West Nile virus case

West Nile virus case
SHARON, Pa. -- More evidence of West Nile virus has surfaced in Mercer County. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Monday that a horse was confirmed to have the disease. The state didn't reveal the horse's location. The latest case follows a state announcement Friday that the Stoneboro Fairgrounds would be sprayed this week to kill adult mosquitoes that might carry the virus. An 11-year-old Mercer County girl contracted the disease but has been treated and has recovered, the state also said Friday. A test flock of chickens in the county has tested positive for West Nile, as did a trapped mosquito in Pine Township and a dead crow found in Stoneboro, all this month.
Storm does damage
MERCER, Pa. -- An early morning thunderstorm knocked down trees and caused a power outage as it crossed Mercer County today. Authorities reported a small power outage caused by downed trees in Grove City. There were also trees down in Springfield, Wilmington and Shenango townships as well as the city of Hermitage, some of which temporarily blocked roads. Mercer County was put under a flood watch until 10 p.m. today. Lawrence County was under a severe thunderstorm warning this morning.
Crash injures woman
FREDONIA, Pa. -- Promise Toth of Fredonia was injured when her car ran off Fredonia Road and flipped onto its roof, throwing her out. Pennsylvania State Police said Toth was flown from the scene to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh by helicopter shortly after the crash, which occurred at 10:40 a.m. Monday. She was listed in critical condition this morning.
Schools' new manager
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Hermitage School Board has hired a certified public accountant as its new business manager. The board, meeting in special session Monday, named Monique Barber of Twitmyer Avenue, Sharpsville, to the post. She replaces Eugene Fornadel, who resigned, and will start Sept. 10 at an annual salary of $59,900.
Barber is an auditor with Black, Bashor and Porsch of Sharon and is very familiar with school work, Superintendent Karen Ionta said.
Granite Constructiongets waterline work
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Granite Construction Inc. of Beaver Township was the successful bidder for the Calla Road waterline replacement.
Village council unanimously accepted Granite's bid, the lowest of three, at a special meeting Monday.
Granite offered to do the job for $75,330. The other bids were not available Monday night.
Work will begin as soon as possible, Mayor Robert Carson said.
The project includes installation of new pipe on Calla from Warner Drive to Renee Drive. The village will have to pay 12 percent of the cost, with the rest coming from a state Issue 2 grant.
Consumers Ohio Water Company will replace the line from Renee Drive to Struthers Road because of a large number of breaks.
Concert rescheduled
NORTH LIMA -- The Great Pretenders concert, which was postponed earlier this summer because of rain, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Woodworth Park in Beaver Township.
The concert is part of the park's summer concert series. Admission is free.
Salem burglary
SALEM -- Someone broke into Lyle Printing, 185 E. State St., and stole a laptop computer worth about $1,300, police said.
The crime is believed to have occurred after 8 p.m. Saturday. It was reported around 8 a.m. Monday, police said.
Robber hits pizza shop
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Neshannock Township police said a man carrying a gun and wearing a tie-dyed shirt over his head demanded money from workers at Pizza Joe's on Highland Avenue. They handed over the cash and the man ran off around 8:04 p.m. Sunday. He was later spotted near Edgewood Avenue, and several police departments unsuccessfully searched for him. Police describe the robber as a white man 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds. He was wearing blue mesh shorts, a white T-shirt, a ball cap and a tie-dyed shirt with eye holes cut out. Police said he had a black revolver. Anyone with information about the man is asked to call police at (724) 654-4211.