No-contest plea in father’s OVI case

No-contest plea in father’s OVI case

NILES

A Niles man whose blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.38 on Jan. 19, shortly after another motorist spotted him driving erratically with his 4-year-old son in the car, has pleaded no contest to operating a motor vehicle impaired.

William C. Barton, 42, of Warren Avenue, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 days in jail and ordered to pay a $500 fine and costs of $711. Judge Thomas Townley also placed Barton on one year of probation.

Barton’s blood-alcohol reading was nearly five times the legal limit of 0.08.

Another driver observed Barton’s car traveling erratically at 3:48 p.m. on Robbins Avenue and called 911, then followed the vehicle and later gave police the location where Barton had stopped the car — at Barton’s house.

An officer found Barton slumped over the steering wheel, the boy sitting in the back seat but not in a car seat or seat belt.

Fire causes $30K in damage to home

WARREN

A fire that started in the kitchen of a house at 2873 Clearwater Street NW caused $30,000 damage Wednesday morning.

The fire resulted from unattended cooking, said Warren Fire Chief Ken Nussle.

Shirley Barry, her aunt and one child made it out of the house safely before firefighters arrived at the 6:56 a.m. fire, Nussle said.

The fire caused fire damage to the kitchen, as well as smoke and heat damage to the upper floor of the house.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury fighting the fire.

Awards ceremony

Youngstown

The 26th annual Youngstown Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 312 awards ceremony will be at 8 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Hall, 343 Via Mount Carmel.

Keynote speaker will be state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd. The six retirees that will be honored at the ceremony include Battalion Chief Rich Russo, Capt. Dave Magura, Capt. Dave Philibin, Lt. Dennis Di Tullio, Lt. Joe Caraballo, and firefighter Joe Wrenn. For information, call 330-507-2725.

Zumba parties

Youngstown

The Youngstown Department of Parks and Recreation will host two free zumba parties, 7 p.m. Wednesday and Feb. 27, at Arlington Heights Recreation Center, 801 Park Ave. Valerie Gordon will be the instructor.

Zumba, a Colombian dance-fitness program, can help individuals burn up to 1,000 calories in one hour. For more details, contact the parks department at 330-742-8711.

Indicted in theft

WARREN

Sharon R. Vankanegan, 48, of State Street, Kinsman, has been indicted on one count of theft in office, four counts of forgery and one count of misuse of credit cards relating to her work at the Kinsman Free Public Library from August 2010 to January 2012.

Her indictment says the value of what she took was at least $7,500. If convicted, she could get a prison sentence of five years or more. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court at 11 a.m. Feb. 21.

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