Fire damages home

Fire damages home

NILES — A fire at noon Wednesday caused an estimated $20,000 damage to a home at 303 W. Federal St. The occupants — one adult and several children — escaped unharmed, a fire official said.

The fire, the cause of which is under investigation, started in a downstairs bedroom of the two-story wooden frame house. Firefighters were on the scene for about 90 minutes.

LTV fire causes little harm

WARREN — A fire at the LTV facility, 2234 Main St., Warren Township, caused little damage and no injuries, according to township fire officials.

The fire was reported at 8:19 a.m. Wednesday. Township firefighters were assisted by units from Howland Township and Lordstown Village.

Ravenna Arsenal funding

RAVENNA — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has secured $2 million dollars in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill for the Ravenna Arsenal.

The money will go toward the construction of barracks, which is a crucial step toward developing the arsenal into a cutting-edge military training facility, Ryan said in a press release.

“This is great news for the arsenal, and great news for Portage County,” Ryan said. “I am proud to have worked with the [Portage County] commissioners and local officials to make this happen.”

Since coming to Congress in 2003, Ryan has successfully fought for an additional $4.5 million for improvements, extending sewer lines and altering and rehabilitating training buildings at the facility.

Boy found wandering

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A young boy wearing a diaper and a T-shirt was found wandering on Harbor Edinburg Road in Union Township about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday by an area resident who got the toddler off the road unharmed and called the Lawrence County State Police.

The child was returned to his mother, who was sleeping after working a midnight shift. She said she thought another adult member of the family was watching the child, police said. No charges had been filed against the mother as of Wednesday.

Jail employees promoted

MERCER, Pa. — Five Mercer County Jail employees were recommended for promotions by the Mercer County Prison Board.

Glenn Hedglin Jr. of Mercer, a corrections officer, was promoted to corrections counselor. Four part-time corrections officers were promoted to full time to fill vacancies as a result of retirement, death and resignation. They are Erik Vasconi and Brooke Beinhardt of Sharon, Ross Livermore of Greenville and Tiffany Spangler of Hermitage. Mercer County commissioners will act on the promotions at a meeting next month. Wages will be set at that time.

Man, 76, dies in crash

SHARON, Pa. — A man died after a car accident in which he struck a utility pole, Pennsylvania State Police in Mercer said.

Steve N. Golub, 76, was driving north on Forest Brook Road and approaching U.S. Route 62 in Jefferson Township when he hit the pole and went into a ditch, police said.

The accident happened at 10:45 p.m. Monday. He was taken to Sharon Regional Health System’s hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Golub suffered from a medical condition, police said. Police would not provide Golub’s address.

Chemical disposal site

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Lawrence County residents with old household chemicals can dispose of them at a collection site at the county fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The fairgrounds are on Pa. Route 108.

The site will accept aerosol cans, automotive fluids, batteries, chemistry sets, compact fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, kerosene, household cleaners including ammonia, drain openers, acid cleaners and oven cleaners, mercury, paint, rust preservatives, creosote, water sealers, paint thinners, furniture strippers, pesticides, herbicides, mothballs, fertilizer, photo chemicals and pool chemicals.

The site will not accept ammunition, appliances, bulk waste, commercial and industrial waste, compressed gas cylinders including propane tanks, drugs, explosives, flares, fluorescent tubes, leaking containers, medical waste including needles, PCBs and dioxin, radioactive materials including smoke detectors, and tires. The fee is $2 per gallon, cash only.