Program will alert parents

This program is for adults only and is sure to be an eye-opener.
AUSTINTOWN -- Parents are getting a heads-up on being more aware of who their kids are hanging out with on the Internet.
Internet predators are lurking around out there, say officials from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification. BCI, Austintown police, Austintown schools and WFMJ-TV Channel 21 are planning a program to help adults understand how serious the danger is.
The program will be from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. May 11 at Fitch High School, Falcon Drive.
It's adults only -- no one under 18 will be permitted into the program. Officials said there will be an "eye-opening" tape of a live chat -- unedited.
"You'll see types of language, photos and videos your child might be exposed to on the Internet," said Brace Johnson, supervisor of the BCI's computer crimes unit. Johnson and other program sponsors were at Fitch High School on Thursday to promote the program.
An overview
Johnson said the program will give an overview of the Web and of the dangers and risky behavior kids get into online. He said it will show how predators contact kids.
Austintown Police Chief Robert Gavalier said his department has had several cases involving Internet predators.
The Rev. Lou Scalzo of Highway Tabernacle and the Rev. Steve Popovich of Immaculate Heart of Mary also urged people to attend.
Gavalier said the program also will offer an overview of drugs and adolescents and will display drug paraphernalia. He said there will also be free gun locks available.