagles, Aqua Ohio and “secret Santas.”

For information on participation, call Diane Ditman, (330) 534-3610, who is coordinating the parade with assistance from her daughters, Shelby and Tiffany.