Authorities seek cause of auto body shop fire

Authorities seek causeof auto body shop fire
DAMASCUS -- Fire officials are seeking the cause of an early-morning blaze that destroyed an auto body shop and seven vehicles inside.
Damascus Fire Chief John Bricker said Smith's Auto Body at 30604 Hartley Road was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived around 2:45 a.m. Six vehicles and a motorcycle were inside, he said.
Bricker said the fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes.
He did not have a loss estimate. The owner is in Idaho, he said.
Firefighters were still at the scene around 9 a.m. and would be there a few hours more, Bricker said.
About 50 firefighters from Perry Township, Damascus, Beloit, Winona, Homeworth and Georgetown fire departments were on the scene. No injuries were reported.
2 face assault charges
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- One man wielding a crowbar and another with a handgun face criminal charges. Police said Herbert Kilpatrick and Howard Lemon got into a dispute Wednesday at Lemon's Wick Avenue home.
The cause of the fight is unclear.
Kilpatrick, 30, of West Lincoln Avenue, is charged with aggravated assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. Lemon, 42, faces charges of aggravated assault and simple assault.
Police said Kilpatrick went to Lemon's home to collect a debt. Lemon told police he paid Kilpatrick, but a dispute erupted and Kilpatrick fired a gun.
Lemon's wife was standing nearby, police said. Lemon was holding a crowbar at the time, authorities said.
Both men contend the other person made the first threatening move.
No one was injured.
Police look over video
SALEM -- Police are studying surveillance videotape as a probe into a string of burglaries continues. Two young people, possibly juveniles, are suspected in the crimes, Lt. Don Beeson said today.
Someone broke through a door to enter Adams West, 745 W. State St., and took a small amount of cash from a desk. The crime was reported Wednesday morning and may have occurred overnight.
A 9 mm rifle, ammunition, about $250 cash and a computer game were taken from Paradise Detailing, 106 Benton Road, in a break-in that occurred between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 8:21 a.m. Wednesday, police said.
The latest break-ins bring to eight the number of such crimes that have victimized businesses, a church and an agency in the downtown area since late August.
Farmers eligible for loans
WASHINGTON -- Farmers in Mercer, Crawford and Erie counties who have suffered weather-related crop damage since May 1 are eligible to apply for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency under a disaster declaration issued by Ann Veneman, U.S. secretary of agriculture.
FSA offices serving the designated counties are in Mercer, Meadville and Waterford. For those who suffered crop damage because of excessive rain, flooding, severe winds or tornadoes, the FSA evaluates each application on its own merits, taking into consideration the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability, according to U.S. Rep. Phil English.
Seeking Ellwood City man
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- State police are searching for an Ellwood City man wanted in three burglaries.
Arrest warrants were issued for Andrew Dominick Boots, 24, of Loop Street, who is charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.
Police said he is accused of stealing about $10,000 worth of construction equipment from Stabryla Construction, Wood Floor Design and Mark's Garage, all Ellwood City businesses.
Boots is described as a white man, 5 feet 9 inches tall with short brown hair and hazel eyes. He may be driving an older silver Oldsmobile 88, an older Buick Regency or an older white pickup truck.
Anyone knowing his whereabouts should call state police at (724) 598-2211. All calls will be kept confidential.
Investigating arson
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Fire officials are investigating an arson at a Cascade Street duplex. Fire Chief James Donston said someone set fire to the vacant side of 445 Cascade Street about 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The flames caused about $12,000 damage to the house owned by Harry DeRosa of Dewey Avenue.
The other side of the duplex had smoke damage, and the residents spent the night in a motel, Donston said. The family should be able to return home today, he said.