12-year-old raped

12-year-old raped

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

Police say a 46-year-old man faces numerous criminal charges, including rape, in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

New Castle police charged Samuel Edward Ross of Wampum Avenue in Ellwood City with one felony count each of rape, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault and sexual assault, as well as one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

Ross, a registered sex offender, was charged Wednesday by police in New Castle, where they say the assaults occurred between Aug. 20 and last Friday. Ross is in Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond, pending a preliminary hearing next Wednesday.

Community yard sale

EAST PALESTINE

Rotary will have a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at City Park.

The cost for a space is $10. Call Bonnie at 330-426-4545 or Sondra at 330-426-1122 to register.

ODOT public meeting

HOWLAND

The Ohio Department of Transportation will have a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Howland Township Administration Building, 205 Niles-Cortland Road, to discuss proposed improvements to state Route 46 north at both state Route 82 entrance ramps.

ODOT intends to improve state Route 46 by extending the left-turn and right-turn lanes, ODOT said in a press release.

The purpose of the meeting is to solicit public comments regarding the improvements and discuss their social, economic and environmental impact.

The project is scheduled for construction in spring 2011 at a cost of $503,000. During construction, at least one lane of traffic will be open at all times.