Search continues

Search continues
CRAIG BEACH -- Authorities continue searching for a man who disappeared from his home.
Search dogs lost the scent of Albert Vitez, 74, on a road near his house a couple days ago, which indicates the man may have been picked up in a car and is elsewhere, said police chief Rick Watson. Neighbors say he often took rides from people to get around town.
There was an unconfirmed sighting of the man about 4 p.m. Friday in Austintown, Watson said.
Vitez has been in declining health and hadn't been seen in about a week. Anyone who knows where the man can be found should call police at (330) 654-2107 and leave a message.
FOE officer fined
WARREN -- A 44-year-old officer with Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 311, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of operating a gambling house, has been fined $25 and placed on six months nonreporting probation.
Melvin P. Parrish, of Willard N.E., was found guilty Friday in municipal court.
Parrish and four others were arrested earlier this week on the misdemeanor charge. The other four remain free on a $1,500 bond. Their cases are pending.
Police say gambling was going on at the lodge at 444 South Street.
Lodge officials say the money went to charity.
Police arrest man
YOUNGSTOWN -- City vice squad officers executing a warrant Friday about noon on Cassius Street arrested a man on three drug counts.
The 23-year-old was arrested on charges of cultivating and trafficking marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police also took $110 piled next to suspected marijuana on a table.
Audit finds few issues
YOUNGSTOWN -- A regular audit of the city's operations for 2000 shows no significant findings.
The state auditor's office raised seven points about bookkeeping. All but two of the items have appeared in past audits and have yet to be corrected, mostly because the city hasn't yet adopted a central purchasing system.
The other two items are being corrected, the city said.
Bank robber sentenced
CLEVELAND -- A man who robbed banks in Austintown and Damascus in November was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to 20 years in prison, the maximum allowed by law because the court found him to be a career offender.
Paul B. Goist, 34, of Alliance, had filed a motion seeking a sentence of death by lethal injection. Judge Kathleen O'Malley said her court didn't have the authority to grant the motion.
Goist also was sentenced to three years supervised release and ordered to pay $2,980 in restitution.
He robbed FFY Bank on Meridian Road in Austintown of about $1,710 on Nov. 10 and Farmers National Bank on state Route 62 in Damascus of about $1,750 on Nov. 17.
Bankruptcy filed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Team Office Products & amp; Services Inc., 118 N. Canfield-Niles Road, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In documents filed this week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Youngstown, the company listed assets of $198,458 and debts of $311,915.
Man reports theft
SHARON, Pa.-- Police said a North Oakland Avenue man who reported his girlfriend had used his money access card to withdraw $1,154 from his bank account Wednesday and Thursday was the victim of another theft Friday.
The man told police someone entered his home while he was sleeping and took $225 cash and a check for $1,000 from his wallet. He discovered the theft around 2 a.m., police said. There was no sign of forced entry, police said.
Campaign close to goal
SHARON, Pa. -- United Way of Mercer County has surpassed the 50 percent mark in its 2001 campaign to raise $1.1 million. A report issued by the agency Friday showed pledges totaling $565,215 or 51.4 percent of its goal.
The campaign is scheduled to wrap up Friday with a Blitz Day in the Hermitage Square Plaza parking lot at U.S. Route 62 and state Route 18. Final tallies will be announced throughout the morning as they are collected.
Program needs adults
WARREN -- Northeast Ohio Adoption Services is seeking adults willing to attend information sessions and complete 36 hours of free training to become adoptive parents.
The agency, which seeks adults willing to adopt school-age children, is a local nonprofit organization, which does not charge fees for adoption. NOAS has found families for more than 900 children since its inception in 1978. For more information, call (800) 686-6627 ext. 126.