Cheers and hugs for Baby. The 6-year-old Chihuahua had been missing for two weeks since her beloved owner, 79-year-old Elmer C. Goettel of Carrick, died on Easter night, April 5, in a pickup crash on Interstate 79 in Lancaster Township.

Thanks to the kindness and persistence of Butler County volunteers who found her, Baby is back with Goettel's widow, Carolyn Goettel, and 15-year-old Taco, Baby's mother.

Elmer Goettel and Baby had spent Easter weekend prepping the family camp in Clarion for the summer. They were driving home for Easter dinner when Goettel's pickup truck drifted into another vehicle, left the pavement, overturned and hit a tree. Goettel was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

Responders saw the Chihuahua running up the road but didn't realize she'd been in the accident.

While the Goettel family members mourned and buried their patriarch, a friend distributed flyers and search teams of local volunteers went out to find Baby.

They caught up with the little dog among some farmhouses on East Lancaster Road. Her return doesn't bring back Goettel, but it's hoped the reunion provides some comfort and fond memories for the family. Condolences and best wishes to them.

Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order affecting home care workers got slapped down last week by a Commonwealth Court judge as it should have been.Wolf's order was a thinly veiled attempt to unionize the independent home health care workers, many of whom care for friends and relatives for nominal pay or no pay at all. Critics have said the order was a payback to labor unions that backed the Democratic Wolf's election last November.Had it succeeded, the unionization drive would produce an estimated $21 million in annual union dues collected from home health care workers — many of whom are volunteers, remember — and the dues would be deducted from the compensation they claim through state programs.The temporary injunction means ballots for a unionization drive asking home care workers to join the United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania — a “joint effort” of the SEIU and AFSCME labor unions — will be counted. But the union will not have any bargaining power with the state, and the state cannot aid in collecting union dues until the full court can address the legality of Wolf's executive order.“The union election is now essentially meaningless,” said David Osborne, general counsel for the Fairness Center, which sued for the injunction. “The union will not be able to come to terms with the state and, more importantly, will not be able to get the state's help in taking dues out of home care workers' paychecks.”The court will now have to decide whether Wolf's order violated the state Constitution by effectively circumventing the state Legislature and making law by executive fiat. Meanwhile, The Republican-dominated General Assembly is taking action to defend its legislative authority. On Monday, Senate and House leaders filed an amicus brief backing the Fairness Center's lawsuit.They want Wolf's executive order declared invalid. As it should be.

Amid all the weight-loss pills, fad diets and costly health clubs, it's hard to believe that something simple, free and available to nearly everyone can have such a positive impact on health. But a recent event in Cranberry Township served as reminder of the health benefits and near-universal availability of walking. And it's free, unlike expensive workout equipment or health club memberships.Last month, a story in the Butler Eagle reported that 40 companies in Cranberry Township were participating in a daily walking program sponsored by the American Heart Association.About 300 people from companies in Cranberry Woods and the Thorn Hill Industrial Park began a walking program and friendly competition to see who can log the most miles over the ensuing month.The event's kickoff was tied to what the Heart Association calls National Walking Day.At first blush, walking would seem too simple to have any impact on health. But it's an activity just about anyone can do, at any time and with no investment other than a pair or decent running or walking shoes.It's been getting serious attention as an effective health routine. A publication from the world famous Mayo Clinic notes that walking is useful in maintaining a healthy weight and also can help manage heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Medical experts also note it strengthens bones and can help lift the spirits. For older walkers, improved balance and coordination are added benefits.The Harvard Medical School reviewed hundreds of scientific studies and found strong evidence linking daily walking with improved health and decreased incidence of life-threatening disease.Walking is part of life. A program of walking can start small, with simple gestures like parking farther away from the mall or grocery store entrance or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.