Investigating fire's cause

Investigating fire's cause
NEW CASTLE -- Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that damaged a two-story frame home at 401 Hawthorne St. The fire broke out around 4 p.m. Saturday. No injuries were reported.
County fair queen
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Competition for the 2003 Lawrence County's fair queen is set for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at the fairgrounds. Young women ages 16 to 20 are eligible to participate. Each contestant is required to write a 300-word essay on "What the Lawrence County Fair Means to Me."
The essay, along with three color photographs of the contestant and a contest application must be submitted. The women will be judged in three categories: presentation of a three-to-five-minute speech on why people should attend the Lawrence County Fair; the submitted essay and an impromptu interview. The winner will get a $500 scholarship. The contest is being underwritten by Marrett Carpet of Volant. The queen will be required to appear at the fair Aug. 11-16 and compete in the state competition in Hershey, Pa. Applications are due by July 24. Call (724) 652-5833 or (724) 654-7745 for details.
Kids' safety camp
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The sixth annual safety camp for children in kindergarten through sixth grade is planned for July 21 in Cascade Park. Sponsored by District Attorney Matthew Mangino and the District Attorney's Crime Prevention Task Force, registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Registration forms are available at the New Castle YMCA, the Y-Zone, the district attorney's office and online at www.lcdaonline.com.
Mayor supports tax
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Mayor Tom Murphy said he'd agree to increasing the city's occupational privilege tax from $10 to $52 a year -- instead of the $100 he originally proposed.
Murphy wants the Legislature to approve the tax increase, levied on everybody who works in the city, as part of an aid package designed to help the city erase projected deficits of $60 million this year and another $81 million next year.
The $52 figure is in line with a recommendation made by a committee that reviewed the city's finances for Gov. Ed Rendell. Murphy said it was clear that legislators, who are expected to vote on the measure later this month, wouldn't approve a larger increase.
Murphy made his comments Friday during the taping of KD/PG Sunday Edition, a public-affairs show that will air Sunday at 11 a.m. on KDKA-TV. The show is produced by the television station and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.