Rash of car break-ins

Rash of car break-ins
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- State police are reminding motorists to always lock their vehicles. Authorities are investigating a rash of thefts from cars throughout the area.
Remember to store valuables such as compact disk players, cellular telephones and packages in trunks or glove compartments, they said.
Out of flu vaccine
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Jameson Visiting Nurses Association no longer has flu vaccine available to the community.
The satellite offices in New Wilmington, Mohawk and Shenango were depleted of the vaccine after the end of community outreach programs and clinics.
For flu vaccine availability, call your family physician, drugstore or the Pennsylvania Department of Health for more information.
Beaver Twp. police
NORTH LIMA -- The Beaver Township trustees promoted two reserve police officers to part-time status at their meeting Tuesday.
Danny T. Beniston of Salem and Adam R. Treharne of Struthers will move to their new positions effective next Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The township will set their salaries.
Beniston and Treharne are full-time police officers with the Springfield Township Police Department.
The township also announced the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has approved plans for the Woodworth Park pavilion remodeling project. The township will begin advertising for bids for that work in January.
Also, the township park board has set its monthly meetings for next year. Beginning in January the board will meet at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the township administration building.
Drugstore variance
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A hearing on a request for a zoning variance for a proposed Eckerd Drugs store at 1680 N. Hermitage Road has been continued at the request of the developer.
Orion Development asked for the delay Monday during a Hermitage Zoning Hearing Board hearing on his request for a variance on side-yard setback requirements.
City regulations require that a building be at least 20 feet away from adjoining property lines, but Orion wanted just a 4.9-foot setback to accommodate a canopy for the proposed 14,240-square-foot store.
Hearing-board members suggested a change in design to help resolve the issue, and Orion asked that the hearing be continued while options are considered.
New Castle fire is arson
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A fire at a Liberty Street home has been declared arson.
Fire Chief James Donston said the blaze at 1019 N. Liberty Street started in the dining room of the two-story frame home. The home was destroyed, and damage is estimated at $40,000, Donston said.
The owner is Facelift Development Ltd., which is owned by Erick Jackson of Bessemer.
Donston said the occupant, Brian McAllister, is in Georgia.
The fire started at 4:28 a.m. Tuesday.
Surplus food handout
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- The next surplus food distribution is set for 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday in the basement of the Mahoning Township Community Center on U.S. Route 224.
Kiwanis blood drive set
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The New Wilmington Kiwanis will have its semiannual blood drive from 3 to 7 p.m. next Wednesday in the Neshannock Presbyterian Church dining room. The church is at 330 W. Neshannock Ave.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Cheryl Schneider at (724) 946-8733.
Truck crash injures man
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A West Washington Street man suffered injuries when his truck crashed on the U.S. Route 422 bypass near the Pa. Route 168 exit.
State police said Dennis Gregory Keller, 22, was flown to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. His condition was not available.
Police said Keller was westbound on the entrance ramp to Route 422 at 3 p.m. Tuesday when he tried to pass a milk truck. He hit the milk truck and spun out of control. Keller's truck then crashed into a guardrail and rolled over several times.
The milk truck driver, Edward A. Batemean of Pittsburgh, was not hurt.