Decision stands

Decision stands
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Lawrence County judge has upheld an arbitrator's decision to give a Shenango High School art teacher his job back. James Lutz's termination was overturned in July by an arbitrator brought in by the teacher's union.
School officials fired Lutz after nine female students complained of sexual harassment, court papers said. The arbitrator decided that firing Lutz was too harsh and he changed it to a 30-day suspension.
The school district appealed that decision to common pleas court, contending that the arbitrator did not follow the collective bargaining agreement the district has with its teachers.
Judge Dominick Motto, however, ruled the arbitrator did base his findings on the agreement and because he followed the agreement, the court has no jurisdiction to overturn his decision.
Jailed in robbery
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Police said a North Maysville Road man is accused of robbing a patron of the Elks Club at 28 S. Mercer St. and then robbing a club employee.
Donald Slater, 21, was arrested after a short foot chase and lodged overnight in borough jail. He faced arraignment later today on charges of robbery, unlawful restraint, making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, theft, receiving stolen property and simple assault.
Police said Slater is accused of using a gun to rob a man in the Elks parking lot at 10:28 p.m. Monday. Slater then entered the club and robbed the bartender, police said.
Police had been called while the robbery in the parking lot was occurring and arrived seconds after Slater left the club headed toward Franklin Street.
The money taken and the gun used in the robberies were recovered, police said.
Street to reopen
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Mayor Timothy Fulkerson said East Washington Street will be open to traffic by Wednesday.
A two-block section of the street has been closed since the summer as workers installed new utilities, sidewalks, roads, traffic signals and parking areas.
The work is part of the downtown redevelopment project intended to bring more businesses to downtown.
Fire damage
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Damage is estimated at $20,000 in a fire at the home of Sheila Dearment of 229 Clinton St.
Fire Chief Steve Thompson said the call came in shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday. Dearment wasn't home, but her dog was overcome by smoke.
Firefighters found the pet in a second-floor bedroom and took it outside, administering oxygen and reviving it, Thompson said.
The fire started in an entertainment center in the first-floor living room, he said. There were three smoke alarms in the house but their batteries had been removed, Thompson said.
Handgun stolen
MERCER, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said a handgun was among the items stolen in a burglary at a home in the 2000 block of the Mercer-Greenville Road (state Route 58).
The intruder also took two bows, police said. The burglary was discovered around 8 p.m. Monday.
Complaints of shots
SALEM -- Police advised two women about firearms and hunting laws Monday after complaints of shots fired in the Newgarden Avenue area.
The homeowner said a friend was attempting to scare wild turkeys off the property by shooting at them with a BB gun.
Police advised the women that it is illegal to discharge a firearm in the city limits, and also advised them of Ohio hunting laws.