Employee injured

Employee injured
PITTSBURGH -- A New Castle man is in the burn unit at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh after being injured in an industrial accident Friday afternoon in New Castle. Scott Brommer, 32, of Booker Drive, an employee of Interchange Specialty Services, 201 Power St., suffered second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body when an acetylene tank exploded at his workplace at 2:43 p.m., the fire department said. The company refurbishes rail cars. Brommer was taken to St. Francis Hospital in New Castle and flown by helicopter to Pittsburgh. West Penn officials declined to release his condition Friday evening.
Fire damages church
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A fire that was confined to the roof of Union Baptist Church, 251 W. Grant St., caused $7,000 damage, but there were no injuries, the fire department said. The fire started at 10:45 a.m. Friday when the roof was ignited by a propane torch a worker was using to melt tar during a roof replacement project, firefighters said.
Swierz to be sworn in
YOUNGSTOWN -- John R. Swierz will resign his 7th Ward city council seat Monday and be sworn in as council president at 10 a.m. by city Judge Robert Millich in the police department's second-floor roll call room. Democratic precinct committee members appointed Swierz to the vacant president's seat Wednesday. The party will have 45 days from Monday to schedule a meeting of 7th Ward precinct committee members to pick a new ward council member.
Charges dismissed
NILES -- Charges against a Hunter Street company of not fully paying a former employee have been dismissed. A former employee sought the misdemeanor charges in Niles Municipal Court, saying HM Steel had not paid her the full wages she'd earned. At a hearing in court this week, the charge was dismissed when the company showed the employee had been paid.
Rally for chairman
BOARDMAN -- Mahoning County Republican Party's central committee members are holding a rally at 9 a.m. today at the party's headquarters at 631 Boardman-Canfield Road in support of the re-election effort of Chairman Clarence Smith. Also, state Auditor Jim Petro, who is running for Ohio attorney general, will endorse Smith's re-election bid at 11:15 a.m. Monday at party headquarters.
Identity theft
AUSTINTOWN -- A 33-year-old township woman whose purse was stolen from her place of employment in January told police she has been the victim of identity theft. The woman told police her checkbook, Social Security card and a medical insurance card were the only items in her wallet when it was stolen Jan. 11 from Life Skills Center of Youngstown, 345 Oak Hill Avenue. On Thursday, a credit card company called the woman and told her that an account had been opened in her name April 1 and that a man listed as an authorized user made about $400 in purchases at Alltel and over the Internet.
Pint Size Heroes
WARREN -- McGuffey Elementary pupils will be recognized as Pint Size Heroes next week for their efforts in helping the American Red Cross to save lives. They will be honored during the blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the school. The school is working with the Red Cross on a new program targeting elementary and middle schools. A Pint Size Hero is a child who directly helps save lives by recruiting donors to the blood drive. An educational presentation about blood donation and the Red Cross was made to the students last month.
Lane restrictions
WARREN -- State Route 5 in Warren and Leavittsburg between state Route 8 and U.S. Route 422 is reduced to one lane in each direction until further notice. The restrictions are part of the $9.8 million project to repair and resurface Route 5 beginning from the bridges west of the West Market Street Interchange and ending at the railroad bridges west of the Elm Road Interchange. Anticipated completion date is late fall 2003.
Scholarships deadline
SALEM -- The deadline to apply for Columbiana County Farm Bureau scholarships is April 30. Graduating students whose families are farm bureau members may apply for one of two $500 scholarships that may be used toward tuition, books and other school expenses. Applications are available from high school guidance counselors. The forms should be mailed to the Portage-Stark-Summit County Farm Bureau office at 1000 Market Ave. North, Canton 44702.