West Nile virus case in Lawrence County

West Nile virus casein Lawrence County
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A 75-year-old Lawrence County man is recovering from West Nile virus. He is one of seven new cases reported in Pennsylvania, according to the state health department. Spokesman Richard McGarvey said the man had the less severe West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization. Most of those with West Nile fever never are diagnosed because its symptoms are often similar to a cold or flu, McGarvey said. He said there is little that can be done to treat the virus other than for the person to rest and drink fluids. In more severe cases, encephalitis -- swelling of the brain -- occurs, and a person must be hospitalized, he said. Often, people with already weakened immune systems suffer from the more severe West Nile virus, he said. So far, 142 people have tested positive for the virus in Pennsylvania and five had died. Two other Lawrence County residents contracted the virus this year and recovered.
Child-rape indictment
LISBON -- A Salem man faces a potential life sentence if he's convicted of raping a 4-year-old girl. Richard M. Jones, 43, of Ohio Avenue, was secretly indicted recently by a Columbiana County grand jury and charged with the first-degree felony offense, which carries a 10-year maximum sentence. Jones faces a life sentence because the indictment specifies that the victim was particularly young and that force or the threat of it was used to make her submit, assistant county Prosecutor Tim McNicol said. The rape occurred in July and involved a girl Jones knew, McNicol said.
Medevac vandals sought
NORTH LIMA -- Anyone with information about acts of vandalism to a Stat Medevac helicopter at Elser Airport is asked to call Beaver Township police at (330) 549-5338. A large commercial-type fire extinguisher kept near the helipad was discharged July 7 and a large rock was thrown through the Medevac helicopter's window on Sept. 22, police said. The rock damage temporarily put the aircraft out of service. The crimes are being investigated as felonies because the aircraft provides emergency services to the public. Police have interviewed witnesses and are reviewing security videotapes in an attempt to identify the vandals.
Author will speakat library in Niles
NILES -- McKinley Memorial Library, 40 N. Main St., will host Ohio writer Maryanne E. Hoffman, author of "Older Women's Rights." She will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 13 on a variety of topics from her book, including secrets to longevity, how nutritious diets can prevent cancer and osteoporosis and why home health care may be the best answer. Audience members will have a chance to buy signed copies of Hoffman's book after the lecture. The program is free, and no registration is needed.
School official sought
COLUMBIANA -- The board of education is accepting r & eacute;sum & eacute;s through Oct. 10 for the position of interim superintendent in the school district. The board accepted Wednesday the retirement resignation of Superintendent Patricia Hura, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Posey said the board hopes to name an interim superintendent by Nov. 1.
Kids in drifting car unhurt
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said two small children escaped injury when the car in which they were sitting drifted backward down Ohio Street and struck a house on Irvine Avenue.
Police said Brandon Gonzales, 4, and his brother, Kobe Williams, 3, were left in the car on a steep hill in the 300 block of Ohio Street by a male friend of their mother's around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The man, whom police refused to immediately identify, was supposed to be baby-sitting the boys and may face a charge of child endangerment, police said. The car wasn't running, but it apparently had a faulty gearshift. Kobe knocked the car out of gear and it ran down the hill, crossed Irvine Avenue, narrowly missing a bus, and then slammed into a house, police said. Neither child was in a child restraint seat, police said. The boys were released to their mother.
Police said Mercer County Children and Youth Services is also investigating the case.