Marshal investigating report of jail beating

Marshal investigating report of jail beating
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott said Wednesday he is investigating a report that a Mahoning County jail inmate, a federal detainee, was roughed up by several deputies Feb. 24.
Elliott said the inmate was moved Monday to the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, a private prison on Hubbard Road. Elliott said he gets many complaint letters from federal inmates housed in local jails. In this case, the inmate's wife wrote to local news organizations alleging that her husband was beaten because he refused to have his fingerprints taken with ink, but he was willing to have computerized fingerprints taken. She said there was no need for the fingerprints because he's been fingerprinted at least 10 times.
Tax help offered
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership continues to offer free tax assistance for residents in the Mahoning County area. There are only two dates available: March 10 between 5:30 and 8 p.m. and March 12 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The appointments will be at the MYCAP offices downtown at 101 Federal Plaza East, Suite 200. Call (330) 747-7921 ext. 1183 to make an appointment.
New business leadersto speak at arts meeting
YOUNGSTOWN -- Representatives of several new downtown businesses will speak to the Youngstown Arts & amp; Entertainment District Association at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Ohio One Building second floor auditorium.
Scheduled to speak are Steve Brubaker, senior vice president of corporate affairs, InfoCision Corp.; Richard Ouzounian, founder of Western Reserve Film Commission; Joe Perkins, founder of Perkins Communications; and John Thompson, owner of Tomasino's Pizza.
The public is invited to attend.
Patrols to be increased
NILES -- During March, the Niles Police Department will be increasing the number of road officers targeting drunken and impaired driving offenses.
State funds provided through the Trumbull County OVI/DUI Task Force will be used to place additional officers on the road at various times to look for alcohol-related driving offenders, according to the police department.
Autism presentation set
AUSTINTOWN -- The First Ohio Chapter of The Federation of Families For Children's Mental Health has scheduled a presentation on the latest treatment for autism. It's known as "DAN," Defeat Autism Now. The presentation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the D & amp;E Clinic, 142 Javit Court. Guest speaker will be Dr. Giovanna Vinci-Khoury. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Rachel at (330) 538-0184, or Chrysann at (330) 533-4649.
Township awarded grant
GREENFORD -- The Green Township Fire Department has been awarded a Department of Homeland Security Firefighters assistance grant of $35,000. The money will be used to replace an air bottle fill station that is more than 30 years old. This is the second such grant the department has received. The first grant was in 2002 for $12,000. The department used it to help pay for a thermal imaging camera and other equipment.
Education board to meet
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. today to get an update on the district's school construction project. The session will be at the school board offices, 20 W. Wood St.
Illegal-drug legislation
COLUMBUS -- State Representative Sylvester Patton of Youngstown, D-64th, D-Youngstown, is co-sponsoring legislation designed to crack down on the growing problem of methamphetamine abuse in Ohio.
The proposal, introduced Monday, would restrict access to pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold tablets.
Under the bill, possession of large quantities of pseudoephedrine is a felony. In addition, law enforcement officials can charge those who expose children to meth precursors (while intending to manufacture meth) with felony child abuse.
Other components of the bill would place stricter controls on where meth precursors may be stored. The bill would also require retailers to:
U Keep all products containing meth precursors in a secure, locked area or behind the counter in licensed pharmacies.
U Restrict sales to two packages per consumer.