Pa. turnpike toll to rise

Pa. turnpike toll to rise
PITTSBURGH -- The toll for driving from Ohio to the Cranberry Exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will double next year.
Turnpike officials say the switch is part of a plan to ease congestion.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike will switch to one-way tolls at the Ohio line early next year.
Starting Jan. 2, westbound motorists won't pay a $1.50 toll at the Ohio-Pennsylvania line. However, the toll for cars, pickups and motorcycles entering Pennsylvania will be doubled to $3. For five-axle tractor-trailers, the toll will be $12.
Motorists have complained that traffic backs up at the state line, but there wasn't enough right of way left to build a larger toll plaza, so officials thought eliminating tolls in one direction was the best way to open up the portal.
The turnpike's ticket system stops at Warrendale, just north of Pittsburgh and about 30 miles from the line. The new plan means that drivers entering the turnpike at Warrendale or any point west of that can drive west toward Ohio for free.
Christmas food boxes
BOARDMAN -- River of Life Ministries, 65 E. Palestine Ave., will distribute Christmas food boxes starting at 3 p.m. today at the church.
Coins, jewelry stolen
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- An undetermined amount of coins and jewelry was discovered missing from a home along the 2000 block of Kelly Road, Hermitage police reported Monday. Police said the residence likely was burglarized Friday afternoon.
Voting on legal counsel
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Redevelopment Authority of Lawrence County will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 28 in the Commissioners' Meeting Room at the Lawrence County Government Center to vote on the appointment of legal counsel for the authority. The authority also intends to formally accept the resignation of Atty. John W. Hodge as local counsel, effective Dec. 31. Hodge was elected a common pleas court judge last month.
Kids to get coats
WARREN -- The annual "Coats for Kids" program will give 800 to 1,000 free winter coats to needy inner city children at two locations Saturday. A limited number of adult coats will also be available.
The distribution will be from 9 a.m. to noon at Community Family Outreach, 2165 Highland Ave., S.W., and from 1 to 4 p.m. at Grace AME Church, 1137 Main Ave., S.W.
Man sues Niles motel
WARREN -- A Warren man visiting at a motel in Niles has filed a lawsuit alleging he was injured when he fell through the floor of the motel.
Paul Hecker, 618 High St. N.E., filed the suit Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court against the motel, at 5318 Youngstown Warren Road, and its owner, Anita Suri.
The suit says that upon exiting the shower, Hecker fell through the flooring and suffered injury, some of which is permanent.
The suit seeks damages in excess of $25,000 plus interest and the cost of the action.
Suri could not be reached to comment.
Theft attempt at Target
NILES -- A Target store security guard wrestled with two would-be shoplifters and prevented the theft of a camera. The guard told police that he noticed a woman put the $129 camera under her coat. He confronted her at the exit.
As the guard was trying to get her back into the store, a car pulled up along the curb and the male driver grabbed both of the suspects by their coats and pulled them inside the car.
The driver attempted to drive off, but the car stalled. The guard grabbed the camera before the car sped off, police said.