The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

April 29, 2009

UPDATE: Fire damages county clerk's home

SHENANGO TOWNSHIP — Fire damaged two rooms Tuesday on the Mitchell Road side of Kathleen M. Kloos’ home in Shenango Township.

At the scene late Tuesday morning, Mrs. Kloos, the Mercer County clerk of courts and register of wills, wasn’t sure if she, her husband and daughter would be allowed to stay in the house.

“I might not want to stay in here tonight,” said the resident of 278 Mitchell. “We have people we can stay with.”

Mrs. Kloos said the fire has shaken her sense of security.

“It’s going to be nerve-racking living here after this,” she said.

Shenango Fire Chief Bill Williams said he did not know the cause of the fire that was called in at 10:24 a.m., and a state police fire marshal was on the away.

Damage was limited to two front rooms, but the blaze took 30 to 45 minutes to bring under control, he said. The old, two-story building had been remodeled and firefighters had to break through new and old walls.

“We couldn’t get into it to put something on it,” Williams said.

Farrell firefighters brought their thermal imaging camera — Williams called it a “heat gun” — to help look for hot spots.

West Middlesex and Wheatland firefighters also assisted.

Mrs. Kloos said she has lived in the house for six years, and it had just been remodeled by the previous owner when she moved in.

Two large gashes could be seen from outside the house.

“There’s a lot of ugliness in there,” said Mrs. Kloos, referring to the interior damage. “It’s tough to watch them breaking in walls and poking holes in the ceiling.”

Mrs. Kloos said she is thankful no one was home and neighbors called in the fire quickly. She also noted a fire hydrant is nearby and firefighters did not have to travel far.

“They got here quick enough and contained it,” she said.

The Klooses are insured.

Text Only
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