Gunman robs woman

Gunman robs woman
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said a gunman was too slow in trying to rob a woman making a night deposit at National City Bank's branch office at 2470 E. State St. The woman, employed in Hermitage Towne Plaza almost directly across from the bank branch, drove her car to the bank around 9:20 p.m. to make a store deposit. She had already put the money into the deposit chute when a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a handgun demanded money. When the robber realized she had already made the deposit, he took her car, which contained her purse, and drove off, heading east on State Street, police said. He didn't go far but apparently drove into Hermitage Towne Plaza and left her car parked. Police found it there about three hours later. The purse, containing a small amount of cash and various credit cards, was missing, police said. Tracks in the snow indicated the robber walked to another car parked nearby and left the plaza.
Customer survey
MERCER, Pa. --The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is launching a customer satisfaction survey in Mercer County this week. State crews will be asking residents and motorists in Sandy Lake Borough, Sandy Lake Township and Stoneboro how they like the state roadways in their area. The survey will give people a chance to rate their overall satisfaction with a variety of services including road surface, snow removal, line painting and even mowing. Participants will be asked to rate those services in level of importance.
The routes on the survey are Fredonia, Stoneboro, School, Yankee School, Patton, Booher, Glen School, McComb and Hendersonville roads; Franklin, Walnut and Mine streets; U.S. Route 62 and state Route 358.
Daffodil Days
SHARON, Pa. -- Thursday is the last day to order flowers to mark the Mercer County Unit of the American Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Days. Orders must be received by Thursday to allow for delivery during the week of March 19. Orders of less than $30 must be picked up at the Cancer Center office at 19 Jefferson Ave. Orders of $30 or more will be delivered free of charge, but only to a single address. The flowers are sold by the bunch at $6 per bunch. To order, call the society office at (724) 346-3529 or fax the office at (724) 346-1896. For Grove City orders, call (724) 458-5473.
Temporary location
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Chapter of the American Red Cross is temporarily relocating its weekly bloodmobile to the fellowship hall of Croton United Methodist Church, 910 Croton Ave. The blood drive will be held there every Wednesday through April 4. The weekly blood drive site will return to Trinity Episcopal Church, 212 N. Mill St., on April 11.
Damage at field
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police said there was about $1,500 damage to a fence and backstop at the Deshon Park baseball field after someone rammed both with a stolen car. Police found the gold-colored Ford van in the ball field Monday afternoon. It had been stolen Sunday from a residence in the city. No other details were available from police.
Fire at group home
SHARON, Pa. -- Authorities said a 29-year-old resident of a group home at 783 Pearl St. started a fire that damaged a second-floor bathroom. No charges will be filed against the woman, who is retarded, police said. The fire was discovered around 5:30 p.m. Sunday and was confined to the bathroom although the entire house owned by Alliance for Behavioral and Developmental Disabilities suffered heat and smoke damage. Three residents and a staff member at the house were treated at Sharon Regional Health System.
Stabbing victim
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police say Thomas E. Matthews, 49, of Spruce Street stabbed another man in the parking lot of a Hamilton Street bar. He is being held on $25,000 bond in Lawrence County Jail accused of criminal attempt at homicide and aggravated assault. Authorities say the stabbing occurred after an argument between the two men around 5 p.m. Saturday. No other details were available. The injured man is in fair condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh with a stab wound to his lower left torso near his rib cage.