Veterans' headstones damaged in cemetery

Veterans' headstonesdamaged in cemetery
HILLSVILLE, Pa. -- Headstones of Revolutionary War veterans were damaged this week in the Mahoning Presbyterian Church cemetery on Sky Hill Road.
Pennsylvania State Police said several males were seen playing basketball on the church basketball court at 1 a.m. Tuesday, and police believe they knocked over the headstones.
Police said at least 10 headstones were knocked over and four were damaged.
Anyone with information about those responsible should call police at (724) 598-2211 or the Mahoning Presbyterian Church at (724) 964-8954.
Man pleads guilty
LISBON -- A Salem man pleaded guilty Monday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to charges of rape and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Tim McNicol, assistant county prosecutor, said Brock Ward, 20, of East Third Street, had a consensual relationship with a girl who was 12, but her age made the activity a crime.
Ward faces up to 10 years in prison on the rape charge and up to 18 months on the second charge. McNicol said a prison sentence is mandatory on the rape charge.
Sentencing was delayed pending a background investigation.
Sharing grant funds
MERCER, Pa. -- Five Mercer County volunteer fire and rescue companies will share in nearly $60,000 in state grant funds. The money can be used to build or renovate facilities, buy or repair equipment or to pay off debt, said state Rep. Dick Stevenson, of Grove City, R-8th, who announced the awards. Recipients are:
*Mercer East End Volunteer Fire Department: $11,933.
*Grove City Volunteer Fire Department: $12,458.
*Grove City Area Rescue and Life Support Unit: $11,024.
*Pine Township Engine Co.: $13,089.
*Volunteer First Fire Department of Springfield Township: $10,607.
Net sex-sting sentence
LISBON -- Sentencing for a man charged during an Internet sex sting is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 24.
Michael J. Resann, 46, of Goshen, Ind., pleaded guilty recently in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court to a charge of importuning for attempting to have sex with a teenage girl. He faces up to a year in prison.
New Waterford police have charged several men they say used the Internet to find teen partners.
Raises for workers
LISBON -- Employees of the Columbiana County Educational Service Center will get a 3-percent raise this year.
The center's governing board approved the increase Monday that will be retroactive to July 1 for some workers, or will go into effect for others when classes resume in the fall, according to Superintendent Anna Marie Vaughn.
The center has 175 workers, including about 40 teachers. It receives some state funds, but mostly bills individual school districts for the workers the center provides them.
The raise will cost about $168,000 for the year. The center's total budget will increase by 3.2 percent to more $7 million for this year.
Neighborhood meeting
SHARON, Pa. -- City council will have the first in a series of neighborhood meetings at 7 p.m. Thursday at the North Sharon Fire Hall at 469 Thornton St.
The aim is to allow residents to meet with council and other city officials on an informal basis to discuss concerns or complaints.
Stumped by cut trees
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Two people who drove through a Pittsburgh suburb apparently cutting down trees with a two-man handsaw have police and residents stumped.
"I just still look out at the stump and think, 'Why?"' said Carol Hendler, one of five homeowners in McCandless whose trees were cut down and left where they fell over the weekend.
"Everyone's been putting their lights on and trying to see if they can get a glimpse of someone coming back," she said. "I think it just was a random act of destruction."
McCandless police Chief Gary Anderson said the apparent vandals were seen driving through town in a white sport utility vehicle and cutting down 10- to 15-foot trees in front yards. Anderson said he's never seen as many trees cut down.