West Branch board agrees to hire principal

West Branch boardagrees to hire principal
BELOIT -- The West Branch School District is turning to a Lorain educator to serve as new high school principal. The school board agreed Monday to hire Joseph Knoll, his age not immediately available, for the post. Knoll is receiving a three-year contract with an annual starting pay of $71,091. He is replacing Michael Bostick, who retires Wednesday. Knoll's most recent job was as assistant principal at Lorain Middle School in Lorain. Knoll received his bachelor's degree from Mount Union College and his master's from Ashland University.
Vandalism to vehicles
SALEM -- Several vehicles parked in the American Standard parking lot off Newgarden Avenue were vandalized, police said. Early today police received a report that two tires on a car in the factory's lot were slashed. On Monday, it was reported that three vehicles in the lot had their paint scratched.
Work on water mains
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania-American Water Co. workers are doing preliminary work this week on the installation of new water mains on several downtown streets. They will begin installing the first of seven new waterlines Monday. There will be some traffic restrictions while work is going on. The waterline installation is part of the city's downtown revitalization project, being done in conjunction with the private development of a Warner Bros.-themed mall. In addition to new utility lines, city officials are widening streets, adding more parking and redoing sidewalks. Pennsylvania-American Water will install new waterlines on the following streets: Washington Street from East Jefferson to Jefferson street; Mill Street, from East Washington Street to Croton Avenue; Mill Street from East Washington Street to Falls Street; Water Street from East Washington Street to South Mill Street; Market Way and Apple Way.
Class for parents-to-be
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon Regional Health System will present the class "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby, Healthy Family" from 7 to 9 tonight at the E.J. O'Meara Education Building adjacent to the hospital. The free class is intended for expectant couples in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Pregnancy health and family health topics will be presented. To register, call Prepared Childbirth at (724) 983-5560.
Investigating fire
MERCER, Pa. -- Authorities continue to investigate the cause of a fire that destroyed a West Salem Township home. The 90-year-old, two-story home at 33 Coal bank Road was gutted by the fire, which started in the family room around 6:20 p.m. Sunday, township fire officials said. They said firefighters from at least eight fire companies responded to the blaze, which was under control within an hour. The residents, Terry Blackburn, his wife and daughter, were not home at the time of the blaze. Authorities estimate damage to be around $125,000. No injuries were reported.
Police look for man
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- State Police in Mercer County are looking for a man they said tried to lure an 11-year-old into a vehicle July 19 on Pa. Route 173 in Pine Township. Police said the suspect is white and was driving a blue vehicle. No additional information was available today.
Office break-in reported
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police say someone broke into Hobel Bros. Scrap on Garner Avenue and destroyed a soda pop machine and ransacked the office. The soda pop machine was burned with a torch and the change dispenser was smashed, police said. Filing cabinets were rifled through, the facsimile machine was tossed on the floor and papers were burned in the office, they said. Employees say they left the office at about 4 p.m. Sunday and found it ransacked at 6:23 a.m. Monday.
Checking safety seats
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police will conduct a child-car-seat safety check the first Wednesday of each month indefinitely. The inspections will be done from noon to 3 p.m. at the barracks on Wilmington Road. People are asked to bring their vehicle owner's manual, child-car seat and instructions, some towels and the child. For details, call (724) 598-2211.
Benefit garage sale
HUBBARD -- K-9s for Compassion will have a garage sale in Harding Park on Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The park is off state Route 616 on the south edge of town. The group provides animals to visit area nursing homes, hospitals and schools and to assist in therapy. For details, call Katie Squibbs at (330) 534-2001.