The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 13, 2008

News briefs June 14, 2008

Interstate 80 roadwork to start near state line



SHENANGO TOWNSHIP — PennDOT is beginning repairs on Interstate 80 near the eastbound rest area about 1.5 miles from the state line due to mine subsidence, or shifting soil, associated with long-closed coal mines.

Work is set to begin the week of June 23 and to be finished in late September, PennDOT said in a news release.

Eastbound work will require round-the-clock lane restrictions. Westbound work will require daylight lane restrictions and normal traffic flow during the weekends. 

Normal traffic patterns will be restored in both directions during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays.

The contractor is Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., Grove City, and the federally funded project costs $2.4 million.

Work includes drilling and filling subsurface mine voids, repair of existing pavement, milling, and repaving with asphalt. 

Ohio trucker used rig to steal diesel, police say



HERMITAGE — A Trumbull County asphalt and trucking company owner was arraigned Friday for using a truck trailer with a hidden vacuum system to steal 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel from a Hermitage convenience store.

Hermitage police charged 56-year-old Larry Donaldson of North Bloomfield, Ohio, with theft, conspiracy and possessing instruments of crime — in this case, a pickup truck trailer that contained the vacuum. Police say the truck’s engine powered the vacuum and a hose was lowered through a trap door in the trailer into underground diesel tanks at the Tic Toc Food Mart BP station on East State Street.

Police say Donaldson stole the fuel on April 27, and two other times in 2005.

Police said they received an anonymous tip about Donaldson May 27 after publicizing the thefts and pictures of the pickup and trailer allegedly used in the thefts.

Witnesses told of Donaldson bragging about stealing gasoline for years, police said.

Donaldson has an unlisted phone number. He’s been a suspect since police found the trailer on his property last month.

Ex-secretary stole $15,000 from township, police say



DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP — A Deer Creek Township municipal secretary is charged with felony theft by deception for allegedly stealing over $15,000 from the township over 12 years.

Linda L. Peak, 48, of 51 Grange Road, Cochranton, was charged recently by state police for taking $15,243 in payments to the township for her own benefit, police said.

An investigation by the State Ethics Commission was spurred when a March, 2006 audit showed discrepencies like the altering of checks, police said.

The “payment” section of the checks had white-out over the money amounts and the amounts were altered, police said.

Ms. Peak cooperated with the commission and they discovered she took the money, police said.

Ms. Peak was employed at the township from 1992 to December of 2004.

Sharon man charged after kids found in streets



SHARON — A Sharon is charged with endangering the welfare of children after his two children were found Friday morning wandering their neighborhood.

Adam J. Blauser, 27, of 394 New Castle Ave., Sharon, was arraigned Friday by District Judge James E. McMahon on the charge and released on his own recognizance.

Blauser’s 3- and 4-year-old children were seen about 8:35 a.m. wandering streets and yards two and three blocks from their home, according to court documents. The children were barefoot and wearing overflowing diapers, court documents said.

Blauser was responsible for their care when they were found and he failed to supervise them or secure the home, court documents said.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing June 24.

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Local News
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    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