Fire Destroys Family Home
Transfer – A Mercer County man was seriously injured in a woodburning furnace fire on Sunday. Aaron Root of Pymatuning Township was airlifted to UPMC Hamot as eight fire departments tried to save his home which was a total loss. Several firefighters were nearly injured when the first floor of the home collapsed and construction equipment was eventually used to help fight the fire. Seven other members of the Root family escaped from the fire unharmed but have lost everything they possess.
The Berkshire Hathaway office in Hermitage is accepting clothing donations to help the family. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, the family needs clothing in Boys’ sizes 2T, 4T, 8/10, 10/12, and 14/16 Husky; Girl’s size 6; Medium sized men’s and women’s clothing. The family needs shoes in sizes Toddler 11, Kid’s 2, 5, and 11; Men’s 8-10; Women’s size 8. A meal train and a GoFundMe fundraiser have also been set up for the family.
Man Strangles and Beats Daughter
Spartansburg – The Pennsylvania State Police have charged a Spartansburg man with the aggravated assault and strangulation of his 18-year-old daughter. Court records identify 49-year-old Donald Vanderhoof Jr as the man accused of assaulting his daughter at around 3 a.m. last Thursday. According to the State Police, they were called to Corry Memorial Hospital to interview the victim and get a doctor’s assessment of her injuries before making the arrest. Vanderhoof was released on a $10,000 secured bond and has no history of violent criminal actions.
Homicide Charges Filed in Murder/Suicide Pact Case
Jackson Center – A Mercer County man has been charged with criminal homicide, drug delivery resulting in death, reckless endangerment, and drug-related offenses after he and his girlfriend attempted suicide last September. Leonard Friedman of Jackson Center allegedly acquired illicit drugs to cause a deliberate overdose in himself and his girlfriend Mellissa Miller as part of a suicide pact on September 26th. The 43-year-old survived, but Mellissa did not; police charged Friedman last Tuesday and court records indicate he is already jailed elsewhere in Pennsylvania and is to be arraigned in the near future.
Sharon Hospital Eyes Valentines Weekend Reopening
Sharon – Tenor Health Systems, the City of Sharon, and Penn Northwest have announced a specific target for the re-opening of Sharon Regional Hospital as Valentine’s Day Weekend. Tenor faces multiple challenges in recruiting replacements for former hospital staff who have moved on to new opportunities, but after settling a lawsuit and entering the final stages of getting licensed by the PA Department of Health a target date of February 15th or 16th is deemed reasonable.