Fire damages home

Fire damages home
SHARON, Pa. -- A fire heavily damaged an upstairs bedroom in a two-story wood house at 145 N. Oakland Ave. on Saturday afternoon. The owner and occupant, Marlee Jennings, left at 1:30 p.m. and the fire erupted at 2 p.m., firefighters said.
The fire was reported by a man working on a nearby house.
Live Nativity planned
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Live actors and animals will be part of a drive-through Nativity scene at King's Chapel United Methodist Church at Old Pulaski Road and Wallace Drive in Neshannock Township from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 2 . There will be 10 scenes. Admission is free. Call the church at (724) 658-7569.
Group to sing in D.C.
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The 24-member Slippery Rock University Chamber Singers will perform traditional carols for staff at an open house Dec. 12 at the White House.
SRU officials believe this is the first time a group from the university has been invited to perform in the executive mansion. Paul Laprade, assistant professor of music, wrote to the White House over a year ago. The group was invited in October. The ensemble hopes to squeeze impromptu performances at other Washington landmarks and a Virginia church.
Toys for Creativity
BROOKFIELD -- Trunick Gallery is sponsoring its annual Toys for Creativity collection to provide needy children with gifts that encourage exploration and learning.
Those items include markers, paints, sketch books, musical toys and modeling clay.
Supplies can be dropped off at the gallery on the square in Brookfield from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Dec. 14.
The items will be distributed through the Salvation Army and contributors will receive a handmade ornament.
Teen hits cop with car
FAIRCHANCE, Pa. (AP) -- A Fayette County teen-ager was arrested Saturday, accused of trying to run down a police officer during a drunken car chase that ended when police shot at his car and wounded a passenger.
Police said 19-year-old Charles Timothy Priester, of Fairchance, sped off Saturday morning when officers tried to pull him over for driving erratically.
During the chase, Priester pulled over, but then backed into a police car and tried to drive away, hitting Fairchance Borough police officer Kenneth Bittinger. Two other officers shot at Priester's car and he stopped. A passenger, Benjamin Conrad, 19, also of Fairchance, was hit in the leg. Priester is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, drunken driving, fleeing police and underage drinking. Conrad has been charged with underage drinking.