Metro digest

More than 40 to enlist

VIENNA — More than 40 people will gather in Hangar 302 at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station at 10:45 a.m. today to enlist in the Air Force Reserve during a Mass Oath of Enlistment ceremony. Col. Karl McGregor, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, will administer the oath.

All of the new enlistees will be joining the 910th Airlift Wing. Family, friends and staff from Youngstown Air Reserve Station will be on hand to observe the event and welcome the new members to the Air Force Reserve family.

“Honoring these new citizen-airmen with this ceremony serves as a testimonial of the partnership that exists between the 910th Airlift Wing and its community, ” said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Terpening, 910th Airlift Wing senior recruiter.

Traficant, Blitzer to talk

YOUNGSTOWN — Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. is scheduled to be a guest Monday on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

This will be Traficant’s fifth national television appearance — and his second on CNN — since his Sept. 2 release from federal prison.

Traficant is expected to speak with Blitzer live around 6 p.m. Monday.

Harding ticket refunds

WARREN – As a result of the cancellation of the Warren Band Night due to heavy rain forecasts, the Warren G. Harding High School Band will be refunding ticket holders for tickets purchased.

Anyone wishing reimbursement for their ticket may go to the Warren G. Harding Ticket Office (Entrance A – Athletic Entrance) on Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. and must present their ticket. If you have any questions, please call (330) 841-2316, ext. 2189.

“A Night with the Harding Band” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15. Admission at the gate will be a monetary donation.

Cases bound over

CAMPBELL — Two Youngstown men who were arrested after a high-speed chase from Campbell into Youngstown last month had their cases bound over to a Mahoning County grand jury.

Quentin Jones, 21, of South Jackson Street and Johnathan Dent, 18, of East Lucius Avenue made their bail Friday after their preliminary hearings in municipal court, police said.

Jones, the driver of a car police said wove in and out of traffic and ran a red light as he fled an attempted traffic stop, was released on $1,000 bond. He is charged with having a weapon while prohibited from doing so, failure to comply with a police officer’s order, carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property and several traffic offenses.

Dent is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and receiving stolen property. He was released on $500 bond.

Ice racing postponed

YOUNGSTOWN — The Extreme Ice Racing event scheduled for next weekend at the Covelli Centre has been postponed.

In an e-mail, the American Motorcycle Association announced the postponement of its Oct. 10 event due to a conflict with “a couple of riders.” The event has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29.

The postponement of the ice racing frees up the Oct. 10 slot, which had been targeted as a possible date for a World Extreme Cagefighting event, which was postponsed last month due to an injury to one of the main-event fighters.

Community Care Walk

EAST PALESTINE — A Community Care Walk is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at East Palestine City Park.

Registration is at 1 p.m. that day at the park’s picnic pavilion. The walk will take place on the East Palestine Community Trail, and participants will walk both directions of the trail, rain or shine.

Essentially, local nonprofit groups or organizations may register and secure pledges or sponsors for their cause and participate in the walk along with other area organizations such as Social Concern and the Salvation Army. The event is sponsored by the East Palestine Ministerial Association.

For more information, call (330) 426-2417.

Natural-gas rate set

POLAND — Township trustees have set the natural-gas rate for township residents with IGS Energy at $7.46 per thousand cubic feet (mcf) from December through April. The rates are $1.83 per mcf lower than last year.

The rate is the same as neighboring communities including the village, Boardman, Canfield Township and Youngstown.

There is no early- termination fee for residents who want to leave the program. Residents will receive information in the mail about the program about how to sign up. Information is also availabe online at www.igsenergy.com or by calling (800) 280-4474.

Performance sold out

YOUNGSTOWN — The Thursday performance by comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham at Covelli Centre is sold out, according to Bridget Wolsonovich, marketing director of the arena. More than 6,000 tickets priced at $43.50 have been sold.

Learn about mushrooms

NORTH LIMA — Area mushroom expert Walter Sturgeon will present a free program at 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Beaver Township Nature Preserve.

There is no cost to participate. The nature preserve is on State Route 165 in East Lewistown near New Buffalo Road. Much of the program will take pace at the open-air pavilion. However, attendees will have a chance to practice identifying mushrooms.

Participants should wear comfortable shoes or boots and dress appropriately for the weather.

The educational program is part of the 2009 Nature Preserve Series sponsored by the Beaver Township Park Board. An additional program with Bob Coggeshall of Mill Creek Park’s Ford Nature Center has been added to the roster. That presentation will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 24.

For more information about these programs or other activities sponsored by the Beaver Township Park Board, call (330) 549-9552

T’ai Chi Chih classes

BOARDMAN — T’ai Chi Chih classes continue at Boardman Park with new courses scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The T’ai Chi Chih beginners’ course is eight one-hour classes once a week on Wednesdays at Boardman Park Community Center. There are two courses, 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Class dates are Oct. 7, 14, (no class on Oct. 21), 28 and Nov. 4, 11, 18, (no class Nov. 25) and Dec. 2 and 9.

Classes are open to men, women and youths and taught by Lucinda Kutsko, certified T’ai Chi Chih instructor.

The fee for the eight-week course is $80. Pre-registration is required. Call Kutsko at (330) 538-2292 for information and to register.

T’ai Chi Chih, with 19 soft, flowing movements, is a no-sweat exercise that does not require equipment or special clothing. It improves balance and coordination, enhances sports performance and increases focus, energy and stamina.