Area police investigate break-ins at churches

Area police investigatebreak-ins at churches
Police in Mercer and Trumbull counties are investigating a rash of church burglaries that have occurred recently.
Sharon police said someone pried open a door to get into Bethlehem Presbyterian Church on Carnegie Street between 2 p.m. Monday and noon Tuesday.
A small safe was taken from the office area, but it contained only church papers and nothing of cash value. Sharon police said the crime may be related to a pair of church burglaries that occurred Sunday night in Sharpsville in which small safes were also taken. Sharpsville police weren't available to comment this morning.
Brookfield police are investigating a break-in Monday at Brookfield United Methodist Church on Grove Street. A small amount of cash was taken, Police Chief Daniel Faustino said.
The burglary comes after three recent break-ins of churches in Hubbard Township and one in Hartford Township.
"I don't know if they're making their way through the townships or going through the Yellow Pages," Faustino said, noting the break-ins aren't netting much money.
Recycling grants awarded
COLUMBUS -- Local counties are sharing in some $7 million worth of community recycling and litter prevention grants statewide, Gov. Bob Taft announced. Local grants include $84,410 for Columbiana County, $84,900 for the Mahoning County Solid Waste Management District, and $162,725 for the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District.
The money comes from a franchise tax on businesses that make or sell products that may become litter, including newspapers, plastic bottles and cans.
Veterans Day parade
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The annual Shenango Valley Veterans Day Parade will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Sharpsville.
Sharpsville American Legion Post 162 is the host of this year's event, which will feature six divisions.
Randy Arnold of Post 162 will serve as parade marshal. The reviewing stand will be on Main Street.
Units will form along Ridge Avenue at 6:30 p.m., and the parade will move east on Ridge, north on Seventh Street, east on Main Street and then north on Walnut Street to the American Legion parking lot.
The Sharon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1338 Auxiliary will have its annual wreath-dropping service at 11 a.m. Thursday on the State Street Bridge over the Shenango River in downtown Sharon.
Apartment burglary
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Police said someone broke into an apartment above Lang's Gym at 190 Main St. and stole a variety of items, including a laptop computer, a wristwatch, a surround-sound system, a VCR, a DVD player, DVD movies and a large amount of cash.
The burglary occurred between 6:30 and 11:30 p.m. Monday.
Car hits side of train
LIBERTY -- Two young Pennsylvania men escaped serious injury Tuesday when the car they were in hit the side of a train.
The driver, Nicholas Keck, 19, of Bend Road, Mercer, and his passenger, James Eicher, 18, of McConnell Road, New Wilmington, were released after treatment at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Police said Keck was driving a car west on Logan Gate Road shortly before 11 a.m. when the car struck a northbound Norfolk & amp; Southern Railroad train.
Police reported that Keck said he didn't see the train until it was too late, tried to brake and slid into the train.
Police said there are no gates at the crossing, but the signal lights were working. Keck was cited for failure to yield.