Fraud investigation

Fraud investigation
EAST PALESTINE -- City police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is in the midst of a monthlong investigation of computer fraud.
East Palestine Police Sgt. Bernard Doran said police armed with a search warrant seized a computer at the home of Charles and Pam Bartholow, 168 W. Main St. Doran said the investigation is continuing, and police are not yet stating who they believe committed the fraud. No charges have been filed.
Tanker overturns
LISBON -- A Lisbon man was taken to East Liverpool City hospital after the tanker he was driving overturned in Washington Township. The Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Steven Rhodes, 25, was driving south on state Route 644 just north of Salineville about 2:09 p.m. Thursday when the truck went off the right side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned. No information on his condition was available from the hospital this morning. The patrol said the tanker was carrying about 6,000 gallons of liquid asphalt, some of which spilled into a ditch. The patrol called the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Public Utilities Commission of Ohio officials to the scene. Franklin Township and Salineville firefighters contained the spill. Rhodes was cited for failure to control, the patrol said.
Injured in wreck
LISBON -- A Hanoverton man was taken to Aultman Hospital in Canton after a one-car crash in Perry Township this morning. The Lisbon Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Nathaniel Ogden, 21, of 5436 Whinnery Road, was taken to Salem Community Hospital then Aultman after the 2:30 a.m. crash. Aultman officials could not be reached this morning for information on his condition. The patrol said Ogden was driving south on state Route 9 just south of state Route 45 when the car went off the east edge of the road and hit a utility pole.
Patrolman suspended
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- A borough patrolman has been suspended from his job pending an investigation by the Mercer County District Attorney's Office.
Mayor Kenneth Robertson said Thomas Borton, a three-year veteran of the force and the department's K-9 officer, was suspended with pay Friday.
He declined to say why.
District Attorney James Epstein confirmed only that an investigation is under way.
His office hasn't determined yet if the conduct in question is criminal.
The Sharpsville department has five full-time and three part-time officers.
Woman dies in crash
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said Jennifer L. Frampton, 20, of Nutt Road, died when her car hydroplaned on Pa. Route 208 in Pine Township and was struck by a pickup truck.
Police said Frampton, who was wearing a seat belt, was westbound around 9:50 a.m. Thursday when she lost control on the wet road. Her car spun 90 degrees, crossed the center line and was hit on the passenger side by a pickup driven by Cleveland E. Eddinger, 62, Stoneboro Road, Grove City. Frampton was pronounced dead at the scene by J. Bradley McGonigle III, Mercer County coroner.
Police said Eddinger was admitted to United Community Hospital, where he was in good condition this morning.
School-board post
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Anyone interested in filling a vacant seat on the New Castle Area School Board has a month to apply for the position.
Superintendent George Gabriel said he is accepting letters of interest that will be passed on to the school board for a vote. Thomas DiMuccio resigned from the board Wednesday night.
DiMuccio said this morning that he felt he had spent enough time with the district. DiMuccio graduated from New Castle High School, then spent 28 years teaching in the school. He was in his second term as a school director. DiMuccio had sought re-election and did not win a nomination in the primary election last month. DiMuccio noted that he moved out of the district this week to Neshannock Township.
Gabriel said the school board must appoint DiMuccio's replacement in 30 days or the matter would go to common pleas court.
Cause of fire
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The blaze that damaged the former South Pymatuning Elementary School on May 31 on Tamarack Drive was apparently caused by an electrical problem in the building, a school official said.
The fire gutted the gymnasium and stage area of the school, which housed one tenant, Vath Audio-Visuals, at the time. The school is to be the site of a new charter school in the fall. Dr. Derry Stufft, Sharpsville superintendent, said investigators have told him the cause of the fire appears to be electrical. The amount of damage is still being assessed, Stufft said.