Thursday, April 25, 2002
Downed wire causespower outage in Salem
SALEM -- A downed wire near an electrical substation on South Ellsworth Avenue left about 1,100 Ohio Edison customers without power this morning. The outage included parts of the downtown business district and traffic signals in that area. Customers in parts of Perry Township also were without power. The outage occurred about 5 a.m. today. Crews were expected to have power restored by about 9 a.m., an Ohio Edison official said.
Car strikes girl, 5
SALEM -- A 5-year-old girl was treated at Salem Community Hospital after being struck by a car while riding her bicycle. Police said the accident occurred about 3 p.m. Wednesday when Alexis Cusick, 386 N. Lundy Ave., rode in front of a car being driven by a Salem man. The accident occurred between East Third and East Fourth streets, police said. No charges have been filed.
New principal namedat Leetonia Elementary
LEETONIA -- The village school board has appointed Tracy Early of Salem as elementary principal. Early is assistant elementary principal and director of special education in East Palestine schools. The Leetonia board gave Early a two-year contract Wednesday with her salary to be determined. Early also taught fifth and sixth grades for eight years at East Palestine Elementary School. With the Leetonia district's nearly 900 pupils moving to a new kindergarten-through-12th-grade school in the fall, the board created a new middle school principal's position. Leetonia Elementary Principal Elizabeth Goerig accepted that post and will be responsible for fifth through eighth grades. Early will handle K through 4.
Roads closed ahead
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will close two Mercer County roads for pavement repairs. Mercer Avenue in Wheatland, which becomes Ohio Street in Shenango Township, will be closed from Church Street to Stateline Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through May 3. Mercer-West Middlesex Road will be closed from Mercer Borough to Pa. Route 18 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through May 6.
Accidental church fire
SHEAKLEYVILLE, Pa. -- The fire that destroyed the 150-year-old North Salem United Methodist Church on Osborne Road earlier this month appears to have been accidental, a state police fire marshal said. Trooper Robert Ryhal said the official cause is listed as undetermined because the damage was so extensive that no specific cause for the early morning blaze could be found. However, there was nothing found to indicate the blaze was started intentionally, he said. The congregation is sharing sanctuary time with a sister church, the Sheakleyville United Methodist Church, on Sundays. The Rev. Glea Foster, pastor of both churches, said the congregation will decide in a few weeks if it wants to rebuild. The church was insured, she said.
Crestview school boardto have special session
CRESTVIEW -- Crestview Board of Education will meet in special session at 7 p.m. Monday in the high school's home economics room. The board will vote to authorize the superintendent to advertise for bids to air condition the middle school. Superintendent John Dilling said school officials will open bids May 15 and plan to award the contract at the May 16 board meeting.
Family Fun Day
SEBRING -- A Family Fun Day featuring live music will be from 2 to 5 Sunday at the F.A. Sebring Community Center on Texas Avenue to acquaint the community with the new domestic violence services being offered by Sojourner House. The band, Joy Ride, will provide entertainment. There will be children's games and face painting. Food will be sold by Seeds Outreach of Sebring. A Chinese auction will be held.
Truck starts fire
LEETONIA -- Firefighters think an electrical problem in an old pickup truck parked in the back yard of 112 Main Street caused a fire that destroyed the truck and damaged a swimming pool and pool deck. Firefighter Jason Hephner said eight Leetonia firefighters were at the scene Wednesday morning about 45 minutes. He estimated loss at about $3,000. Kevin McCormick is the homeowner, Hephner said. No one was home at the time of the fire. He said the fire was never a threat to the home.