NIE fundraiser

NIE fundraiser

The Vindicator’s Newspaper in Education program is sponsoring a fundraiser for classroom newspapers Thursday. The public can call the hot line Thursday only between 6 and 7 p.m. to buy a $50 gift certificate for $30. A full list of participating businesses appears in today’s Vindicator on Page B2. Please see tomorrow’s Vindicator for a full list of rules, certificate descriptions and the number to call.

Bookkeeper reinstated

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A bookkeeper fired last month by Lawrence County Treasurer Richard Rapone will return to work because the county commissioners upheld a grievance filed by the woman’s union. Commissioner Steve Craig said that the county’s human resource director, legal counsel and labor consulting firm all agreed there was no just cause for the firing. Rapone would not say after firing Megan Caffro on Feb. 9 why he had done so, citing the need to keep personnel matters confidential. Caffro also would not comment.

Car hits pedestrian

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A pedestrian was hit by a car in a parking lot off North Mercer Street.

Stephen Worek, 86, of West Pittsburg Road, was hit at 9:05 a.m. Monday as Dana McQuistion, 43, of Garner Road in Edinburg was turning into the parking lot from North Mercer, city police reported.

McQuistion told police she was unaware that she’d hit Worek. Worek told police McQuistion’s vehicle ran over his legs. He had leg, face and hand injuries, police reported. He was taken to Jameson Hospital in New Castle. The hospital would not release his condition Tuesday.

Cemetery cleanup

HUBBARD — Hubbard Union Cemetery is asking that all winter decorations be removed from graves by March 13. All remaining items will be removed by the cemetery March 14. Contact the office at (330) 534-1633 with any questions.

Fire damages house

YOUNGSTOWN — No injuries were reported after a house fire at 1705 Hartzell Ave. on Monday afternoon, the fire department said. Heavy fire and smoke were showing when crews arrived at the West Side rental property around 2:15 p.m. Reports show a candle in a bedroom was the fire source. Smoke detectors were operational. The cause is under investigation. Damage was set at $27,000 to the property and contents, a total loss.

Committee meeting

STRUTHERS — City council’s finance and legislation committee will meet at 6 p.m. today at city hall, 6 Elm St.

Shootout probed

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Police are investigating a shootout at the Grant Street housing complex. Police responded to a report of three men shooting at one another at 6:40 p.m. Monday on Halco Drive in the complex. Though witnesses heard shots, they couldn’t identify the shooters, police said. Police found a shot-up car and spent shell casings at one location on Halco, and more shell casings at another spot.

Armed robbery

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A Marchelloni’s pizza delivery man was robbed at gunpoint, city police reported. The victim was delivering food to an address on East Washington Street about 8 p.m. Sunday. He told police that whoever ordered the pizza asked the shop if he would have change for a $100 bill. He said that as he approached the address, a man was waiting for him. The man asked him for the change, the victim told police. He said he told the man he needed the $100 bill first. The man pulled a handgun then and demanded the money. The victim gave it to him, and the gunman fled with it and the food, police reported.