The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 20, 2007

Greenville man drowns while swimming across Allegheny River

A Greenville man drowned Monday afternoon while swimming in the Allegheny River in Emlenton.

Lonnie Straub, 50, was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m. by Venango County Coroner John Greggs.

Emergency personnel were alerted at 2:20 p.m. that an Emlenton resident witnessed a man going under in the river in the location of the Emlenton IGA grocery store.

Straub's body was found shortly after 3 p.m. by the Emlenton boat crew near the location where he was last seen. Divers removed the body from the water.

Sources said the man was camping in the area and came down to the river for a swim. Straub apparently tried to swim the width of the river and back and accomplished the journey across but was not able to complete the return trip.

The river is about 150 yards across in that area.

Emlenton Borough police were at the site within two minutes and were assisted by Emlenton volunteer firefighters, Emlenton Ambulance Service, helicopters from the state police and Stat Med-Evac, and divers using boats and camera equipment.

Text Only
Local News
  • Labor Dept.: Franchise’s workers not paid properly

    The owners of the Brookfield Subway restaurant have been paying their employees less than minimum wage, shorting them on overtime pay and violating child labor laws for two years, a federal lawsuit alleges.

    February 7, 2012

  • Insecurity: Firm loses more local clients

    Reynolds Area School District is scrambling to find people to work security at upcoming games after finding out the Pittsburgh-area security firm they were using had some guards who were convicted felons or sex offenders.
    “That was a shock, believe me,” said school board President John Lowry.

    February 7, 2012

  • School budget predictions improve

    The upshot to planning for a worst-case scenario is it makes any change an improvement.
    Such is the case with Farrell Area School District’s finances, business manager William Dungee told school board members Monday.

    February 7, 2012

  • Chief gripe: Cramped quarters

    In Sharpsville, the long arm of the law needs room to stretch out.
    Police Chief Keith Falasco told council members Monday night that his department’s current space “is at the least inadequate,” and after off-and-on talks over the years to make improvements, he said the time has come.

    February 7, 2012

  • Pets perish in house fire

    A Sharon family’s home was heavily damaged in a Saturday night fire that killed their pets.

    February 6, 2012

  • Kelly rallies GOP faithful

    Mercer County Republicans agreed it was time for a change from the current administration at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Saturday night at Hempfield Station One Banquet Center, and Congressman Mike Kelly called not only for change but for more accountability.

    February 6, 2012

  • Mother leads charge for son’s autism therapy


    Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget cuts are preventing children with autism from getting the help they need.

    February 5, 2012

  • Victim describes armed robbery at her home

    Charges were held to court Friday against a Sharon teen charged as an adult in an October armed robbery.

    February 4, 2012

  • Overheated motor starts small fire at gas well

    Jamestown volunteer firefighters put out an accidental natural gas well equipment fire Friday morning in Greene Township that started when a pump motor overheated.

    February 4, 2012

  • Burglary was man’s solution to money woes

    The end of 2010 was “a crazy time in my life,” Grant T. Lockhart told a judge Thursday.

    February 4, 2012