Saturday, January 23, 2010
Slaying suspect sought
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Police Department has received two warrants for the arrest of Thomas Wright, 23, of Youngstown, charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in the slaying of Rodney Weaver.
About 9:36 p.m. Jan. 12, Weaver and a friend were robbed at gunpoint in front of 376 Broadway Ave. while they sat in their auto. Weaver and his passenger attempted to flee on foot. Shots were fired, and Weaver was struck in the leg and later died in the hospital. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Wright or knowledge of the homicide may contact police at (330) 742-8911 or (330) 747-7911.
Bus drivers enter pleas
CANFIELD — Two school- district bus drivers involved in a bus accident Jan. 11 entered pleas with Mahoning County Court in Canfield. Stephanie Ensley, 51, pleaded no contest Friday to a charge of operating an unsafe vehicle before Judge Scott Hunter and was fined $75. David Bell, 60, entered a written innocent plea Thursday and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
Bell is charged with improper backing, operating an unsafe vehicle and falsification after he backed his bus into Ensley’s bus on Montgomery Drive on Jan. 11. Police said Bell persuaded Ensley to transport his students to Hilltop Elementary on her bus. Bell then told his supervisor the accident occurred on school property.
Police Chief Chuck Colucci said officers weren’t informed of the accident until about 3 p.m. that day when the mother of a third-grader on Bell’s bus called inquiring about the accident. Bell and Ensley are on paid administrative leave.
Remarks criticized
YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras and four local social workers criticized the Ohio Republican Party chairman’s remarks about Gov. Ted Strickland’s decision to select Yvette McGee Brown as his lieutenant-governor running mate. Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine called Brown “a social worker with no experience in public finance or state government. That should tell you something about the fate of this administration.”
Betras said Friday that he’s “shocked that [DeWine] chose to denigrate the thousands of professional social workers whose work vastly improves the quality of life in our state.” A former judge, Brown created a facility in the Columbus area that focuses on preventing and treating child abuse.
Strong Kids Campaign
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown YMCA will begin its 2010 fund-raising campaign with a party at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center. Benefiting the Strong Kids Campaign, the evening will feature live entertainment, auctions, raffles and gourmet food. Tickets, $50 in advance and $75 at the door, can be purchased at both Youngstown YMCA branches.
The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign provides financial assistance to underprivileged youth and families for membership and/or program fees, assistance to special-needs populations and agencies with use of the YMCA’s pools and gyms.
Also helping to jump-start the fund-raising campaign is the annual Spin-A-Thon on Feb. 6. Spinners, who raise money by securing donations for each hour they ride, must register by next Saturday, when corporate sponsorships also are due. For details, contact Greg Kleeh, director of financial development, at (330) 744-8411, ext. 130.
Orchestra to perform
YOUNGSTOWN — The Dana Chamber Orchestra, conducted by John Wilcox, will perform a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Ford Family Recital Hall, DeYor Performing Arts Center, 260 W. Federal St. The program will contain selections specifically for string ensembles, including Bela Bartok’s “Divertimento for Strings” and Peter Ilich Tschaikowsky’s romantic “Serenade for Strings.”
General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and students and free for children under 12 and anyone with a YSU ID. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the Youngstown Symphony at (330) 744-0264.