Ex-employee sues

Ex-employee sues
LEETONIA -- A former village water department employee has sued the village. The suit seeks reinstatement to her job and damages in excess of $100,000. Jerilynn Barber filed the suit recently in federal district court in Youngstown contending she was "subjected to unwelcome sexual advances and hostile work environment" from male employees of the department during her employment, June 15, 1999, until Jan. 26, 2000. The suit by the village resident also claims no action was taken against the employees when Barber reported the problem to village authorities and that after she became pregnant, her request for light duty was denied and she was told not to return to work.
Resident dies in fire
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is looking into the cause of a blaze that killed a Shenango Township man. State police said William Charles Schlemmer, 53, of 726 Harmony Baptist Road died in the fire at his home at 6:20 p.m. Monday. No other details about the fire or Schlemmer's death were available from police this morning.
Heart attack death
MERCER, Pa. -- An inmate at the State Regional Correctional Facility in nearby Findley Township has died of a heart attack. Superintendent Gilbert A. Walters said Arthur Fields, 53, collapsed while leaving the minimum-security's gymnasium Monday. Fields was transported to Sharon Regional Health System, where he was pronounced dead, Walters said. Fields was serving a sentence of five to 20 years for rape and indecent assault on a 1995 conviction in Philadelphia. He had been at the prison here since 1998.
Food giveaway
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The next food giveaway for low-income Lawrence County residents is set for Friday. Each recipient will receive a $10 voucher and a variety of canned and boxed foods. Any eligible township or borough resident who missed the Oct. 19 giveaway must come to the Lawrence County commissioners office to sign up before Friday. Times for food distribution vary by community and are available at the offices of the Lawrence County commissioners. City residents receiving food at the armory Friday must have their pink card. Those can also be picked up at the county offices before Friday. No cards will be issued on the food giveaway day, the last in Lawrence County before Christmas.
Roadside cleanup
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Nearly five tons of trash and metal were picked up on Hawthorne Road in Taylor Township by PA Clean Ways, a volunteer environmental group. Volunteers found numerous discarded television sets and paint cans as well as lawn waste. The recent cleanup was videotaped and will be used to help create an educational video. The cleanup tape will be used as part of a placemat contest being organized by the group, the Lawrence County League of Women Voters and the Lawrence County Recycling and Solid Waste office. After watching the video, youngsters will be asked to design a placemat based on the video and emphasizing drinking water protection. The overall winner will receive a $100 savings bond and others will receive $50 bonds. The contest is open to youths 8 to 18.
Charged in threats
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said Robert N. Hercules, 32, of Dickens Place remained in Mercer County Jail today after he threatened a female acquaintance and a Sharon police officer. Police said Hercules got into a fight with a woman on Dickens Place around 4:30 a.m. Saturday and assaulted her. When police arrived, he threatened to come back and attack her again, police said. When he was being arraigned later in the day at the office of District Justice James McMahon, he became unruly and threatened to kill the wife and children of one of his arresting officers, police said. McMahon ordered him held on charges of making terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. Bond was set at $50,000.