The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

September 8, 2012

Donations aid burned child, fire chief says

By Sandy Scarmack Herald Staff Writer

BROOKFIELD — Unsure at first if it was a scam, Brookfield firefighters have confirmed that a Trumbull County organization is collecting money for a child burned in a fire earlier this year.

Fire Chief Keith Barrett said he received three calls Thursday from elderly residents saying they had been approached by a man who claimed he was collecting anywhere from $50 to $100 to help defray medical costs for a Warren, Ohio, child burned in a fire. All three people who called said he claimed he was representing “Trumbull County Firefighters Association, Chapter 9.”

Barrett said he wasn’t aware of any collection by the Trumbull County fire departments and along with Brookfield police managed obtain a license plate and  identify the man, who Barrett said was Dave Weitzell, of Fowler, Ohio.

Weitzell is representing the Fire and Police Retirees of Trumbull County, Barrett said, and added that the cause is legitimate. His initial concerns, which prompted him to issue a news release, were that it was a scam targeting the elderly in Brookfield.

“I don’t know how all three people gave the wrong name, that was kind of suspicious to me, but it turned out it was real,” Barrett said.

Firefighters said they only knew of one woman who donated $15.

He also said anyone who is asked to donate should always verify who is getting the money. “You never know, that kind of stuff happens. I got all these calls right in a row and I knew it wasn’t the Trumbull County firefighters. But the gentleman called me after I put out the press release and we got it all straightened out,” Barrett said.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • Hearing in fatal shooting case delayed

    More than 20 family and friends gathered Thursday outside the Farrell district court of Judge Ronald Antos to support the man accused of shooting Andrew T. Walko to death on May 13.

    May 24, 2013

  • Ex-PTO officers in court on embezzlement charges

    Two women accused of stealing more than $35,000 from the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization turned themselves in at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Hermitage police station.

    May 24, 2013

  • Urban decay creates hazard for schoolkids

    Sharon schools Superintendent John Sarandrea shook his head Thursday afternoon as he surveyed a partially collapsed building across the street from Musser Elementary School.

    May 24, 2013

  • Voters choose 4 newcomers, unseating 2 board members

    Sharon residents likely will be seeing four new faces at school board meetings starting in December.

    May 23, 2013

  • Plan for Speedway station gets nod from commissioners

    Alan Baldarelli asked whether he could appeal Hermitage commissioners’ decision to approve a land-development plan for a Speedway gas station and convenience store, but did not say whether he planned to appeal.

    May 23, 2013

  • PTO officers charged with theft

    Hermitage police on Wednesday charged two officials of the Hermitage Parent-Teacher Organization with stealing more than $35,000 from the organization between May 2012 and March.

    May 23, 2013

  • Memorial Day events

    Area communities announced their Memorial Day commemorations for 2013.

    May 23, 2013

  • Was land feud motive?

    Ralph L. Young wanted to build some kind of ministry on the family property where he grew up in Franklin.

    May 23, 2013

  • Harry will face Dunder in fall

    Hermitage Treasurer and Tax Collector Bernie Telega Harry easily outdistanced a challenger for the Democratic nomination Tuesday and now can set her sights on a Republican hopeful.

    May 22, 2013

  • Accused gunman guilty of armed robbery

    The man accused of shooting William Basilone Jr. to death outside his Farrell bar was convicted Tuesday of robbing a Sharon man at gunpoint outside his home the night before the killing.

    May 22, 2013