Thursday, August 28, 2003
New Castle Community Yreceives donations, praise
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle Community Y got $1,500 from a community organization and recognition from U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th. Hart presented the Y with a Certificate of Special Recognition on Thursday.
She commended the Y for its programs helping working families and low-income residents of the city. The Y also received a donation from the Lawrence Community Foundation to help underprivileged children participate in Y activities.
David Henderson, the foundation representative, said the money comes from an unrestricted fund the foundation started with a grant from the Almira Foundation.
Bob DelSignore said the donation will be used for scholarships to low-income people who participate in Y programs.
There are more than 225 programs offered each year at the Y, he said.
Shenango River Lakereopens after flooding
CLARK, Pa. -- After four weeks of being closed because of flooding, Shenango River Lake is returning to normal. The lake elevation has dropped to the normal summer pool level, and all boat launches and access areas have reopened.
The Chestnut Run Swim Beach remains closed but the Shenango Recreation Area Campground reopened today. The docks and launch ramps at RC's Marina have reopened as well and the fueling area is to reopen this weekend.
West Nile in Mercer Co.
MERCER, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed that the first dead bird infected with West Nile virus has been found in Mercer County.
The American crow was found in Stoneboro and tested positive Thursday. Earlier this month, a mosquito pool in Pine Township tested positive for the virus.
Residents are reminded to eliminate all standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Mosquitoes can transmit the disease from birds to humans.
Man, 2 boys face charges
SALEM -- A 19-year-old man and two boys, ages 12 and 14, are charged with breaking and entering and vandalism in a spree that is believed to have caused more than $60,000 in damage to two businesses.
The group is accused of breaking into and vandalizing a pump installation business at 172 Jennings Ave. and vehicles at the Stadium car dealership, 214 W. State St.
The crimes occurred early Monday.
Police said the group destroyed equipment, walls and other items at the pump company and used a pick to puncture vehicle bodies at Stadium. Vehicle windows also were shattered.
Jeffrey Falk, of 1129 W. Perry St., is charged in Columbiana County Municipal Court. The boys, from Salem, have been charged in juvenile court.
Seeking early release
YOUNGSTOWN -- A former Ponderosa Park concert promoter, imprisoned for defrauding park patrons, has filed a request in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for early release.
Jeffrey Best, 32, of Salem, was sentenced in June to 30 months in prison for theft, misuse of a credit card and passing bad checks.
Prosecutors said he accepted money and credit-card payments from patrons for concert tickets, but used them to cover other park-related debts. The patrons never got their tickets and did not get a refund.
The matter is pending before Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.
Woman reports robbery
CAMPBELL -- A 21-year-old Princess Street woman told police she was robbed of $80 in cash and various credit cards by three men she knows.
The woman told police she was transporting the men, who range in age from 20 to 23, to an address on Seventh Street when one of them pointed a handgun at her and demanded her purse.
After refusing to hand it over, she got punched in the eye and then was robbed, she said. The three ran off.
Naturalized citizens
YOUNGSTOWN -- Nine people were naturalized as U.S. citizens during a ceremony Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
The new citizens and their country of origin are: Maria Doris Allen, Philippines; Vladelina Bowers, Ukraine; Elisabeth Caplen, Germany; Jenny Fernandez, Ecuador; Dat Quoc Hua, Vietnam; Duk Ho Kim, Korea; Alexandra Peter Morozov, Latvia; Aurel Nemes, Romania; and Bozena Puskar, Slovakia.