Paul Peirce stories, Page 25
Two people sent to area hospital after Rostraver accident involving truck hauling oxygen, propane tanks
Rostraver Volunteer Fire Department reported the Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Team and firefighters were able to contain a diesel fuel spill Wednesday along Route 51 in Rostraver after an accident involving a truck hauling oxygen and propane tanks. None of the tanks on the truck were reported to be leaking,...
Indiana County DA: Tip leads to one of biggest drug busts in county history
The Indiana County Drug Task Force turned a single tip from an informant this month into one of the largest heroin-fentanyl seizures in the county’s history, District Attorney Bob Manzi Jr. said Tuesday. Allan Burnheimer, 34, of Black Lick, was charged with possession of 50 bricks, or 2,500 stamp bags,...
Fayette County woman accused of stealing, wrecking Monessen police cruiser
A Fayette County woman is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after being charged with stealing a Monessen police cruiser and crashing it into a tree early Monday, according to court records. Jamya Dee Avona Leonard, 19, of Uniontown, was charged with receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest...
Former Southwest Greensburg part-time cop heading to trial in Fayette County cases
A former part-time Southwest Greensburg policeman ordered to stand trial in Westmoreland County last month on an official oppression charge is facing multiple criminal complaints in Fayette County. Last week, James Edward Shaw, 54, of Mt. Pleasant Township waived his right to preliminary hearings on multiple criminal charges of false...
Clearfield County man accused of shooting at SUV on Route 22 at Indiana-Westmoreland border
State police arrested a Clearfield County man over the weekend and charged him with shooting at another vehicle along Route 22 near the border of Indiana and Westmoreland counties, state police said. Elijah N. Helmick, 23, of Osceola Mills, was arrested in connection with an incident at 5:39 p.m. Saturday...
Kecksburg firefighters donating 1989 fire engine to Dominican RepublicVideo
Kecksburg firefighters are hoping to invoke the sense of wonder the community enjoyed more than 55 years ago, when a mysterious, metallic acorn-shaped object reportedly fell from the sky and brought worldwide attention to the tiny Mt. Pleasant Township village. This time, they’re hoping to do it with a donated...
Ohiopyle State Park returning to ‘normal’ after nearly 500-acre forest fires
Crews on Friday continued to mop up hot spots from two forest fires at opposite ends of Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County after they consumed nearly 500 acres of woodlands, according to authorities. Ed Callahan, district forester of Forbes State Forest, said it is among the worst forest fires...
Police: Incident at Indiana County bus stop wasn’t attempt to lure girl
A Friday morning incident at an Indiana County school bus stop that authorities initially deemed suspicious was not an attempted child luring, according to state police in Indiana. The incident occurred just after 7 a.m. in Clymer, where a girl reported she was approached by an unknown man while waiting...
Authorities attempt to unravel double shooting in Jeannette that injured two juveniles
Jeannette police and county detectives continue to investigate daylight shootings Wednesday that sent two boys to an area hospital. No arrests have been made, but police Chief Shannon Binda expects charges will be filed. The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. in the vicinity of the 100 block of Locust...
Ohio truck driver accused of threatening another driver with handgun in South Huntingdon
An Ohio truck driver was arrested on charges of threatening another truck driver with a handgun and possession of a small amount of marijuana after a confrontation at a South Huntingdon gas station, according to state police. Juvarish Harmon, 33, of Cleveland, was driving a white utility truck when he...
Loyalhanna Township couple charged with operating meth lab
State police arrested a Loyalhanna Township couple early Wednesday after shutting down what they called a methamphetamine lab at the couple’s home in rural Westmoreland County. Brian Miller, 51, and Jennifer Lynn Williams, 53, are charged with operating a methamphetamine lab, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to...
Bolivar man accused of restraining woman, violating PFA
A 26-year-old Bolivar man is accused of holding a Fairfield woman against her will for 13 hours Sunday and Monday, state police said. Zackery A. Collier was arrested by state troopers and charged with harassment, terroristic threats, simple assault, unlawful restraint and illegal possession of Ecstacy pills. He is being...
Ohio trucker charged in I-70 crash that killed West Penn Power lineman
An Ohio truck driver was driving 62 mph Oct. 21 when he slammed into stopped traffic along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, killing a popular West Penn Power worker from New Stanton and seriously injuring two people, state police reported in court documents. Charles C. Walker, 58, of Columbus, Ohio,...
Mt. Pleasant man charged with assaulting state trooper after crash
A Mt. Pleasant man is accused of attempting to flee the scene of an accident in East Huntingdon, providing alcohol to three juveniles and resisting arrest. Daniel Sebulsky, 36, was arrested on multiple criminal charges including assaulting a law enforcement officer, corruption of minors, DUI, furnishing alcohol to minors and...
Pennsylvania Game Commission says 2020-21 deer harvest surpassed previous year
Pennsylvania hunters killed an estimated 435,180 deer during the 2020-21 hunting seasons, the state game commission announced Friday. That topped the previous license year’s harvest of 389,431 by about 12%, the agency reported. In the past 21 years, since 1993, the state’s hunters have harvested more than 400,000 deer in...
Greensburg police arrest man for trying to fake drug test
For the second time this week, a Westmoreland County parolee was arrested for trying to fake a court-ordered drug test. Greensburg police charged Robert B. Nix-Williams, 34, of Arnold with a misdemeanor count of furnishing drug-free urine after attempting to falsify a drug test at the state parole office. He...
Last chance for skiers as Seven Springs plans to open for final run of season
Area skiers whose appetite for one last ski run were whetted by Thursday’s snowfall will get their chance this weekend at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, the area’s only area slope still open for the season. The Somerset County resort, which is closed weekdays, plans to reopen Saturday. Briefly. “Saturday is...
Latrobe woman arrested on new drug counts after city detective serves warrant
A Latrobe woman wanted on charges of selling a small amount of methamphetamine to a police informant last month was apprehended walking downtown this week as she carried more than a brick of heroin and suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to court documents. Megan M. Ashbaugh, 26, was...
New Alexandria man charged with assault after mom says he bit her
A Loyalhanna woman told state police her son bit through her upper lip, pulling out three teeth, during an argument that turned violent early Sunday, according to police reports. Joshua H. Warren, 28, of New Alexandria was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, harassment, reckless endangerment, simple assault, strangulation and...
Suspicious packages in Hempfield shopping plaza turned out to be false alarm
A report of suspicious packages left Monday in the parking lot outside the Walmart Supercenter in Greengate Centre Plaza in Hempfield turned out to be a false alarm. State troopers and a bomb squad from Troop A in Greensburg were called just before noon. Walmart/ Greengate A concerned citizen called...
Latrobe man arrested after troopers say he assaulted, choked ex-girlfriend and then stole her car
A Latrobe man who reportedly went to a Unity hotel in an attempt to mend a broken relationship was arrested after an ex-girlfriend said he assaulted and choked her before stealing her car. Jule A. Mascherma, 23, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, driving under the influence,...
No injuries in Greensburg apartment fire on Grant StreetVideo
Multiple fire departments from central Westmoreland County responded to a fire that damaged four apartments Friday afternoon in Greensburg, according to 911 dispatchers. “We had a lot of damage,” Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell said. “The homeowners are both alive and we got two cats out as well.” The call...
Ex-Greensburg attorney disbarred by Pennsylvania Supreme Court
A Greensburg attorney who admitted in 2019 to stealing nearly $50,000 from a fraternal organization has been disbarred by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The state’s highest court this week issued a two-sentence order barring Donald Blake Moreman, 60, who lives in Bullskin, Fayette County, from practicing law in the state....
2 people escape Southwest Greensburg house fire
Two Southwest Greensburg residents escaped injury early Friday after a smoke detector alerted them to a fire in a bedroom and they fled their house, according to firefighters. Multiple area departments responded to the fire on the 400 block of Oakland Avenue at 3:35 a.m., according to Southwest Greensburg fire...
Female jogger in Murrysville claims man solicited her twice for sex
A Murrysville man was charged by police with stalking this week after a female jogger reported he twice approached her in recent months and solicited her for sex. Mark A. Loesch, 49, was charged via mailed summons with two counts each of stalking and criminal attempt to solicit prostitution by...
