The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 10, 2009

News briefs Jan. 11, 2009

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.

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Local News
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    Brookfield Township “is in a world of hurt.”

    February 9, 2012

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    February 9, 2012

  • Taking flight

    Some kids probably daydream about sending their homework up into the atmosphere, but that really happened this week for a few classes of Jamestown Area High School students.

    February 9, 2012

  • GC man called suspect in Jan. 27 bank robbery

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    February 8, 2012

  • Committee to focus on finances for future

    Sharon city leaders have money on their minds as they look to the future of the once-vibrant town struggling with a limited tax base and higher costs of doing business.

    February 8, 2012

  • Summer work turns into year-round part-time job

    A Sharpsville resident asked council members this week why the man hired as summer help is still on the payroll in the middle of winter.

    February 8, 2012

  • Police ask public to be their eyes

    Officials and residents of Farrell and Sharon discussed the good things and problems in their towns, and heard how a neighborhood that faced a similar situation fought back Tuesday at the second Taking Back Our City meeting.

    February 8, 2012

  • 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