Paul Peirce stories, Page 31
Gov. Wolf grants 5th extension to renew firearms carry permits
Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to grant a fifth consecutive extension to renew firearms carry permits through March 31 couldn’t have been more timely, according to Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert. The previous extension was set to expire Dec. 31 and Albert said his two deputies assigned the “appointment only” permit...
Pa. game commission plans to release 23,000 pheasants
The state game commission plans to release 23,000 pheasants on Dec. 22-23, as part of the seventh and final release of 2020. Pheasant hunting is open across Pennsylvania. All hunting is closed on Christmas, but the season reopens on Dec. 26 and continues through Feb. 27. “These pheasant releases just...
West Newton woman accused of coughing on liquor store workers, bottles
A 69-year-old West Newton woman is facing multiple criminal charges after police said she removed her mask inside a Rostraver liquor store and deliberately coughed on employees and liquor bottles, claiming she had covid-19. Township police charged Leona V. Warman with four counts each of reckless endangerment and simple assault...
2 men arrested after multiple altercations at Jeannette home
Two Jeannette men were arrested by city police on multiple criminal charges after, police say, they got into two altercations Monday with residents on the 400 block of Guy Street. Caleb N. Hall and Jaiden Crosby-Anderson, both 18, were arrested on multiple counts of simple assault and disorderly conduct and...
Man accused of choking woman in Latrobe, damaging police station holding cell
A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly assaulting and choking a Latrobe woman and damaging a city holding cell as he waited to be questioned by police. Donald E. Kunkle III of Donegal was arrested by police on charges of harassment, institutional vandalism, simple assault and strangulation in connection with...
Man accused by troopers of threatening girls in Unity with sledgehammer
A 37-year-old Allegheny County man is accused of breaking into a Unity woman’s home Monday and threatening two 12-year-old girls inside with a sledgehammer, state police said. Keith D. Wilk of Scott Township was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, making terroristic threats and resisting arrest. Troopers said the...
Masks, social distancing can’t stop the fun of Westmoreland Shop With A CopVideo
The smiles were evident Tuesday even behind the protective masks worn by young shoppers and their chaperones — police officers — at the Westmoreland County Shop With a Cop event at the Walmart in East Huntingdon. “This is by far my favorite day of the year,” said veteran Westmoreland sheriff’s...
Covid cases on the rise at Westmoreland County Prison
Coronavirus cases continue to mount at Westmoreland County Prison, with eight additional inmates testing positive for the virus Saturday, bringing the total number infected to 114, according to interim Warden George Lowther. Lowther said two units at the Hempfield facility remain in lockdown in an attempt to limit the virus...
Westmoreland Shop With A Cop adapts to pandemic, starts Monday
State police Trooper Stephen Limani laughed recalling a dozen years ago at the start of the Westmoreland County Shop With a Cop program when the only worry was raising the $50 for each of the 20 children planning to go Christmas shopping at the Walmart in Unity. This year, Limani...
Rostraver Police ask for help identifying suspect in church burglaryVideo
Rostraver Police are asking the public’s help identifying a man they say broke into St. Anne’s Church Saturday and made off with an unspecified amount of cash and checks. Detective Kerry August said the suspect pulled into the church parking lot at 1870 Rostraver Road about 10 a.m. in a...
Man accused of placing tracking device on Mt. Pleasant Township woman’s SUV
A 54-year-old man is accused by police with secretly placing a tracking device on an ex-girlfriend’s SUV in Westmoreland County. Bradley K. Nicholson of White in Fayette County was released from the county prison on $25,000 bond after his arrest on charges of harassment and stalking filed by state police...
Irwin man accused of bilking Lowe’s in $3,200 paint return scam
A 58-year-old Irwin man was arrested by state police Thursday in connection with a month-long paint return scheme that bilked an area hardware store out of more than $3,200. Terry S. Good was charged by troopers with seven counts of receiving stolen property and one count of theft by deception...
Nearly $550K in donations by Nemacolin resort stun Fayette County first responders
Brian VanSickle may not have believed in Santa Claus before, but he’s a true believer now. “I met Santa Claus Friday and her name is Maggie Hardy Knox,” said VanSickle, chief of the rural Farmington Volunteer Fire Department in Fayette County for more than 20 years. The chief admits he’s...
Seven Springs Mountain Resort opening Saturday
Area skiers can rejoice. Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County will open for skiing and snowboarding this weekend. “Recent snowmaking success has made it possible for Seven Springs Mountain Resort to open for skiing and snowboarding this Saturday and Sunday,” resort marketing director Alex Moser said. Since Dec. 1,...
Greensburg man cited after outburst in store over mask, social distancing
A Greensburg man who became enraged after being told to leave a store for failing to wear a mask and social distance is accused by city police of making threats against employees and knocking over merchandise as he departed. Police on Tuesday charged Derek P. Hart Jr., 21, with multiple...
Fayette man charged in East Huntingdon drug overdose death
A 31-year-old Everson man is in Westmoreland County Prison on charges of providing a fatal dose of fentanyl to an East Huntingdon man last summer, according to state police. Stephen T. Shively was jailed after failing to post $100,000 bond Friday on charges of drug delivery resulting in death and...
Car theft charge against Salem man leads to arrest of his mother
A 26-year-old Salem man charged after allegedly stealing a neighbor’s car last month is in the county prison, while his mother is charged with two felony counts of hindering his apprehension. After a month on the run, Jesse Vaughn Lawson was caught Sunday by state police after they investigated an...
Seven Springs prepping for ‘mid-December’ opening amid new covid restrictions
Despite 10 inches of natural snow falling on the slopes last week, Seven Springs Mountain Resort is not quite ready to open for skiing. “It’s too bad, but we feel we don’t have enough snow to open yet. With social distancing, we’re not comfortable opening with just two lifts and...
State police looking for Hempfield man accused of fleeing arrest, threatening girlfriend
State police this week obtained an arrest warrant for a Hempfield man wanted for threatening to harm his girlfriend and fleeing from police. Police are looking for Shawn P. McCune, 32, of Grapeville, on charges of driving on a suspended license, false imprisonment, fleeing and eluding, flight to avoid prosecution,...
Additional charges filed against Latrobe counselor accused of sexual abuse of minors
Five more former clients of a Latrobe therapist accused of inappropriate behavior during counseling sessions have come forward with new allegations, according to court papers. Gregory Patrick Miscik, 49, of Salem was charged Nov. 6 with trafficking, sexual abuse of children, child pornography, corruption of minors, indecent assault and harassment....
Latrobe man convicted of illicit contact with a minor accused of soliciting images from girl
A Latrobe man serving time at home on electronic monitoring for illicit contact with a juvenile in 2017 was arrested again Wednesday by state police on new charges of having a girl send him explicit images through social media. Cristofer R. Dowden, 21, was arraigned on two counts of indecent...
Police still seek tips, clues a year after North Huntingdon chiropractor’s homicide
One year after the homicide of North Huntingdon chiropractor David S. Bailey, investigators have not made an arrest, despite a billboard alert near the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Irwin interchange and acquaintances offering a reward for information leading to a conviction. Bailey, 54, was found dead inside his Parkway Drive office on...
State police fire marshal to determine cause of Derry Borough fireVideo
A state police fire marshal will investigate the cause of a blaze that severely damaged a home in Derry Borough Wednesday. Fire Chief Josh Campbell said smoke and flames were showing when firefighters arrived at 720 East First Ave. The fire was reported at 8:39 a.m., according to county dispatchers....
Discovery of human bones at demolition site in West Newton ‘not suspicious’
A discovery of suspected human bones in a house being demolished in West Newton early Tuesday drew a myriad of investigators, though it was soon determined there was no crime involved. “There’s nothing suspicious and no foul play is suspected,” Westmoreland County Chief Deputy Coroner Kirk E. Nolan said of...
Penn Township man charged with assaulting girlfriend during argument
A Penn Township man accused of knocking his girlfriend to the floor and repeatedly hitting her during an argument was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $25,000 bond. Bryan W. O’Malley, 38, was arrested early Saturday by township police on charges of harassment and simple assault after the...
