Voluntary vehicle registration sought

Voluntary vehicleregistration sought
LAKE MILTON -- Milton Township police are asking that residents who own all-terrain vehicles, including snowmobiles, voluntarily register them.
The cost is $20. Those who do so will get a fluorescent sticker and photo identification card.
Police hope the new program will aid in finding stolen vehicles and provide a means to identify the good operators from the reckless ones.
Chief William T. Moretz said the township has about 40 four-wheelers, some of which have torn up private property.
Registration forms can be picked up at the police department at 15992 Milton Ave.
Cell phone turned in
SALEM -- A man who didn't give his name turned in a cellular phone at the police station about 4 p.m. Tuesday that he said he had found at Centennial Park.
The man said he browsed through the menu of the phone and left a message at the number labeled Mom.
The owner claimed the phone about 8:30 p.m.
Purse, wallet stolen
SALEM -- Police received two reports of stolen cash and credit cards over the holiday.
A Rootstown woman said that between 7:15 and 7:45 p.m. Tuesday someone stole her purse from her car behind a Newgarden Avenue residence.
A Ninth Street resident told police Monday afternoon that between 5:30 and 8 p.m. Sunday someone entered his home and took his wallet from the kitchen counter.
Homicide victim'scar found in Kent
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 2001 Saturn belonging to a homicide victim was recovered Christmas night by the Kent Police Department.
The driver was arrested and Kent police notified Youngstown Detective Sgt. Ron Rodway, who is investigating the shooting death of Levon J. Hill.
A friend checking up on the welfare of Hill, 49, of 3318 South Ave., found him Sunday afternoon, dead on his bed with an ironing board on top of him.
Hill's apartment was ransacked and his car was gone.
Lawsuit againsthospital recycled
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- An Erie hospital will have to pay $133,400 because its lawyer missed a deadline to respond to a lawsuit while he battled a substance abuse problem.
MetroHealth Medical/Osteopathic Hospital was sued by Texas-based Horizon Mental Health Management for breach of contract.
Horizon claimed MetroHealth failed to pay $509,700 for health services in a December 1997 contract.
MetroHealth's lawyer, Stephen Flaherty, missed a July 3 deadline and the lawsuit fell into default judgment, meaning MetroHealth had to pay $509,700.
Last week, Judge Sean J. McLaughlin dismissed the bulk of the judgment and allowed the suit to continue.
MetroHealth will now have a chance to defend itself against Horizon's claims with a new lawyer.
Christmas Eve accidenthurts girl; man charged
HOMESTEAD, Pa. (AP) -- A man was arraigned Christmas Day on charges of striking and critically injuring a 5-year-old girl with his sport utility vehicle in the Pittsburgh suburb.
James Fredrick, 50, was charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault and reckless driving by Allegheny County detectives. He is free awaiting a hearing Jan. 2.
Police said Alexandria Ferson was struck Christmas Eve as she crossed a street with her mother near the West Homestead police station where her father works.
She was thrown 40 feet.
Sheriff detectives were called to investigate because Alexandria is the daughter of a police officer.
Alexandria remained today in the intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.