Traffic crackdown in western Pennsylvania

Traffic crackdownin western Pennsylvania
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said a 10-day concentrated traffic enforcement effort along Interstate 80 in Mercer County and Pa. Route 208 in Pine and Springfield townships resulted in 50 citations and seven written warnings for speeding violations. Police launched the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program as a result of problems with speeding and traffic accidents in the targeted areas. Troopers spent 30 hours on enforcement during the period from March 20 to March 30 and wrote 32 citations and five written warnings on I-80 and 18 citations and two written warnings on Route 208.
Suspicious fire probed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal was called to investigate a suspicious fire at 914 W. Washington St. City Fire Chief Jeff Scrim said the vacant building had no electricity, but a blaze was reported at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Firefighters found flames on the second floor. Damage totaled about $3,000, he said. Scrim said the building is owned by Sara Smith, who lives in Connecticut.
Still closed for illness
CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (AP) -- A western Pennsylvania school where a stomach virus broke out, affecting nearly 170 people, will remain closed because disinfecting the building has been more difficult than expected. The Cornell School District's lone school, which houses 800 kindergartners through 12th graders, has been closed since March 23. Five days earlier, students started coming down with what is thought to be an intestinal infection called a norovirus that left students, employees and others with flu-like symptoms. School officials now hope to resume classes on April 7 -- at least the third reopening date that's been set. "We have come a long way, but we're not going to rush this," said Superintendent Dennis Johnson. "We don't want to operate until we're absolutely positive the building is safe for students and staff." Earlier this week, crews finished filling the building with a disinfectant called Virkon, which is effective against 580 viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores. On Tuesday, workers scrubbed each locker in the building, waxed floors and cleaned carpets.
Sears settles claimover impromptu massage
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- Sears, Roebuck & amp; Co. has agreed to pay $125,000 to settle a woman's claims she was rubbed the wrong way by an employee who allegedly gave her an impromptu back massage. Tracy Nirmaier, 41, of Oil City, sued the Illinois-based retailer, claiming an employee at a store in northwestern Pennsylvania wrapped his arms around her from behind and cracked her neck and back like a chiropractor would. Nirmaier claimed the unwanted massage in October 2001 caused lingering pain and cost her as much as $739,000 in lost wages. In court filings, Sears cited witnesses who said Nirmaier invited the massage while watching the employee give another worker one. Nirmaier didn't complain at the time and took her purchases out of the store, Sears argued. As part of the settlement, filed Monday in Erie federal court, Sears admitted no wrongdoing.
Pain management meeting
LIBERTY -- A neurological conference, "Avenues for Pain Management," will be Saturday from 7:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holiday Inn MetroPlex, 1620 Motor Inn Drive. Sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Epilepsy Fund and Help Hotline Crisis Center, the event includes sessions on acute and chronic pain, sleep disorders, psychological aspects of chronic pain, Reiki relaxation techniques and the human aura. The fee is $35 for professionals and $15 for the general public. Call (330) 270-8037 to register.
Odor shuts health office
WARREN, Pa. (AP) -- State health officials have shut down one of their own offices to try to find the source of an oil-like odor and determine if it's harmful. The agency's office in North Warren, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, was closed Friday -- two days after employees first noticed the unusual smell, spokesman Richard McGarvey said. Health officials have called in state environmental officials, hoping they can pinpoint the cause. A contractor took air samples and inspected the building Tuesday. Health and environmental officials said they are unsure how long the building will be closed.