NEW WILMINGTON Police crack down after complaints stemming from college parties

Criminal complaints and arrests have increased since classes resumed.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- Borough police have shut down several fraternity parties because of noise levels, and they have been trying to intercept unruly college students walking back to Westminster College before they cause trouble in residential areas.
Police Chief Carmen Piccirillo told borough council Monday that the continuing problem of early morning unruliness as students return from fraternity parties has calmed down. He added that police will continue to watch the situation.
He said he is also talking to representatives from Sigma Epsilon, a fraternity house on state Route 158 where many parties take place. He said he has suggested to fraternity leaders that they blacklist anyone who gets cited for bad behavior, not allowing them to attend parties for a length of time.
The return of students to campus has resulted in an increase in criminal complaints and arrests. There were 15 arrests in September on nontraffic offenses and 19 complaints involving criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and drug, alcohol and miscellaneous offenses, according to the monthly police report. This compares with six and eight, respectively, in August.
Internet and water
In other business, council approved buying equipment to keep the borough's new digital broadband Internet service operating at its current speed up to a capacity of 150 customers. The price is $7,000, with a $1,000 annual charge for updates.
Consultant Tom McKinley of Little Neshannock Technologies, New Wilmington, told council that without the upgrade, customers would experience a slowdown once the system grew to 100 customers. About 70 customers are already on the service.
Solicitor Tom Mansell reported that the New Wilmington Municipal Water Authority signed a $1.86 million bond issue last week.
The loan will be used for construction of two 500,000-gallon water towers to replace the current 600,000-gallon tower and for replacement of some waterlines.
Mansell said the authority will raise water rates next summer or fall to pay for the improvements. He said the amount of the increase has not been decided.
Council also set a usage rate of 100 gallons per day per person for customers of the borough sewer system who do not have meters.
Additional matters
Borough Secretary Sharon Edmiston reported that letters have been sent to South Market Street residents who have not complied with orders to fix broken sidewalks. She said they have until the end of the month to comply before they are fined.
Piccirillo commended two borough officers who safely handled high-speed pursuits of stolen cars through the borough last month.
Officer Jeff Wiesen pursued a stolen automobile from Elders Corners at Route 956 and Mercer Road to state Routes 18 and 208. Then Sept. 21, Officer Robert Capezio intercepted a man fleeing from Neshannock Township in a stolen car and stopped him in Volant. In both cases, charges were brought against the drivers. The Sept. 21 chase ended in minor injuries for the man who fled. There were no injuries in the Sept. 5 chase.