METRO DIGEST || Warren council will consider funds for airport

Council will consider funds for airport

WARREN

Warren City Council will consider legislation at tonight’s meeting that would provide the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport with up to $30,000 to help attract daily air service.

Airport officials are hoping to secure pledges of $350,000 from local government bodies to add to $100,000 pledged by the Cafaro Foundation, $420,000 from the Western Reserve Port Authority and $780,000 from a federal grant to offer to United Airlines.

The money would be a guarantee of profitability for United during the start-up phase of the service.

Officials are hoping United will offer twice-daily flights each way between Youngstown and Chicago O’Hare International Airport on jets carrying about 50 or fewer passengers.

Seven of Warren City Council’s nine members are sponsors of the legislation.

Arrested after break-in

YOUNGSTOWN

Police arrested a man after a short foot chase on the South Side on Monday afternoon after a woman caught him on the back porch of her home that was just broken into.

Officers were called to a home in the first block of East Ravenwood Avenue about 12:25 p.m. for a report of a man running through backyards carrying a strongbox, and after a short chase, caught 18-year-old Marquis Thomas of East Ravenwood Avenue in the yard of an East Lucius Avenue home.

The owner of the home broken into was taken to the scene and identified Thomas as the man she saw on the back porch of her house when she pulled into her drive, reports said.

Thomas was arrested on charges of burglary and resisting arrest and taken to the Mahoning County jail.

Driver, pedestrian cited

YOUNGSTOWN

Police cited a man for driving under the influence and the person he hit on South Meridian Road for walking intoxicated in a roadway at about 9:40 p.m. Monday.

Police were called to the 400 block of South Meridian Road for a report of a pedestrian hit by a car.

While there, officers determined that David Crawford, 34, of Manchester Avenue, was driving the car that hit the man, Robert Bacami, no age or address given.

Crawford smelled of alcohol and admitted being at a bar earlier and having a few drinks, reports say. He said he thought he hit Bacami with the mirror on his car after he saw him in the road at the last minute and could not avoid him, reports said.

He was taken to the police station and took a breath test, where his blood-alcohol content measured 0.113.

The legal limit for driving drunk in Ohio is 0.08.

Bacami was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center to be examined. He was cited because he was very drunk and caused the accident by walking in the roadway, reports said.

Rescue Mission plans volunteer open house

YOUNGSTOWN

The Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley is celebrating National Volunteer Week with a special open house for all mission volunteers past and present from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Rescue Mission’s Resident Building, 962 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

No reservations are required, and free parking is available in the lot across from the mission. Light refreshments will be available.

For information, contact Robbie Jones, mission volunteer supervisor, at 330-744-5486.

“In 2013, our volunteers logged over 25,000 hours; and this open house is just a small way for the clients and staff of the mission to say thanks,” Jones said.

Jameson open house

NEW CASTLE, PA.

Jameson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing invites all who are interested in learning more about becoming a nurse to an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the school, 1211 Wilmington Ave.

The school offers a 19-month diploma program that prepares students to become a registered nurse.

At today’s open house, faculty and students will offer knowledge and expertise, behind-the-scenes tours, and answer questions about admission, financial aid, school policies, student services and curriculum.

For information or to register for the open house, call 724-656-4052 or visit jamesonhealth.org/schoolofnursing.

Wean awards grants

WARREN

In March, The Raymond John Wean Foundation awarded a combined $65,000 in grants to two community initiatives — Eastern Gateway Community College and Policy Matters Ohio — in support of educational and economic opportunity in the Mahoning Valley.

Eastern Gateway was awarded $50,000 to lead work in creating educational options in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Policy Matters Ohio was awarded $15,000 to maintain and build the Ohio CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Coalition, a statewide network that promotes financial and economic stability for working families.

For information about The Wean Foundation, visit www.rjweanfdn.org.

Ohio Senate OKs bill on driving awareness

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Senate approved legislation Tuesday aimed at drawing attention to the dangers of distracted driving.

Senate Bill 294 would designate September as Safe Driving Awareness Month. It passed on a vote of 32-0 and heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.

The bill was offered in memory of those who have lost their lives in motor-vehicle accidents.

Couple sentenced in tax-fraud conspiracy

PITTSBURGH

Chief U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti has placed a Hermitage, Pa., couple on probation for tax-fraud conspiracy and ordered each defendant to pay $35,805 in restitution.

On Monday, Eric Graven, 57, vice president of Custom Stone and Tile Inc., was fined $4,000, given three years’ probation and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.

His wife, Barbara, 58, company president, was fined $2,000 and given two years’ probation.

The couple conspired to evade federal income tax by intentionally failing to report their business’ cash earnings between 2005 and 2008, the U.S. Attorney said.

The IRS investigated the case.