Saturday, February 22, 2003
Salem closes jail
SALEM -- The expense of continued upkeep and required improvements has driven the city out of the jail business.
"We're closing the jail," service director Joe Julian said today of the five-cell lockup in city hall adjacent to the police department.
It costs the city about $6,000 annually to maintain the jail, which houses virtually no prisoners.
Most city prisoners are locked up in the Columbiana County jail, with the city jail being used mostly as a holding cell.
Given the annual expense and new state regulations requiring installation of a new audio-visual system and a visitor's area, the city decided to stop using the jail altogether, Julian explained.
Pumping station
SALEM -- City utilities superintendent Don Weingart is authorized to enter into contracts for construction of a new sewer facility.
City council agreed Tuesday to authorize the work necessary to build a sewage pumping station off Old Farm Road on Salem's northeast side.
The facility, which will be built this summer, is estimated to cost about $342,000.
It will serve future expansion of the city's sewer system and a new housing development being built near Pearce Circle.
The developer overseeing the project is expected to contribute about $80,000 of the total cost, Weingart said. The city will contribute the balance from its utility department fund.
Cause of fire
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- An electrical problem in the kitchen caused a fire that heavily damaged a two-story, wood-frame home on Cedar Street.
Sharpsville Fire Chief Andy Totin said Tuesday that fire crews were called to the home of William and Beverly Fustos at 116 Cedar St. around 3:53 p.m. Monday. Beverly Fustos was home at the time of the fire.
Totin said there is fire and smoke damage throughout the house. He did not have a loss estimate.
Fire crews from Hermitage, Patagonia and South Pymatuning assisted. Firefighters were on the scene about three hours, Totin said. There were no injuries reported.
Burglary arrest
LAKE MILTON -- Heather Seem, 19, of Craig Beach was arrested Tuesday by Milton Township police on a charge of burglary and booked into the Mahoning County jail.
Officials said Seem is responsible for a house burglary in the township Jan. 18 during which more than $2,000 worth of property was stolen.
Jailed for speeding
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gregory J. Simcox is the first person to get jail time for speeding on Interstate 680 since police began their crackdown a few weeks ago, said Detective Sgt. Rick Hart of the accident investigation unit.
Simcox, 20, of Lemont Drive, Boardman, was charged last Friday with driving 67 mph on the freeway, which is posted 50 mph. He pleaded no contest Tuesday in municipal court. Judge Robert P. Milich sentenced Simcox to 10 days in jail and suspended seven.
The judge also fined Simcox $50 and placed him on three years' probation. Records show Simcox was convicted of speeding last November and fined $30.
Forgery charge
SHARON, Pa. -- Rodney A. Camp, 38, of Stambaugh Avenue, was lodged in the Mercer County jail today on $5,000 bond after his arrest Tuesday afternoon on a charge of forgery.
Police said a checkbook was stolen in a burglary Feb. 9. Camp is accused of forging signatures on five of those checks worth a total of $1,670.