Man jailed in rape

Man jailed in rape
SHARON, Pa. -- Christopher Parmenter, 24, of Quinby Street, was lodged in Mercer County Jail on $80,000 bond on rape, assault and other charges. He was arraigned before District Justice William Fagley on Wednesday after his arrest earlier in the day in the Tuesday night assault on a woman he knew and her 3-year-old son. Police said Parmenter entered their Cedar Avenue home uninvited, threw the crying child onto a couch and then raped the 25-year-old woman at knifepoint. He is charged with rape, aggravated assault, simple assault, making terroristic threats, burglary and recklessly endangering another person.
Jailed on drug charges
SHARON, Pa. -- Damon W. Hulley, 23, of First Avenue, was jailed on $50,000 bond on charges of possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver and tampering with evidence. Police said Hulley was arrested at his home Tuesday and arraigned Wednesday before District Justice William Fagley. He is accused of selling crack cocaine to an informant at his house on Tuesday. Police said he tried to eat some of the evidence when police arrived and then tried to hide some of the drug under a carpet.
Funds for park
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana County Port Authority is to receive $3,072,371 in federal funds for Wellsville Intermodal Industrial Park, U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. announced Wednesday. The money will be used to improve the Clark Street interchange on state Route 7 to support economic development and assist in the creation of 100 jobs. The redesigned interchange will improve highway safety and accessibility for the industrial tenants. Three manufacturers have plans to build in the park.
New school names
ERIE, Pa. -- The Catholic Diocese of Erie doesn't want anyone to confuse four of its Catholic high schools with other schools in the region that have the word "Christian" in their names. The Administrative Cabinet and the Presbyteral council have approved dropping the word "Christian" from the names of the four schools, replacing it with the word "Catholic." The change is effective July 1. Kennedy Christian High School in Hermitage will become Kennedy Catholic High School. DuBois Central Christian in DuBois will become DuBois Central Catholic, Venango Christian in Oil City will become Venango Catholic and Elk County Christian in St. Marys, Pa., will become Elk County Catholic.
Cruiser crashes into car
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Lori A. Hunt, 39, of Ridge Avenue, Sharpsville, suffered minor injuries when her car collided with a city cruiser that was going through a red light at Highland Road and Buhl Farm Drive. Police said Officer Brian McBride, 45, was westbound on Highland with his red lights and siren activated en route to an emergency call at the time of the accident, about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday. Hunt had the green light, police said. Witnesses told police McBride slowed as he went through the intersection against the red light. Hunt was treated at UPMC Horizon in Farrell. No disciplinary action is planned against McBride, police said.
Crematory in garage
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The John Flynn Funeral Home has decided to install a crematory inside its building at 2630 E. State St. rather than pursue a zoning variance to put up an additional building to house the structure. Flynn initially sought the variance in an appearance before the Hermitage Zoning Hearing Board April 2 but changed his plans after some neighbors expressed concerns about a crematory and the hearing board asked for more details on the project. He needed the variance to build within 20 feet of his rear property line instead of the 50-foot setback required by the city. Now, the crematory will be placed in the garage of the building, Flynn said. The 25,000-pound crematory unit is to arrive Friday.
Drinking party
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Police said a truck driving across a newly planted cornfield led them to an underage drinking party on Rickert Road shortly after 2 a.m. today. Police were called to the location after someone spotted the truck in the field. Investigating officers said the truck trail led them to a bonfire and an underage drinking party behind a residence on Rickert Road. Many of the participants fled as police arrived but about 10 people stayed around the fire. Police said five of them will be charged with underage drinking.