JFS closed due to bedbug infestation

JFS closed due to bedbug infestation

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services, including the county Child Support Enforcement Agency, closed Wednesday morning, sending home about 200 workers, due to a client who entered the lobby with visible bedbug infestation, said Robert E. Bush Jr., county JFS director.

JFS will reopen for business at 7:30 a.m. today, Bush added.

At the time the infested man was present, about 12 other clients were in the waiting room, Bush said. The man carrying the bedbugs spoke to a caseworker over a house phone in the lobby and never left the first floor, Bush said. An exterminator was called to Oakhill Renaissance Place, where JFS and CSEA are housed.

Joyce Kale-Pesta, director of the county board of elections, allowed some elections employees to go home as a precaution, but she kept the office open with a small crew. The board of elections, auto title department and veterans service commission offices are on Oakhill’s first floor.

Attorney to run for Poland council seat

POLAND

Atty. J. Michael Thompson will run as a write-in candidate in the general election for a seat on Poland Village Council.

Thompson is a lifelong Poland resident. He has served as chairman of the village planning commission, village storm water action team, and as a member of the village zoning appeals board. He also has served as a member and president of the Poland Schools Foundation. Thompson is an attorney with Henderson, Covington, Messenger, Newman & Thomas and is a trustee and past president of the Mahoning County Bar Association.

He is running because he is “concerned about the future of the Poland Municipal Forest,” and decided to run after a village meeting on the forest Tuesday night.

Girl Scout cookies set to be delivered

YOUNGSTOWN

Truckloads of Girl Scout cookies will be rolling into Northeast Ohio this week. Nearly 2.5 million packages will be delivered to Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio troops Saturday through March 9.

Beginning March 10, cookies also will be sold at 6,000 troop-run cookie booths at grocery stores, retailers and other businesses. Net proceeds from the program stay in Northeast Ohio and support troop-chosen activities, community service projects and adventures at camp and beyond.

Girl Scout cookies can be donated to Operation: Sweet Appreciation. Each year, the council’s Gift of Caring program ships donated cookies to members of the military serving overseas. Last year, customers donated 58,313 boxes.

To find Girl Scout cookie booths, download the free Cookie Finder mobile app or visit girlscoutcookies.org.

Boxed lunch sale

YOUNGSTOWN

Catholic Charities will be sponsoring a boxed lunch sale from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 15. Lunches will include a corned beef and Swiss sandwich on rye, potato chips, coleslaw, dill pickle and a dessert.

The cost of the lunch is $8 for pickup at St. Columba Hall, on the corner of West Wood and North Hazel streets, or $10 for delivery in the downtown Youngstown area only. The minimum order for delivery is five lunches. Catholic Charities is accepting pre-orders only, and payment is due by March 10. There are two ways to order: by calling 330-744-8451, ext. 323 or ext. 316, or online at www.ccdoy.org. All proceeds benefit Catholic Charities’ food-assistance programs.

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