Girl, 12, to be charged

Girl, 12, to be charged
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- A 12-year-old girl was found with a small amount of marijuana and an aluminum foil pipe in her purse at Hartman Elementary School, police said. Teachers called police to the school Tuesday when they suspected the girl might be under the influence of drugs. Drug charges are being filed through juvenile court petition, police said.
Fictitious report case
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said a pizza delivery woman made up a story about being attacked by three people on Ohio Street Jan. 15. Andrea J. Erceg, 21, of Fruit Avenue, Farrell, had told authorities that she delivered a pizza for Pizza Hut in the 300 block of Ohio Street around 6 p.m. that day and was confronted by two men and a woman as she returned to her car. She said one of the men demanded a pizza and tried to strike her but she fended off the blow and struck back. Erceg said she was able to fight off the three people and escape and she gave detailed descriptions of the trio. But the account was all false, police said, and Erceg was charged Wednesday with making a fictitious report. She admitted making up the story and was arraigned before District Justice James McMahon, who freed her on her own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing, police said.
Public safety grant
LISBON -- Sheriff Dave Smith told Columbiana County commissioners Wednesday his department got a $20,389 Ohio Department of Public Safety grant. About $5,000 of the grant will be used to buy new radar equipment. The remainder will be used to pay deputies overtime to catch traffic offenders, Smith said.
Food distribution
SALEM -- A countywide food distribution will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Columbiana County Office on Aging, 785 E. State St. Families should bring proof of income and their own grocery bags. Maximum income guidelines based on family size are: One member, $920 monthly, $11,040 yearly; two members, $1,230 monthly, $14,760 yearly; three members, $1,540 monthly, $18,480 yearly; four members, $1,850 monthly, $22,200 yearly; five members, $2,160 monthly, $25,920 yearly; six members, $2,470 monthly, $29,640 yearly; seven members, $2,780 monthly, $33,360 yearly; eight members, $$3,090 monthly, $37,080 yearly. For more information call the office on aging, (330) 332-1163.
Cemetery decorations
EAST PALESTINE -- All live and artificial decorations at Glenview Cemetery must be removed by March 15 or they will be discarded, Connie Robinson, city finance director, said. Spring and summer decorations may be placed starting April 1. For more information call Robinson at city hall.
Armed robbery
ELKTON -- Authorities are investigating an armed robbery committed earlier this week. About 9 p.m. Tuesday a female clerk at Raneri Drive-Thru on state Route 154 near Middle Beaver Road was confronted by a masked gunman, said the Columbiana County Sheriff's office. The man ordered the clerk to lie on the floor and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register before fleeing.
Approval for homes
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- City commissioners have given tentative approval to the Pierce Bluffs residential development on Lamor Road. The commissioners also approved a preliminary subdivision plan for the first phase of the project. Mill Creek Enterprises of Youngstown is planning a $45 million mix of single-family housing and condominium units on the hill overlooking Pine Hollow. There will eventually be a total of 68 houses and 45 condominiums, but the first phase of the development presented Wednesday involves 27 condominiums and 30 single-family houses. Mill Creek will build on only 50 of the 100 acres on the site, leaving the rest as a natural wooded area with walking and biking trails and common areas.