Paul Peirce stories
‘Burst of joy’ reverberates 20 years after first word Quecreek miners were alive
Four agonizing nights after the Quecreek miners were trapped underground, their families sought solace around a campfire outside the Sipesville Fire Hall. They gazed at the stars and prayed for a miracle. Clinging to each other and their hopes for a good outcome, the families maintained a round-the-clock vigil, vowing...
’77 hours of sheer hell’: Ex-Gov. Mark Schweiker says Quecreek rescue proof miracles do happen
Twenty years ago this week, Gov. Mark Schweiker stepped to a podium in an abandoned Somerset County grocery store converted to a makeshift media center, pumped both fists in the air and proclaimed that against all odds, nine men trapped 240 feet underground for 77 hours had been rescued from...
‘Burst of joy’ reverberates 20 years after first word Quecreek miners were still alive
Four agonizing nights after the Quecreek miners were trapped underground, their families sought solace around a campfire outside the Sipesville Fire Hall. They gazed at the stars and prayed for a miracle. Clinging to each other and their hopes for a good outcome, the families maintained a round-the-clock vigil, vowing...
Ex-Gov. Mark Schweiker says Quecreek rescue proof miracles do happen
Twenty years ago this week, Gov. Mark Schweiker stepped to a podium in an abandoned Somerset County grocery store converted to a makeshift media center, pumped both fists in the air and proclaimed that, against all odds, nine men trapped 240 feet underground for 77 hours had been rescued from...
Irwin man sentenced in stabbing now charged with hiding shank in cell
An Irwin man sentenced Monday for stabbing a man inside a borough bar was one of two inmates arraigned Friday on multiple charges of hiding shanks — homemade knives — in their jail cells, according to court documents. Joshua J. Robison, 26, of Irwin, and Jerome W. Thornton, 31, of...
Monroeville man accused of assault, pointing gun at relative during argument in Irwin
An Allegheny County man was arrested this week by Irwin police on charges of assaulting and pointing a loaded gun at a relative during an argument July 7. Raymond T. Musgrove Jr., 18, of Monroeville, was arraigned on multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a...
Butler County worker accused of buying $31K in gift cards on company tab
A former employee of an Allegheny County landscaping contractor is accused of using his employer’s credit cards to buy $31,351 in gift cards for himself between 2017-2019, according to state police. Joshua S. Carson, 36, of Butler Township in Butler County, was arraigned before Westmoreland County District Judge Jason Buczak...
Indiana County man charged in 2020 fatal crash on Route 22
A motorist accused of running a red light and causing a two-vehicle crash along Route 22 in Derry Township, killing a 62-year-old man,is charged with homicide by vehicle and multiple traffic violations. Martin J. McKnight, 44, of Saltsburg is charged in connection with the Sept. 15, 2020, crash on Route...
Vintage WW II aircraft coming to Westmoreland County in September
Area aviation fans who missed or did not get their fill of action during the Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland County Airshow in June can mark their calendars for a visit by two rare vintage World War II warbirds at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport from Sept. 8 to 11. The airport...
Latrobe police seek suspect in assault investigation
Latrobe police are asking the public’s help with an ongoing investigation into the assault of a woman near St. Clair Street Park Thursday. Police said the assault occurred 11:30 a.m. Chief John Sleasman said the woman required medical treatment at a Pittsburgh hospital. Her injuries are non-life threatening, police said....
Operation Dignity: More than 250 attend service in Hempfield for unclaimed cremains of 15 veterans
When U.S. Army veteran Randy Baker heard about Friday’s memorial service honoring the unclaimed cremains of 15 veterans stored at the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office — some for as long as 29 years — he felt compelled to be there. “I wanted to pay my respects. I don’t know what...
Plane goes off runway at Rostraver Airport
Firefighters and a hazardous materials team were called to Rostraver Airport Thursday for a report of a plane that went off the end of the runway, according to a county 911 dispatcher. The call for assistance went out about 3:50 p.m. Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo said...
Detectives allege investment counselor bilked $135K from South Huntingdon widow
A Fayette County man is accused of bilking an 82-year-old South Huntingdon widow out of $135,000. Steven A. Hoffman, 46, of Fayette City was supposed to be investing the money for her since 2015, according to court documents. Hoffman was arraigned this week on charges of theft, dealing in proceeds...
Photos, videos taken by accused burglars after Derry Township break-in leads to 2nd arrest
Photographs and videos shared by two accused burglars led to a second arrest in connection with a $65,000 heist in Derry Township, state police investigators said in court documents. Lenoxx R. Newcomer, 22, of Johnstown was arraigned this week on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property and theft....
Astronomers, space enthusiasts rave over 1st images from James Webb Space Telescope
Imagine feeling like a kid on Christmas morning — for two days in a row. For lifelong space enthusiast Bob Bickers of Murrysville, that’s what this week has been like as NASA releases the first images from the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. “Stunning, just stunning. The images certainly...
Man accused of assaulting paramedics, troopers responding to overdose call outside Hempfield casino
A man being treated by Mutual Aid Ambulance late Saturday outside Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield is accused of assaulting responding paramedics and troopers, according to court dockets. Cameron Vaughn Starr, 28, of Manor, is being held in the county prison on two felony counts of aggravated assault and other...
2 medical helicopters dispatched to crash in Unity, firefighters say
Two patients were flown by medical helicopters to trauma centers in Pittsburgh after a head-on collision Monday on Route 982 in Unity, according to firefighters. The collision occurred at 5:58 a.m. at the highway’s intersection at Coventry Lane in the vicinity of Glengarry Golf Course, said Pleasant Unity fire Chief...
Woman hurt after SUV strikes farm tractor in Derry Township, firefighters say
A woman was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment after her SUV struck a farm tractor and overturned Friday in Derry Township, according to first responders. The crash occurred at about 11 a.m. along Pandora Road, according to 911 dispatchers. Bradenville Volunteer Fire Department Capt. Justin Horrell said the...
Troopers: Mt. Pleasant Township man jailed after shooting woman with gun he thought was empty
A 21-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man told troopers he thought a gun wasn’t loaded when he pulled its trigger and shot a woman in the back. Daven Lee Donaldson was jailed on $100,000 bond on multiple assault and firearms charges Thursday. He was arrested after the 2:40 a.m. incident when...
Westmoreland prison inmate planned to use wire from face masks in foiled escape plan, detectives say
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate is accused of using the small pieces of wire in the face masks used to prevent the spread of covid-19 to fashion a weapon he intended to use to help him escape from a court appearance, authorities said. The alleged escape plan by inmate Dennis...
1 person reported injured in ATV accident in Bell Township
One person was injured Wednesday in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Bell Township, according to a Westmoreland County emergency dispatcher. The accident occurred about 10:23 a.m. and the person was flown by medical helicopter to an undisclosed hospital trauma center in Pittsburgh, the dispatcher reported. Bell Township firefighters were assisted...
Vandergrift motorcyclist seriously injured after colliding with truck in Ligonier Township, police say
A Vandergrift motorcyclist was seriously injured and flown by medical helicopter to a Johnstown hospital Tuesday after colliding with a truck along Route 30 in Ligonier Township. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. along the highway stretch of Route 30 between Laughlintown and the Laurel Mountain Summit, east of Ligonier...
Penn Borough man accused by troopers of assaulting woman over cellphone photo
A woman told state troopers Tuesday that a Penn Borough man became so angry over a photograph he found on her cellphone that he woke her from her sleep, assaulted her and then refused to let her summon help. Shawn M. Ressler, 20, was charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief,...
Police: Latrobe woman assaulted, choked after asking man to lower radio volume
A 32-year-old woman was punched and strangled by a man outside a Latrobe apartment complex after she asked him to lower the volume of his radio, police said. The woman was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital because of the extent of her injuries. The man, Lionel Thomas,...
Police say Blairsville man stable after stabbing
A 55-year-old Blairsville man was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment after being stabbed early Sunday. Samuel Skinner was reported in stable condition at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, where he is being treated for a stab wound to his abdomen, according to police Chief Louis J. Sacco....
