Soldiers coming home

Soldiers coming home

VIENNA — About 13 members of the 910th Security Forces Squadron are scheduled to return home this afternoon after a six-month tour of duty in Iraq.

The group served in several security-related duties at Kirkuk Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Tax-filing assistance

YOUNGSTOWN — Mayor Jay Williams will be at Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership, 101 Federal Plaza, at 11 a.m. Saturday to help promote free tax-filing assistance for residents of the Mahoning Valley.

Free tax preparation, e-filing, and counseling on earned income tax credit (EITC) eligibility will be available from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at MYCAP and the Youngstown State University Williamson College of Business Administration at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Phelps Street. Appointments are not necessary.

The earned income tax credit is a federal program that benefits lower wage workers. Eligible taxpayers must file tax returns to claim the credit.

For information about income eligibility requirements and documents that applicants must supply, call MYCAP at (330) 747-7921, ext. 1183, or the Williamson College of Business at (330) 941-2507.

For information on sites and times, call Help Hotline Crisis Center at 211.

Animal shelter viewing

LORDSTOWN — The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County shelter, 545 Brunstetter Road S.W., will have a Valentine’s Day open house from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday through Feb. 14.

For more information, call (330) 394-4122.

New police enforcement

WARREN — Residents of Johnston Township will be turning over their cruiser and the former township police building on state Route 88 to the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department as deputies become the township’s sole police force.

Chief Deputy Ernie Cook said the township disbanded its police department several months ago to save money.

A memorandum of understanding between the county commissioners and Johnston Township trustees likely to be approved today by county commissioners does not call for deputies to spend a specific amount of time in the township. It also doesn’t call for the township to pay the sheriff’s department any additional money for the protection, Cook said.

Arraigned on gun charge

YOUNGSTOWN — When arrested on a gun charge, Darrius Easterly told police: “Man, my cousin just got killed right up these steps. I gotta protect myself.”

Easterly, 24, of Norwood Avenue, was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court on charges of possession of crack cocaine and having a weapon under disability, based on a previous conviction. He remained in jail in lieu of a $60,000 bond and will be back in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

He was arrested Monday evening by members of the Street Crimes Unit after entering an apartment in the Westlake housing project on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Records show Easterly was convicted of possession of cocaine in August 2007 and sentenced to 10 months in prison, given credit for four months he spent in jail before sentencing.

Man’s death investigated

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — State police in New Castle are continuing their investigation of the death of Ricky Caravella, 61, who was found dead in his car at 4:45 a.m. Monday.

It had crashed into an abutment of the Route 60 underpass on U.S. Route 422 east, police said.

Resident chases out men

YOUNGSTOWN — An East Florida Avenue man told police he was awakened by a loud banging on his back door and went to the kitchen and saw two men kicking it open.

He grabbed a chair Monday afternoon and charged the suspects. They ran out and fled toward East Philadelphia Avenue.

Police followed tracks in the snow to the 300 block of East Philadelphia, where they mixed with other footprints.

Judge to be sworn in

YOUNGSTOWN — Judge Mark A. Belinky of Mahoning County Probate Court will be sworn in at 10 a.m. Saturday in the county courthouse rotunda, 120 Market St., by Judge Joseph Donofrio, retired from the 7th District Court of Appeals.

Refreshments will be provided.