Copper wiring, pipes and other items were stolen during a break-in at a structure in the 300 block of Perry Valley Road in Greenwood Twp., Perry County, state police at Newport said today. Troopers said a water heater, water tank, a jet pump and an air-conditioning unit also were stolen from the structure, which is owned by a Millerstown man. The break-in occurred between Jan. 22 and Monday, troopers said.

Failure Was an Option!

Voters wanted an immigration deal": A quick word on those polls MSM writers--e.g. Dan Balz--are using to suggest that the Senate thwarted the popular will in blocking "comprehensive immigration reform." I'd been puzzled myself by the consistent polls showing that a) the comprehensive bill itself was wildly unpopular, yet b) --and these are the polls emphasized by the MSM--the controversial "earned legalization" planks, when they are described to voters, win majority approval.

But Mystery Pollster cleared it up for me. The key is the Gallup finding that only half of the public is paying much attention to the immigration debate. Those who are paying attention oppose the bill 30% to 11%, but 58 % "don't know enough to say." On this basis, Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport calls those who oppose the bill a "vociferous minority"--apparently believing that if only more voters paid attention they'd endorse the bill, because when they're given the questions describing various paths to citizenship for illegals who "have a job" and "pay back taxes," they mostly say yes.

Police nab suspect in car theft from local dealership

Following a brief automobile and foot chase Thursday afternoon, Columbus Police Department officers apprehended a suspect who may have stolen a car from Carl Hogan Honda.A white 1998 Toyota Camry was reported missing Nov. 1 from Carl Hogan's Highway 45 North sales lot. A dealership employee gave police the vehicle's identification number and said the car had a discernible crack in its front bumper.Around 1:42 p.m. Thursday, a CPD officer spotted the missing Camry traveling west on Main Street and pulled the driver over.Once the officer had exited his vehicle to approach the Camry, the suspect drove off.

Tomkins FY pretax 262.6 mln stg, up 7.3 pct; sees challenging year ...

(adds reaction, amends spelling of CEO James Nicol's name) LONDON, Feb. 21, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Engineering group Tomkins reported a 7.3 pct rise in pretax profits of 262.6 mln stg for the year to Dec 29, after new products and a focus on emerging markets helped offset economic weakness in US car and construction markets. Sales from continuing operations were 2.94 bln stg, down from 3.13 bln in 2006, it said, and the adjusted operating margin was 9.0 pct against 9.4 pct the year before. Adjusted operating profits, which exclude disposals, fell 11 pct to 264.7 mln. Net debt was 296.8 mln stg, against 403.0 mln in 2006, and the company said it is considering a share buyback of 5-10 pct. CEO James Nicol said the group, which makes components for cars and air conditioning systems and building products such as baths and windows, delivered a good performance after taking a number of 'self-help' measures to counter headwinds in its US automotive and construction end-markets.