Ronald McCormick, of Forward Township, and his daughter Kathy Senn find photos in old yearbooks during the Memory Tours event at Evans City Elementary/Middle School on May 9. McCormick graduated in 1954 and Senn graduated in 1979 from the school, which closed in June. Butler Eagle File Photo

Butler County was the scene of fires, crashes, crime and punishment in the past year. When tragedy struck, our community went above and beyond to support each other. Rescues were made, schools opened and money was raised for friends and neighbors.

Here are our top news stories in 2022:

January was bookended by serious structure fires. Butler County crews responded to one that destroyed Hovis Truck Services in Emlenton, Venango County, on Jan. 9. A roof fire then damaged the XPER USA manufacturing facility in Middlesex Township on Jan. 26.

The month came to a close with shots fired at the Clearview Mall.

Carlos Gonzalez Carril, 24, is escorted into a state police cruiser following his preliminary hearing in Chicora on Feb. 8. Carril is the accused gunman in a shooting near the Rural King at Clearview Mall Jan. 18. Butler Eagle File Photo

According to police, Carlos Gonzalez Carril shot and injured two people in the Rural King parking lot the evening of Jan. 18. Damian Blystone was injured during the altercation, and later accused of instigating the shooting.

Both were charged, and Carril was sentenced in November to 10 to 20 months in Butler County Prison followed by 72 months of probation.