Nephew turned in for suspected theft
SANDY LAKE — A Sandy Lake man had charges held to county court for allegedly forging checks and taking jewelry from his grandparents after being turned in by his uncle, the Sandy Lake police chief, said state police.
Jeffrey James Oakes, 30, of 21 Dunn St., had charges of forgery, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property held to Mercer County Common Pleas Court by District Judge David Fish, Pine Township.
Oakes allegedly wrote checks for $670 and cost his grandparents additional overdraft fees of $155 by forging signatures on six checks, police said.
He is also accused of taking jewelry and trying to pawn it at a Cochranton shop. Class rings, a wedding band and Masonic rings identified by Sandy Lake Police Chief Don Oakes as missing from his parents’ home were found at the shop, police said.
Jeffrey Oakes remains in Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond.
Child’s illness is center stage in custody case
SHARON — A Sharon mother and her former partner were in Mercer County Common Pleas Court Tuesday for another hearing in their custody battle over the 7-year-old daughter they reared together for five years.
Biological mother Jeannette Rowan’s attorney Joann Jofery grilled her client’s former partner of 11 years, Lisa Lewis, over the details of the girl’s autism, metabolic disorders, hypo- and hydro-glycemia and host of other ailments.
Ms. Lewis said the child was never that ill until Ms. Rowan kept the girl and Ms. Lewis apart for about two years, other than three supervised visits more than a year ago.
Ms. Rowan testified that her daughter was far worse when Ms. Lewis was around and has said the girl is extremely delicate both physically and emotionally. Ms. Rowan has said Ms. Lewis was not an active parent and can’t care for the girl.
Ms. Lewis has in loco parentis standing to pursue custody but the case has been refiled three times because of speedy trial rules, dragging it out over two years.
The child is set to be interviewed Friday, as is her pediatrician.
The girl was to have been interviewed last Friday but was sick. Lawyers sparred Tuesday over how serious that sickness was.
Man admits to hitting kids with plastic pipe
SHENANGO TOWNSHIP — A Shenango Township man pleaded guilty Monday Mercer County Common Pleas Court to endangering the welfare of children and simple assault for hitting two children with a plastic pipe.
A charges of aggravated assault was dropped against Arthur P. Fisher, 37, of 113-A Sharon-Bedford Road.
An 8-year-old girl told Southwest Mercer County Regional police that Fisher got upset when he found a plastic bag in a grinder meant to grind corn. She said Fisher threw the plastic pipe at a boy, hitting the girl with it, and then struck them both with the pipe.
Police said they were called just after 5 p.m. June 7.
Local News
News briefs Jan. 11, 2009
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Shenango Twp. man was hurt in Sunday crash
The driver of the car involved in a crash Sunday evening on Lamor Road at Mount Washington Cemetery in Jefferson Township, is in the intensive care unit of St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, with serious injuries, Jefferson Township police Chief Jeff Lockard said.
Thomas Zajac III, 23, Mitchell Road, Shenango Township, was westbound on Lamor Road when he lost control of the sports car he was driving and it hit a tree in the cemetery.
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Chase suspect returned to city to face charges
An Ohio man that Hermitage police allege led several departments on a July 22 chase throughout the Shenango Valley has been returned to Pennsylvania.
John W. Bishop, 48, of Struthers, was taken to Mercer County Jail and will face a preliminary hearing at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday before District Judge Ronald E. Antos, Farrell.
Bishop was charged with 21 counts including reckless endangerment, retail theft and a host of traffic violations.
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Police: Shooter jailed
An argument escalated to a shooting Tuesday morning in Sandy Creek Township, leaving a Sandy Lake area man with life-threatening injuries.
Cody Brandon Noel, 24, was flown to a UPMC hospital in Pittsburgh, state police said. It was unclear Tuesday night which hospital or his condition, but police called his injuries “life-threatening.”
Police said Noel was shot by a neighbor, Michael Allen Kellner, 48, at about 9:30 a.m. near Hastee’s, a gas station and convenience store along U.S. Route 19. Kellner was in Mercer County Jail Tuesday night after failing to post $100,000 bond on an aggravated assault charge, police said.
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Woman dies of injuries in last week’s crash
A Greenville woman hurt in Thursday’s two-vehicle crash in Pymatuning Township has died from her injuries.
Lois E. Orr, 93, of 117 East Ave., died at 6:26 p.m. Saturday in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, according to incomplete obituary information. -
Faith doused fire; forge is new creation
Firefighters were battling one of the biggest blazes ever in Grove City when Will Knecht arrived in time to see his family owned, 87-year-old business crumbling and tumbling to the ground.
Knecht, the company’s president, formed a circle with his teary-eyed employees at Wendell August Forge and prayed as plumes of smoke visible for miles drew hundreds of onlookers.
“It was like it was a spectator sport almost, but with people in tears, people moved by it,” Knecht said. “We had employees saying, ‘Will, what are we gonna do, what are we gonna do?’ I prayed from the bottom of my heart, ‘Lord, you know what’s going on, we don’t; we trust you, you take it from here.’ ”
Six months after the March 6 fire, Knecht said those prayers have been answered as his community, employees and customers — including the Pittsburgh Penguins pro hockey team — rallied to re-energize the business.
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Farewell to summer party
Buhl Day may have changed over the years, from the type of food served to the entertainment featured, but its true intent remains intact, planning committee members said at Monday’s opening ceremonies.
The 31st annual event at Buhl Farm park, Hermitage, serves as the Shenango Valley’s “last hurrah” of the summer to pay tribute to philanthropist Frank H. Buhl and his wife Julia Forker Buhl, said Sue McLaughlin, one of five committee co-chairs.
Buhl Farm trustee Phil Marrie invited park-goers to check out Buhl Farm’s biggest upgrades completed this year.
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Man wanted for alleged actions against girl
A 24-year-old Jamestown man is wanted by state police on charges including unlawful contact with a minor stemming from an Aug. 11 incident in which police allege he sent an obscene photo and/or video of himself to a 12-year-old girl.
Bradley James Cleveland, 306 1/2 Liberty St., may have fled the area, police said.
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Borough manager exhibits optimism
After nearly five months on the job as Greenville’s borough manager, Scott Andrejchak already feels settled in.
“I like Greenville a lot. It’s a great place,” he said Friday afternoon in his office at the borough building, taking a break from working on the 2011 budget.
Council members hired Andrejchak to replace Ryan Eggleston, who resigned in November to work as city manager of Oil City.
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Day dedicated to workers
Here’s to the workingman.
They’re the ones who once put Mercer County on the map as one of the places where steel, pipe and tube, ladders, railcars and a variety of other products were made by proud men and women who put in an honest day’s work.
Today isn’t supposed to be a holiday of picnics and end-of-summer celebrations. -
League sets debate date; Dahlkemper ad questioned
Local political junkies, mark your calendars.
Third District Congressional rivals Kathy Dahlkemper and Mike Kelly will face off at a League of Woman Voters of Mercer County forum from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Sharon City Building.
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Shenango Twp. man was hurt in Sunday crash
