Health center closing

Health center closing
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Jameson Health System is closing its downtown health center in the Cascade Galleria at the end of the year. All patients who used the center will be directed to the Jameson South Campus, formerly St. Francis Hospital, at 1000 S. Mercer St.
The services will include laboratory, X-rays and cardiology services. Officials said they decided to close the downtown center because of its proximity to the south campus.
Farrell OKs budget
FARRELL, Pa. -- City council has approved a general fund budget of $2,085,173 for 2003, some $23,000 higher than the one for this year, with no property tax increase and no layoffs of city employees. Also approved Monday was a 2003 sewer fund budget of $734,108, which is about $27,000 higher than this year's figure.
As expected, council also adopted sewer rate increases to take effect with the first billing of the new year. The flat rate for debt service and administrative costs will rise from $13.63 to $16.91 per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) every two months, and the usage rate will rise from $1.34 to $1.40 for every 750 gallons. An EDU is about 8,000 gallons. The average sewer bill is about $32 every two months.
Suspect is arraigned
SHARON, Pa. -- A man charged in robberies outside Sharon Regional Health System was in Mercer County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bond. Arthur C. Pate III, 34, of Pennsylvania Avenue, Farrell, was arraigned Tuesday before District Justice James E. McMahon. Pate is accused of trying to rob one woman who didn't have any money, and, a few minutes later, robbing another woman of her purse near the hospital Dec. 17.
Pate is charged with two counts of robbery, one count of theft by unlawful taking, and one count of receiving stolen property. He was arrested Monday by parole officers. A police spokesman didn't know where or why Pate had been arrested, nor why he was on parole.
Bond is set for accused
YOUNGSTOWN -- Shawn D. Mulhall, 28, of Canfield, had his bond set Tuesday at $10,000 with 10 percent allowed to be paid on a felony charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. On a misdemeanor charge of DUI, Municipal Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly allowed Mulhall free on his own recognizance. Mulhall will be back in court Feb. 10. He is accused of crashing his pickup truck into a car at state Route 616 and McGuffey Road, killing a passenger in the car, Lois M. Olson, 70, no address given. The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday. Reports show that Mulhall's blood alcohol concentration registered .201; the legal limit is .10.
Assault charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Melvin Fernandez Cruz, accused of firing shots at Patrolman Jason E. Simon, was arraigned Tuesday in municipal court on a charge of felonious assault. Charges of attempted murder and possession of criminal tools were not filed. Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly set bond at $100,000 cash or surety. Cruz, 19, of Youngstown will be back in court Jan. 2.
Simon was fired at when he responded to a burglary-prowler report in the 300 block of School Street around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Simon was not injured. Two other suspects escaped.
Shots were fired when Simon chased Cruz, who was wearing a protective military flak jacket, to an open field near John Street, reports show. A search of the area turned up a loaded 9mm handgun. Cruz, who told police he does not speak English, was read his Miranda rights in Spanish.
Officials fill seats
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners have named Susan Zehentbauer of Hanoverton, and Jessica Borza of Lisbon to fill vacancies on the county mental health and recovery services board.
The board, part of county government, provides services related to mental health and recovery from substance abuse.
Tree recycling
SALEM -- The solid waste management district that serves this area is setting up several sites in Columbiana County to which live Christmas trees can be taken for recycling. Locations include the Meadowbrook Nursery, on state Route 164 near Lisbon; the Butler Township building on Slater Road; the Rogers village garage on state Route 7; and Waterworth Memorial Park along Sunset Boulevard in Salem.
The sites will be open from Friday through Jan. 31. For more information, call (330) 424-0530. Do not bring plastic trees or put your trees in plastic bags. Wreaths are not accepted.