2 sick raccoons killed

2 sick raccoons killed
NILES -- Two sick raccoons were destroyed in the city over the weekend. Police were called at 4:20 p.m. Saturday about a sick raccoon at the Niles Shooting Range on Summit Street and again at 5:30 p.m. Sunday for one in the 300 block of West Park Avenue. Callers both times told police the animals were twitching as if having seizures.
Driver hits cruiser, dies
WILLOUGHBY HILLS (AP) -- A man who fled police early Monday crashed a car into a parked cruiser and died.
The Geauga County Sheriff's Department said a 21-year-old man was driving a Chevrolet Corsica that was pursued at about 2 a.m. at high speed onto Interstate 90.
A Willoughby Hills officer who was aware of the chase and was parked along the highway tossed stop sticks onto the road as the car approached.
Geauga County sheriff's deputy John Hiscox says the car crashed into the parked cruiser.
The man in the car was taken to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released.
Hiscox said the reason the man fled police is being investigated. The chase began near Chardon in Geauga County and continued into Lake County. A Geauga County deputy responding to a traffic accident in Munson Township put on his overhead flashers. The car in front of the deputy, rather than pulling out of the way, sped up. The deputy then pursued that car.
Police cars from several departments assisted in the chase. Hiscox said the chase speed on 1-90 was about 85 mph.
Police rescue kitten
SALEM -- Police were called to rescue a kitten stuck in a building at Mullins Street and South Ellsworth Avenue.
Police said two girls walking on South Ellsworth at about 5 p.m. Saturday saw a kitten with its head caught in the building. Police found the kitten's head was wedged between a steel support and the foundation of the building.
Police removed about 12 sheet-metal screws to get to the area where the kitten was trapped and were able to move the support beam away from the foundation enough to free the kitten.
Police gave the kitten to a humane officer.
Blaze being investigated
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Firefighters are trying to find out what caused a fire this morning at 903 North Liberty Street.
Fire Chief James Donston said the fire was contained in the living room, but there was smoke, heat and water damage throughout the house. Damage was estimated at $20,000.
The occupants and their three children are away on vacation, Donston said.
Salem house fire
SALEM -- A Perry Township man escaped serious injury when firefighters woke him and helped him escape his burning home.
Perry police responded with Perry firefighters to a house fire at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday at 1822 South Lincoln Avenue. Police said the second floor of the two-story house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The occupant of the home was asleep on the couch downstairs and unaware of the fire, police said. The man was treated at Salem Community Hospital.
LaGrotta on federal panel
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th, has been appointed to the Federal Communication Commission's intergovernmental advisory committee.
He was nominated to serve by Pennsylvania House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese, D-50th.