Body Found in Yough...Again

This happens a lot, doesn't it? Except this time, it isn't someone who drowned, which is good--except that it's actually kind of worse because the woman was beaten to death and dumped there. Awesome.

Police have charged two men with strangling and sexually assaulting a woman whose body was found by a troop of Boy Scouts in the Youghiogheny River.

Found by Boy Scouts? Seriously? This is really gonna be one of those stories that just keeps getting worse, isn't it?

In a criminal complaint, investigators said witnesses reported Paul Bannasch asked bar patrons where Kriek lived. When customers said they were going to report him to bar security, Bannasch said, "If they see him on any fliers or on a wanted sign, to say that they didn't see him or didn't know him," according to the complaint.

Because there's nothing suspicious or anything about some dude going around asking where a woman lives and telling people to lie about him asking. Pro tip: next time this happens, Connellsville, either lie, call the cops, warn the possible intended victim, or all of the above. Seriously. Sometimes, things happen because no one stops them from happening, and we need to turn that around.

Bannasch and another man, Craig Rugg, were both arrested in connection with the murder. No word on why the hell they did it, though, but I'm sure it's a real zinger.

The Nam on Twitter: Themed Parties

For those of you who don't know, my cousins live on what was once a farm. An old barn on the property houses Judy's Dresses and Gowns (where I got all my dresses for formal dances and plan to get my wedding dress for my currently nonexistent wedding), and a little shed was converted into a bar. The shed is where we hold parties, and we're huge fans of themed parties. The shed has also made appearances before.

When a long-time friend leaves the Nam for Arizona, the sensible thing to do is hold a themed going-away party, right? And the most obvious theme is America/Fayettenam, right?

I haven't gotten around to uploading all my pictures, plus I don't want to post things people may not want me to (even though they're all over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but whatever), but let's just say costume highlights included pregnant women drinking, mullets, pajamas, and Connellsville's own mayoral candidate Josh DeWitt. I wore a tube top with a plaid shirt over it because that top was tiny, along with shorts and some glorious cowboy boots. Sadly, I never got a full-body picture.

As if by fate, Sherwood's was open for a rare night, so some of us ventured down. Sis made the smoothest margarita I have ever tasted. And we were dressed up.

So here's a taste of that.

An outfit that nice deserves to be seen in a public place #fayettenam http://t.co/AQAEctVczc
— Janelle Sheetz (@LittleJanelleS) June 23, 2013

Clicking the link will take you to one of the contenders for best-dressed...at least until DeWitt and the pregnant girls showed up, then they were tied.

@LittleJanelleS I don't know where you were, or what you were doing last night, but I'd sure like to hear the story
— Vincent M. Tiberi (@VincentMTiberi) June 23, 2013

For more, consult my Instagram!

The Nam on Facebook: Atkins Music Center

First of all, Atkins is where I got my first electric guitar--a pink and white Johnson that has been neglected for so long that my heart aches right now just thinking about it. And yes, "first electric guitar" does mean I have more than one guitar and more than one electric guitar. But to the point.

The trouble started with a stray cat Atkins' owner/employees that was hanging around the store that they started feeding. Apparently, this didn't sit too well with a certain politician, and Atkins took to their Facebook page for a political Connellsville rant that was right on Fr. Bob's level.

But cats at Atkins cannot be left alone, as today, Atkins revealed one is being harassed...by a bird.

The Nam on Facebook: Greensburg Is Better

I'm always curious as to what spawns these posts. Is it just being home from college for longer than a weekend, or did something happen?

The grass is always greener.

Random

Sorry, guys, we have a ton of little things to catch up on/announce/discuss.

• An opera about Frank Lloyd Wright is currently playing in Pittsburgh and recently played at Fallingwater. Remember, kids, we have the honor of having two Frank Lloyd Wright structures in our county. Some argue we should stop citing this when we talk about Fayette County because it's irrelevant to the current state of the county, which is true, but they're still two gorgeous pieces of architecture and give you something to do/see on a nice, summer weekend. You just have to go up the mountain. Also, you can vote for it as the 8th wonder of the world, which has to count for something.
• Artist and mastermind behind Coffee on Crawford and Cross Worlds Nexus has designed the art for a new online game, Apocalypse Defense. We discussed this at the last Steel City Con. We also discussed my vacation last year to Mexico.
• Fiesta Azteca wins social-media marketing with their take on a meme. Also, I had some sort of shrimp dish with spinach and cheese that was amazing the last time I was there, and my boyfriend and I praise their banana margaritas to anyone who will listen. I know how weird a banana margarita sounds and how gross you think it is, but you're wrong.
• Fayette Friends of Animals has been holding a Tabby Tuesday, where you can adopt a tabby cat for just $20.
• The Italian Festival will be held at the fairgrounds August 23-25. They're giving away a red Camaro!

Random

• A bunch of new job listings went up, so check them out at PA Career Link if you need a job. Also, try to be able to pass a drug test if you apply.
• I have a box of Colebrook black raspberry chocolates on my coffee table as an early birthday present from my boyfriend. Or at least I did until I started typing this and went to eat them. By the way, I turn 24 on Friday. Now accepting more chocolates, Sweet Frog gift cards, and drinks at my Shogun birthday dinner.
• Or maybe I should celebrate with the State Theatre's Classic Film Series. They're showing E.T. the Extra-terrestrial at 2 and 7 p.m., $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, students, and children.
• Why are construction signs popping up on 119 again? I've been enjoying the construction-free highway since they finished everything up a few years ago, and it's too soon to give it up.
• Debating a new series called "Preach It, Fr. Bob!" featuring his Facebook rants about local politics that are always spot-on. Is it too late to get him on the mayoral ballot? How about commissioner?
• We have a Planet Fitness in Uniontown. We're moving up in the world. First frozen yogurt, now this!?
• Check out the St. Rita Parish Festival Facebook page, and then when the festival starts, check that out, too, for the fried dough if nothing else. 
• Speaking of fried food, I can't wait to eat my way across the fair next month. Liveblog, anyone?

The Nam on Twitter: Competing with Beaver County

Uniontown's angry fire chief made the Freak Show yesterday, making it the eighth time the Nam made the show. Then this morning, Beaver County made the show and tied. It's a county showdown.

@fsmikey Do Beaver and Fayette county understand that there's not a prize for this competition? You might need to explain... #CountyShowdown
— Matt (@TheMailman5) June 14, 2013

Not only is there not a prize for winning, but winning probably isn't a good thing. Yet for some reason, I still want us to win, and not just because it makes for an easy blog post.

We can make this happen, Fayette County. It's only June. With the whole summer ahead of us, you can cause lots of trouble and get us on the radio.