Development planned in downtown Warren

July 16, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

WARREN

California investors have purchased three attached buildings at 135 Pine Ave. SE through 157 Pine Ave. SE that house F&S Auto Service and office space, including The Vindicator’s Warren office.

Narinder Singh, who owns the buildings with his wife, said the first priority will be to repair the roof, then renovate the second-floor office area.

But he has other goals, like attracting a coffee shop or restaurant to the first-floor and repairing the building’s elevator.

“I want to bring back more life to downtown,” Singh said.

He is in discussions with a brewery that is interested in using first-floor and basement space formerly used by CarQuest Auto Parts. The first-floor areas will probably be subdivided into smaller spaces, he said. One of the buildings was built in 1919.

Election set for new Warren councilman

WARREN

The Trumbull County Democratic Party Central Committee members for the 5th Ward will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the party headquarters at Trumbull Business College on Ridge Road to elect someone to fill the vacancy for 5th Ward council member.

Interested candidates should submit a letter to Dan Polivka, party chairman, by 4 p.m. Wednesday. The letters can be mailed to the Trumbull County Democratic Party, 3200 Ridge Road SE, Warren, OH 44484.

The position became vacant when former 5th Ward Councilman Vince Flask was selected Warren auditor, replacing Anthony Natale, who resigned after being convicted of a federal crime for mailing white powder to a former employer in 2014, causing a panic and evacuation.

Indicted in gun theft

WARREN

Jason T. Huey Jr., 26, of Mahoning Avenue Northwest in Champion, has been indicted on charges of grand theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm, accused of stealing a gun from Stocker’s Gun Shop, 5199 Mahoning Ave. NW, on June 2.

Champion police said the store called police for a stolen gun and described the suspect. Police found Huey, matching the description, on Mahoning north of the store and questioned him.

The clerks in the store identified Huey as the man who had taken the gun. Huey had just gotten out of the Trumbull County jail earlier that morning. Huey has been booked into the jail 17 times since 2007, records show.

Home Depot assault

BOARDMAN

A Home Depot employee reportedly witnessed a co-worker being beaten until he was unconscious by an unidentified man this week. After the assault, the man left the store located on Southern Boulevard in a vehicle.

The witness said he heard the man ask, “Where’s my $500?” while the victim was being assaulted.

The victim suffered visible injuries and a possible internal injury. The store will provide the surveillance video to the police.

Motorcyclist injured

BAZETTA

Larry Morse, 32, of Burghill, suffered incapacitating injuries after being ejected from his motorcycle in a 1:27 a.m. crash Friday on state Route 46.

The driver was not wearing a helmet, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said in a report. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, the patrol said.

Troopers said the motorcyclist was traveling north and attempted to pass another vehicle on a curve but left the road, striking a ditch and overturning several times. He was taken by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and was in stable condition late Friday. The investigation continues.

More Digest, A7