Keith Heffintrayer, Patch Staff

I enlisted into the United States Army right out of high school, where I served in combat arms as a Forward Observer.

After being honorably discharged, I spent the greater portion of the last decade as a caregiver for my mother and father, who required nearly round the clock care as a result of several conditions and disabilities.

While in college I studied Computer Forensics and Network Security, but both my mother and my sister obtained their master's degree in journalism and english, respectively. Having grown up in such an evironment, writing just came naturally to me.

I began my career with Patch as a freelancer in December of 2010, writing for sites across multiple counties before settling in with Patch's Montgomery County cluster.

Now, I'm the Local Editor for Norristown and Lower Providence.

I'm married to fellow-Patch freelancer Kristen McMaster, we had our daughter, Evelyn Mae Heffintrayer, on October 18, 2012.

Your Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.

This disclosure is not a license for them to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that their beliefs are on the record will cause them to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics

How would you describe your political beliefs? Are you registered with a certain party?

Though I'm a registered Republican, my stance on many issues tends to be only slightly to the right of center.

I loathe the two-party system, as I believe it does more to divide people than issues themselves. Still, I view it as a necessary evil, since a three-party system would only further divide the public.

Religion

How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, though I lost my faith quite a few years ago. I do not attend any church or services, though I have no issues with those who do.

I consider myself an envious-agnostic. I have no idea who or what made us, why we live, or what happens when we die. I do, however, miss the comfort that faith brought me in my youth, and I envy those whose convictions prohibit them from going astray.