Route 170 closing

Route 170 closing
NEGLEY -- State Route 170 will be closed for about three days starting next Monday for railroad crossing repairs, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Traffic will be detoured north on state Route 170, west on state Route 558, south on state Route 7, and east on state Route 154 to state Route 170.
Water shutoffs
LEETONIA -- Water service will be turned off at 9 a.m. Thursday in portions of the village to allow replacement of fire hydrants. Water will be off for about eight hours.
The shutoffs include: Oak Street from Main Street to High Street; High Street from Oak Street to Main Street; Walnut Street from High Street to Front Street; Chestnut Street from High to Front Street; Front Street from Walnut Street to Leetonia Tool Co.; and Main Street from Oak Street to the American Legion Post.
When service returns, a boil advisory will be in effect for affected customers.
Man arrested
SALEM -- Police responded to an alarm about 2:23 a.m. today at the First Christian Church, 1156 E. Sixth St.
At the scene, police arrested Matthew Bush, 20, of Union Avenue, who at first tried to flee. He was charged with vandalism, criminal trespass, obstructing official business and underage consumption. The last charge was filed because police believe he had been drinking alcohol. Bush was in the Columbiana County Jail this morning awaiting arraignment.
Zoning request
LEETONIA -- The village zoning appeals board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in council chambers to discuss a zoning variance request submitted by residents of 316 State St.
Being sought is a variance on the height requirements for a fence.
Ellwood bridge closing
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- The Ewing Park Bridge over the Connoquenessing Creek will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday for bridge work. Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said workers will be drilling core samples for placement of new concrete piers, and there will be a drilling rig and other equipment on the bridge throughout the day.
The bridge is to close and a new concrete and steel bridge built in its place in 2004.
Engineers determined the steel structure of the bridge has deteriorated to the point where it is not safe for heavy vehicle truck traffic. The load limit is eight tons. The bridge is also narrow, with two 10-foot lanes without shoulders and an 8-foot sidewalk on one side.
SRU alumni to speak
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University's annual Academic Honors Convocation will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in Morrow Field House.
Two nationally recognized alumni in the world of business, Robert J. Stevens, president and chief operating officer at Lockheed Martin, and Kenneth Wilcox, vice president and general manager for Frito-Lay North America, have been named recipients of this year's Distinguished Alumni Award. Wilcox will speak on "Leadership at the Next Level."
The program, led by Interim President Robert M. Smith, will salute the university's academic honorees, including students earning 4.0 grade-point averages.
Man seriously hurt
FREDONIA, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said Robert Gurtner, 35, of Tenth Street, Greenville, was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident on Pa. Route 58 in Delaware Township.
Gurtner was traveling west on Route 58 around 12:15 p.m. Monday when he attempted to make a left turn onto Hamburg Road and slammed his vehicle head-on into an eastbound vehicle driven by Shawn Magee, 28, of South Mercer Street, Greenville, police said.
Gurtner was flown from the scene to UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh where he was in critical condition today. A passenger in his car, Joshua Biddlecom, 9, also of 10th Street, and Magee were taken to UPMC Horizon in Greenville for treatment. A hospital spokeswoman said neither was a patient there this morning.
Victim of con
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said this morning that a 94-year-old city woman was the victim of two con artists posing as insurance agents.
The victim told authorities that two women approached her in the 2100 block of Trace Street and told her they were insurance agents who were taking over administration of her insurance policies.
They told her they needed money to cover the change in agents and the victim told police she wrote them a check but couldn't remember for how much.
Police said they won't know the size of the check the victim wrote until the check clears her bank.