Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Man found asleep in woman’s car
YOUNGSTOWN
Police reports say a Sheridan Road woman who was on her way to work just before 6 a.m. Monday found a man asleep in the front seat of her car.
Jarrett Luis Ortiz, 30, of Wakefield Avenue, was booked into the Mahoning County jail on charges of theft, carrying concealed weapons, possessing drug-abuse instruments and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
When police arrived, Ortiz was asleep, and when they tried to wake him they found a handle to a hammer that also had an ax blade on it, reports said. When he was searched, Ortiz had items in his pockets that were from that car, reports said. When he was booked into the jail, a corrections officer found a crack pipe in his underwear, reports said.
Discussion planned
YOUNGSTOWN
The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown is hosting the Journey Cafe at 7 p.m. Thursday at 1105 Elm St. The topic is “Self in Relation to Family.”
Susie Beiersdorfer and Karen O’Malia will facilitate the discussion, and it will begin with recalling the name of their maternal grandmother. The talk will then proceed to identify how their family culture influenced their families and themselves.
They will conclude with a discussion on how identifying your identity may be used to enhance your personal growth and community connections.
Grant funds released
COLUMBUS
The state Controlling Board released nearly $145 million in grant funds Monday to help school districts improve classroom learning while cutting costs.
The list of 37 districts receiving the Straight A Program monies includes the Columbiana County Education Service Center, which will receive $975,250 to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics programming for 7,000-plus students in eight separate districts.
Lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich created the Straight A Fund as part of the last biennial budget, with $250 million available over two fiscal years. The grants cover new technology or other projects aimed at improving student achievement, reducing costs and directing more state funding into classrooms.
Woman finds her stolen lawn mower
YOUNGSTOWN
A woman told police she tracked down her stolen lawn mower at an East Side scrapyard Monday afternoon, and someone pulled a gun on her when she tried to get it back.
Reports said a McGuffey Road woman was searching for her lawn mower that was taken earlier in the day, and she spotted it in a pickup truck outside Divers City Steel, 590 Himrod Ave., about 12:35 p.m. A passenger in the truck pointed a gun at her, reports said.
The woman called police and tried to block the truck from leaving, but the truck drove away, bumping the woman as it drove off. She was not injured, reports said.
New citizens
YOUNGSTOWN
Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. of Mahoning County Probate Court administered the oath of allegiance to six people who became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony last week in the county courthouse.
Their names, hometowns and countries of origin are: Munir Mohammad Ali Khalil, Boardman, Jordan; Nawal Jamil Eichorn, North Lima, Lebanon; Gurjeet Singh Dhaliwal, Canfield, Canada; Amanda Cruz, Youngstown, Costa Rica; Iadranca Cristina Vlaici, Austintown, Romania; and Hala Azmi Altawil, Boardman, Jordan.
Farmers market
WARREN
The Warren Farmers Market will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Courthouse Square downtown. Free parking is available at the Franklin Street parking deck. Live music starts at 4:30 p.m. by Aaron Sutton & Friends.
Firemen’s festival
GREENFORD
Green Township Volunteer Fire Department will host its 69th annual Firemen’s Festival, Craft and Vendor Show starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday on the lawn of the Greenford Bobcat Space Center, 7600 W. South Range Road. The event takes place rain or shine.
There will be spot drawings at the event every half hour, and there will be four grand prizes. First prize is $500, second is a flat-screen television, third is a gas grill, and fourth is a digital camera.