Local

   » An anti-war rally in New Castle sponsored by the Westminster College Green Party drew about 150 people, many from Mercer County, The Herald reported Sunday.

   » State Rep. Rod E. Wilt said Mercer County will have to comply with state emissions testing, but "How we are going to be in it is up to us. That's the gray area." Wilt urged local leaders to ask the state to implement the least expensive and least intrusive pollution test for local cars.

   » Ty Longley, a Sharon native and member of Jack Russell's Great White, was identified Sunday as one of the victims of the Feb. 20 fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, The Herald reported Monday.

   » Riley Smoot Jr. was publicly sworn in Monday as chief of police for the Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Department.

   » Renovation and an addition to Jamestown High School was approved Monday by a 6 to 3 school board vote. Estimated cost of the project is $7.5 million.

   » Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Francis J. Fornelli dismissed a petition seeking to sever Wheatland from Farrell Schools, The Herald reported Wednesday.

   » A Hempfield Township couple, frustrated by Greenville Municipal Authority's inaction to resolve their water bill woes, brought the issue to the authority board Tuesday. Matt and Cindy Blaschak disputed a $496 bill and were told by the board to wait and take legal action.

   » The Bush administration's proposal to have states coordinate Head Start has sparked a great debate in Washington and locally, The Herald reported Thursday. Mercer County's Head Start Director Terri Lengyel said she is concerned that this change will cause Head Start to lose its focus.

   » The state Route 285 causeway between Ohio and Pennsylvania will be closed from March 10 to May 25 in order to rebuild a bridge, The Herald reported Thursday.

   » Mercer County Commissioner Kenneth A. Seamans announced Wednesday that he will not run for re-election this year. Seamans was appointed to the post in 2001.

   » Details are being discussed for the $5.7 million cleanup plan for the area near the former Westinghouse Electric Corp. plant in Sharon, which has been approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, The Herald reported Friday.

   » Wheatland Tube Co. will close one of its mills in Wheatland unless a deal with a potential buyer is completed, The Herald reported Friday.

   » Jaered N. Andrews of Austintown, Ohio became the second man charged with assaulting Thomas E. Blakely before Blakely died after a fight outside a Farrell bar. Andrews turned himself in on Friday. Jerrold L. Allen was arrested the night of the fight and charged with aggravated assault.

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Sports

   » Local NASCAR driver Dave Blaney finishes 10th in the Subway 400 held at the North Carolina Speedway last Sunday. Blaney, from Hartford started from the pole for the first time in his career.

   » Two Mercer County teams advanced to the District 10 championships on Tuesday evening. Both Kennedy Catholic and West Middlesex won to set up the final in Class A. Kennedy defeated Cochranton, 59-37 while the Big Red knocked off Commodore Perry, 59-57. Sharon, Mercer, Sharpsville, and Commodore Perry all lost and will play in the consolation finals on Friday night.

   » Kennedy Catholic and Hickory girls teams won their District 10 semi-final games to move on the championship game on Saturday. Hickory won their Class AAA contest against Harbor Creek, 49-29 while Kennedy moved on to the Class A final with a 55-33 rout of Saegertown.

   » George Junior Republic bested Erie McDowell, 66-61 to claim their 5th District 10 Championship in Class AAAA. James Bates led the Tiger charge with 31 points as GJR moves into PIAA play next week.

   » Kennedy Catholic Boys win their 6th staight District 10 title by defeating West Middlesex, 66-58 at Westminster College. Sharon, Commodore Perry, Sharpsville, and the Big Red all will advance to the PIAA state playoffs.

   » The Northwest Regional Class AA wrestling tournament was contested at Sharon High school this past Friday and Saturday. Reynolds won the Class AA district title last week at Sharon and many other wrestlers will attempt to earn spot in the State Tournament next weekend at Hershey.