No endorsement

No endorsement

YOUNGSTOWN

Poland Township Police Chief Brian Goodin no longer wants to seek the endorsement today of the Mahoning County Democratic Party for sheriff.

Goodin remains in the March 6 Democratic primary but decided Friday not to seek the endorsement saying “politics should not have any involvement in the race.”

The other candidates, former Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes and Jerry Greene, the sheriff department’s director of jail services, are seeking the party’s endorsement today.

Postal-rate seminar

YOUNGSTOWN

The Steel Valley Postal Customer Council will have a seminar Thursday to provide information about postal-rate increases, including a 1-cent hike in first-class stamps to 45 cents effective Jan. 22.

Shanel Byrom, manager of business-mail entry for the Northern Ohio District of the U.S. Postal Service, will be the main speaker at the seminar from 11 a.m. to noon at the Youngstown Main Post Office, 99 S. Walnut St., Room 214.

New rates for single-piece first-class items: Letters, 1 ounce, 1-cent increase to 45 cents; letters, additional ounces, unchanged at 20 cents; postcards, 3-cent increase to 32 cents; letters to Canada or Mexico, 1 ounce, 5-cent increase to 85 cents; and letters to other international destinations, 7-cent increase to $1.05.

Drug items found

YOUNGSTOWN

Police found suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia during a raid Thursday afternoon on the city’s South Side.

Police went to 446 Parkcliffe Ave. at 5:16 p.m. No one answered, and police forced open the front door.

Police did not find anyone inside but did find scales used to weigh drugs, suspected cocaine and crack cocaine, a loaded firearm, a police scanner and a bag of white powder believed to be a drug. All items were taken to the police station.

Lt. governor speech

BOARDMAN

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor will discuss the state’s Common Sense Initiative and federal health-care reform at The Regional Chamber luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Mr. Anthony’s on South Avenue.

Taylor, a Republican who also is director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, will speak against the federal health-care law and in support of CSI. The latter requires all state agency rules that could have an adverse impact on business undergo analysis by the state’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.

Gardening training

youngstown

The 2012 Market Gardener Training Program offered by Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. will educate interested Youngstown residents in the agricultural and business aspects of sustainable market gardening.

The course will run Saturdays for 10 weeks, from early March until early May. Each class will present practical agriculture techniques and small- business development topics. Field trips to visit farmers and farmers markets will be provided, along with hands-on workshops, books and supplies.

Participants who complete the program will receive assistance in finding further agricultural opportunities.

The course is free, but space will be limited to 25 participants. The application is available at YNDC office, 201 E. Commerce St., Suite 140, or on the website at www.yndc.org. Applications are due Feb. 10 to the YNDC office. For information, call 330-480-0423 or email Liberty Merrill at lmerrill@yndc.org.