Burgh Bracket Underway

Kiss FM's annual Burgh Bracket is happening now, and they're on the Fayette County bracket now. Now, the items in the bracket don't actually have much to do with the Nam--with the exception of the mugshot of a man caught stealing makeup and pantyhose from Walmart. He's up against a naked Brandon Sutter, who's in the lead by far, so we're very unlikely to win this one, Fayettenamese. But if you want to give us a push...

(By the way, if you're wondering why I never posted the mug shot originally, it's because I don't believe in mocking people's lifestyle choices, what they decide to wear, and how they decide to present themselves. That's their business, not mine. People acting like dumbasses and making bad decisions that give us our bad reputation, on the other hand...)

County Crime Roundup

• Let's say the cops are coming to raid your house and you need to quickly hide your cocaine. Where should you put it? Your kid's lunchbox, duh! And let's not forget an Elmo backpack is also an option...that will make international news.
• A Belle Vernon man was arrested on child pornography charges...
• ...which makes the fact that a Connellsville man was charged with robbery a relief.
• The state Ethics Commission decided two Bullskin Township supervisors and one former supervisor violated the state's ethics act by setting their own monthly vehicle allowances in 2012. Wait, what? We have an Ethics Commission, and it's only just now paying attention to Fayette County? Meanwhile, the township solicitor calls the commission's findings "inaccurate."
• Some dudes stole $600,000 worth of sheet metal.
• A Republic man was found to be in possession of heroin, marijuana, prescription drugs, stolen handguns, a bulletproof vest, and more. Obviously, he's just preparing for the apocalypse...possibly thanks to drug-induced paranoia.
• A man was charged after brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend, which might help to explain why she's his ex-girlfriend.
• There was a shooting in South Union Township.
• A Uniontown man was charged after assaulting a woman and firing a semiautomatic weapon in a house with children. So basically, just another day in the Nam.
• A Brownsville student has been "disciplined" for making a hit list. The student's "status for the future is undetermined." Let me make this easy for you--throw his ass out of school and charge him with a crime. Administrators informed the parents of students whose names were on the list but not all parents in the school. Because, you know, parents don't want to be informed when their kids are going to school with potential murderers. They can just find out on Facebook.
• Police are looking for the driver of a Chevrolet sedan who rammed into another vehicle in a road-rage incident Wednesday.
• A Brownsville man was charged in a string of armed robberies.

Masontown scam artist

People of Masontown, be warned! The police are warning against a door-to-door scam artist asking for money and claiming his car ran out of gas between 8 and 9 p.m. Residents are advised to call 911 "in a timely manner" so they can find him. In other words, don't hang out for a few hours and then be like, "Oh, yeah, some dude came to my house but he's gone now."

I'm all for vigilance, but how do they really know he didn't run out of gas?

Parents sue youth softball league and township because why not

I never played a sport because I'm basically not athletic and dislike sports, but I'm pretty sure that injuries are just a risk you take when you play sports and suing over one would be silly, right?

The parents of a 12-year-old softball player who broke her leg while sliding into home plate have filed a civil lawsuit against a Fayette County youth league and North Union Township.

Oh. Maybe not. Hmm.

They're suing the league itself, as well as the township, and the lawyer argues she broke her leg "because the base path from third base to home plate was uneven with holes and ruts in it."

If the field was that terrible, then fine. But it wasn't so bad that they didn't let their daughter play or that other kids got hurt, too, and are also suing. Still, even though I think America is in some ways a pro-lawsuit culture and tend to think they're ridiculous (with some exceptions), if this was all the suit was over, I'd let it slide (get it!?).

But as always, it gets better.

The injury kept her out of school and extracurricular activities for a “substantial time,” resulted in permanent scarring and will limit her earning capacity, according to the lawsuit.

Wait, an injury from June 23 kept her out of school? Really? As for permanent scarring, it's something no one really wants, but is a scar from a broken leg that horrible? My favorite, though, is that the injury will "limit her earning capacity." How? She's 12. I'm pretty sure broken legs heal, and unless she already had a career in the works as a pro softball player, I have a hard time believing her future is in any danger because of it. But don't listen to me--read the comments on the article for some wonderfully harsh observations.

Man, things are gonna get awkward in court when a lawyer mentions that pesky waiver the parents had to sign in order for their kid to be able to play.

An Oldie

Sometimes, I miss things. This is because I am but one little girl running this blog, I have other things going on in my life, and contrary to popular belief, writing about Fayette County's shenanigans often feels like a chore.

So here's an interesting article all the way back from last summer about Nemacolin and the turnpike.

Basically, a turnpike commission vendor gave employees $6,000 in Nemacolin gift certificates--certainly a lovely gift to receive, but probably pretty inappropriate when businesses and contracts are involved.

The Nam on Twitter: Crackheads

Those pesky addicts, causing trouble!

The Nam on Twitter: Connellsville Creepers

Connellsville does seem to be a messy place sometimes. There's the thieving crackheads, the infamous deathtrap of a telephone pole, and people yelling and quitting Italian Oven in the middle of the restaurant.

And let's never forget the arsonist.

The Nam on Twitter: Welcome Home

We've been home an hour and dad already shot a opossum on the porch #welcomehome #fayettenam

— Melissa Martin (@MelissaMartin32) March 8, 2014

Connellsville woman in accident with salt truck

UPDATE #2: Nancy's brother-in-law has started a GoFundMe page to raise money to help pay for Nancy's medical bills. You can donate here, and please do so as this is your change to directly help the Heinbaugh family. If you're unable to donate, please spread the word all over the internet to get as much help as we can, but remember, no amount is too small. Any little bit helps.

The page also includes an update on Nancy's condition:

Nancy suffered multiple strokes due to her injuries and underwent surgery to relieve swelling and pressure on her brain. She was placed on a ventilator in the Trauma ICU and in the days that followed, underwent extensive surgeries to both of her legs. Miraculously, she survived and is now breathing on her own through a trach tube. 

While no one yet knows what the future holds for Nancy, she will require more surgeries and much physical rehabilitation. Friends of Nancy are raising funds to help offset the major loss of income and the enormous costs associated with her medical care. 

UPDATE: She is doing better and is now off the ventilator and breathing on her own with a trach in. Keep praying!

Always sucks when this blog collides with real life, which is all too easy in a small place like this.

Nancy Heinbaugh was in an accident Monday morning with a salt truck, in which her car actually ended up underneath the truck.

I went to high school with her kids, and her son's fiancee was one of my roommates when I lived on Mt. Washington about a year and a half, two years ago. My Facebook feed is quickly filling up with prayer requests, and I'm extending them here. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Stay safe and warm, Fayette County.