Butler Police Captain Jim Hollobaugh, left, and Lieutenant Chad Rensel attempt to escort resident Andrea Budmark away from the scene of a house fire at 116 Mercer St. March 29.
The year just ended started with hope that it would be better than the pandemic-dominated 2020.
It drew to a close with a resurgence of COVID infections and deaths, canceled professional sports games, confusing and divisive mask mandates and pleas to get a booster vaccine shot.
In between, we learned more than we wanted to about supply chains, variant strains and TikTok challenges.
The pandemic introduced us to new economic terms — the she-cession — and brought old ones —inflation — back into prominence.
But behind the big headlines, we carried on as best we could.
In Butler County, the news was also filled with fires, floods and prayer vigils.
There were reunions and anniversaries. There was sheep-riding at the Big Butler Fair in July and flag-waving at a Knoch School Board session in September.
And the year ends again with hopes that the new year will be better.
A year after their rooftop birthday tailgate, the family of Emmett McGarvey(center) got together at Butler Memorial Hospital to recount the event. Due to COVID precautions the family had a sort of tailgate while Evan and Megan McGarvey(pictured) were in the hospital for Emmett's delivery. The family discovered his gender from a sign in the window.Left to right: Father Evan McGarvey, Emmett McGarvey, mother Megan McGarvey, grandparents Brian and Diane McGarvey. Seb Foltz/Butler EagleLeft to right
Jordan Ludwick pulls a garbage bag down a flooded sidewalk Aug.25 near the Sullivan Run culvert on West Brady Street.Butler Eagle file photos
Seneca Valley High School students throw chalk into the air at kickoff as part of the student section whiteout night celebration to start the football season at home against Moon Area High School on Aug. 27. The event marked the full return of fans to the stadium.
At left, Nicole Vickinovac, center, is consoled by family and friends during a prayer vigil Feb. 27 for her husband, Greg Vickinovac, outside of Passavant Hospital in McCandless.???? As of Saturday, Greg Vickinovac, a Middlesex Township firefighter, was on a ventilator in the hospital’s covid ward.
Above, Christine Schumacher of Jefferson Township sits in the Knoch School Board session Sept. 8, where concerned parents and family members voiced concerns over statewide mask mandates imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf. At left, Nicole Vickinovac, center, is consoled by family and friends during a prayer vigil Feb. 27 for her husband, Greg Vickinovac, outside of Passavant Hospital in McCandless. Greg, a Middlesex Township firefighter, was on a ventilator in the hospital’s COVID ward. He battled back from the virus after 25 days in the ICU.
Above, Bella Foreman, 3, smiles at her father James Foreman during a welcome home event for members of the 377th Engineer Company of the U.S. Army Reserves at the Butler base Nov. 5. Bella’s mother Kayla also pictured. At right, Hattie Barthel, 4, of New Boston, Texas, hangs on tight during the Mutton Busting contest, part of Bullride Mania at the Big Butler Fair July 3. Hattie’s father, Patrick Barthel, is a machinist at Shell’s cracker plant in Monaca.
Hattie Barthel, 4, of New Boston, Texas, hangs on tight during the Mutton Busting contest, part of Bullride Mania at the Big Butler Fair July 3. Hattie’s father, Patrick Barthel, is a machinist at Shell’s cracker plant in Monaca. The grandstands were full Saturday night for Bullride Mania at the Big Butler Fair. Events included bull riding, barrel racing and mutton busting. Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle
Rachel Martone of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank received a kiss from Scout, a Boston Terrier, while directing traffic during a food distribution at Lernerville Speedway Tuesday. Harold Aughton/Butler Eagle
Fire crews from across the region respond to the blaze on Main Street in Butler Jan. 30. The fire allegedly started in the back of the Sir Speedy copy center.
