Probation violation hearing delayed

November 21, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

WARREN — A probation violation hearing for Jason Kirkpatrick of Warren, 29, sentenced to a 12-month faith-based treatment program in Michigan, was delayed Thursday at his attorney’s request.

Judge John M. Stuard of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court granted Atty. Joseph Fritz six weeks to seek an explanation from Life Challenge of Detroit as to why his client was kicked out of the program after about a week there. His next hearing will be Jan. 8.

Fritz said he contacted the program to learn more about what happened, but has not received any information. His next step will be to subpoena the information.

Kirkpatrick was convicted of committing 16 break-ins across Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. A coalition of investigators said Kirkpatrick and two other men were part of a burglary ring. When Judge Stuard gave Kirkpatrick treatment instead of prison, he warned him that failing to complete the Life Challenge program would result in a nine-year prison sentence.

Toy distribution

YOUNGSTOWN — The Salvation Army, Mahoning County Area Services, 1501 Glenwood Ave., has announced its 2008 Christmas toy shop distribution center at the Austintown Plaza, Mahoning Avenue, in Austintown, and behind Buffalo Wild Wings. Families had to be registered in advance; pickup will be in December. For information, call the Salvation Army at (330) 746-8403.

Free holiday dinner

YOUNGSTOWN — Richard Brown United Methodist Church, 1205 Elm St., will host a free Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the church. For transportation, call the church at (330) 743-5432.

Meeting set in Struthers

STRUTHERS — Councilman Robert Burnside, D-3rd, announced that an open meeting has been scheduled for Struthers residents about the city council’s endorsement of Direct Energy as the city’s natural gas supplier. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Struthers United Methodist Church, 33 Sexton St. Thomas Bellish, president of Buckeye Energy Brokers Inc., will be on hand to answer questions about the Struthers natural gas endorsement program.

Union Twp. receives grant

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Union Township Supervisors accepted $107,903 in 2008 Community Development Block Grant funds when they met Thursday.

Supervisor Chairman Pat Angiolelli said the funds will be divided as follows: $73,481 for the township’s longtime housing rehabilitation program; $5,000 for materials for renovations which the Union Township Athletic Association will make to the dugouts at township ball fields; $10,000 as the township’s annual donation towards the fire truck and $19,422 for administration.

Supervisors also agreed that the chairman of the board of supervisors will be the right-to-know contact under Pennsylvania’s new public records law. Anyone wanting a township document should request it from the board’s chairman.