KEYSTONE CLIPS Dam area reopens for fishing

The U.S. Army Corps of engineers has reopened the outflow area of the Shenango Dam to fishing. The area had been closed for security reasons since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area.
Fishermen must leave their vehicles in front of the old park office.
The dam overlook area remains closed.
The corps also announced that boat launch passes for next year are now available at the manager's office at 2442 Kelly Road, Hermitage, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The fee is $25 or $12.50 for those with a Golden Age Card.
Golf program: More than 80 golf courses in northwestern Pennsylvania, northeastern Ohio and southern New York are participating in The American Respiratory Alliance of Northwest Pennsylvania's 2002 Golf Tour Pass program.
The $30 pass entitles the holder to one free greens fee at each of the courses and provides money to fund respiratory alliance programs.
Local participating courses include Walnut Creek and Pleasant Acres golf courses near Jamestown, Borland Golf Center at New Wilmington, Willow Hills Golf Center at Grove City, CastleHills, Mohawk Trails and Sylvan Heights golf courses in or near New Castle, Green Meadows Golf course at Volant and Cranberry Hills Golf course in Champion, Ohio.
To buy a tour pass, call the respiratory alliance at (814) 454-0109 or (800) 352-0917.
Closed for winter: The Vocal Group Hall of Fame & amp; Museum in downtown Sharon has closed for the winter. It will reopen in the spring.
The closing affects both the Pop Music and Barbershop Music buildings on East State Street.
Reward: Bob Semler, a frequent visitor to New Castle city council, school board and Lawrence County commissioners meetings, is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking antique windows, woodwork and other fixtures from houses on East Street and Lincoln Avenue in New Castle.
The Greater New Castle Community Development Corporation had planned to move the houses, most dating back to the 1800s, to a new location, but dropped the plan after not getting state funding for the project.
The houses were recently burglarized, and several important pieces of woodwork, including fireplace mantels, are missing.
The houses are now slated for demolition to make room for a new city high school.
"I want to catch those crooks," Semler said.
He is urging anyone with information to contact the New Castle Police or the nonemergency number for the county 911 center at (724) 656-9300.
XContributors: Harold Gwin of the Vindicator Sharon Bureau and Laure Cioffi of the New Castle Bureau.