Join Red Ribbon Race

Join Red Ribbon Race

WARREN — Registration begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Warren Community Amphitheatre off of Mahoning Avenue for the Red Ribbon Race, to remember and honor those who have struggled with substance abuse. The event is being sponsored by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention and begins at 10 a.m. It includes a free one-mile walk and free 5K run.

Participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item or personal-hygiene product that will be donated to area charities. Throughout the week, ASAP also will distribute magnets with warning signs that a person might be involved with substance abuse. These are mood changes or irritability; school problems, including poor attendance or low grades; rebelling against family rules; switching friends or being secretive; a sloppy appearance, lack of interest or low energy; and memory lapses, bloodshot eyes, lack of coordination or slurred speech.

For more information, go to www.asaptrumbull.org or call (330) 770-3818.

Farm Bureau awards

NILES — The Mahoning and Trumbull counties Farm Bureau will present its annual Friends of Agriculture awards to nine local, national and state officials at a banquet Friday at Alberini’s Restaurant, 1201 Youngstown-Warren Road.

Receiving the awards will be U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th; U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th; state Sen. Capri Cafaro of Hubbard, D-32nd; state Rep. Ron Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th; state Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th; state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65th; state Rep. Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th; state Rep. Deborah Newcomb of Conneaut, D-99th; and state Rep. Mark Okey of Carrollton, D-61st.

Ryan also will receive the “2008 Friend of Agriculture” award.

2 purse snatchings

BOARDMAN — Township police investigated two purse snatching robberies that occurred within about an hour Wednesday.

The first occurred about 10 a.m. when a female employee at Purpose Money, U.S. Route 224, arrived at the business to open it. A man in his 20s, with facial hair, about 5-foot-11-inches tall and weighing between 160 and 190 pounds approached her and grabbed her purse.

The woman fought with the man, said Chief Patrick Berarducci, but the man took off running with her purse. A police dog from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s office assisted officers in tracking the man, but he wasn’t apprehended.

About 11 a.m., another man was captured on store video at Rulli Brothers, South Avenue. He followed a woman out of the store, grabbed her purse from her shopping cart and fled. Police charged Carmine J, Ramunno Jr., 26, of Struthers with theft and took him to the Mahoning County jail.

New assistant fire chief

NORTH LIMA — Beaver Township has a new assistant fire chief. Trustees, at the recommendation of fire Chief Russ Osborne, named Randy Carr to the job, effective Oct. 1. He is to receive a stipend of $440 a month.

Carr, who has worked with the township fire department since 2001, is working toward becoming a certified paramedic through Jefferson Community College. Carr replaces Scott Rice, who resigned early last month to accept a promotion to assistant fire chief in Springfield Township.

Rice continues to be active with the Beaver Township Fire Department as a firefighter/Emergency Medical Services volunteer. Trustees also accepted the resignation of firefighter Ed Wright. Wright, who had been a member of the township fire department since 1973, resigned for personal reasons, officials said.

Help for Beatitude House

YOUNGSTOWN — Beatitude House, helping disadvantaged women and children in the Mahoning Valley, needs the community’s help so that children there are able to give Christmas gifts to their mothers.

Children pick out gifts from donations of items such as gloves, socks, bath set or perfume. Items are being accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays at 238 Tod Lane.

Gifts must be received by Dec. 15. Candles are not accepted. Call (330) 747-3147 or visit www.beatitudehouseonline.org.