Paul Peirce stories, Page 7
West Newton woman accused by police of assault after injuring boyfriend with ashtray
West Newton police charged a woman with multiple criminal counts after they accused her hitting her boyfriend with an ashtray, causing injury. Melissa Sue Horner, 37, fled the scene of the alleged assault that occurred in an East Main Street apartment at 12:20 a.m. Saturday that sent a man to...
Scottdale man killed while snowblowing was always there for family
Family always came first for Brian P. Hyde of East Huntingdon. “We always came first for my mother and dad,” said his eldest son, David Hyde. “Dad was always there for us, too. Not only us but anyone who needed help, whether family or friend, acquaintance. … He was always...
Trafford man accused by police of assaulting woman, resisting arrest
A woman accused a Trafford man of assaulting and choking her inside an apartment and told police she ran inside a neighbor’s apartment for safety late Friday, according to court documents. Police arrived at Cavitt Avenue to find Kevin L. Krivansky, 49, who lives nearby, attempting to force his way...
Late West Penn Power employee’s legacy ‘helping others’ to continue through donation
The power line technology program at the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in New Stanton received a shot in the arm Friday that will continue a late graduate’s legacy of helping others. More than 50 family members, friends, school officials and former West Penn Power co-workers of the late...
Troopers cite 2 drivers for alleged ‘road rage’ incident on Route 22 through Salem
The driver of a pickup and a tow truck operator were cited for misdemeanor and traffic charges after state police said the men engaged in a miles-long road rage incident along Route 22 through Salem. Troopers said they used witness accounts and a video volunteered by the pickup driver to...
Troopers seize 59 pounds of marijuana during turnpike traffic stop in Westmoreland County
An Oklahoma man pulled over for drifting between eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township was later arrested by state troopers on drug trafficking charges. Investigators said they found 59 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana in his minivan. Zhi Yu Lin, 43, of Muskogee, Okla., was ordered held...
$3M in grants announced for Southwestern Pa., including Mill Creek in Ligonier Township
Well before starting a 32-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Jim Miller said he enjoyed fishing as a teenager along Mill Creek in the village of Waterford in Ligonier Township. “It was well known even then as a cold-water fishery back then and had natural trout. It...
Gas tax holiday? Not so fast, says Washington, D.C., tax think tank
When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf hailed President Joe Biden’s plan to ban Russian energy imports to the U.S. in response to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in the Ukraine, he also announced support for a so-called federal gas tax holiday through 2022 as prices at the pump skyrocket. Wolf said he...
Accused Jeannette shoplifter arrested on multiple criminal charges after return trip to store, police say
A suspected shoplifter’s return trip Tuesday to a Dollar General store in Jeannette ended in the man’s arrest on multiple felony drug delivery and possession charges when police said they discovered him with crack cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription opioid medication. Police said they seized nearly a brick of heroin,...
Troopers serving warrant in Indiana County say suspect had heroin, cocaine, marijuana, meth
A state police fugitive task force learned a man wanted for skipping court hearings was hiding out in a Blairsville apartment March 2, where they descended and found him atop “a second-story roof walkway on the roof and looking to escape by climbing a brick wall,” Trooper Stephen Limani said....
Madison woman killed in crash on Arona Road in Hempfield
A 57-year-old Madison woman was killed in a head-on collision Monday on Arona Road in Hempfield, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Two others were hurt in the crash, according to township firefighters. Dawn E. Coyne was pronounced dead at 12:32 p.m. at Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg,...
Children, adults happy for return of ‘hands-on’ Community Day at The Westmoreland
Seven-year-old Escher Beldham of Plum was eager to have his quilt artwork, designed and cut from colorful construction paper, added to the art masterpieces already displayed on the walls of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. Beldham and his brother, Aven, 4, worked feverishly Sunday with scissors, construction...
Derry Township man arrested by troopers after accusations of inappropriately touching 3 children, woman
Calls made to the state’s child abuse hotline resulted in the arrest Friday of a Derry Township man by state police on accusations of sexually abusing a former township resident and three children in 2019. John M. Coiner, 58, was charged with three counts each of corruption of minors, indecent...
Greensburg police say security video, witness statements led to break-in suspect
Greensburg police said security video of a suspected burglar wearing a designer sweatshirt and reports of a man fleeing the scene in a car with out-of-state license plates led officers to a suspect in a break-in early Saturday. Carlton B. Taylor, 23, was arrested shortly after the 4 a.m. break-in...
Greensburg residents lay out pros, cons to planners as update to city development plan starts
Greensburg planners and consultants listened to suggestions from residents Saturday to clear residential blight, improve playgrounds, repair sidewalks, restore old homes and expand downtown redevelopment in round one of an effort to update the city’s 14-year-old development plan. “I think the city could clean up a little better. I know...
Kittanning police say escapee captured and jailed on $50K bond
An Armstrong County man who escaped custody from the back of a Kittanning police cruiser Thursday is back in custody. Kittanning police reported on its Facebook page that Dalton K. Mull, 28, of Manorville, was taken into custody Friday afternoon by borough police with the assist of Manor Township police,...
State trooper in New Stanton charged with possessing child porn, jailed on $500K bond
A state trooper assigned to the turnpike detail in southwestern Pennsylvania remains in jail after investigators allege he possessed dozens of computer files containing child pornography, including on a personal cellphone he was carrying when arrested Tuesday at the New Stanton station. Sean R. McKenzie, 37, a corporal, is charged...
Man with ties in 3 counties jailed in Westmoreland on accusations of possessing meth in Salem motel
Three days after a transient man was released on bond from the Armstrong County Jail last month, he was arrested in Westmoreland County for possessing methamphetamine in a Salem motel, according to court documents filed Tuesday. Ryan J. Fredericks, 27, who has lived in Johnstown, Apollo and Derry Township, was...
Latrobe man jailed in Indiana County after being accused of dragging trooper with his car
A Latrobe man is in the Indiana County Jail after being accused of dragging a state policeman with his car as troopers responded to a harassment complaint, according to court papers. Matthew A. Rebar, 29, was arrested after an incident in White Township, just outside of Indiana Borough, where state...
Nurse anesthetist accused of stealing painkillers from Greensburg hospital operating rooms
A certified nurse anesthetist who worked at Excela Health Westmoreland was arrested by agents from the state Attorney General’s office on accusations of stealing powerful painkillers from locked cabinets in the Greensburg hospital’s operating rooms, according to court papers. Todd A. Hrtyanski, 59, of Unity, who worked at the hospital...
Man arrested after Export standoff, accused of threatening ex-girlfriend with shotgun
A former Export man remains in jail without bond after a standoff with police late Friday outside a former girlfriend’s residence, where he is accused of threatening her with a shotgun, according to state police. Alvin A. Kovatch Jr., 38, was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and harassment...
Norwin student charged with making threat against school district
An 18-year-old Norwin student is accused of using computer software at his home Thursday to threaten an attack on the district before heading to work at a nearby home improvement store, police said. Nolan R. Kugler, who lives in North Huntingdon, initially denied making the threat when questioned by township...
Jeannette plant worker ordered to stand trial, accused of stabbing company manager, assaulting a second
Three managers at a Jeannette manufacturing plant testified Thursday that a co-worker barged into a plant supervisors’ meeting Dec. 2 and stabbed the facility’s safety officer with a utility knife and then attempted to stab the human resources manager. After listening to more than three hours of testimony from Omnova...
Unity man sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for role in meth distribution ring
A 35-year-old Unity man was sentenced this week to federal prison on charges of violating narcotics trafficking laws, U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung said. Alan “Mugs” Masecar, currently in the Allegheny County Jail, was sentenced to 51 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release by District Judge Robert...
Greensburg police arrest 2 in Christmas Eve burglary case after tip from Somerset County
When Windber police this month nabbed two Johnstown men on charges of stealing firearms out of storage units in the small Somerset County borough, little did they know their case would be the gift Greensburg police needed to solve a Christmas Eve pawn shop burglary. City police used a tip...
