Adult education

Adult education
EAST PALESTINE -- The spring session of East Palestine City Schools adult and community education program begins March 19. Participants may register now at the high school, 360 W. Grant St., from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Classes include introduction to computers, computer desktop publishing, and chair caning. Classes are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays or Wednesdays for six weeks. Cost is $25 for district residents and $50 for nonresidents. Call Joann G. Knight, director, at (330) 426-2625 or 426-9927 for more information.
Counterfeit bills
SALEM -- Police are investigating reports of bills that appear to be counterfeit being presented at local businesses.
A cashier at Smith Express, a gas station on East State Street, gave police a $20 bill a man presented to pay for cigarettes Saturday.
An employee at the Marathon gas station on East State Street told police a man gave her a $20 bill for merchandise Saturday and left when she questioned its authenticity. Police located the man who presented the bill at the Marathon station and say he's the same man who presented the bill at Smith Express.
The 22-year-old Goshen Township resident said he received the bills in a transaction with a friend and did not suspect they might be counterfeit.
The man has not been arrested. Police are still investigating.
Jailed in theft
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Two Youngstown residents remained in Mercer County Jail this morning after they were caught with about $1,000 worth of stolen goods in their vehicle, Pennsylvania State Police said. Police said Charnise L. Dent, 33, and Delbert A. Porch, 28, both of McQuiston Avenue, were stopped for a traffic violation in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in East Lackawannock Township around 7:15 p.m. Thursday. They provided false identification information to police, and suspicious troopers discovered the couple had a variety of merchandise that had been reported stolen earlier from eight stores in the Prime Outlet shops in Springfield Township, police said. The pair were arraigned before District Justice Ruth French on charges of receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy and unsworn falsifications to law enforcement authorities. French ordered them held in county jail pending a preliminary hearing.
Police seize money
MERCER, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said they seized $137,910 from a vehicle they stopped on a traffic violation in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in East Lackawannock Township around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Police released few details except to say the money was seized and no charges were filed against the driver.
Man found dead
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A 44-year-old white male was found dead on a walking path along State Street. Police said this morning his name was not being released pending notification of his family. His body was found by another hiker at 8:45 a.m. Sunday. Police said they don't suspect foul play, but an autopsy was planned for today. Police said they were unsure how long the man had been on the walking path before being discovered.
Charged after fight
SHARON, Pa. -- Brian K. Pleasant, 33, of Quinby Street was in Mercer County Jail today on a parole detainer and other charges after a fight with a woman in the 1100 block of Cedar Avenue. Police were called to the scene around 2:40 a.m. Sunday after residents of the area reported a man assaulting a woman outside a home there. Police said Pleasant got into a fight with a female acquaintance, disconnected her telephone so she couldn't call for help and then chased her out of her home with a knife. He is accused of holding her down on the ground and choking her, police said. Pleasant was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, harassment, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats. Police said bond was set at $10,000 on those charges but that Pleasant is also being held without bond on a parole violation charge.