Soldiers coming home

Soldiers coming home
STEUBENVILLE -- Some 175 soldiers from the Ohio National Guard's 1485th Transportation Co., located in Coshocton, Dover and Steubenville, will be welcomed home Wednesdayafter a year in Iraq. The ceremony will be at 3 p.m. at New Towne Mall, 400 Mill Ave., S.E., New Philadelphia.
The 1485th was mobilized in February 2003 and arrived in Iraq in April 2003. The unit also served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991.
Boccieri returning
State Rep. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, was to return to the Statehouse today after a hiatus because of military duty in Iraq. Boccieri, a C-130 Air Force Reserve pilot, was away from the state Legislature since December, when he was called to active duty. Boccieri was to be at the Statehouse today and Wednesday for voting sessions and committee assignments.
Boccieri said he is optimistic that during the brief legislative session, the House will consider moving as an amendment a bill he sponsored to offer Ohio veterans license plates for motorcycles. Boccieri expects to report for duty in the Middle East by the end of this month, and be there at least through June 30.
Letter carriers food drive
YOUNGSTOWN -- Residents of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties are asked to participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers 12th annual NALC National Food Drive Saturday by placing bags or boxes of nonperishable food items at their mail boxes.
The food will be picked up by carriers during their regular route and divided among local food pantries. The event, considered the largest one-day food drive in the world, will be conducted locally by members of NALC Branch 385.
The food drive takes place in some 10,000 cities and towns throughout the 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions. The project is coordinated locally by NALC Branch 385, the Postal Service, Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way, AFL-CIO Community Services and Teamsters Local 377.
Car set ablaze
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City police are searching for the person who set fire to a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. Police said the car was parked in the 800 block of South Mill Street when it was damaged. They believe something was placed on the gas tank and then set on fire around 11 p.m. Saturday.
Property cleanup
WELLSVILLE -- A 1.2-acre property will be ready for commercial or residential development after cleanup efforts funded by a Clean Ohio Assistance grant. State Sen. Greg DiDonato of Dennison, D-30th, said the State Controlling Board has released $475,000 for reclamation of the former Lincoln China property at the corner of Ninth and Commerce streets. The property is in a residential area with houses surrounding it, DiDonato said. Reclamation will include asbestos abatement, demolition of several vacant and collapsing structures, and excavation and removal of soil contaminated with lead.
Prom safety lectures
POLAND -- Township police are getting ready for the prom with intervention lectures for students and increased patrols for drunken drivers. The police department's school resource officer will be giving a three-day presentation on seat belt use and drinking and driving to all juniors and seniors. The department will increase police patrols Friday and Saturday with a zero tolerance policy for those drinking or not wearing a seat belt.
YSU commencement
YOUNGSTOWN -- Judy G. Hample, chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters and give the keynote address at Youngstown State University's commencement at 10 a.m. May 15 in Beeghly Center on the YSU campus. About 1,100 students will receive diplomas.
Hample, who earned master's and doctoral degrees in communications from Ohio State University, heads the Pennsylvania higher education system, which includes 14 universities, four branch campuses, several regional centers and environmental learning center. The system enrolls nearly 105,000 students and employs nearly 12,200 faculty and staff.
Hample took the post nearly two years ago, leaving a position as chancellor of the State University System of the Florida Board of Regents.