Federal drug charge plea

Federal drug charge plea
PITTSBURGH -- A Sharon man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possession and sale of crack cocaine.
Michael A. Thomas, 36, of Cedar Avenue entered his plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone.
Michael A. Comber, the assistant U.S. attorney handling the case, said Thomas had more than one-tenth of a gram of crack in his possession and sold it to an informant March 5 and March 12, 2002.
His arrest was part of Operation Idaho, a concerted effort to cut down on drug trafficking along the Sharon/Farrell border.
Comber said Sharon police, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service conducted the investigation that led to Thomas' indictment.
Cercone sent sentencing for Nov. 5. Thomas could face up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million.
Jailed for theft
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The former financial officer of American Legion Post 343 will spend two months in the Lawrence County Jail, followed by four months under house arrest. Ronald Bongivengo was sentenced Monday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court. He was found guilty of theft by unlawful taking by Judge Dominick Motto in a bench trial held earlier this year. Bongivengo, 59, of New Castle was accused of taking more than $46,000 from American Legion Post 343 from August 1998 to January 1999. Judge Motto ordered Bongivengo to pay $46,324.10 to the post's insurance company, which covered the initial loss, and $8,544.83 to the post for attorney fees. Bongivengo will also spend 6 1/2 years on probation after completing house arrest, according to the judge's order.
Town hall meetings
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, will have two town hall meetings next week to talk with residents about the prescription drug program for Medicare recipients recently passed in Congress.
The meetings will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at East Liverpool's Westgate Elementary School, 810 W. Eighth St., and at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Boardman Township Government Center, 8299 Market St.
Police clarify report
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said their report Wednesday that Alvin Combs III, who led police on a two-hour foot chase around town Tuesday, was wanted for failing to appear at a court hearing was incorrect. Charges in that earlier case had been dropped and there was no hearing, but the case was later refiled and Combs was wanted on a new warrant charging him with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, making terroristic threats and drug possession.
Breast-feeding campaign
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Jameson Hospital and the Lawrence County Medical Society Auxiliary are showing new moms they support breast-feeding. Women giving birth this week are given a "birthday beenie bear" and a card that reads, "Your breast milk offers benefits that will last a lifetime! Thanks for giving your baby the healthiest start possible." The effort is part of World Breast-feeding Week. Studies have shown that breast-fed babies have fewer infections, allergies and bouts of diarrhea than formula-fed babies. Breast-feeding mothers are also at less risk for cancers and return to their pre-pregnancy size more quickly, hospital officials say.
Fair board gets grant
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Fair Board will receive a federal grant of $80,474 to begin construction of a 4-H barn facility, according to U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th. With the new barn, the fairgrounds will be able to hold more events throughout the year because there will be more room to house and exhibit the animals, Hart said. There has been an increase in the number of youths who exhibit horses and other animals, and there are an inadequate number of boarding rooms at the fairgrounds for animals. The money is coming from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Economic Development Initiative.
Easter Seals garage sale
WARREN -- The 16th annual Easter Seals garage sale is going on through Sunday at the Ridgeview Plaza, 2480 Youngstown Road S.E.
This year's event includes a Pizza Burn-Off & amp; Car Show from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is $5 per adult and $3 per child, which includes a pizza ticket to taste and judge your favorite pizza and one free drink.
There is a $10 entry fee to participate in the car show, which will include one free pizza ticket.
Proceeds from the garage sale and events go to Easter Seals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.