Friday, June 8, 2001
Apartment fire
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Television and audio equipment may have been the source of a fire that did extensive damage to an apartment in Little Acres North, according to city Fire Marshal Robert Goeltz.
He said Steven Speight of 2791 Highland Road left his apartment around 11:30 a.m. Thursday and a smoke detector in the three-story township began sounding about two hours later.
A contractor working in the complex and the property manager heard the detector and spotted smoke.
The fire started in the basement in or near television and audio equipment, Goeltz said.
The apartment complex is owned by Simco Properties of Youngstown.
The flames were confined to the basement but the entire apartment suffered smoke and heat damage.
Goeltz said an apartment next door suffered some minor smoke damage.
Road work to begin
MERCER, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded contracts for nearly $3 million worth of road improvements in Mercer County.
Sharon Paving and Construction Co. of Sharon will be paid $1,828,854 to resurface and make other improvements on Pa. routes 18 and 58 in Hempfield, Greene and West Salem townships and Greenville and Jamestown boroughs.
Work is to begin in mid-June and be completed in April.
W. L. Dunn Construction of Cochranton, Pa., will be paid $925,198 to resurface portions of state Route 258 from the Butler County line to Mercer Borough, Pa. Route 58 from Delaware Road to Fredonia Borough and High Street and Sixth Street in Greenville.
That job has already begun and should be finished by mid-August.
PennDOT also said it will be repairing and replacing center line pavement markers on Interstate 79 next week. Both northbound and southbound lanes will be affected.
Grove City bike trail
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is building a new bicycle trail in the borough.
Rhino Construction Co. of Lower Burrell, Pa., was low bidder on the job at $182,973 and work is to begin by mid-June and be completed by late July.
The one-mile trail will be paved and connect Greenwood Drive with North Liberty Road, giving bicyclists and pedestrians better access to the borough's Hunter Farm recreation facilities off Greenwood Drive.
Jamestown gets grant
JAMESTOWN, Pa. -- The borough has been awarded a $100,000 state grant to help improve its municipal water system.
The state Department of Environmental Protection provided the money under its Growing Greener Innovative Technology Grant Program, said state Sen. Robert Robbins of Greenville, R-50th, and state Rep. Rod Wilt of Greenville, R-17, who announced the award.
The money will be used to install a system to treat well water to make it safer .
Nature lecture slated
PORTERSVILLE, Pa. -- Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to a campfire that will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday at McConnell's Mill State Park, on U.S. Route 422.
A naturalist will discuss star gazing, night creatures and other topics at the Kildoo Ball Field.
A lecture about edible plants will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday in the Kildoo picnic area. A naturalist will talk about the difference between plants that are safe to eat and those that are dangerous. Sample dishes will be provided.
A discussion on wild mushrooms will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Kildoo picnic area. Bob Lucas and Gail Blakely will talk about ways to identify various types of wild mushrooms.
For details, call (724) 368-9320.
Money, ammo missing
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Owners of Robison's Bait & amp; Tackle arrived at work Thursday to find about $1,000 and rifle ammunition missing.
Police say it appears someone broke in to the Croton Avenue business sometime overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
Charges in fatal crash
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Beaver County man will face charges in a fatal car accident that occurred nearly a year ago.
Mark A. Bailey, 21, of Rochester, Pa., is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license and underage drinking.
Police said Bailey was the driver in a July 29, 2000, car crash on Hope Road, North Beaver Township, that killed his passenger, Douglas E. Roe, 21, of New Galilee.
Police would not say why it took nearly a year to file charges in the matter.
Bailey is free on $20,000 bond.