Officer crashes cruiser

Officer crashes cruiser
SALEM -- A Perry Township police officer crashed his cruiser in a private business parking lot.
Officer Gabriel Pierce, 30, was driving through a lot on the 100 block of Benton Road about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday when he struck a utility pole in the lot, a police report stated.
Pierce, who was not injured, did not see the pole, the report said. He has not been cited.
The driver's side front fender on the car was smashed in the accident.
Explosion reported
SALEM -- Police responded to reports of an explosion in a brushy area near the dead end of East Third Street.
After investigating, police found a small fire in the brush. The fire was caused by a road flare and a container holding some kind of combustible substance.
The incident occurred about 8:24 p.m. Wednesday.
Deliberations begin
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jurors began deliberating Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, where a Columbiana couple is suing a doctor they say contributed to the stillbirth of their first son in July 1999. Matthew and Sunny Barger are seeking unspecified damages from Dr. Robert McCluskey, saying he should not have used the drug Cytotec to induce Sunny Barger's labor.
They say the drug caused her to have repeated contractions that cut off the flow of blood and oxygen to the baby through the umbilical cord, causing his death. McCluskey testified earlier this week that the drug was actually prescribed by another doctor and he went along with it because the other doctor said it would be fine.
Water woes continue
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The borough's water problems aren't over yet. A new pump installed to draw water from the Shenango River into the filtration plant failed again Wednesday. The pump, replacing one that failed Oct. 26, was installed Monday but stopped operating almost immediately. It was put back on line Wednesday afternoon but operated only about an hour before it shut down again, said Dick Miller, treasurer of the Greenville Municipal Authority. The authority is still using a portable pump to draw water but is only producing 500,000 gallons a day, 200,000 gallons less than normal usage by its 3,700 customers. Nevertheless, the reservoir levels are rising, indicating that people are adhering to the warning to curtail use of water. The authority remains under a boil water notice for drinking and cooking water.
Suspicious duplex fire
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Fire of suspicious origin damaged the vacant half of an apartment duplex at 5 S. Second St. Fire Chief Steve Thompson said residents of the other half of the building smelled smoke and alerted authorities around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters found a fire burning inside wooden cabinets above the kitchen counter. The flames were quickly extinguished but the apartment suffered heat and smoke damage.
Trash compactor stolen
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said someone stole with a 500-pound hydraulic trash compactor from the Shenango Valley Mall in broad daylight. The theft occurred between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, police said, noting the compactor had been outside behind the mall. The unit is valued at $3,000 and police said they have reason to believe it has been taken to Youngstown.
Funds for projects
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- James Gagliano, Lawrence County planning director, informed municipalities that about $500,000 will be available in Community Development Block Grants to the county in 2003 for local projects.
The money must be used in an area where the majority of the people are low-to-moderate income, he said.
Damage during strike
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pickets at the Universal-Rundle Plant on Cherry Street dented and damaged the cars of replacement workers entering the plant. Pennsylvania State Police said this morning that the strikers kicked the vehicles and threw bottles, eggs and other items at the cars about 6 a.m. Wednesday. There were no arrests and no problems this morning, police said. About 100 workers there, members of Local 365 of the Glass Molders, Pottery, Plastics & amp; Allied Workers International Union, have been on strike since Oct. 15 over wages. The plant makes prefabricated, plastic shower and bathroom units.