Embezzling sentence

Embezzling sentence

MERCER, Pa. — Former Lackawannock Township tax collector Barbara Eastman Schuller was sentenced to three to 12 months in jail Friday for embezzling $41,000 in tax funds she collected. Judge Christopher St. John of Mercer County Common Pleas Court ordered two years probation to follow the jail term.

Schuller, 60, of Reiber Road, Hermitage, pleaded guilty in May to the misdemeanor charge. The longtime township tax collector had faced a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The West Middlesex School District first uncovered discrepancies and contacted authorities, although the district listed no missing money. The missing money included $25,983 in county taxes and $15,070 in township taxes. Schuller told authorities she was having financial problems and took the money because she could not afford medication for her mother.

Boy, 15, arrested

YOUNGSTOWN — Ronnie Edwards III, 15, of Woodside Avenue was arrested Monday on three counts of felonious assault in connection with a shooting on the East Side at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, said Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives. The victim, Jerald Perkins, 51, of Cornado Avenue was in satisfactory condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Two male companions in Perkins car were not injured. Centorame said Perkins had slowed down, looking for an address on Bennington Avenue, when Edwards, misinterpreting the driver’s intentions, opened fire with an assault rifle. Edwards had been at 552 Bennington with the resident, Anthony Mascarella, 19. Mascarella was arrested on a charge of having a weapon under disability after firearms, including an assault rifle, were found in his home.

Mosquito spraying

HOWLAND — Mosquito spraying will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the township next Monday and Tuesday. This will be the third spraying of the year. In case of rain, the spraying will take place the following evening. Trustees have hired Alexander Pest Control to do the work. Residents should close their windows, keep pets indoors and bring food inside during the spraying.

Biking for vets

BUTLER, Pa. — The Butler County American Legion Riders will hold its annual Bikers for Vets motorcycle ride Saturday. (The rain date is Sunday.) Riders can register at the front entrance of the Butler VA Medical Center, 325 New Castle Road, from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Everyone will leave promptly at 11:30 a.m. The ride will be about 100 miles with checkpoints and ends at the Lyndora American Legion Picnic Grove. There will be prizes, games, food and music. Donations from riders and passengers will go to help the Vets in Butler County.

New Military Gallery

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County Historical Society, 119 S. Pitt St., dedicated its new Military Gallery in memory of H. Robert “Bob” Crompton, a World War II Air Force veteran and longtime volunteer and board member with the society. The gallery will be open during Mercer Victorian Days, July 20-22.

The society invites county residents to submit entries for the memorial book to be included in the gallery. The book will be partitioned by each war and conflict. County residents may create an 8 1/2-by-11-inch page containing a photo of the military serviceman or servicewoman to be honored, his or her military record and any story to share. Each submission should be no more than one double-sided page. For information, call the society at (724) 662-3490.

Grant for repaving

EAST PALESTINE — The Ohio Department of Transportation on Monday announced it has awarded a $641,407 grant to the city to repave portions of three streets. City Manager Gary Clark said the major work would be on Martin Street, an east-west road. There will be paving on Carbon Hill Road and Pleasant Drive, which he said are legs off Martin Street. The work will cover about three miles. Clark had applied for the federal funds that are distributed by the state. The money will be available in fiscal year 2011.