Strickland joins panel

Strickland joins panel
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, was chosen to fill a vacancy on the Congressional Steel Caucus' executive committee.
Of the more than 100 members of the caucus, 17 serve on the executive committee.
"This will help in my efforts to advocate for American steel workers and manufacturers," Strickland said.
The executive committee meets separately from the rest of the caucus to discuss steel-related issues and legislation, and decides whether to endorse legislation or efforts on behalf of the steel industry. Executive committee decisions guide the rest of the caucus, Strickland said.
Council delays action
SALEM -- City council postponed action authorizing the sewer department to build a $523,982 sewage pumping station that would serve a housing development on the city's north side.
Council had expected to approve the matter Tuesday but decided to wait until language could be inserted requiring homes in the Brooks Farm development to annex into the city before they could tie into sewer lines served by the pumping station.
Brooks Farm is expected to pay about half the cost of the sewage facility.
Vehicle break-ins
SALEM -- Stereo equipment was stolen from two vehicles that were broken into in separate crimes, police said.
One of the break-ins occurred on Railroad Street and the other in a business parking lot on Elm Avenue.
The crimes were reported Tuesday.
Pa. troopers honored
MERCER, Pa. -- Two local state troopers are among 26 police officers honored with the 2003 DUI TOP GUN Awards presented by the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association and MADD PA. They are being recognized for their efforts at stopping drunken drivers on Pennsylvania highways.
Troopers Christopher Filer and Eric Miller of Troop D in Mercer are being recognized for 52 DUI arrests and 53 DUI arrests, respectively.
Fire destroys garage
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Fire of undetermined origin destroyed a one-bay wooden garage at 3004 Main St. in Shenango Township. Fire Chief Ronald Ziglear said the blaze is under investigation.
The garage is on property recently purchased by Edward Goff from the Martha Godfrey estate, Ziglear said, noting Goff was at the scene.
The garage contained only some old chairs and papers and already had burned to the ground before firefighters reached the scene shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, he said.
There was no insurance on the garage.
Preparing for traffic
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Covert's Crossing Bridge in Union and Mahoning townships should be open to traffic by mid-November or early December.
Bill Humphrey of Frank B. Taylor Engineering said the structure is completed and workers are preparing the approaches for paving. Paving should be done by Oct. 31.
Guardrails and cleanup will take another few weeks, he added.
Store robber sought
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for a man who robbed the Tic Toc Food Mart on Highland Avenue of an undisclosed amount of money.
Police said the man came into the store at 11:24 p.m. Monday and demanded cash from the register and the lottery machine.
The two clerks did not see a gun, but said the man kept one hand in his pocket, police said.
Police described the robber as a white man about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build and bushy eyebrows.
Police said he was wearing a light-blue hooded sweat shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and a navy blue bandana over his face.
'Make a Difference Day'
YOUNGSTOWN -- Kiwanis clubs of Division 21 will collect food on "Make a Difference Day" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at these locations: Santisi's IGA, 4477 Mahoning Ave.; Nemenz IGA, Boardman Plaza; Giant Eagle, U.S. Route 224; Fish of East Liverpool, 213 W. Fourth St.; Sav-A-Lot, Lincoln Knolls Plaza; Giant Eagle, 11734 South Ave., North Lima; Nemenz IGA, 8 N. Broad St., Canfield.
The food collected will be delivered to Second Harvest Foodbank. Second Harvest provides food to 200 hunger-relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.