Metro digest || Legal aid volunteers needed

Volunteers needed

YOUNGSTOWN — Community Legal Aid, a nonprofit law firm serving the legal needs of the low-income community, is seeking volunteers for its Volunteer Advocacy Legal Unit program. Volunteers help victims of domestic violence through the court process of obtaining a civil-protection order. Training is from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 24, 25 and 26. Those who complete training are asked to volunteer two days a month, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If interested in helping, call (330) 742-5856.

Fatal crash in Warren

WARREN — A city man died after losing control of his vehicle Saturday morning.

Dustin Rakich, 22, of Berkshire Drive, was driving north on Niles Warren River Road around 8:30 a.m. when he lost control of his 1994 Chevrolet Silverado and went off the right side of the road into a ditch, according to a news release by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Rakich’s truck then came back across the road and hit a guardrail and rolled onto its side. He wasn’t wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected during the crash, according to reports.

Police said Rakich was pronounced dead at the scene.

MTV star in Sharon

SHARON, Pa. — Penn State University’s Shenango Campus will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life with a presentation by poet, musician and social-educator Mohammed Bilal at noon Wednesday in the Forker Laboratory Forum.

Bilal will talk about the “12 Steps Towards Appreciating Diversity.” The event is free and open to the public.

Bilal, former MTV “Real World” star and diversity consultant, is a writer who educates audiences about some of today’s greatest social problems. His “12 Steps Towards Accepting Diversity” is a an interactive presentation sprinkled with hip-hop and self-reflective narratives.

For more information on this and other cultural events at Penn State Shenango, contact the Student Affairs Office at (724) 983-2836.

Ecumenical tea Monday

STRUTHERS — The 11th annual Struthers Churches Ecumenical Tea is Monday at Holy Trinity Church, 250 N. Bridge St. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by the tea at 11. It is sponsored by Holy Trinity and Pilgrim Baptist Church, both of Struthers. Guest speaker is Eileen Novotny, Diocese of Youngstown spiritual director, and entertainment is by the Youngstown State University Gospel Choir.

Candidate to speak

LISBON — Richard Stobbs, a candidate for Ohio’s 6th District congressional seat, will talk about the issues facing Ohio at a town-hall meeting hosted by the Ohio Valley Tea Party. The event will be at Columbiana County Career and Technical Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and will mark the first official public event for Stobbs’ campaign.