Friday, January 25, 2002
Sheriff's staff
LISBON -- Columbiana County Sheriff Dave Smith said he's boosting the department's weekend strength because of the number of calls usually received during that time period.
Beginning in about three weeks, the department will have a part-time deputy working a 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. shift Friday and Saturday nights, Smith said today.
The part-timers will raise to three the total number of deputies working during those periods.
The part-time deputies will earn $11.08 an hour.
Meals on Wheels
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana Meals on Wheels continues to deliver meals to its homebound clients during inclement weather, said Coleen Welton, program coordinator. She said meals are delivered on days when inclement weather causes area schools to close.
If road conditions are considered too hazardous for the agency's regular volunteers, volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles will deliver meals, she said. Columbiana Meals on Wheels serves a sack lunch and a hot meal weekdays to homebound clients in the Columbiana, Leetonia and Washingtonville areas. For more information, call (330) 482-0366.
Mercer Co. hirings
MERCER, Pa. -- County commissioners have hired Justin Barnes, Sheli Bosch, Renee Grinnell and Frances King as part-time telecommunicators at the E-911 Center at minimum wage, Janet McKnight as part-time administrative assistant for Mental Health/Retardation at $16,529 per year, and Gregory Puklus as substitute county caseworker at $12.84 hourly.
They also accepted the resignation of Judge Thomas Dobson's court stenographer, Brenda Hogue, who at 38 years with the county is the oldest continuous serving employee. She retires Feb. 22.
Local historian to speak
EAST PALESTINE -- A program by local historian Baird Stewart will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the East Palestine Memorial Public Library, 309 N. Market St.
Stewart will give a history of local post offices and their effect on county history.
Arrested in forgery
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police arrested Dameco S. Jackson, 29, of Wallis Avenue, Farrell, on a warrant charging him with forgery, attempted theft and receiving stolen property.
Jackson was picked up Thursday morning at the Mercer County Jail, where he is being held on unrelated charges, and arraigned before District Justice Henry Russo in the forgery case. He was returned to jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.
Police said Jackson is accused of trying to cash a stolen check at a Hermitage bank Nov. 30. The bank teller refused to cash the check, which had been stolen from a purse at a Sharon business seven days earlier, police said.
Car dealer arrested
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Union Township car dealer was arrested and faces a charge of tampering with public records or information, a third-degree felony, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Michael Mansour, 35, of R.D. 2, New Castle, owner and president of the Car Connection on U.S. Route 224, is accused of trying to defraud PennDOT of $599.70 in sales tax in connection with a vehicle deal.
Mansour subsequently paid the sales tax Jan. 9 after a PennDOT audit, police said. Mansour also faces 27 summary offenses of the Pennsylvania Vehicle and Crimes Code, according to police. Those offenses were not specified on a police report released this morning.
No court date has been set.
The matter was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police fraud investigator at the Beaver County barracks.
Grants workshop
YOUNGSTOWN -- Reservations are being taken for a Feb. 6 workshop on grant-seeking for representatives of nonprofit organizations.
The free workshop will be at 6:30 p.m. in the main public library meeting room, 305 Wick Ave. Call the main library reference department at (330) 744-8636 to make reservations.
Board OKs study funds
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners voted Thursday to spend $13,000 toward the cost of a feasibility study for an ecological restoration project being done on the Mahoning River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The county is one of several agencies helping to pay for the study.