Work on Pa. Route 18 will cause travel delays

Work on Pa. Route 18will cause travel delays
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Motorists are advised that work on the widening project on state Route 18 (North Hermitage Road) will cause traffic flow problems later today.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said a waterline will be relocated in front of the driveway to Artman Elementary School between 7 tonight and 6 a.m. Thursday.
Traffic will be maintained but there will be lane restrictions and delays during this nighttime work.
Council makes a changeto official's position
WASHINGTONVILLE -- Taking advantage of a new law, village council has changed the position of village clerk/treasurer to that of fiscal officer.
Village Solicitor Richard Shelar said the Legislature passed the bill, which took effect in January, to allow municipalities to waive residency and election requirements. He said the Legislature recognizes that small communities often have difficulty filling its government posts.
The new law allows the fiscal officer to be appointed by council rather than elected, and the person does not have to live in the community they serve, he said.
Shelar said Jean Nocera, longtime village clerk/treasurer, lives in neighboring Leetonia and was appointed to the post when no one filed to run for it. She is the fiscal officer.
Prayer vigil is plannedfor the Asente family
GIRARD -- A prayer vigil for the Asente family will be at 6 p.m. Friday in St. Rose Church.
Rich and Cheryl Asente of Sioux Trail have been involved in an interstate custody battle to keep 4-year-old Justin.
Justin's biological parents, Regina Moore and Jerry Dorning of Kentucky, want him back after agreeing to give him up for adoption by the Asentes.
The case will be heard Feb. 11 by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
The family's legal expenses have reached $500,000.
Contributions may be made to the Asentes' legal aid fund at P.O. Box 53, Niles 44446.
Adjusting budget
NORTH LIMA -- Beaver Township trustees will meet in special session at 6:15 p.m. today to make an adjustment to the township's budget.
The meeting will be in the township meeting room in the South Range Plaza.
Facing forgery charge
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Youngstown man is accused of passing a fake check at Wal-Mart in Union Township, Lawrence County.
Calvin Lamar Brown, 25, of Emery Avenue is charged with forgery. Pennsylvania State Police said he had fake checks and identification when arrested at 8:56 p.m. Tuesday at the store.
He was arraigned by District Justice J.V. Lamb. He remained in the Lawrence County Jail this morning after failing to post $20,000 bond.
Seeking cause of fire
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Fire Chief Larry Hermann said this morning that the James McConahy home at 921 Marie Ave. caught fire at about 9:17 p.m. Monday.
Firefighters are still trying to determine the cause. They estimate damage to the one-story house was about $40,000 and its contents at $15,000.
Three people living at the house are staying with other family members, Hermann said. No one was home when the blaze started.
One firefighter was treated at the scene for minor facial burns.
Police charge woman
SHARON, Pa. -- Police have charged a Greenville woman with burglary, theft, criminal trespass and access device fraud.
Cindy Jo Redmond, 41, of North Maysville Road, was picked up by Pennsylvania State Police in Crawford County overnight on a Sharon warrant and turned over to Sharon authorities around 4:30 a.m. today.
Police said she used an ex-boyfriend's Visa card to charge $600 worth of merchandise Oct. 17 and 18 and, on Dec. 4, broke into his North Oakland Avenue home and stole several sets of collectible coins. She faced arraignment today.