Disaster assistance

Disaster assistance
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The state has said Lawrence County is eligible for state and federal disaster assistance for damage caused by storms in July and August. Public assistance reimburses state and local governments, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations, for 75 percent of eligible disaster-related costs, such as repair or replacement of property, debris removal and employee overtime. Lawrence County officials did declare a disaster after the July 27 storms.
Woman run over
NEW CASTLE. Pa. -- A woman trying to avoid a bee accidentally ran herself over with her car. Police said Nancy Blue, 29, of West North Street, was stopped at Williams Street near Arlington Avenue when a bee flew into her car at 3:42 p.m. Friday.
She jumped out, but realized the car was still moving and tried to get back in, they said. Blue fell under the car and the lower half of her body was run over, police said. She was taken to Jameson Hospital for treatment.
Zoning appeal
LEETONIA -- The zoning board of appeals will meet at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in village council chambers at city hall. The residents of 166 Chestnut St. are requesting a variance on the setback requirements for an accessory building.
Armed robbery
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Police are searching for a man who used a machete to rob Pizza Joe's on Highland Avenue. The man walked into the store at 9:22 p.m. Saturday and demanded cash. He threatened the store employee with the machete, a large, heavy-bladed knife usually used for cutting dense brush or sugar cane.
Police said he was wearing a gray, hooded sweat shirt with a gray rag or shirt over his face with the eyes cut out. He ran off with an undisclosed amount of cash, they said.
Bus inspections
MERCER, Pa. -- Nearly one out of every five Mercer County school buses inspected by state police during the state police annual school bus inspections in July and August failed the test.
Police didn't identify which districts those buses serve or who owns them, but they said 44 of the buses failed inspection due to faulty equipment the first time they were inspected. Those problems were corrected and all were later re-inspected and passed, police said. Inspectors issued 922 warnings for faulty items during the inspection period.
Dog stolen
SALEM -- Police said someone stole a dog from a residence in the 1100 block of East Third Street. The dog is a black and white purebred Boston terrier. Owners said the theft occurred about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
They said the dog was taken from the house.
Also, two residents told police someone took items from their vehicles parked outside their homes Friday. In the 100 block of Woodland Avenue, someone stole cash, clothes and CDs from a vehicle. A resident in the 300 block of Rae Drive said someone took CDs from the family car sometime overnight Friday.
Body in freezer
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A body was found in a freezer at a home early Sunday, authorities said.
Lyle Cook, the Erie County coroner, said the body, which has not been identified, was found around 4 a.m. in the freezer.
Cook said late Sunday he hadn't had time to examine the body, but that the death was suspicious.
Erie and state police were investigating the death today.
Stolen car found
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A tip about a possible drunken driver led police to a car stolen in Michigan. Police said they were told a man driving a green Ford Explorer appeared intoxicated Friday night when he stopped a pedestrian and asked for directions to the New Castle City Rescue Mission.
Police said they found the vehicle at the mission a short time later and a check showed the license plate was stolen from Indiana. The vehicle identification number on the vehicle revealed it was stolen from Battle Creek, Mich., they said. Police then charged the driver, Stanley V. Rall, 45, of Battle Creek, with two counts of receiving stolen property.