Anti-consolidation

Anti-consolidation
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Hermitage Citizens Against Consolidation will have a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday to review its proposed informational brochure to be distributed to city residents. The ad hoc group is opposed to the consolidation of the municipalities of Hermitage, Sharon, Farrell, Sharpsville and Wheatland into a new city to be known as Shenango Valley. Consolidation means higher taxes and lower services, the group said. The group will meet at the Hermitage Volunteer Fire Department station at 541 Mercer Ave. Bob Miller, chairman, said the group is dedicated to ensuring that the truth about the issue gets to all Hermitage citizens before the Nov. 2 general election, when voters in the five municipalities will be asked to vote yes or no on consolidation.
Crash injures man
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Police said Kevin Vincent, 24, of Ridge Avenue was seriously injured when his car ran off South Mercer Street at a high rate of speed and slammed into a utility pole Monday. Vincent failed to negotiate a curve in the 1:14 a.m. crash, police said. He was trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes and was flown to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, where he was listed in critical condition. Police said alcohol played a role in the crash.
Write-in candidate
Only one person in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties has filed to run as a write-in candidate in the November general election. Those wanting to run as write-in candidates had to submit their names to county boards of elections in Ohio by 4 p.m. Monday. The only person to file by the deadline was John S. Luchansky, 1976 Wendy Lane, Boardman, who is running for the 6th Congressional District seat held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon.
Bicyclist seriously hurt
BERLIN CENTER -- A bicyclist was in critical condition late Monday evening in St. Elizabeth Health Center after he was struck from behind by a car on Bedell Road on Monday morning. Howard A. Storey, 35, of North Edgehill Avenue, Austintown, was flown by helicopter from the accident scene to the hospital. He and the driver of the car, Ryan L. Burd, 19, of East Vermont Avenue, Sebring, were northbound on Bedell Road when the accident occurred at 11:15 a.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Storey was thrown off the bicycle and came to rest in a ditch. Burd was uninjured.
Buildings vandalized
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Vandals got a head start on two buildings slated for demolition. Police said windows were broken and other items destroyed at 129 and 131 E. Washington St. Both buildings are vacant and owned by the city. They are to be razed to make room for Zambelli Park, part of the city's downtown revitalization effort. City workers discovered the damage Monday afternoon.