Morning Roundup: Fire damages 2 homes in Ford City

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, May 22:

2 homes in Ford City damaged in fire

A fire damaged two homes in Ford City on Saturday night.

Borough firefighters fought the fire for several hours, but no injuries were reported, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV.

Emergency crews were called to 632 Fourth Ave. in Ford City around 11 p.m. Saturday, Armstrong County dispatchers said.

Ford City firefighters said the fire started at one home and then jumped to a neighboring house, according to WPXI.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Police look into string of North Hills car break-ins

Several cars have been broken into in the North Hills this month, and some local police departments are investigating if the incidents are connected.

Management at the Pine Community Center in Pine told WPXI that two cars were broken into outside the gym on the morning of May 2.

A group of people were caught on surveillance cameras smashing car windows, stealing valuables and then taking off, according to Pine Community Center officials.

WPXI reported last week that several cars were broken May 7 into in Cranberry Township at St. Ferdinand’s Church, Graham Park and North Boundary Park.

Northern Regional Police Department said that cars parked outside Orangetheory Fitness in Wexford also were broken into this month.

Police are investigating, and Northern Regional police are warning people to lock their doors and not leave valuables in their cars in plain sight, according to WPXI.

Cranberry Township police told WPXI they are unsure that all the break-ins are connected.

Family seeks missing Greene County man

A Greene County man has been missing for several days and his family is asking for people’s help to bring him home.

Shane Phillips, 65, was reported missing Thursday after his wife reported that he didn’t return from a fishing trip at Wisecarver Reservoir just outside of Waynesburg, according to WPXI.

Phillips has lived in Greene County his entire life, and his family told WPXI that knows the land well.

Pennsylvania State Police held searches on Thursday night and Friday, but came up empty.

“At this point, we are not ruling anything out,” said Phillips’ daughter, Rebecca Phillips. “We are just pleading with the community, if you saw something that you may not have thought was important at the time, please let us know and contact local troopers. We just want to find my dad.”

Phillips said she went to the reservoir last week and found his red F-150 parked at the landing where it typically is, but her father was nowhere to be found. His family said his yellow kayak was also found in the water.

State police say they are checking for surveillance video. Anyone with information about Shane Phillips is asked to call state police in Waynesburg at 724-627-6151.