Condition improves for man injured in blast
HERMITAGE — The condition of a Hermitage man who was injured by an explosion in his house while he made a firework has improved to serious, said a hospital spokeswoman for UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh.
Vincent Fustos, 45, of 4835 Anne Lane, Fustos was in his basement at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when the explosion occurred, police said.
Fustos lost his left arm and part of his right hand in the blast, police said.
Penn State trustees OK tuition hike scenarios
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — Penn State’s trustees approved two plans to raise tuition Friday, and the final state budget will determine which hike students will have to pay.
The worst-case plan would raise the base tuition of $13,014 by nearly 10 percent for lower-level, in-state, main campus students if the school’s $338.4 million appropriation is cut by $61 million in the state budget. Students will pay 4.5 percent more if a March budget proposal passes, cutting state funding by just $20.3 million and offsetting that with federal stimulus funds.
The lower increase also requires state budget approval by July 17, when the school sends out fall tuition bills. Otherwise, the higher increase takes effect but could be rolled back for the spring semester if Penn State eventually gets the higher level of state funding.
Program collecting cell phones for soldiers
SHENANGO VALLEY — Cell Phones for Soldiers and Hicks Office Plus are collecting unused cell phones for the more than 150,000 troops serving overseas.
The program hopes to collect 50,000 cell phones this year. Phones can be donated at 1920 E. State St., Hermitage; and 114 S. Center St., Grove City.
Phones also can be collected in offices and given to the local delivery drivers or call 800-544-4257.
Local and wire reports
Local News
News briefs from July 11, 2009
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Recycling program a bit too popular
The county’s effort at going green by encouraging recycling in rural areas has been a tremendous success by most accounts, but isn’t without a few glitches. In Wilmington Township, residents often only have a window of a few minutes to get cardboard recyclables in before the bin is full, prompting a discussion among Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday morning.
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District will tap reserve fund
Reynolds school directors plan to fill a $374,567 hole in the 2012-2013 budget with money from the district’s fund balance.
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School board mulls change to sports chaperone policy
In order to comply with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Sharpsville Area School Board is looking to adjust a chaperone policy it implemented six months ago.
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Afternoon crash hurts 3 high school students
Three Jamestown High School students were injured – one seriously – when their pickup left a roadway in southwest Crawford County and crashed into a tree Tuesday afternoon.
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Board sells some, holds some
Brookfield Board of Education members voted Tuesday to accept only the bids for the elementary school and the middle school, for a total of $97,050.
The decision came after an hour-long executive session. -
Levey: Kohl’s project died with school vote
Stripped of the necessity of voting for a tax incremental finance plan by Hermitage School Board’s unwillingness to participate, Mercer County commissioners said Wednesday they would like to meet with school board and Hermitage city officials to discuss other ways they can help Levey and Co. build a retail development in the city.
But Levey spokeswoman Jeffrey A. Mills said there is nothing to discuss.
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Warden expects hectic season at county jail
With the unofficial start of summer just a few days away, Mercer County Jail officials are preparing for a busy season.
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Levey officially drops TIF request
Levey & Co. has officially ended its request for a tax incremental financing plan to build a retail development anchored by a Kohl’s department store.
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Grant will pay to fix 12-15 homes
The City of Farrell will be able to fix up about a dozen homes in the city thanks to a $300,000 HOME grant from the state. -
Hard budget choices yet to come
Hermitage School Board has been fortunate in many ways during the economic downturn that has been so hard on many other schools. - More Local News Headlines
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Recycling program a bit too popular


