King Day observance

King Day observance

WARREN — The Rev. Dr. John F. Newby Jr., pastor of Grace African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1137 Main Ave., S.W. will speak at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast program at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in the Warren G. Harding High School cafeteria. The Rev. Dr. Newby served as pastor of churches in Findlay, Toledo and Lorain before coming to Warren. He is an associate professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University, where he was on the faculty and administrative staff for 25 years. Cost of the breakfast is $15 per person or tables of 10 for $125. To make reservations by Friday, call Bill Mullane at (330) 719-1199 or e-mail him at William.Mullane@neomin.org.

Talks about digital TV

YOUNGSTOWN — The Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc. in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission is sponsoring talks about digital TV conversion at three separate events Monday.

FCC representative Simon Banyai will answer questions about converting to digital television, express facts on digital TV and demonstrate how to hook up a converter box. Banyai will be at the following locations:

U9:30 a.m., McGuffey Center, 1649 Jacob’s Road, Youngstown. Contact Jennifer Miller at (330) 744-4377 for more information.

U11:30 a.m., Area Agency on Aging, 25 East Boardman St. Youngstown, on the second floor of the Ohio One building. This is a brown bag luncheon series. Soft drinks will be provided. Contact Lisa Solley at (330) 746-2938 for information.

U1:30 p.m., Girard Multigener-ational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., Girard. Contact Laura Carey D’Rummo at (330) 545-5350.

For online information on FCC publications on DTV go to www.dtv.gov/publications.html

Printable paper coupons are available at www.dtv2009.gov.

Gunman gets 3 years

YOUNGSTOWN — A South Side man who admitted firing a gun at his neighbor and her two sisters on March 23, 2007, has been sentenced to three years in prison. John Platt, 44, of East Florida Avenue, drew concurrent two-year sentences on each of three counts of felonious assault he pleaded guilty to, plus one consecutive year for the firearm specification, which the prosecution agreed to reduce from a three-year specification. Platt was sentenced last week by Judge John M. Durkin of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. No one was injured by the shooting.

Grove City gets grants

GROVE CITY, Pa. — State Rep. Dick Stevenson’s office announced grants for five fire departments in the Grove City area. The money comes from state gaming revenue and is distributed through the Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of Fire Commissioner within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The grants are used for building or renovating a primary structure; buying or repairing equipment; training; or debt reduction.

East End Volunteer Department No. 1 received $11,181; Grove City Area Rescue and Life Support Unit, $10,246; Grove City Volunteer Fire Department, $10,216; Pine Township Engine Co., $11,367; and the Volunteer First Department of Springfield Township, $10,620.

Officials urge citizens to install, maintain detectors

COLUMBUS — Ohio State Fire Marshal Michael P. Bell is joining the United States Fire Administration in asking all residents of Ohio and the nation to install, maintain and test their smoke detectors.

This nationwide effort comes in the wake of several tragic fires during the holiday season and the first days of 2009. Since Thanksgiving 2008, 24 people have lost their lives in fatal fires in Ohio. More than 200 fire fatalities have occurred in the United States during that same period.

“More than 180 people lost their lives in fires in Ohio last year, and working smoke detectors could have made the difference between life and death,” Bell said. “There should be a functioning smoke alarm protecting every single person in Ohio.”