Items taken from house

Items taken from house
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A man says someone stole his property out of a condemned house. Police said the house on the 200 block of East Street had garbage throughout and holes in the walls and floors when they were called to investigate Wednesday.
The man told police he had left a Jerome Bettis rookie card, a DVD player and 70 DVDs in a closet Dec. 23 and when he returned this week those items were gone. Police said the house has been condemned for about three months.
Break-in reported
SALEM -- A home on the 300 block of East Third Street was broken into and an unknown amount of money and other unspecified items taken, police said. The break-in was reported earlier this week.
Traficant questions
CLEVELAND -- The government has objected to a list of proposed jury questions U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., of Poland D-17th, submitted for his upcoming racketeering trial.
The congressman submitted 20 questions, most of which deal with prospective jurors' religious and ethnic backgrounds and the religious and ethnic backgrounds of their parents and spouses. "Any decision to strike a juror based on his or her nationality, ethnic heritage or religion would be in violation of the United States Constitution as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court," the government said.
Facing fraud charge
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A city man faces an insurance fraud charge after reporting his vehicle stolen, police said. Aaron Brian Johnson, 26, of West Clen Moore Boulevard was arraigned Monday before District Justice James Reed and released without bail.
Police said a warrant had been issued for his arrest Jan. 8. The charges stem from a Dec. 29, 2000, automobile accident that subsequently totaled Johnson's 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck, valued at about $17,000, police said. Police said he attempted to report the vehicle stolen to the police and his insurance company.
Hunter finds explosives
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said explosives were found by a hunter in the Pennsylvania game lands off Harlansburg Road in Scott Township.
Police said a passer-by noticed four explosives Monday and took them to the state police barracks here. They were described as being grenade launchers and turned over to the Army Explosives Unit at Fort Indian Town Gap in Harrisburg, police said.
Teen faces charges
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police charged a 17-year-old Harrisville, Pa., with stealing a credit card and charging $2,300 worth of merchandise on it.
Police said the girl faces charges of access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. A petition was filed Monday in juvenile court by the Lawrence County District Attorney's office. The credit card was taken May 30, 2001, police said.
Group elects officers
POLAND -- Democrats of the 17th District, a Mahoning Valley Democratic organization, re-elected Mark Belinky of Boardman as its president. Belinky did not seek a second year as president but opted to serve after the membership re-elected him. Sherman Miles of Campbell and Andrew Hamady of Poland were re-elected first vice president and treasurer, respectively. Connie Coloutes of Poland was elected second vice president and Juanita Rich of Campbell was selected as secretary.
Jury returns indictment
CLEVELAND -- A federal grand jury has returned a four-count indictment charging Christopher J. Cole, 27, who was last known to reside on Sixth Street in Campbell, with possession and unlawful transfer of firearm silencers. The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.