Trio honored for saving a life at fiery crash scene

Father and son homebuilders who admit they like their sleep, and a longtime firefighter used to being roused in the middle of the night, were honored Tuesday for saving the life of an accident victim last year.

David Brown, 43; Michael Brown, 19; and Edward Chearney, 54, all of Acme, were awarded Meritorious Citizenship Awards by state police at Greensburg.

The three rushed from their homes at 2 a.m. May 4, 2006, and pulled a man from a car that had crashed into a wall along County Line Road in Donegal Township.

State police spokeswoman Jeanne Martin said the driver, whom police identified as William S. Davis, was intoxicated. Davis, whose age and address were not available yesterday, was arrested and prosecuted, she said.

David Brown said his wife, Jamie Brown, woke him after hearing the crash.

"She said someone hit the wall down the road," he said. "I said, 'Well, it will be there in the morning.'"

When Jamie Brown saw flames, she said yesterday, "I said, 'Dave, I think it's finally time to get out of bed.'"

She then called for help.

Brown woke his son and the two ran to the scene.

Flames were coming through the windshield, David Brown said, and they could see that someone was trapped. Michael Brown was able to hold a door open while David Brown dragged the man out. At that point Chearney arrived.

"And the car just burst into flames," Brown said.

He said Davis appeared incoherent.

"He was saying, 'Leave me in here and let me burn up,'" Brown said.
At the same time, Davis said he wanted to get out.

"I don't think he really knew what was happening," Brown said.

Michael Brown, who works with his father, had to be up at 6 a.m. that morning, and joked that he had to be dragged out of bed.

"Whenever I saw the flames coming up through the sunroof and going through the windshield," he said, "I got a little scared for everyone. Once we got everyone out, I knew everything was going to be OK."

He estimated it took about 15 seconds to extricate Davis.

"But it felt like forever," Brown said. "I didn't think about my safety. It was strictly getting him out of the vehicle."

He said receiving the award was "pretty exciting. I'm happy that I got it."
Chearney, a firefighter with Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department for 32 years, said he heard the call on his pager.

By the time he arrived, he said, the Browns had Davis out of the vehicle. He helped carry him away from the car.

Chearney, who is employed with the Westmoreland County Bureau of Weights and Measures, praised the Browns for their efforts.

"They did real well," he said. "Not too many people from the public will step up in that capacity."
David Brown, who said he believed Davis lives in Fayette County, said the man left a message on his answering machine after the accident.

"He thanked us for saving his life," he said. "He knew he couldn't repay us."

Trooper Rocco Russo, who responded to the accident scene with Trooper Timothy Harrer, nominated the three for the award.

He said they were still on the scene when he arrived, and Davis had been transported for medical treatment.

"This definitely would have been a fatality if they hadn't done what they did," Russo said.

"(Davis) was pretty much stuck."

The awards were presented by Capt. Harvey Cole Jr., commander of Troop A at Greensburg.

"How many citizens do we have on a daily basis that step up and put themselves in harm's way?" Cole said. "We appreciate that and want to recognize that."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_529394.html

Jeannette vs. Yough to be Televised on National TV

The way Yough football coach Jim Wehner looks at his team's nationally televised WPIAL Class AA Interstate Conference game against No. 1 Jeannette on Friday, there is nothing to lose.

"When Appalachian State played at Michigan on Sept. 1, no one gave it a chance to win," Wehner said. "Well, we're in the same position. No one outside the WPIAL knows where Yough is."

Wehner isn't predicting a victory, but he just wants his team to play Yough football and enjoy the stage.

The Yough (1-1, 1-1) and Jeannette (2-0, 2-0) game will be televised by ESPNU.

It's the third consecutive game this season in which Jeannette has appeared on TV. Yough was on FSN Pittsburgh in 2005 at Belle Vernon.

"That's what we've been telling the players," Wehner said. "We should feel privileged that were on national TV. I don't think they realize the game is on TV.

"If you can't get fired up for a game on national TV, you won't be ready for any game. If I was playing, I'd be excited to play."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/highschool/s_526881.html

Westmoreland candidates get testy

Republican county commissioner candidate George Dunbar on Thursday accused Democratic incumbents of excessive spending and plunging Westmoreland County finances into a downward spiral.

Democratic Commissioner Tom Balya's spokesman responded by pointing out that Dunbar, a certified accountant, worked for a company that subsequently went bankrupt.

Ted Kopas, a spokesman for Balya, said Dunbar's opinions on county finances are therefore not credible.

Kopas released a file detailing the bankruptcy case of Wright Industries, an underground-utility contractor for whom Dunbar worked as chief financial officer until 2005. The bankruptcy case, filed March 6, includes unpaid bills from Dunbar's tenure with the firm, Kopas said.

Palmer to dedicate nature reserve near Saint Vincent to memory of late wife

Golfing great Arnold Palmer's late wife loved the hush of open space as much as he did -- so now a 50-acre nature reserve is being opened in western Pennsylvania in her memory.

Winnie Palmer, who died in 1999, wanted to make a difference after seeing developers transform some of the lush, rolling hills in her husband's hometown into strip malls and parking lots.

The reserve sits in a valley below Saint Vincent College, where she served on the board of directors. It was not long before her death that she heard about plans to build on the land, possibly obstructing the view of the college.

She couldn't let that happen.

"She came to me and said, 'You know, you should buy that land and we'll do something with it. We'll beautify it and make it nice,'" Arnold Palmer said.

In the years that followed, Mr. Palmer, his two daughters and others worked to make Winnie Palmer's wish for the land a reality. The process brought together people who knew Mrs. Palmer, including businessmen, philanthropists and developers.

The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve was incorporated in 2000. Funds were raised and the trust bought 25 acres of the land in 2001; Saint Vincent's later donated the adjacent 25 acres to the project.

The result is a serene, natural landscape of walking paths, native plantings and wildlife, with a big red barn as its centerpiece. The reserve opens to the public next Sunday.

"She would be extremely pleased with what has happened," Mr. Palmer said.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07245/814126-59.stm