Reservists to return

Reservists to return
VIENNA -- Eighteen members of the Air Force Reserve 910th Airlift Wing's Operations Group were scheduled to return to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station this afternoon after two months' deployment to air bases in Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait.
Board denies parole
WARREN -- A former Howland man serving a 10-year to life sentence on rape charges will not be getting out of prison soon. The state parole board denied Willis Rietz's request to be released from prison. He will not get another parole hearing until 2011. Rietz, 46, was sentenced in 1994 by Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He had pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition. The family of the victim handed the parole board a petition with 1,500 signatures asking that Rietz not be given parole.
Back-to-school giveawayat church in Warren
WARREN -- Eastside Church of God, 137 Vine Ave., will sponsor its annual back-to-school giveaway from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The giveaway is an outreach program designed to help needy children in the Warren area. This marks the sixth year the church has sponsored the event that uses donations, volunteers and prayers. Staff members are committed to equipping needy children with the necessary basic tools to begin a school year with dignity, confidence and a sense of well-being, church officials said. The purpose is to provide each child in need from kindergarten through 12th grade with school supplies, health care and child-enrichment packets, a coat or jacket, a pair of new shoes, socks, underwear and a school outfit. Preschool and Head Start children aren't eligible.
Musical event planned
WARREN -- Saudia and Company, a Niles musical artist company, will host a Mahoning Valley-wide musical event from 6-11 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Warren Community Amphitheater. The event, which is free, will feature jazz, poetry, live bands and a performance by Saudia Mills. Funds from sponsors will benefit the Marcus Garvey Institute of Awareness to assist in development of the tennis program being introduced in the Warren/Youngstown area targeting high-risk and at-risk youth.
Trustees to meet
BROOKFIELD -- Township trustees will meet in special session at 7 a.m. Friday at the township administration building to discuss the 2005 temporary budget.
Meeting date changed
VIENNA -- The Mathews Board of Education meeting scheduled for Aug. 18 has been moved to 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at the board's offices, 4434-B Warren-Sharon Road. The board will adjourn to an executive session at 6 with the regular meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
Police probe theftfrom woman's account
NILES -- Police are investigating the reported theft of money from a Scott Street woman's bank account. The 18-year-old woman filed a report Wednesday stating someone had taken her Home Savings and Loan bank card and withdrew a total of $1,600 between July 30 and Aug. 5. Reports indicate the woman did not know who might have taken the card.
Summer outdoor movie
HOWLAND -- Howland Community Church, 198 Niles-Cortland Road, presents the last of its summer outdoor movies at 9 p.m. Friday. The film is "The Three Lives of Thomasina." A pre-movie party featuring pizza and refreshments will be at 8:30 p.m. In case of rain, the movie will be shown indoors.
Traffic enforcement
BOARDMAN -- Using state grants, township police officers will be working overtime on traffic enforcement for the rest of this month and all of September, the police department has announced. In one program, they'll target drunken drivers on weekends in areas with a high incidence of alcohol-related crashes. In the other program, also with a goal to reduce crash-related injuries, they'll concentrate on speed and safety belt and child restraint enforcement during peak traffic hours on Glenwood Avenue, Market Street and Southern Boulevard.
Fire department grant
MERCER, Pa. -- The Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $43,002 federal grant for fire operations and firefighter safety. The money came from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate.