Arson charges

Arson charges

WARREN

Boys 11 and 12 were charged with arson and breaking and entering Thursday in Trumbull County Juvenile Court after police said they set a fire Wednesday inside a vacant home at 467 Third St. SW that caused $20,000 in damage.

The boys, who live on Fourth Street Southwest, were taken to the juvenile justice center after they were questioned in the 12:54 p.m. fire.

Warren Fire Chief Ken Nussle said it appears the fire started in the living room of the one-story ranch home valued at nearly $30,000 before the fire. Neighbors and witnesses identified the boys seen leaving the house and told police and fire officials where to find them, Nussle said.

Board meeting

AUSTINTOWN

The Austintown Board of Education will have its August meeting at 7:30 a.m. today. The meeting begins with an executive session on the sale of property and then the board will have its meeting, inside the cafeteria of Austintown Middle School, 700 S. Raccoon Road.

Felony theft charges

BOARDMAN

A Cleveland man faces a felony theft charge after he was arrested on a warrant. Township police picked up Gregory Burks, 55, from the Cuyahoga County jail Wednesday.

The fifth-degree felony charge stems from an incident May 13 in which Burks purportedly stole money from cash registers at Sam’s Club, 6361 South Ave. Burks and another suspect reportedly were caught on camera stealing $1,648 from the registers.

Burks was taken to the Mahoning County jail.

Fundraiser set

NILES

The fifth annual fundraiser to support Mario’s Mission is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the StoneYard Grill & Tavern, 41 S. Main St.

This year’s event includes a bucket auction, cornhole tournament with a fee of $20 per team and a 50-50 raffle. Also, a portion of the proceeds from food and drink will be donated to Mario’s Mission.

Mario Novello, born Sept. 17, 2008, the son of Derek and Lynn Novello, was diagnosed at 5 months old with a rare disease known as Q4D for which there is no cure. The disease leaves Mario with developmental delays, low muscle tone, seizures, brain malformations, renal disease and hypothyroidism. Donations are accepted at www.MariosMission.com. and click on “contribute.”

Cook quits race

WARREN

Ernie Cook is no longer a candidate for Trumbull County sheriff, he said this week. He had considered running until his boss, Sheriff Thomas Altiere, decided to seek re-election, he said. Cook is chief deputy of the sheriff’s office and county 911 director.

He created a campaign account in 2014 and filed a campaign finance report recently with the Trumbull County Board of Elections indicating he raised $3,253 in 2014 for a run for sheriff. He did not raise any campaign money in 2015.

Cook said Wednesday he was required by law to file a report even though he was no longer in the race. Altiere’s current term expires in December 2016.

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