Wednesday, December 5, 2001
Teens face chargesin Unity Twp. break-ins
EAST PALESTINE -- Three teen-age boys face criminal charges in break-ins to a home and businesses in Unity Township. The youths were arrested Sunday by the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department. Their ages are 16, 14 and 15. The two younger boys are brothers. All the teens live in Unity Township. They are charged with theft, breaking and entering, criminal trespass, criminal damaging and possession of criminal tools. An investigation into a break-in Sunday at Leake Oil Co. on East Taggert Street led authorities to the boys.
Fire at bar investigated
EAST PALESTINE -- Police are investigating a fire behind the Down on Main Street Bar & amp; Grill at 155 N. Market St. that firefighters say was deliberately set. Chief Merle Stewart said firefighters were called about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Bar employees put out the fire. Stewart said police are investigating because there was a strong odor of gasoline at the scene, and the owner reported that a patron who was asked to leave a few minutes before the fire was discovered had made threats. Stewart said there was no damage to the bar and no injuries were reported. Firefighters dispersed smoke from the bar, he said.
Traffic light in planning
WASHINGTONVILLE -- Progress continues toward installation of a traffic light at the intersection of state Route 14 and Washingtonville Road in the village, Mayor Michael Donnalley said. The intersection is near the post office and a sports bar, and village officials are concerned that traffic on the already busy state highway will increase dramatically after a Wal-Mart is built along the same road in nearby Salem. Ohio Department of Transportation officials are studying traffic reports and have asked for any crash reports at the intersection during the past five years, he said. Donnalley said traffic counts and crash reports will help officials determine funding for the project. ODOT officials and planners also must decide if turn lanes are needed, he said.
Search for overseer
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle Area School Board is going back to three construction management firms for yet another round of information before deciding who will oversee the new city high school building project.
School board members had two interviews with three companies, but can't come to a consensus on who to hire to oversee the $30 million project.
School board members said proposals from each company are different and it's difficult to compare costs. Some proposed doing the work in 18 months and others in 30 months.
Nick DeRosa, assistant schools superintendent, said they want all three companies to submit proposals for work over 36 months. DeRosa said he hopes to get the data later this month.
Surgery delays returnof superintendent
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon schools Superintendent Richard A. Rossi didn't get back to work Nov. 27 as planned. Rossi, 52, has been off work since suffering a heart attack Aug. 10 and was to return to work after the Thanksgiving holiday. However, he had to undergo heart bypass surgery the week before Thanksgiving and won't be back until at least the end of December.
Teen inmate charged
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An inmate at the Youth Development Center in Shenango Township is accused of spitting on a worker and trying to hit him.
Pennsylvania State Police said David S. Sansoni II, 18, of Salem Road, Etters, Pa., faces charges of aggravated assault by a prisoner, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. According to police, Sansoni became angry when the worker confronted Sansoni about breaking some YDC rules at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Sansoni was arraigned before District Justice J.V. Lamb and placed in the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Fire investigated
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City firefighters are looking into the cause of a fire early today. Firefighters said they were alerted to a blaze at 906 Croton Avenue at 5:33 a.m. today by city police. Firefighters found no one in the house and said they are unsure if the house was inhabited and did not know who owned the house. Firefighters said the blaze began in a second-floor bedroom. The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal has been called to investigate.