Drug sentencing

Drug sentencing

WARREN — A Bazetta Township man was sentenced to two years in prison for growing 121 marijuana plants in his Ivy Hills condominium. Gerould L. Douce, 42, of 2822 Ivy Hill Circle, received his sentence Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. He could have gotten up to 12 years in prison.

Douce pleaded guilty to attempted illegal cultivation of marijuana with a gun specification and being a felon in possession of a firearm in January before Judge Peter Kontos.

Sgt. Jeff Orr, commander of the Trumbull Ashtabula Group Law Enforcement Task Force, said police received a tip that marijuana was being grown in the condo. When officers went to the condo, which is off Elm Road, they found growing systems in two of three bedrooms, marijuana hanging from a clothesline over Douce’s bed to dry, and scales.

Station to be renovated

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners on Wednesday approved $712,567 in contracts for the renovation of the former Pittsburgh, Marion & Chicago Railroad Station. The station on South Market Street will be used as the southern starting point of the Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail.

Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson obtained grants totaling $778,961 for the project. The paved trail runs north from Lisbon to Mahoning County.

UAW planning meeting

NORTH JACKSON — Clergy leaders in the community will meet with Jim Graham, United Autoworkers Local 1112 president, at 8 a.m. Monday at the UAW Hall, 11471 Reuther Drive S.W. The session is to make plans for a public rally May 2.

The Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Youngstown and Vicinity and pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown, is organizing the interfaith effort. He said the common cause is to show support for General Motors. The Rev. Mr. Macklin said government and business leaders will be challenged to step up and support this cause.

Grant for sewers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-6th, has announced that a $250,000 federal grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be used for sanitary sewer improvements in the Glenmoor and LaCroft areas of Columbiana County. The grant will help construct a new wastewater collection system and provide public sewer service for the first time to 440 households and 14 commercial businesses.

The area is now served by on-site septic tanks. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said the septic tanks are failing and damaging local waterways. The ARC funds will help construct 8.1 miles of sewer lines and installation of three pump stations. The ARC grant will be complemented by additional grants and loans for the $9.4 million project.

Grant applications

YOUNGSTOWN — The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley is offering competitive, one-year grants from $1,000 to $5,000 to support programs providing educational and recreational activities during the summer to Youngstown area children. The application deadline is April 15.

Funding will not be awarded for capital expenses, supplies or permanent or personal equipment, personnel, food or clothing. Special consideration may be given for transportation. Proposals that will be favorably considered will demonstrate collaboration, will not duplicate programming already in place in Mahoning County and will effectively use volunteers, officials said.

The applicant must be a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization. To get a grant application, call Ginny Pasha at United Way at (330) 746-8494.

Friends receives grant

YOUNGSTOWN — The Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens received a $1,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant for an exhibit slated to run June 26 through Aug. 9. The money will be used to help put on and curate the exhibit, “Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art.”