Assault charge

Assault charge
BESSEMER, Pa. -- A Bessemer man is in jail on charges of assaulting a Poland, Ohio, police officer. Pennsylvania State Police arrested Terry Jay Hayes, 44, of Hayes Lane at 5:20 p.m. Saturday at the West Main Street entrance of BFI in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. They said the Poland officer tried to stop Hayes on State Line Road for traffic violations, but Hayes kept driving. Hayes eventually pulled over and then assaulted the Poland officer, according to state police. Hayes was arraigned before District Justice Melissa Amodie and placed in jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Fires at vacant houses
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Fire investigators are looking into two weekend fires at vacant houses. Fire Chief James Donston said the cause of a fire at 506 S. Ray Street is still undetermined, but fire officials think it started somewhere between the kitchen and living room of the two-story house at 2:37 a.m. Saturday. Kim Long of 117 N. Liberty St. owns the house. Damage is estimated at $5,000.
A fire at 325 Park Ave. at 12:52 a.m. today was an arson, Donston said. Donston said that home was partially destroyed March 15 in another fire and today's fire completely gutted it. Damage is estimated at $20,000. Frances Wise of Old Pittsburgh Road owns the house. There were no injuries in either fire.
Credit-card theft
FREDONIA, Pa. -- State police said they have some suspects in a case of credit-card theft in this small Mercer County borough. Someone stole a Sears MasterCard from the home of Thomas and Ruth Hall of Grant Street three weeks ago and ran up $6,777 in charges. Police said they know who used the card, and charges are pending.
Safe food handling
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A workshop on safe food handling for the occasional quantity cook will be from 6 to 9 p.m. May 29 at the Jameson Laurel Community Health Center on Pa. Route 108, Harlansburg Road. This is directed to any group that does food-related activities for fund raising. The free workshop will address topics such as what to look for when buying food, how to store food properly and preparation of food. To register, call (724) 654-8370 before Tuesday.
Attacked by dog
SHARON, Pa. -- A mail carrier remained in satisfactory condition today in Sharon Regional Health System with injuries suffered when he was attacked by a dog in the 800 block of McClure Avenue around 11:15 a.m. Saturday. Police said Marc Gargano, 40, of Shenango Avenue, was delivering mail and walked up onto a porch where the mixed-breed dog was apparently sleeping. The dog was chained but was able to reach Gargano, who was bitten on both legs and in the groin, police said. No charges were filed, police said.
Health screenings
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- St. Francis is offering health screenings at various spots in Lawrence County. Blood pressure will be taken at no charge, blood sugar screening is $3, total cholesterol/HDL testing is $12, and total lipid panel tests are $15.
Screenings will be: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Epworth United Methodist Church; 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Mahoning Township Community Center, Route 224; 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Presbyterian Church of Portersville, Route 19; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 1111 S. Cascade St.; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, New Wilmington Senior Center, 241 High St.; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. May 31, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 1111 S. Cascade St.