Joe Napsha stories, Page 112
Local shops across Westmoreland County gear up for Small Business SaturdayVideo
Standing among about 250 guitars and keyboards in his downtown Irwin store, Kevin McDonald said he is gearing up for the post-Thanksgiving rush that will be Black Friday, followed by Small Business Saturday. “We are stocked and ready for the holiday. We love it,” McDonald said of the expected influx...
ATV operator in fatal Donegal Township crash identified
A 27-year-old man was killed Wednesday afternoon along Route 130 in Donegal Township when his all-terrain vehicle was hit by a Jeep, the Westmoreland County coroner said. The victim, Joshua H. Torrence, of 33rd Street, Cook Township, was driving the ATV east on Route 130 at about 4:40 p.m. when...
Norwin’s sensory hallways give students calming effectVideo
Kolton Kamauf walked through Norwin’s Hahntown Elementary School in North Huntingdon, where paintings and stickers on the hall floors and walls prompt him and other students to crab walk, touch images and do wall push-ups. ”I like it because it gives my brain a break and it relaxes me,” said...
Irwin holds the line on taxes, plans sewage rate hike
Irwin property owners will not pay higher property taxes in 2020, but will pay slightly more in their sewage bills. Council recently adopted a tentative general fund budget of $3.9 million, holding the line on real estate taxes at 20 mills. The borough anticipates starting the new year with a...
Norwin hires firm to study facilities
A Mt. Lebanon engineering and architecture firm will study Norwin school facilities and prioritize what needs to be repaired or replaced and how much it would cost. The school board hired VEBH Architects to do the comprehensive facilities master plan for $35,800. The plan is to be finished in March...
Rev. Paul Poole felt the call to ministry as a teenager
As a teenager growing up in the East Huntingdon village of Tarrs in the early 1970s, Paul D. Poole found the path he would follow the rest of his life. “He felt the call to serve in the ministry at age 16. He was influenced by his pastor, Wesley Jantsen,”...
Cancer center moves into Mt. Pleasant’s Frick HospitalVideo
Cancer patients who were treated at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Arnold Palmer Pavilion in East Huntingdon, have a new site to receive their chemotherapy — Excela Square at Frick in Mt. Pleasant. The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Arnold Palmer Pavilion, a joint venture between UPMC Hillman Cancer...
North Huntingdon man loved his family, restoring old cars
George J. “Jim” Tomasic Jr., of North Huntingdon, had a talent for fixing things, whether it was working on a project around the house or it was restoring and repairing old cars. But, first and foremost, he dedicated to his family, said his wife of 30 years, Joan L. Tomasic....
Former fire chief served Ligonier community
John Vucina of Ligonier Township was a man who served his country during a time of war and served his community for more than 60 years as a member of his local fire department. He left Ligonier High School in his junior year to enlist in the Army during World...
Bushy Run Battlefield to host children’s colonial Christmas party
Children will be able to experience a colonial style holiday celebration at the Children’s Christmas Party, which will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Bushy Run Battlefield, Route 993, Penn Township. Attendees will make natural Christmas decorations and decorate the Bushy Run Christmas tree that...
Omega Psi Phi fraternity to distribute free turkey dinners
A historically black fraternal organization plans to give Thanksgiving dinner to more than 400 Pittsburgh area families on Saturday, Nov. 23 by distributing free turkey dinner baskets to the needy. The Iota Phi (Pittsburgh Graduate) Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. is distributing the turkeys in its 26th...
Trafford plans holiday events on Dec. 7
Trafford Borough will hold a holiday celebration with a parade and visit by Santa Claus on Dec. 7. Christmas carols will be sung from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the borough building at 414 Brinton Ave A parade in downtown Trafford will follow, beginning in the Haymaker Village parking lot...
Penn-Trafford tops in Westmoreland County on state assessment tests
Penn-Trafford was ranked in the top 2% of the state’s 605 schools districts, based on the results of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and the Keystone Exams, the school district said. The Westmoreland County school district ranked 11th out of 605 statewide, according to scores released in October and...
North Huntingdon rejects liquor license transfer for Winghart’s
North Huntingdon officials rejected a request to transfer an expired liquor license from the former Winghart’s Burger Beer & Whiskey Bar in Hempfield to a closed tavern in North Huntingdon. The township commissioners on Wednesday unanimously rejected a request from Prasad Margabandhu and his brother, Sivram Bandhu, both of Pittsburgh,...
Irwin residents seek parks upgrades, crackdown on speedersVideo
A group of about 30 Irwin residents told borough officials they want continued improvements to the parks, a crackdown on speeding vehicles along Pennsylvania Avenue and no more tax hikes. “I was very impressed with the residents and the businessmen that came here and gave their input. Everybody had great...
No tax hike planned for North Huntingdon
North Huntingdon property owners will likely see their township takes remain steady next year. Township commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a $14.7 million tentative general fund budget, which holds the line on property taxes at 11.3 mills. Of that tax levy, the revenue generated by 9.3 mills will be allocated...
Norwin OKs pool renovation project
Norwin students could be swimming in an updated pool next fall. As expected, the Norwin School Board this week selected the least expensive proposal for updating the pool, estimated at about $1.2 million by Wallover Architects of Lancaster. A contractor has not been selected. Among the work being considered is...
Experts panel does not see U.S.-China relations improving any time soonVideo
With President Trump facing a re-election battle next year in the midst of the ongoing trade war with China, the state of relations between two of the world’s superpowers likely will not get much better in 2020, a panel of experts said Monday. “They (Chinese) don’t trust President Trump,” Yasheng...
Greensburg Salem grad commanding region’s Naval operations support center
When Christine Komoroski was an outside hitter on Greensburg Salem’s volleyball team in the mid-1990s, she was so good she received a recruitment letter from the Naval Academy to attend its elite volleyball camp. It was an invitation that set her on a different career path and a journey in...
Winghart’s owners miss North Huntingdon hearing for liquor license tranfer
A planned public hearing this week in North Huntingdon turned out to be a five-minute affair after two business owners missed their window to request permission to transfer an expired liquor license from Hempfield into the township. Prasad Margabandhu and Sivram Bandhu, who own the liquor license under Bandhu Brothers...
Irwin church to serve as warming shelter
Irwin area residents whose power goes out during the winter can use a warming shelter at the First United Methodist Church of Irwin at 310 Oak St. Those whose power goes out can contact Pastor Ron Slavin at 724-691-7113 or Pastor Bruce Judy at 724-747-6098. Tea, hot chocolate and soup...
Police respond to crash on Route 30 in Hempfield
Two vehicles were involved in a collision on Route 30 at the intersection of South Greengate Road in Hempfield Thursday night. Several Hempfield fire departments and the state police at Greensburg responded to the crash, which was reported at 8:30 p.m., a Westmoreland County Public Safety department supervisor said. There...
Norwin area GOP dominates general election
The Norwin area Republican party exerted its dominance in the municipal and Norwin School Board races in Tuesday’s election as every candidate who only appeared on the Democratic ticket lost, according to unofficial results. “It all went along party lines. We are not voting for the candidates. We are voting...
Irwin police get new pact; 3%-4% raises
Irwin’s three full-time officers will get a 3% raise next year under a new contract that creates a chain of command by establishing the ranks of lieutenant, sergeant and corporal. The three-year contract that Irwin Council unanimously approved on Wednesday gives the full-time officers a 4% raise in both the...
Winghart’s owners seek former Rivertowne spot in North Huntingdon
A shuttered tavern along Route 30 in North Huntingdon could gain new life next year with a liquor license transfer from Hempfield. North Huntingdon commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on a request by Smithfield Holdings Inc. of Mt. Lebanon to transfer the liquor license held...
