Food drive planned locally and nationally

Food drive plannedlocally and nationally
YOUNGSTOWN -- The National Association of Letter Carriers will have the 13th annual NALC National Food Drive to "stamp out hunger" on Saturday in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, and in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America.
Letter carriers will collect food donations as they deliver mail along their routes. Residents are asked to leave nonperishable food donations near their mailbox Saturday before the arrival of their letter carrier. These items will be picked up by the carriers.
This drive provides local food banks, pantries and shelters with food donations.
Library to host program
YOUNGSTOWN -- Reservations are being taken for Cybertour, a Grant Center program scheduled at 6:30 p.m. May 19 in the Computer Center at the Main Library, 305 Wick Ave.
Cybertour will present a brief overview of the Foundation Center's Web site and the various ways it can be helpful to a grant seeker looking for information on the Internet.
Grant Center programs are free and open to representatives from nonprofit organizations seeking information on funding sources and fundraising.
Reservations can be placed by calling the Main Library at (330) 744-8636 and pressing "2" at the phone prompt for reference Information.
Inspector: Keep grass cut
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Village Zoning Inspector Dale Miller reminds residents that grass cutting season is here and weeds and grass must be kept trimmed.
Only one warning will be issued per season before citations are issued to those who allow the grass to get too high.
Removing decorations
MINERAL RIDGE -- Township administrator David Pugh is asking residents who have a lot of ground decorations on graves at township cemeteries to clean them up.
Pugh said that if residents have flower beds at the cemeteries in front of headstones, they should maintain them or they will be cut by township crews.
He said ground decorations that exceed the headstone area are making it difficult for lawn maintenance workers to cut grass at the cemeteries.
He added that people have started bringing balloons and hanging baskets to graves, neither of which is permitted in the township cemetery.
Civil lawsuit dismissed
WARREN -- A federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit that alleged the city police chief used excessive force when he arrested a man in 2002.
Judge Lesley Wells of U.S. District Court dismissed the suit last month, stating she found John Mandopoulos did not use excessive force when he arrested Randy Dye of Leavittsburg, according to court documents.
Neither the chief nor Jim Sanders, an assistant city law director, could be reached to comment.
Block Watch meeting
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Snoop Block Watch meeting will be at 7 p.m. today at Brownlee Woods Presbyterian Church, at Everett and Irma avenues.
Brookfield man getssix years in prison
WARREN -- A 24-year-old Brookfield man, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Craig R. Kroner was sentenced Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He had pleaded guilty to the charge Feb. 2 after he was charged in the death of Charles Palm, 26, of Greenville, Pa. Palm was found dead Oct. 10, 2003. His body was found in the Shenango Wildlife area of Vernon Township.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the case. The patrol investigates criminal activity on state-owned or leased property.
Spring cleanup event
HARTFORD -- The township will have its annual spring cleanup from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21.
Tires, water heaters, stoves, washers, dryers, batteries and refrigerators are some of the items accepted. Freon must be removed from all items. No paints, oils or liquid chemicals will be accepted.