Raid nets cash, drugs

Raid nets cash, drugs
CALCUTTA -- Authorities raided a storage unit and seized $69,000 in cash and about $2,400 worth of cocaine.
The action, about 2:25 p.m. Thursday, was prompted by information stemming from a raid Tuesday in Midland, Pa.
No arrests have been made so far in connection with the Calcutta raid, Brian McLaughlin, Columbiana County Drug Task Force director, said this morning. He refused to name the storage business where the unit is. The unit is rented by a Chester, W.Va., woman, whom McLaughlin also wouldn't name.
Besides the county drug task force, other agencies conducting the search included the county sheriff's office, St. Clair Township police, Pennsylvania attorney general's office, federal drug enforcement agency and Hancock County, W.Va., sheriff's office.
Paint spill closes I-80
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Interstate 80 was closed for nearly eight hours after a truck carrying vinyl acrylic latex paint turned over.
Pennsylvania State Police said William Jones, 49, of Reynoldsville, Pa., was traveling east when his truck abruptly turned left and crossed over the passing lane and berm. The truck rolled onto its right side and traveled approximately 260 feet before coming to rest, blocking both lanes.
Jones was treated at United Community Hospital in Grove City.
Mercer County Haz-Mat was called to clean up the paint.
2004-05 school budget
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle Area School Board introduced its 2004-05 budget with no expected tax increase.
The $33,753,750 spending plan is only a half-percent higher than last year's budget, said schools Superintendent George Gabriel. The real estate tax millage rate will remain at 17.27 mills.
Gabriel said there were a number of teacher retirements that helped keep expenses down. School board members are expected to vote on the final budget June 28.
Wanted man found
WAMPUM, Pa. -- A man wanted in West Virginia on child-neglect charges was found here.
Pennsylvania State Police said Randy Earl Keys Sr., 40, was arrested without incident Thursday at a home on JFK Street where had been living for the last four years.
Police said Keys was wanted by police in Hancock County, W.Va., for his involvement in the death of his 20-month-old daughter in 1999. He was charged with child neglect resulting in death.
Police said he was arraigned before District Justice Melissa Amodie and placed in jail after failing to post $50,000 bond.
Probing suspicious fires
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal has been called to investigate two suspicious fires at vacant houses.
New Castle Fire Chief Jeff Scrim said 518 Lyndal St. had heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor when firefighters arrived at 3:19 a.m. today. The roof and second floor collapsed before the blaze was put out, he said.
Scrim did not know the full name of the owner.
Firefighters in Shenango were called to a vacant house fire at Pennsylvania Avenue and Sycamore Street, just four or five blocks from the city fire, at 3:43 a.m.
Shenango Fire Chief Larry Hermann could not be reached this morning, but Lawrence County 911 officials said the state police fire marshal was also called to that home.
Watching from above
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Traffic scofflaws should be on the lookout this Memorial Day weekend -- because state police will be looking for them.
State police who patrol Pittsburgh's suburbs will be hiding in bushes and watching drivers far overhead from airplanes to try to curtail speeding, drunken driving and accidents.
State police say they plan to use a spotter plane every week this summer and have begun placing camouflaged troopers with radar guns in the woods near roads to catch speeders.
Besides stepping up patrols, police will begin this summer using a computer system to pinpoint places where speeding and accidents are most prevalent. The State Police Prophesy System tracks and analyzes accidents, crimes and citations as they happen, allowing police to target problem areas.
Worker dies of injuries
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A construction worker caught in a transformer explosion last month at the Monroeville mall in suburban Pittsburgh has died.
James Sherry, 61, of Plum, died Wednesday at Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital.
A second injured man was released from the hospital earlier his month.