Patrol seeks driver

Patrol seeks driver
LISBON -- Investigators at the Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are searching for the driver of a van who fled the scene of a deadly accident in St. Clair Township. Joseph B. Lyle, 35, of 5064 state Route 170, East Palestine, a passenger in the van, died en route to East Liverpool City Hospital, a patrol spokeswoman said. The accident occurred about 9:22 p.m. Saturday when the van, northbound on Sprucevale Road, went off the right side of the road on a curve and struck an embankment, she said. Lyle was not wearing a seat belt, she said.
Thief takes cash
SALEM -- Police are investigating the theft of $2,000 in cash from the Elks Lodge, 824 E. State St., sometime over the weekend. The theft was reported at 6:44 a.m. today. Police said someone entered the lodge office by prying open the door, but there was no sign of forced entry into the building itself, police said. Nothing else was reported missing or disturbed in the building, they said.
Gifts stolen
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Someone took Christmas presents valued at $1,600 from a Dutch Lane mobile home, police said. The wrapped presents included jewelry and teddy bears, they said. Police said the items were taken from 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Robbery, assault
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police said a Hoover Road man will face charges of robbery, theft, simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief. They said the 21-year-old man broke out the window of a car parked in the 200 block of Boyles Avenue early Saturday, dragged the woman driver out of the car, pushed her to the ground and took her cellular telephone.
Cop hurt in cruiser
FARRELL, Pa. -- A Southwest Regional Police officer was injured when his cruiser was hit broadside by another car. Police said Sgt. Albert Rock was at Wallis and George streets at 1 p.m. Sunday when a car going the wrong way on Wallis Avenue., a one-way street, crashed into the cruiser and two parked cars. The driver was charged with a one-way street violation, they said. Police did not release the driver's name. Sgt. Rock was treated at UPMC Greenville for a bruised shoulder.
Book signing
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Beverly Zona, the author of the Lawrence County Historical Society's newest publication, "All the Summers Were Golden: A History of Cascade Park," will be available for a book signing at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Joseph A. Clavelli History Center, 408 N. Jefferson St. The book is being sold for $15. The 72-page book includes many excerpts from oral history recordings done by Zona and historical society interns. Photographs of the park dating back to the 1890s are also featured. Proceeds from the book's sale benefit the historical society.
Layoffs planned
OIL CITY, Pa. (AP) -- As many as 200 workers will be laid off at the end of the year when Forest and Warren counties reorganize their human service departments, union officials said. The county commissioners have told workers in the Forest/Warren Department of Human Services they will be laid off Dec. 31, said John Shaughnesy, union steward for the workers.
The counties are splitting the agency into three parts, two of which will be run by a private company. The counties decided to reorganize the agency after reports of violations in Warren County's mental retardation program.