Volunteers needed to help abused, neglected kids

February 6, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Volunteers are needed for the Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad litem program in the county juvenile court. Volunteers receive 30 hours of classroom learning from a national CASA curriculum regarding abused and neglected children. The volunteers then can be appointed guardian ad litem for dependent children. They must follow one case for one year, averaging 10 to 15 hours per month. At the end of the case investigation, the volunteers present a written recommendation to the court on where the child should live. Call (330) 740-2239 by Wednesday to begin the application process. Learn more about the program at mccasa.org.

Fire department grants

AUSTINTOWN — The township fire department was awarded $110,187 through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant. U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, announced Friday that 32 Ohio fire departments will receive a total of nearly $1.9 million through the DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. Andy Frost III, Austintown assistant fire chief, said the department will use the grant to purchase turnout gear, air packs, training equipment and a thermal-imaging camera. Austintown was the only department in Mahoning County to receive a grant. In Trumbull County, the Bazetta Township department was awarded $38,373; Johnston Township, $32,880; and Niles, $48,636.

Police seek armed robbers

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are looking for two men who walked into an Ohio Avenue home and robbed the occupants at gunpoint. Police said the victims, four men and one woman, included three Youngstown State University students living just off campus. All were in their late teens or early 20s. Police said a black man in his 30s, about 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 300 pounds with a stubble beard and carrying a gun, walked into the house through an unlocked front door just before 10 p.m. Thursday. He was followed by another black man in his 20s, 5 feet 7 inches tall and wearing a ski mask over his face with a multicolored hoodie. The gunman made the victims lie face-down on the floor while rummaging through their pockets. He took a debit card and a cell phone and threatened to come back if there was no money on the debit card. The two men left through the front door and were gone before police arrived.

Give your suggestions

YOUNGSTOWN — The public will get a chance to offer suggestions on a plan the city school district is developing to improve educational performance. The district is offering two public sessions Monday to give people an opportunity to learn about the five-year strategic plan titled “Framing the Future: Thinking and Learning Our Way to the Top.” The plan is being finalized, and the district wants to hear any ideas that parents, teachers or others in the community might have to offer. The first session will be at 9 a.m. at Choffin Career and Technical Center, 200 E. Wood St. The second will be at 6 p.m. at Chaney High School, 731 S. Hazelwood Ave.

Free tax prep today

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally will be at Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership at 11 a.m. today on Super Saturday to help promote free tax assistance for residents of the Mahoning Valley. Super Saturday is the first day that free tax preparation will be offered in the Mahoning Valley. Free tax preparation, e-filing and counseling on earned-income-tax-credit (EITC) eligibility will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at MYCAP and Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration. No appointments are necessary. For more information, contact MYCAP at (330) 747-7921, ext. 1183, or YSU Williamson College of Business at (330) 941-2507.

Cancer society leaders

LISBON — Officers for the 2010-11 year for the American Cancer Society’s Columbiana County Advisory Board are: Bob Zehentbauer of Guilford Lake, president; Bonnie Hoppel of East Liverpool, vice president; Debbie Reese of East Liverpool, secretary; and Candace Miles of Wellsville, financial adviser. Mission chairpersons are: June Semer of Poland, quality of life; Julie Walsh of Struthers, breast cancer; Kimberly Bland of Columbiana, colon cancer; Hoppel, primary prevention; Vicki Curren of Columbiana, marketing/ communication; Zehentbauer, government relations; Linda Donnalley of Lisbon, income development; and Reese, volunteers.