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
  • Recycling program a bit too popular

    The  county’s effort at going green by encouraging recycling in rural areas has been a tremendous success by most accounts, but isn’t without a few glitches. In Wilmington Township, residents often only have a window of a few minutes to get cardboard recyclables in before the bin is full, prompting a discussion among Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • District will tap reserve fund

    Reynolds school directors plan to fill a $374,567 hole in the 2012-2013 budget with money from the district’s fund balance.

    May 25, 2012

  • School board mulls change to sports chaperone policy

    In order to comply with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Sharpsville Area School Board is looking to adjust a chaperone policy it implemented six months ago.

    May 25, 2012

  • Afternoon crash hurts 3 high school students

    Three Jamestown High School students were injured – one seriously – when their pickup left a roadway in southwest Crawford County and crashed into a tree Tuesday afternoon.

    May 24, 2012

  • Board sells some, holds some

    Brookfield Board of Education members voted Tuesday to accept only the bids for the elementary school and the middle school, for a total of $97,050.
    The decision came after an hour-long executive session.

    May 24, 2012

  • Levey: Kohl’s project died with school vote

    Stripped of the necessity of voting for a tax incremental finance plan by Hermitage School Board’s unwillingness to participate, Mercer County commissioners said Wednesday they would like to meet with school board and Hermitage city officials to discuss other ways they can help Levey and Co. build a retail development in the city.

    But Levey spokeswoman Jeffrey A. Mills said there is nothing to discuss.

    May 24, 2012

  • Warden expects hectic season at county jail

    With the unofficial start of summer just a few days away, Mercer County Jail officials are preparing for a busy season.

    May 23, 2012

  • Levey officially drops TIF request

    Levey & Co. has officially ended its request for a tax incremental financing plan to build a retail development anchored by a Kohl’s department store.

    May 23, 2012

  • Grant will pay to fix 12-15 homes



    The City of Farrell will be able to fix up about a dozen homes in the city thanks to a $300,000 HOME grant from the state.

    May 23, 2012

  • Hard budget choices yet to come


     
    Hermitage School Board has been fortunate in many ways during the economic downturn that has been so hard on many other schools.

    May 23, 2012