Funding for deputies

Funding for deputies
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners will continue to provide funding for law enforcement coverage of Knox Township as long as money is available in the county's general fund.
Columbiana County Sheriff Dave Smith said about $60,000 is needed to pay salaries and benefits for two deputies through the end of the year.
Knox Township voters defeated a levy renewal in November, and the current contract between the township and the county expires Saturday. Smith noted that the sheriff's department routinely covers townships that don't have a police force, but a paid contract guarantees coverage.
He said that without a contract, the department's response is reactionary. With a contract in place, the deputies are in the township during their shifts and law enforcement is proactive.
Suit over firing
YOUNGSTOWN -- An East Liverpool man is suing St. Clair Township, alleging he was improperly fired from his job with the township road department. Larry E. Shasteen of Harvard Avenue is asking for reinstatement to his job and at least $250,000 in damages.
The suit, filed this week in U.S. District Court, says Shasteen sought a light-duty assignment upon doctor's orders after he was hospitalized for severe chest pains in April 2001.
When the township said there was no work available within those restrictions, he asked for a leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act. He was fired shortly afterward, the suit says.
Resigning from schools
SALEM -- Resignations of two school district personnel were accepted by the school board.
Leaving the district after 15 years' service is payroll clerk Donna Reaggle, who is moving, schools Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said today.
Tim Wolf resigned his job as high-school social studies teacher to take a teaching post at a Canton-area school district.
The school board accepted the resignations during a special meeting this morning.
Arrested in thefts
SHARON, Pa. -- Police believe they broke up an interstate Rite Aid theft ring with the arrest of three people at the Rite Aid store at 813 E. State St.
Kristie Livingston, 27 of Akron, Sheryl Hawkins, 47, of Maple Heights, Ohio, and Micah Anderson, 47, of Akron, were arrested around 1:40 p.m. Thursday on charges of retail theft, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police said the three are believed to be responsible for a series of thefts of expensive diabetic testing strips from Rite Aid stores around Mercer County and elsewhere. The three were held overnight and faced arraignment today.
Held for trial
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Richard D. Hodge, 44, of West 10th Street Mobile Home Park, Transfer, has been ordered held for trial on charges of abuse of a corpse and corruption of minors.
Police said Hodge is accused of having two teenagers bury the body of Naomi Bright, 22, of Jefferson, Ohio, who is believed to have died of a drug overdose at Hodge's home May 12. Her body was found in a shallow grave near Andover May 21.
The Ashtabula County coroner's office is doing toxicology tests to determine her cause of death.
Hodge had a preliminary hearing Thursday before District Justice William Fagley, who ordered him held for trial. He remains in Mercer County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Boy injured
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said Soud Kanan, 7, of Ellsworth Street was hospitalized after apparently walking into the side of a passing car on Ellsworth Street in front of West Hill Elementary School. The accident occurred around 11:50 a.m. Thursday, police said.
Police said Kanan was admitted to Sharon Regional Health System, where no report on his condition was available this morning.
Two seriously hurt
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said two West Middlesex men were seriously injured when their car crossed the center line on Broadway Avenue and slammed head-on into a tractor-trailer around 4 a.m. today.
Police said the driver of the car, James M. Griffin, 20, of Mitchell Road, was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, and his passenger, Matthew B. Takash, 20, of Wheatland Road, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. Reports on their conditions weren't available this morning.
The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries.