Friday, November 28, 2003
Domestic-dispute call leads to drug charges
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- A call about a domestic dispute resulted in a borough man going to jail on drug charges. Police Chief Keith Falasco said police were called to the home of StephanJ. Sagenich Jr., 27, of Main Street about 1:20 p.m. Saturday and arrested him on charges of public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Police then found five large and 23 small suspected marijuana plants growing in a basement room and evidence that other plants already had been processed, Falasco said. Sagenich was charged with possession of a controlled substance, growing marijuana, possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in Mercer County Jail today on $50,000 bond. The woman who lived at the house wasn't charged, Falasco said.
Hepatitis A case
SALEM -- Another hepatitis A case has been reported in Columbiana County, an Ohio Department of Health official said this morning.
The case, the county's 49th, was confirmed Friday and is directly linked to the outbreak stemming from a Chi-Chi's Mexican restaurant in Beaver County, Pa., said Mike Ruta, an epidemiologist for the state health department.
Dozens of people throughout the region have contracted the illness since the outbreak emerged several weeks ago.
Ruta would not identify the person's gender.
Woman dies of injuries
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Shirley Pollock, injured in a fire that damaged her Old Bedford Road home Oct. 3, died Sunday in St. Elizabeth Health Center. Mrs. Pollock, 75, and her husband, John, 74, were both hospitalized after the blaze. John was recently discharged from the burn unit of Akron Children's Hospital. The blaze killed the couple's son, Mark, 46, who lived with them. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Smith Funeral Home, Main Street.
Hearing delayed
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A former Grove City teacher will have to wait a little longer to find out if he can get his job back. An arbitration hearing for Dan Konnen, 24, of Hermitage, was scheduled for Monday but was delayed, said Atty. Todd Park of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, representing Konnen.
The hearing will require two days, so the decision was made to reschedule it when the arbiter has two consecutive days or at least two days in one week available to hear the case, Park said. Konnen was dismissed by the school board in April over what Konnen said was a Web site he had created while a student at Grove City College. He last updated the site in September 2001 when he was still a student, but some Grove City public school students were able to access the site, which contained some sophomoric humor dealing with the male anatomy and some profanity.
Pa. Turnpike offers perks
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be construction-free, and there will be some perks for shoppers this week.
No maintenance or construction work will be done from 3 p.m. today through 6 a.m. Monday to accommodate the more than 2 million motorists expected on the toll road this week.
And those traveling to the King of Prussia Mall near the Valley Forge Interchange can get off free. The mall will pay all tolls from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday.
Turnpike officials warn motorists to be cautious this week. Extra Pennsylvania State Police troopers and maintenance crews are monitoring the highway for speeders and drunk and drowsy drivers.
Explosive found at home
SALEM -- Police are uncertain how an explosive ended up in the driveway of a city resident.
They were called to a home on the 500 block of Franklin Avenue about 3:57 p.m. Monday after the softball-size device was discovered.
Salem police contacted the Youngstown Police Department bomb squad which said the item is likely an explosive used for licensed fireworks displays.
The bomb squad authorized city police to remove the device and to keep it until the bomb squad can pick it up, Salem Police Lt. Don Beeson said.