Reservists off to Qatar

Reservists off to Qatar
VIENNA -- Ten Air Force reservists from the 910th Airlift Wing depart Monday for Qatar in the Middle East. The operations and maintenance personnel leave at 10:15 a.m. Monday to join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udied Air Base for 90 days. As of Friday, about 250 Air Force reservists from the 910th remain on active duty, about 150 of them overseas.
Patton joins primary
YOUNGSTOWN -- State Rep. Sylvester J. Patton of Youngstown, D-60th, is running for mayor in the Democratic primary May 3. He'll announce it at noon Monday at the Youngstown Business Incubator, 241 W. Federal St., Suite 304. Patton, in his fifth term in the Statehouse, is the ranking minority member of the House Transportation Subcommittee of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. He also serves on the State Controlling Board and several other House committees.
2 fined for contempt
YOUNGSTOWN -- Judge Timothy J. Maloney of Mahoning County Probate Court found a local lawyer and his former client in contempt of court for failing to abide by his court orders. The judge kept as a fine the $100 bonds Atty. David Gerchak and Kathy Pozzotto of Youngstown posted in December. They failed to appear before Judge Maloney on Nov. 30 to explain why they had not complied with three previous orders concerning the estate of Pozzotto's mother. Pozzotto is the executor of her mother's estate. The judge had ordered them to serve time, and both posted the $100 bonds last year to avoid jail. Judge Maloney removed Gerchak as Pozzotto's lawyer, and she's retained another attorney.
Police nab napper
WARREN -- Who's been sleeping in my bed? A 55-year-old Windham man reported finding a sleeping intruder in a bedroom after noticing a broken window at his rental property at 347 Freeman St. N.W. Warren police arrested Benjamin P. Benson, 21, of state Route 5, Newton Falls, about 8:45 a.m. Thursday on a charge of breaking and entering.
Beatitude gets grant
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Kennedy Family Foundation has contributed $10,000 to Beatitude House to help it continue to prepare women for more successful lives. Kennedy is one of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley funds. Beatitude House, started in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization that provides transitional housing and career training in Mahoning and Trumbull counties for homeless and disadvantaged women. It's at 287 Lora Ave. During 2004, the facility's staff helped nearly 300 women and children with counseling, higher education or career placement, life skills training, computer literacy, general education degree classes, parenting advice, money management and r & eacute;sum & eacute; writing. For information on donating to Beatitude House, call Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director, at (330) 744-3147.
Van funds available
AUSTINTOWN -- Federal money is available to public and private agencies for the purchase of vans or computers for use in transporting seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments is preparing its 2005 Federal Transit Administration program for Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The federal government may pay up to 80 percent of the cost of vehicles and computers. Nonprofit organizations and public bodies the state approves to coordinate transportation -- or that certify to Ohio Department of Transportation that no private nonprofit corporations are readily available in their area -- are eligible to apply for the money. For application guidelines, contact Kathy Zook, (330) 779-3800, by Thursday.
Court seeks volunteers
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate is recruiting volunteers to represent abused and neglected children in juvenile court. Volunteers must be older than 21 with flexible day schedules and able to train for 30 hours five Wednesday evenings and two Saturdays. The application deadline is Feb. 15. Volunteers must commit to one case for 12 to 18 months. For more information, call (330) 740-2239 or e-mail mahctycasa@aol.com.