Resident is honored for community service

Resident is honoredfor community service
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township resident Robert Beil has received a Neighborhood Hero Award from Consumers Ohio Water Company for his community volunteer work. Albert Sauline, a company vice-president, presented the award during the township trustees' meeting Wednesday. The company will donate $250 to Boy Scout Troop 119 in Beil's name. Beil received a plaque.
Beil has been a scoutmaster for 35 years and donates approximately 44 hours a month to meetings and weekend outings. He also serves as a merit badge counselor and wilderness camp counselor adviser. He has also been a township volunteer firefighter for 20 years and contributes time to community roadside cleanup.
He was nominated by Trustee Shirley Heck. The Neighborhood Hero Award Program honors those who help in their communities without expectation of reward or recognition.
Crash injures woman
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lana Schepka of Sexton Street, Struthers, was in stable condition this morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown after a car crash on U.S. Route 224 in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. Pennsylvania State Police said she was a passenger in a car driven by Judith Schepka, also of Sexton Street. Police said another driver, Fred Miscimarra of Wildwood Drive, Boardman, lost control of his car on the icy road at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and crashed it into a guardrail. His car then bounced back into the road and hit the Schepka vehicle. Schepka's car then left the road and hit an embankment. Miscimarra's car continued on the road to hit a second set of guardrails before coming to rest on the north berm. Miscimarra and his passenger, Norma Miscimarra, also of Wildwood Drive, Youngstown, were treated at Jameson Hospital. Ages of those involved were not available from police. Police said Judith Schepka was not hurt.
Woman dies after crash
MERCER, Pa. -- Borough police said Della Jean Pellicano, 69, of Perry Street, Ellwood City, was fatally injured when her vehicle ran off Erie Street and struck a steel culvert pipe. Police said Pellicano was driving north around 1:40 p.m. Monday when her vehicle ran off the right side of the road and traveled one-tenth of a mile before hitting the pipe. Mercer East End Volunteer Fire Department freed her from the wreckage and she was taken to United Community Hospital in Grove City where she died, police said.
Pupils to attend funeral
COLUMBIANA -- Crestview seventh-grade pupils will be dismissed today to attend the funeral of a classmate, 12-year-old Zachary Garwood, who died Monday after a long battle with cancer. Superintendent John Dilling said school board members observed a moment of silence in Zachary's memory at Wednesday's board meeting.
He said the board accepted the resignation of Marion Dangerfield as the district's coordinator of volunteers. She will continue as a middle school guidance counselor. He said Georgia Farmer, who works in middle school intervention programs, will be the new coordinator of volunteers.
Seeking speech coaches
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana High School needs assistant coaches for its speech and debate teams. Teresa Hughes, high school English teacher and speech and debate head coach, told the school board Wednesday that assistants are needed immediately. Area professionals with theater experience or those with skills in public speaking and presentations such as salespeople or attorneys would be ideal, she said. The speech and debate season involves practice after school or evenings and 12 Saturday debates per year plus national tournaments. Anyone interested may call Hughes at the high school.
3 charged in robbery
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Three city men were charged this morning in a robbery at the Villanova Inn. Police said Sam Bartberger Jr., 22, of Old Butler Road, faces charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and theft by unlawful taking; James Ramsey, 24, of Cunninhgam Avenue, is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit theft; and Nick Coiro Jr., 21, of Friendship Street, is charged with two counts each of robbery, theft and simple assault. Police said two men wearing dark clothes and bandannas over their faces entered the bar at 11:52 p.m. Wednesday and demanded everyone's money. Police said they followed tracks in the snow that led them to Bartberger and he eventually led them to the other two men.