METRO DIGEST || Nominees sought for civilian employer award

Man indicted on rape, kidnapping, robbery

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County grand jury handed up an indictment Thursday, charging a Youngstown man with aggravated robbery, three counts of kidnapping and four counts of rape.

Terrance D. Phillips, 41, was arrested Dec. 28 at the Travelers Inn on Market Street. A 23-year-old woman told police Phillips approached her on Hillman Street in Youngstown, threatened her and forced her to go to the Boardman motel where he repeatedly raped her, according to reports.

Man robbed of pants in northwest Warren

WARREN

A 24-year-old city man reported being robbed of his pants by two to three men holding two AK-47-style assault rifles at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday on Stiles Avenue Northwest.

The victim said he and others were getting into their car when the males approached them holding the rifles and demanding that they lie on the ground.

After giving up his pants, the victim was struck with the stock of the rifle. A 26-year-old city man was struck in the left ear but not robbed. The suspects left in a silver sport-utility vehicle.

Canfield council names Frazzini its president

Canfield

City council named a new board president during its meeting Wednesday.

Dan Frazzini will be president for 2012.

Council also welcomed new board member John Morvay, who defeated Marleen Belfiore in the November election. He and Steve Rogers, who won re-election in November, were sworn in by Judge Scott Hunter before the meeting.

Canfield City Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. Its next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at the city administration building, 104 Libson St.

‘A Taste for the Cure’

AUSTINTOWN

Bartell’s Cupcakery will host a bridal event, “A Taste for the Cure,” from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the Saxon Club, 710 S. Meridian Road, to benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure.

There is no charge for admission, and the bakery will be serving free cupcakes throughout the evening. There will be a wedding-style buffet for $7.50, a basket auction, vendors, the latest bridal fashions, massage chairs, a makeup table and a drawing for a free wedding cake.

All vendor fees, donations and proceeds from the basket auction will benefit the walk, which is one of several fundraisers organized by the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise funds for global cancer research as well as local programs that support patient education, screening and treatment.

Crime-victim address

AUSTINTOWN

Brenda Gray Morgan, victim advocate with Help Hotline Crisis Center, will present “Victims of Crime: Effects and Recovery” at The First Ohio Chapter of the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the D&E Clinic, 142 Javit Court.

Nominees sought for employer award

ARLINGTON, Va.

The deadline for Guard and Reserve members to nominate their civilian employers for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Freedom Award (ESGR) is Jan. 16.

The Freedom Award is the Defense Department’s highest recognition for civilian employers supporting Guard and Reserve members. All employers, large, small and public, that have not received the award in the past 10 years are eligible.

Guard and Reserve members, or a family member acting on their behalf, may nominate their employers at www. FreedomAward.mil, said James Rebholz, national chairman of the ESGR. Service members who have previously nominated their employers for the Freedom Award are encouraged to do so again. The 2012 recipients will be announced in early summer and honored in Washington, D.C., during a special ceremony in the fall.