Inmate escapes from Sharon facility

July 18, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

SHARON, PA.

State Police are seeking an inmate they say escaped from the Sharon Community Corrections Center, 300 W. State St., between 3:45 and 4 a.m. Saturday. Troopers from the Mercer Post identified the escapee as 28-year-old Troy Robert Barthen. State Police said Barthen was still at large Sunday evening.

Warren firefighters battle two blazes

WARREN

Firefighters were kept busy by two blazes Saturday morning. At 9:30 a.m., they responded to a garage fire in the 700 block of North Park Avenue that they attributed to welding too close to combustible materials. The wood frame garage sustained heavy fire, heat and smoke damage.

At 11:20 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to a two-alarm blaze in the home of Lena Franklin at 1515 Homewood Ave., S.E. That fire, attributed to electrical failure due to overheated or overloaded electrical equipment, originated in the front family room. Firefighters found the front porch engulfed in flames when they arrived at that blaze, which caused heavy fire and smoke damage to the house. There were no injuries in either fire.

Summer camp

NORTH LIMA

Spots still are available for Beaver Township’s annual summer youth camp program. The program, in its fourth year, will continue July 25-29 at Woodworth Park. Participation is free to all township youth in grades one through four. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities include games, crafts and educational programs. Snacks are provided. For information about township park activities, contact the township park board at 330-549-9552 or visit beavertwpparks.webs.com.

SB5 issue likely to be on Nov. ballot

COLUMBUS

It’s (not quite) official: Ohioans will have the chance to vote yes or no on the controversial public-employee collective-bargaining bill known as Senate Bill 5.

Based on preliminary numbers provided to The Columbus Dispatch by county boards of elections, the petition to place the referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot has enough valid statewide signatures from just two counties, Cuyahoga and Franklin.

These two counties have validated more than 235,000 signatures. Fewer than 232,000 signatures are needed. Additionally, at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties must have signatures from 3 percent of the number of votes cast in each county.