METRO DIGEST || Drivers urgently needed for Mobile Meals

Drivers needed

WARREN

Trumbull Mobile Meals, 323 E. Market St., has a crucial need for drivers to deliver meals. There is a particularly urgent need for Girard, Niles and Warren route drivers, but all areas of Trumbull County can use help, said Sandra Mathews, TMM chief executive officer.

There is a large segment of the community that is wheelchair- bound, use walkers and canes, are too ill to prepare a meal, or do not have the resources to drive to a congregate meal site or food-distribution center.

TMM can use the help of people with an hour to spare once a week or even just once a month to serve those people. For information, call 330-394-2538.

Man shot dead

WARREN

A man in his 20s was fatally shot in the 200 block of Forest Street Northeast about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, and city police had a person of interest in custody being questioned by detectives, a police lieutenant said. Detectives also were taking statements from witnesses and gathering evidence at the crime scene, which is the residence of the person of interest, said Lt. Martin Gargas.

The victim was taken to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital. The motive is unknown, but the shooting is not gang-related, Gargas said.

Emergency planning

NORTH JACKSON

The Mahoning County Local Emergency Planning Committee will conduct its annual emergency planning exercise at 7 p.m. today at the Jackson Township Building, 10613 Mahoning Ave.

The exercise will simulate response to a chemical spill. Participants will include Jackson Township police and fire departments, Ellsworth Fire Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Turnpike and Mahoning County Haz-Mat Team. A State Emergency Response Commission representative will be on hand to evaluate the exercise.

Facing drug charges

CAMPBELL

A 36-year-old Youngstown man faces charges of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with driving under suspension and lacking a front license plate.

Police arrested Shawn M. Truman of Brownlee Avenue during a traffic stop about 2 p.m. Monday. Police noticed a plastic bag of marijuana in plain view; officers confiscated the bag, which contained 4.8 grams of marijuana, as well as $31 in cash. They also observed several incoming text messages on his cellphone that implied Truman was either selling or buying drugs.

Truman was released on $5,750 bond.

Honoring Sendak

YOUNGSTOWN

The Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave., is hosting events this week honoring author Maurice Sendak in conjunction with the “Maurice Sendak: Memorial Exhibition” on display at the museum through July 6.

The Butler celebrated Sendak’s birthday Tuesday, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the museum will host a free family day, which will include a reading of “Where the Wild Things Are” by Youngstown Police Chief Robin Lees.

For information, call 330-743-1107, ext. 115.

Scholarships awarded

WARREN

Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation on Tuesday awarded a total of $30,000 in scholarships to Trumbull County residents pursuing a health-care degree or certification from an accredited institution.

Recipients of scholarships of $5,000 were Danielle J. Ford, Joseph Badger, 2014, University of Cincinnati; Valerie S. Helco, Newton Falls, 1989, KSU Trumbull; Morgan M. Miller, Howland, 2014, University of Cincinnati; Danielle L. Miracle, LaBrae, 2014, Defiance College; and Sarah K. Rich, Warren G. Harding, 2014, Miami University of Ohio.

Weight-lifting champ

YOUNGSTOWN

City firefighter and former Liberty High football standout Donovan Fletcher recently won the weight-lifting competition for his weight class at the Police And Fire Games in Cincinnati June 12.

Fletcher, who weighs 187 pounds, benched 375 pounds, which was good for first place in the 198 pound and under division.

Fletcher, who played college football for Ohio University, has been on the fire department for one year.

‘History To Go’ event

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Young Leaders Advisory Board, along with the Travel Idora Neighborhood tour, will offer its first installment of “History To Go,” a series of events focusing on local history, at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The tour begins at the Youngstown Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane. This tour is free and open to the public. It is a bus tour that takes a comprehensive look at Youngstown’s Idora Neighborhood. Passengers will learn 100-plus years of history as well as about current developments and plans to revitalize the neighborhood. Free parking is available at the Youngstown Playhouse, where buses will depart and return. Stops include Mill Creek MetroParks’ Ford Nature Center, YNDC’s Iron Roots Urban Farm and a historic home under renovation by YNDC. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact the MVHS, 330-743-2589 or email mvhs@mahoninghistory.org.

Woman gets probation

WARREN

Lisa D. Prater, 48, who suffered two gunshot wounds in an April 7 robbery at a house on South Street Southeast in which a man was killed, has been sentenced to five years’ probation on a crack-cocaine possession charge.

Prater, who has addresses on South Street and Elizabeth Street in Howland, pleaded guilty to the drug charge April 22.

She was sentenced Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Judge Andrew Logan also ordered her to obtain a drug and alcohol assessment and mental-health assessment and comply with any recommended treatment program.

Prater called 911 April 7, saying James R. Levels, 64, of Beal Street Northwest was dying from gunshot wounds after two males broke into the house to rob her but ended up shooting both of them. No charges have been filed in the case.

Jailed on drug charges

YOUNGSTOWN

A Poland man is in Mahoning County jail after a city police officer saw him fall onto South Avenue about 8:05 p.m. Monday.

Reports said an officer spotted Kevin Yuhas, 45, of Western Reserve Road leaning against the telephone pole on South Avenue near East Judson Avenue when he fell to the ground. He then got up and almost fell a second time into incoming traffic, reports said.

As the officer got out of her cruiser, Yuhas threw a pill bottle into the street, reports said, and told the officer he was going through heroin withdrawal and had been drinking. Inside the pill bottle was a used syringe that still had some suspected heroin inside it, reports said.

Reports said Yuhas then admitted taking heroin. He refused medical attention and was charged with possession of heroin and possession of drug-abuse instruments.