Power outage

Power outage
SHARON, Pa. -- Problems with a transmission line carrying electricity from a substation in Masury to an area along the Farrell-Sharon border left 2,300 Penn Power customers without electrical service Monday morning. Penn Power spokesman Randy Coleman said that the outage began around 9:45 a.m. but that all power was restored by 11:30 a.m.
Robbery charges
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- Drugs with a street value of about $13,000 were taken during a robbery at the Eckerd Drug Store on Lawrence Avenue.
David R. Slyk, 33, of Hiland Avenue, Oil City, Pa., is accused of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, terroristic threats and resisting arrest. Police said a man wearing a ski mask and wielding a gun entered the store about 11 a.m. Sunday and demanded drugs from the pharmacy.
Police said the robber took OxyContin and other drugs from the pharmacy. Police said the man drove off and crashed his car at Sixth Street and Crescent Avenue. Police then chased him on foot until he was caught in the 500 block of Wayne Avenue. Police said they recovered all the drugs. Slyk will have a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 8 in Lawrence County Central Court.
Pizza shop burglary
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An undetermined amount of cash was taken by a masked man Monday at Pizza Joe's on Highland Avenue. Police said the man grabbed the clerk and demanded cash about 9:30 p.m. It's unclear if the man had a weapon.
Authorities describe the burglar as 5 feet 11 inches tall. They said he was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, khaki cargo pants, a yellow ski mask and gloves. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (724) 654-4211.
Nonsupport case
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gregory Byrd, 32, of North Garland Avenue, was placed on probation for three years when he appeared in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Monday. He had pleaded guilty in October to nonsupport of dependents, for which he had been secretly indicted in March 2001.
Atty. Edward DeAngelo, an assistant county prosecutor, said Byrd owed some $17,000 in child support for three children, dating to 1997. Judge James C. Evans ordered Byrd to pay $1,000 within 90 days, and then continue paying off the debt. DeAngelo said Byrd faces similar charges in Pennsylvania, where he has two other children.
Jail kitchen report
YOUNGSTOWN -- The kitchen floor at the Mahoning County Jail needs to be replaced and the kitchen should be more sanitized, according to a county grand jury. The September term of the grand jury recently toured the jail as part of its duties.
The recommendations for improving the kitchen were included in the panel's one-page report, signed by forewoman Joyce Laska. The report does not elaborate on specific problems with the kitchen facilities.
Driver not at fault
BOARDMAN -- Township police will not press charges against the 17-year-old driver who struck and killed a township police dog Friday evening in the driveway of Glenwood Middle School.
Traffic officer Glenn Patton determined that Brian P. Thompson of Stadium Drive was not at fault in the accident. The officer found that Thompson's visibility may have been hampered by ice on the windshield of the car he was driving, but that did not contribute to the accident.
Rookie, the police dog, ran in front of the car from out of a dark area. He was not on a leash at the time of the accident. Thompson's speed was estimated to have been about 20 mph.
Retirement begins
LIBERTY -- Former Police Chief Michael Pilolli has spent his last days with the department on paid administrative leave.
His retirement after 25 years is effective today.
Chief Anthony Slifka said Monday he placed Capt. Pilolli on leave last week "in the best interest of the department."
Slifka said there wasn't one action that caused him to place Pilolli on leave, but it stemmed from a Dec. 10 article in The Vindicator that called attention to controversy when Pilolli was chief.
Pilolli, 53, served as chief from 1997 to 2001, when he resigned from the position.
Board to meet
LIBERTY-- The board of education's organizational meeting is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the board conference room. It originally was scheduled for Jan. 14.
The date of the regular January meeting has not been determined.