Sharon house burglary

Sharon house burglary
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said someone took a wide variety of items from a house in the 1100 block of Baldwin Avenue. Entry was gained through a basement window, and the residents said a DVD player, color television set, VCR, a cassette/CD stereo, 25 CDs, a two-thirds-carat gold and diamond woman's wedding ring, a wedding band, a two-thirds-carat emerald woman's ring, a gold mother's ring with six stones, a gold nugget ring, a silver moon woman's watch, earrings, a microwave oven, an air conditioner and a tool box with tools were taken, police said.
The burglary occurred Saturday night but wasn't reported until Monday, police said.
Charged in assault
FARRELL, Pa. -- Two off-duty police officers arrested a 16-year-old boy who they say was beating his mother. Southwest Regional Police said the youth faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Police said the officers heard a woman calling for help at about 2 p.m. Tuesday at New Castle Road and Roemer Boulevard and saw her being beaten by the boy. They tried to pull the boy off his mother, but he began fighting the police officers. The mother's injuries were not available from police. The boy was taken to a juvenile facility where he will stay pending a juvenile court hearing, police said.
Businesses evacuated
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Two East State Street businesses had to be evacuated after smoke bombs were ignited in them Tuesday night. Firefighters responded and helped evacuate the Shop 'N Save at 8:14 p.m. and the Taco Bell a few minutes later. Police Chief Larry Natchak said the smoke bombs resembled small plastic hand grenades. No one was injured.
Panel OKs I-80 bridges
YOUNGSTOWN -- The state Transportation Review Council gave final approval Tuesday to a $13.1 million project to replace the twin bridges that carry Interstate 80 over the Meander Reservoir. The council, which evaluates and approves state funding for proposed major highway projects, approved the funding in draft form in December. At the time, council officials said that final approval was just a formality for this project, which is expected to begin in 2005.
The project includes the construction of two bridges parallel to the current double span and the widening of I-80. The bridges would be replaced with a causeway and shorter spans to reduce the possibility of an accident affecting Meander Reservoir, which is the water supply for about 300,000 Mahoning and Trumbull counties residents. The project's cost is $53 million, with the rest of the money coming from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
100% pass at Poland
POLAND -- All 203 seniors at Poland Seminary High School have passed the ninth-grade state proficiency test -- giving the school a 100 percent passing rate for the eighth time in eight years.
Dr. Robert Zorn said the state officials also indicated that PSHS is the largest high school in the state to achieve such an accomplishment over the last eight years.
Woman struck by car
YOUNGSTOWN -- An 87-year-old woman who walked into traffic on Market Street and was struck by a car just before noon Tuesday was in critical condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center. A witness told police that Anna Zayatz of Eddie Street was crossing to go to the Phar-Mor store at 3730 Market. The driver was not cited, police said.
Firefighters kept busy
YOUNGSTOWN -- By 12:51 a.m. today, firefighters had responded to so many fires that they were down to their last truck, said Battalion Chief Gary Chance. At 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to 1563 Shehy St., where the Roundtable Grill was fully engulfed in flames, Chance said. The restaurant had closed at 9 p.m. The cause remains under investigation.
Capt. Gary Minnie, during a forced entry, hurt his right forearm and received treatment, Chance said. At 12:15 a.m., firefighters went to 354 W. Dewey Ave. to battle a vacant-house fire and shortly after another crew went to 632 Idora Ave., where an electrical fire had started behind a couch. At 12:51 a.m., they went to 2649 Vestal Road where a fuse box had caught fire. The fire self-extinguished, but the house had filled with smoke and had to be ventilated, Chance said.