Trustees meeting tonight

Trustees meeting tonight
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township trustees were to meet in special session at 7:30 tonight to award a contract on a state Issue II project, discuss levy renewals, the police contract and any other business. Bids for the Issue II crumb rubber paving project will be opened at 8 p.m.
Inmate dies
MERCER, Pa. -- An inmate at the State Regional Correctional Facility in Findley Township died of natural causes in Sharon Regional Health System. James Boyer, 61, of the Pittsburgh area, died Saturday after a long illness, said Gilbert A. Walters, superintendent of the minimum-security prison. J. Bradley McGonigle, Mercer County coroner, said the death was from natural causes. Boyer had been at the Findley Township prison since 1993, serving a sentence of eight to 16 years for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and possession of an instrument of crime on a 1986 Allegheny County conviction.
Power outage
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- A failed insulator in an electric substation caused a widespread power outage in northern Mercer and southern Crawford counties. Penn Power spokesman Randy Coleman said the Maysville Road substation outside Greenville experienced the equipment failure just before noon Monday, affecting 16,200 customers. All power was restored by 1 p.m., he said, adding that the fact that heat soared above 95 degrees didn't contribute to the loss of service.
Creating jobs
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Three regional job-creating incubators will get $55,000 each as part of a state allocation of $500,000 to support incubators in fiscal 2002-03. The incubators house start-up businesses, offering them support and assistance until they can grow and expand. The Greenville, Meadville and Titusville incubators will each get $55,000 grants, said Sen. Robert Robbins of Greenville, R-50th.
Arts guild gets grant
SHARON, Pa. -- The Valley Arts Guild, 10 Vine Ave., will receive a $1,281 grant as part of more than $14 million being awarded by the state. The money comes from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and will be used to support guild programs.
City takes out loan
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City council agreed to take out a $2.6 million Section 108 loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money will help pay for downtown redevelopment, an effort to encourage more businesses to locate in the city's downtown area.
New streets, sidewalks, lighting and utilities are part of the project.
Mayor Timothy Fulkerson said the city should receive the money before the end of the year. Council and the mayor signed the paperwork for the loan at a special meeting Monday.
The loan will be repaid with the city's yearly allotment of Community Development Block Grants, he said.
Rubbish-burning ban
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Dry weather has prompted city officials to put a ban on all rubbish burning in the city. The city had allowed residents who paid a $10 yearly fee to burn papers, brush and other rubbish on Saturdays. Mayor Timothy Fulkerson said the ban will continue until further notice. There is a recycling bin for newspapers at the city fire station off South Jefferson Street.
Money stolen
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said there was no sign of forced entry, but someone stole a small amount of cash from the office of Dr. Theodore Yarboro at 755 Division St. The theft occurred between 5:40 and 8:45 p.m. Monday.
Man charged in robbery
HUBBARD -- A 44-year-old New Castle, Pa., man was in Trumbull County Jail this morning, charged in a robbery at Arby's restaurant at Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 62 on Sunday.
William Quinn of Boston Avenue appeared Monday before Girard Municipal Judge Michael Bernard, who set bond at $75,000 on charges of aggravated robbery, drug abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia.