SCOUTS

SCOUTS

Senior receives Eagle award

Benjamin A. Belgrad has received his Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouting’s highest honor.

He is the son of Elizabeth A. Finley-Belgrad and David Belgrad, of Boardman, and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Finley Jr., of Boardman.

He is a member of Western Reserve Council, Whispering Pines District, Boy Scouts of America Troop 46 that meets at Boardman United Methodist Church. Eric Grabman is the scoutmaster. Belgrad joined the troop in February 2002 after receiving the Arrow of Light from Cub Scout Pack 27, Boardman. Since that time he has earned 29 merit badges. He is also a member of the Brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow.

Belgrad’s Eagle Scout service project was to construct a pergola and two raised beds for an outside eating area at the Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, where he was a pupil from preschool through eighth grade.

He is a senior at Ursuline High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and the school’s cross country and track teams. He was awarded a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art Show. He is a member of Boardman United Methodist Church.

STATE POLICE

Troopers of the Year

Two men with local ties have received honors from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Trooper John L. Lamm, originally from Girard, has been selected 2008 Trooper of the Year at the Ravenna Post.

The selection of Lamm, 34, is in recognition of outstanding service during 2008 at the Ravenna Post. Fellow officers stationed at Ravenna chose Lamm based on leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers and the public.

He joined the OSHP in 2005 and has served at the Ravenna Post.

He is a 1992 graduate of Girard High School. Lamm received the Division’s ACE Award in 2008 and The MADD Award in 2006 and 2007.

Lamm and his wife, Kimberlee, live in Niles with their daughter, Lacie.

Trooper Kevin W. Thompson has been selected 2008 Trooper of the Year at the Lisbon Post.

Thompson, 40, is being recognized for outstanding service.

Fellow officers chose Thompson based on leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude and cooperation with supervisors, peers and the public.

Thompson is now in contention for the District and State Trooper of the Year Award to be announced at a later date. He joined the patrol in 2000 and was selected Post Trooper of the Year in 2004.

He and his wife, Denise, live in East Liverpool with their daughter, Kyla Renee.

HONORS

Foster-care worker honored

Dorothy Staaf of Youngstown has been honored by the Mahoning County Children Services Board for recently being named as Outstanding Child Protection Worker of the Year.

Staaf, a CSB therapeutic foster-care worker and parent-education coordinator, was given the award by the Columbus-based Public Children Services Association of Ohio for the extra attention she gives families and children, as well as leadership and special dedication in the child protection field. She began her career with CSB in June 1985.

Staaf also is a member of CSB’s family services department and serves as a trainer in the agency’s parent education program where, among other things, she works to help parents better understand themselves and their children while encouraging them to identify and strive to achieve their goals.

She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Youngstown State University, and also spent several years as a caseworker for Northeast Ohio Adoption Services in therapeutic foster care assisting children to overcome challenging behaviors.

Staaf has two children, Julie and Michael, both of Youngstown, and two twin grandchildren.

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