OVI Task Force sets ‘enforcement blitz’

OVI Task Force sets ‘enforcement blitz’

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will conduct what it calls a “corridor enforcement blitz” targeting a roadway in the county “sometime this weekend” for drunken driving and seatbelt law enforcement.

“Corridor-enforcement blitzes allow us to patrol a main road in Mahoning County from county line to county line,” said Scott Weamer, assistant Canfield police chief and task force spokesman.

He did not identify the targeted road or the specific days and hours of the blitz.

Grease fire on E. Side

YOUNGSTOWN

An early morning grease fire that forced occupants out of a two-story East Side apartment building caused $5,000 damage to the building and $1,000 damage to its contents, the fire department said.

Firefighters found all tenants outside of 610 Kendis Circle when they arrived to fight the 5:15 a.m. Thursday fire that originated on a first- floor apartment kitchen stove.

A tenant told firefighters she put grease on the stove to make french fries, fell asleep and awakened to smoke. She then fled outside.

The fire was confined to the kitchen, but firefighters ventilated all four apartments. No injuries were reported.

Youngstown school pilots data program

youngstown

Youngstown Community School is one of 10 districts and community schools in Ohio to pilot a new instructional improvement system that allows teachers to store and analyze data on student achievement.

“It has never been more important for educators to use modern technology to give students customized learning options based upon real data that identifies student needs,” said Michael Sawyers, acting superintendent of public instruction. “We appreciate Youngstown Community School agreeing to help us in creating a statewide instructional improvement system that is truly the beginning of a new era in Ohio education.”

Participating schools will work closely with ODE and IIS developer Thinkgate, LLC to ensure the system meets core state requirements and works well with other state and local information systems before it is rolled out to other districts.

Cause of fire death

YOUNGSTOWN

Autopsy findings of a 53-year-old man found dead in a 1 p.m. Thursday house fire at 362 Broadview Ave. on the city’s West Side suggest smoke inhalation as the cause of death, according to Dr. Joseph S. Ohr, deputy Mahoning County coroner.

Dr. Ohr has tentatively identified the badly burned victim as Michael Furgas, providing a spelling of the victim’s last name different from the identification of Mike Fergus, which was offered Thursday by fire officials.

Dr. Ohr said Friday that he will continue to officially list the victim as a “John Doe” until identification is confirmed by DNA analysis, a process which may take several weeks. Identifying marks and dental evidence were not available, Dr. Ohr noted.

No evidence of explosive injury or other trauma was found on the body, Dr. Ohr said. The last Youngstown fire-related death was that of Robert Keen, who was burned in his home April 21, 2012.

Gov. Kasich on MLK

COLUMBUS

Gov. John R. Kasich has issued a proclamation in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, in which he says: “It is fitting that Ohioans reflect upon the life and accomplishments of Dr. King and recognize that his vision continues to provide a powerful symbol of a life based on the values of love, peace, compassion, dignity, nonviolence and justice for all.”