Thiel College Walk-A-Thon

Thiel College Walk-A-Thon
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Thiel College Walk-A-Thon for Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh got under way this morning. Collectors were out working the borough's intersections gathering donations at 7 a.m., and the walkers were to leave the borough headed south at 9 a.m. The two-day trek, covering 100 miles from here to Pittsburgh, will end around 5 p.m. Saturday at Children's Hospital. This walk is the successor to the annual Phi Theta Phi annual walk-a-thon that raised more than $1 million for the hospital over 35 years. The fraternity was disbanded by Thiel last year and the college picked up the walk-a-thon. The effort includes 40 collectors, 10 walkers and 15 counters, said Steph Erdice, student service specialist with the college's student services department. They will work their way through numerous municipalities along the route, collecting as they go. The goal is to raise $50,000.
Christmas basket program
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Donations and volunteers are needed for the annual Christmas basket program serving residents of Springfield Township and New Middletown. Since 1981, the communities have come together to help the less fortunate during the holidays. Service organizations, schools, churches, businesses and individuals all contribute. Each year, about 100 families are helped. Each receives a turkey or chicken and other groceries, as well as toys for children. Baskets will be packed at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Springfield Local High School cafeteria. Delivery will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 20. Volunteers are welcome. Donations for the project can be sent to "Christmas Baskets," P.O. Box 48, New Middletown, Ohio 44442. For more information, call Pastor Larry Klinker at (330) 542-3821.
Youth Strings concert
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Youth Strings will perform at noon Wednesday at the New Castle Public Library in the Copernicus Room on the first floor. The group consists of youths ages 11 to 16 who are pupils of Jim and Betty Stephenson. The program is free and open to the public. For details, call the library at (724) 658-6659.
Lawrence food vouchers
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Vouchers will be distributed Tuesday for the Lawrence County Food Program during regular hours at each distribution site. Only those who were certified last month are eligible for the vouchers. All new applications will be eligible for the March 20 distribution. Each recipient will receive a gift card to buy meat or poultry and other food items. For details, call the county commissioners' office at (724) 656-2167.
Guilty of child-sex charge
WARREN -- A Trumbull County jury found a Youngstown man guilty Thursday of 19 counts of gross sexual imposition involving an 11-year-old girl. Hervey H. Dunn was found innocent of five rape charges, however, which could have resulted in a sentence of life in prison. Dunn, 43, of Sunshine Street, remains free on bond. He will be sentenced by Judge Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court at a later date.
Ordered items stolen
SALEM -- An East Third Street woman said items she ordered off the Internet must have been stolen from her front porch. She told police Thursday that the parcel delivery company said the items were delivered and left on her front porch because she was not home. She did not find the items, three video games valued at $50 each and a digital camera worth $100.
Crash injures woman
PULASKI, Pa. -- A Farrell woman was in critical condition this morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center after a car crash Thursday afternoon on Pa. Route 208. Pennsylvania State Police said Gayellen L. Crawford, 32, of Market Avenue was traveling east and tried to pass another car. She lost control of her 1989 Oldsmobile and it went off the road and hit a tree. Police said firefighters had to extricate Crawford from the car. Her passenger, Dennis R. Phillips, 29, of Douglas Street, Warren, Ohio, was treated at the hospital.
Home repair charges
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Youngstown man is charged with theft and receiving stolen property after failing to do some home improvement work. Neshannock police said John E. Newsome of East Dewey Avenue went to a home on Buena Vista Way in November and asked if the owners needed their gutters cleaned and some remodeling work. Police said the homeowners paid Newsome in advance and the work was not done. Charges were filed this morning in Lawrence County.