Paul Peirce stories, Page 38
Westmoreland, surrounding counties, will not see new dining, bar restrictions over weekend
Westmoreland and surrounding southwestern Pennsylvania counties received a reprieve — for the weekend, at least — on new restrictions that would have temporarily halted indoor dining and drinking in an attempt to slow increased covid-19 cases. County officials received word that Gov. Tom Wolf would not announce any new restrictions...
Police continue probe of fatal motorcycle crash July 4 in Hempfield
State police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist July 4 on Route 66 in Hempfield. Charles L Burkholder Jr., 67, of Acme, died of his injuries Monday at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, where he was taken after the 9:45 p.m. crash, according to the Allegheny County Medical...
Fayette County man accused of injuring infant
A five-month investigation by Fayette County authorities resulted in criminal charges being filed this week against a Brownsville man who allegedly broke the arm of an infant girl in February. Brownsville police obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for Frances W. Lee III, 37, who is charged with two counts of...
Greensburg man sentenced 22-to-44 months for Walmart robbery
A Greensburg man who held up the Walmart in Hempfield earlier this year pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to serve 22-to-44 months in state prison. Christopher J. Hilty, 31, appeared before Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Bilik-DeFazio also ordered Hilty to...
Somerset County woman jailed on $200K bond after shooting, standoff with troopers
A 36-year-old Somerset County accused of shooting another woman during an argument surrendered early Thursday after a five-hour standoff woman with police. Shirley M. Owens, 36, of Friedens, was arraigned on multiple charges, including attempted homicide, aggravated assault, illegal possession of a firearm, possessing instruments of crime and reckless endangerment....
Latrobe man allegedly angry at GetGo ‘mask wearing’ request cited for damaging merchandise
A Latrobe man was cited for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after he allegedly became angered and damaged merchandise inside a convenience store Thursday when he was asked by a store clerk to wear a protective mask while shopping. State police Trooper Ryan Ilich reported Jonathan P. Hazen, 37, was...
Chestnut Ridge firemen kick off scaled-down fair in Stahlstown, fireworks to close show
The Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company’s 59th annual fair in Stahlstown will be “a whole lot different” from past events — except for the traditional fireworks display to wrap things up. The coronavirus pandemic brought the department’s usual fundraising efforts, including weekly bingos, to a standstill and forced firefighters...
Centre County man dies after collision on Route 22 near Blairsville
A Centre County man who was injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday along Route 22 near Blairsville has died of his injuries, according to state police in Indiana County. Troopers said the 38-year-old victim from Philipsburg was eastbound on the highway at 6:33 p.m. in Burrell Township when his vehicle...
Westmoreland inmate files federal lawsuit over jail beating
A 33-year-old Westmoreland County Prison inmate who claims he was violently beaten by six guards earlier this year at the Hempfield lockup is seeking $225,000 in a federal lawsuit alleging his civil rights were violated. James Mapp, 33, of Roswell, N.M, filed the three-count civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court...
U.S. Army Corps seeking input on Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will hold a virtual public meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday to kick off the Youghiogheny River Lake Master Plan revision. The corps is seeking public input about environmental and recreational subjects to consider during the master plan revision process. The plan guides the...
Riders of all ages enjoy new Giant Slide Complex at Mt. Pleasant Township’s Mammoth ParkVideo
Joe Theis, 67, proved Thursday he’s just a kid at heart. Theis, of New Stanton, arrived at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township at 9:20 a.m., expecting a line for the inaugural rides on the county park’s newly opened Giant Slide Complex. But he was shocked to learn he was...
Pennsylvania makes masks mandatory — even outdoors
Face masks are now mandatory in Pennsylvania in public places and outside when social distancing is not possible, according to an order intended to slow the spread of covid-19. Gov. Tom Wolf said the mandate expands an order signed in April that requires the wearing of masks in businesses. The...
38 new covid-19 deaths, 636 additional cases reported in Pennsylvania
There were 38 new covid-19 deaths and 636 additional cases reported statewide by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday. The state total is now 87,242 cases with 6,687 deaths; about 633 patients are considered probable cases. According to the Department of Health, the most severe cases are seen in...
Westmoreland County logs double-digit covid-19 cases for 3rd time this week
For the third time in four days, Westmoreland County experienced a double-digit increase in the number of new covid-19 cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. On Wednesday, the department reported 29 new cases and no additional deaths for the county. Sunday had 13 new cases, Monday had 20...
Unity man charged with assaulting, choking woman
Editor’s note: Simple assault and related charges filed in July 2019 against Aaron M. Klingensmith of Unity have been withdrawn. According to court dockets, the district attorney’s office on Jan. 4, 2021, withdrew the charges before District Judge Michael Mahady. Klingensmith had denied the allegations. State police say a woman...
Owner of former Hempfield drug testing lab pleads guilty to ‘kickback’ conspiracy
The owner of a now-defunct clinical drug testing laboratory in Hempfield pleaded guilty this week to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. William J. Hughes, 73, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to one count before Judge David S. Cercone. With the...
Greensburg man accused of swiping victim’s phone in road rage incident
A Greensburg man accused of grabbing a woman’s cell phone as she videotaped him June 10 during a road rage incident was charged with careless driving, harassment and theft by city police. Timothy P. Kunkle, 42, is accused by police of grabbing the woman’s phone as she was recording an...
Police: Hempfield man shot, killed woman’s ex-boyfriend outside hotel
A Hempfield man is in jail, accused of gunning down a man last month outside a Forest County hotel during a confrontation over a woman. Richard M. Gardner Jr., 36, of Country Estates Drive, is being held in the Warren County Prison without bail in connection with the May 22...
Fundraiser established for Somerset County man killed while protecting grandmother
Friends and family of a 30-year-old Somerset County man who was shot and killed while attempting to break up a weekend domestic altercation between his grandparents set up a GoFundMe account to benefit his family. Joshua Cale Hillegas was shot and killed about 10:30 p.m. June 14, shortly after arriving...
Smithton man accused of vandalizing American Legion post that banned him
An attorney for a 66-year-old Smithton man charged with vandalizing a veterans service club he was banned from three years ago doubts his client would hold a grudge that long. David E. Primm, the former commander of American Legion Post 790 in Smithton, is accused by state police of pouring...
Cops: East Huntingdon woman bilked ex-husband out of $260K
An East Huntingdon woman was arrested Wednesday along with a Fayette County man on charges of fraud and identity theft after police said they acquired more than $260,000 in multiple credit lines and accounts using her ex-husband’s name. Laurie A. Campbell, 55, and Tyler D. Smidtke, 39, of Connellsville, were...
Grand jury indicts 19 in Philadelphia-to-Indiana County drug trafficking operation
A federal grand jury in Johnstown indicted 19 people from Indiana County and Philadelphia for participating in a drug trafficking ring that distributed cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine for nearly two years, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said. The suspects were arrested last week on three counts of violating federal narcotics...
Somerset man, 80, accused of fatally shooting grandson who came to aid of grandmother
An 80-year-old Somerset County man is being held without bond for allegedly shooting and killing his grandson who was attempting to break up a domestic argument between his grandparents late Sunday. Ray Edward Supanick of Jenner Township was arraigned on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, harassment, possessing instruments of...
More than 100 turn out for Murrysville Black Lives Matter support walkVideo
Aryanna Hunter admitted she wasn’t sure what to expect Sunday after she organized a peaceful Black Lives Matter support walk through Murrysville. But after the three-hour event, Hunter said she was astonished with the turnout and support. “I thought I might be the only woman standing on a corner by...
Antique dealers and customers glad for return of outdoor sales at Hanna’s TownVideo
Collectibles dealer David McCartney said it “felt great” to return outdoors Sunday to the crisp spring air, sun and once again mingle face to face with hundreds of treasure seekers browsing at the Antiques & Collectibles Market at Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield. McCartney and Teresa Howell, his partner of...
