Smoke kills man

Smoke kills man
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A Center Street man died in a fire at his home early today. Details of the blaze were unavailable this morning, but Dr. David Hoyt, Mercer County deputy coroner, said that Jason Allen Gladd, 21, of 635 S. Center St., died in the blaze that broke out around 2:30 a.m.
Hoyt pronounced Gladd dead of smoke inhalation at 3:30 a.m. Fire department officials remained at the scene through midmorning, and a state police fire marshal was called to help pinpoint the cause of the blaze.
Staffing woes
LISBON -- The Columbiana County Sheriff's Department is suffering staffing problems by having to use deputies daily to transport prisoners from the county jail to East Liverpool Municipal Court.
Sheriff Dave Smith explained today that East Liverpool police previously handled many of the prisoner transport chores for the municipal court in the city. But recent layoffs within the city police department have required deputies to assume the duties, Smith said.
Smith said he's hopeful his department will be largely relieved of the task when a video arraignment system is established in the municipal court.
Suspect sought
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for James Jones, 33, of Mills Way, who is charged with robbing a convenience store.
Police filed charges of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats. An arrest warrant has been issued. They said Jones is accused of robbing the 7-Eleven on Highland Avenue at 5:04 a.m. Friday. Police said the clerk recognized Jones.
She told police the man came up to her window and told her he was planning to rob the convenience store. He then put a blue bandanna over his face and had a second one over his hand that appeared to be covering a gun, police said.
He handed her a note that told her not to make any sudden moves and then he demanded money, police said. The clerk handed over about $300, they said.
Store robbed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Someone smashed a glass door at the Red Apple Kwik Fill on Wilmington Road and stole 10 to 15 cartons of cigarettes.
Police said a store security video shows a man entering the store at 2:48 a.m. Sunday. He is described as a thin man. His face was concealed.
Gun, credit card stolen
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said someone stole a gun, $7 and a Discover credit card from the backpack of a Grove City man at United Community Hospital in Pine Township.
The items were taken between 1 and 2 p.m. Saturday, and police said the credit card was later used at Kaufmann's in the Shenango Valley Mall to make $1,813 in purchases. Police didn't say why the victim had a gun at the hospital.
Slug hits house
MERCER, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said they think an errant slug from a deer hunter's muzzleloader rifle hit a house in the 1100 block of Palmer Road in Fairview Township.
Police said the slug went through an exterior wall and into the living room of the Howard Burry residence between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Friday. No one was injured.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is aiding in the investigation.
Deer spotted downtown
SALEM -- It's common for deer to be spotted on the outskirts of the city, but the creatures recently made a bolder foray.
Police were called about 4:19 a.m. Sunday by a gas station employee who spotted four deer near the intersection of East State Street and Southeast Boulevard. That's in the heart of the city's busy east side commercial district.
The animals were gone when police arrived.
CD player stolen
SALEM -- A car was entered outside a home on the 200 block of Rose Avenue, and a compact disc player was stolen from it, police said.
The woman who owns the car reported the crime about 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Dedication planned
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge was scheduled to return home today to dedicate a nature center at Presque Isle State Park.
The 60,000-square-foot nature center will include classrooms, administration offices and nature exhibits when it opens in 2004.
Ridge was governor when he released $25 million in state funds for the project Oct. 4, 2001 -- the same day he accepted his new position in the Bush administration.
The center will be named for Ridge.