Single Lane Restrictions North and Southbound – North of Kirby Exit in Greene

UNIONTOWN (May 27) – PennDOT District 12 would like to inform motorists that a section of Interstate 79 just north of the Kirby Exit between mile markers 7 and 8 has a single lane restriction. These restrictions, which are in both the north and southbound directions, are in place due to some surface cracking as a result of longwall mining. Traffic is restricted to the right lane.

Carmichaels man charged in pursuit

State police have filed multiple charges against a Carmichaels man accused of fleeing police following an attempted traffic stop in Mather Monday evening.
Trooper John E. Pash said Bradley Joe Patterson, 23, was charged before Magisterial District Judge Louis M. Dayich with fleeing and eluding police, driving under the influence of alcohol, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, possession of marijuana and 22 traffic-related charges following the incident.
Pash said the incident began on First Street in Mather shortly after 8 p.m. when he started following Patterson’s vehicle after Patterson allegedly was speeding and ran a stop sign.
For more details, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Warrant issued for Greene man

DUNKARD TWP. — State police have issued a warrant for a Dilliner man accused of assaulting a woman and her father at multiple locations in Dunkard Township, Greene County, Friday.
State police said the warrant charges Terry Stephen Fowler, 38, of 206 Williamson Hill Road with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, possession of a prohibited firearm and two traffic-related charges.
Trooper John R. Simko said in a press release that the incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. when Fowler allegedly struck, choked and dragged Charlotte Morris, 42, also of Dilliner at his home.
For more information, see Josh Krysak’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Inmate found dead in State Correctional Institution at Greene

A Philadelphia man incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution at Greene in Greene County died Tuesday, after hanging himself in his cell, according to a Department of Corrections representative.
Jamal Easley, 23, was found hanging and unconscious in his cell at about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, said public information officer Dan Davis.
Corrections officers at the prison tended to Easley until medical personnel arrived, Davis said. Easley was taken to Southwestern Regional Medical Center by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m.
Davis said that Easley was serving a five-to-10-year sentence for an aggravated assault conviction in Philadelphia. Court records show that Easley was sentenced on Dec. 10, 2003, after he was convicted of aggravated assault and possession of the instrument of a crime following a jury trial.
During that same trial, records indicated he was acquitted of robbery and conspiracy. Six other charges associated with the case were dismissed.
Easley had been at the state prison in Greene County since April 24.
State police at Waynesburg conducted an investigation, and Davis said the coroner Gregory Rohanna will determine Easley’s cause of death.

For more information, see Jennifer Harr’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Man assaulted in road rage incident

State police will file multiple charges against a Mount Morris man after he allegedly assaulted two men following a road rage incident in Greensboro Sunday night.
Police said the incident occurred just before 9 p.m. when the suspect was involved in a traffic incident with James Hotsinpiller Jr. of Greensboro on Route 88 in Dilliner, Greene County.
Trooper John Pash said after the incident occurred, the suspect, accompanied by another man, followed Hotsinpiller to his home where he assaulted Hotsinpiller.
For additional information, see Josh Krysak’s story in Tuesday’s Herald-Standard.

Emerald Mine roof collapse reduces coal production

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) A roof collapse is hurting production at one of Foundation Coal Holdings’ underground mines.
The Linthicum Heights, Md.-based company said Thursday the collapse will force it to reduce production at the Emerald Mine near Waynesburg, Pa., for at least two weeks. Foundation did not say when the roof fall occurred.
Foundation says it declared “force majeure” on coal shipments from the mine, meaning it claims it cannot deliver the coal because of extraordinary circumstances. Foundation says the production shortfall will be made up by the end of the year.
Foundation operates 13 mines in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wyoming.

Copyright Associated Press 2008

Jefferson man faces multiple charges

A Jefferson man is in Greene County Jail after he allegedly stabbed his older brother in the back on Saturday at a Jefferson Township home.
Jason Michael Lilley, 23, of Jefferson faces charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats, and was also cited for harassment and disorderly conduct.
State Police Trooper Michael Udovich interviewed John Lilley, 28, in the back of the ambulance where he was being treated for the stab wound around 6:20 p.m.
During that interview, John Lilley told police his brother is a “crack head,” and said Jason Lilley was outside working on his car before the alleged stabbing at 973 N. 88 Road.
Jason Lilley started yelling about his car problems in front of John Lilley’s children, Udovich alleged.
“The victim then became angry because he didn’t want his kids to hear the foul language, and he and Jason started arguing outside the residence,” Udovich wrote.
Outside, Udovich said Jason Lilley continued to yell and curse, and had a knife in his hand. Police alleged Jason Lilley threatened to kill his brother.
“The victim then put Jason in a head-lock and they fell against a car that was parked in the yard. At some point during the struggle, Jason Stabbed the victim in the back,” Udovich wrote. “The victim did not know if he was stabbed intentionally, but assumed he was since Jason was threatening to stab and kill him before the argument turned physical.”
John Lilley had his mother call 911.
Udovich said John Lilley had “a fairly deep puncture wound” in the middle of his back, and was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for treatment.
For more information, see Jennifer Harr’s story in tomorrow’s Herald-Standard.

Greene woman honored

A Greene County native and 20-year veteran in the field of drug and alcohol counseling has received the state Department of Corrections Outstanding Performance Award.

Bonnie E. Lindley of Scenery Hill received the award Wednesday according to Dan Davis, State Correctional Institute at Greene County public information officer.

“Over the years Bonnie had demonstrated professionalism and dedication to the staff and inmates at SCI Greene,” SCI Greene Superintendent Louis Folino said in a press release. “She is know by inmates and staff as someone who is fair, honest, professional, helpful and thoughtful.”
Lindley was hired at SCI Greene as a drug and alcohol treatment specialist in 1994 and was promoted to her current post as a drug and alcohol treatment supervisor at the facility.

She has worked with more than 1,500 inmates during her career, has coordinated special inmate programs, served as a mentor at the prison and recently chaired the SCI Greene Empowering Our Future committee to help professional growth among prison employees.

Jury’s verdict announced in Greene County murder trial

WAYNESBURG- A Fayette County man sat in silence, and the victim’s family cried quietly as the jury announced its verdict.
The Greene County jury found Jeffrey Robert Martin, 51, of New Geneva guilty Thursday morning of first-degree murder and all other charges, except third-degree murder.
Martin was charged with killing and sexually assaulting 12-year-old Gabrielle Bechen, of Dunkard Township in June 2006.
Court will reconvene at 11 a.m., and the jury will determine whether Martin’s sentence will be life without parole or the death penalty.
Check back later today for jury’s decision, and visit heraldstandard.com tomorrow for more details.

Police to hold child safety inspection in Greene

The state police in Waynesburg will be conducting a free child restraint checkup from 1 to 5 p.m. May 20 at Fox Ford Mercury Auto Dealership on East High Street in Waynesburg, Greene County.
Police said certified child restraint technicians will be on hand to check seats for recalls and teach parents and guardians the proper was to secure a child seat in a vehicle.
The event is open to the public.