Joe Napsha stories, Page 124
Slide closes North Huntingdon road
A landslide has closed a section of Guffey Road in North Huntingdon and may remain closed for two weeks, depending on the weather, PennDOT said. The slide occurred Wednesday on Guffey Road between Turner Valley and Mickanin roads, the state said. Motorists traveling that section of Guffey Road from Irwin...
2 Westmoreland apartment complexes named in lawsuit over disability access
Ann Sloan was surprised to learn that the owner of the Hempfield apartment complex where she lives is being sued by the federal government for discriminating against disabled renters by building units that have “significant accessibility barriers.” “Everything is fine for me,” said Sloan, who uses a walker to get...
Ex-doctor gets jail term on drug distribution conviction
A former Pittsburgh radiologist convicted of unlawfully distributing a prescription painkiller and health care fraud has been sentenced to two years in federal prison and fined $15,000. Omar A. Almusa, 46, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. Judge Arthur Schwab in Pittsburgh. Almusa was a radiologist with the University of Pittsburgh...
North Huntingdon planners recommend Sheetz get OK to expand store
Sheetz Inc.’s plans to expand and sell alcohol at its North Huntingdon store, located near a Norwin elementary school, cleared one hurdle Monday. The North Huntingdon Planning Commission approved Sheetz’s plans to expand the store at Carpenter Lane and Route 30 by 560-square-feet. This will allow the store to add...
Greensburg planning session focuses on region’s needs over next 75 years
Southwestern Pennsylvania needs a more diverse and younger workforce, a better transportation infrastructure, an alignment between education and workforce needs and ways to keep youth in the area to help the region move forward in coming decades. Those were among the many suggestions about 75 representatives from government, education, business...
Steel industry leaders see brighter future, tout tariffs at Pittsburgh conference
The American steel industry is basking in the glow of a revival sparked by technological advances and a more level playing field created by tariffs President Trump imposed last year on imported products dumped in the domestic market, industry leaders said Tuesday at a conference in Pittsburgh. The current “golden...
Kennametal posts 10th consecutive year-over-year quarterly growth
Kennametal Inc. this week announced its net income rose to $70.1 million for the quarter ending March 31, up $17 million from the same quarter a year ago, even through sales fell by $10.7 million to $597.2 million. The Pittsburgh-based industrial toolmaker, which has a corporate campus in Unity, earned...
Rustic Ridge Mine seeks to hire, move toward full production
A Cambria County mining company has put out a “help wanted” sign for its Rustic Ridge Mine that lies underneath parts of the Donegal area. LCT Energy LP of Armagh is seeking to increase employment at Rustic Ridge Mine from 37 to about 100 miners as it moves toward full...
Uniontown Hospital to stop delivering babies, putting rural mothers-to-be in a bind
Uniontown Hospital’s pending closure of Fayette County’s only birthing center at the end of June comes with officials citing similar death knells as other facilities already shuttered around Western Pennsylvania — rising costs, challenges of recruiting doctors to rural locales, declining birth rates and other changes in the health care...
Tourism generates about $10B for southwestern Pennsylvania economy
Tourists taking in the numerous sites in Southwestern Pennsylvania — from the Laurel Highlands to Pittsburgh’s three rivers — added about $10 billion to the economy two years ago. Tourists’ spending added nearly $8.2 billion to the economy in Allegheny and surrounding counties in 2017, while tourism dollars added about...
Unity man had zest for life, traveled Europe
Dwight Sarson’s graduation trip was an adventure to remember. He and his friend hitchhiked across Europe in 1972, traveling to Italy, Sweden, France, England and Germany, said his wife, Dana Santone Sarson. “They had a grand time,” traveling and living on bread and wine to save money, she said. “That...
Dress rule dropped: Norwin girls can wear pants to graduation
Norwin school officials backed down from a standing graduation guideline suggesting senior girls wear dresses under their gowns for the ceremony. Female grads now will be allowed the option of wearing dress pants, like their male classmates, beginning with the commencement ceremony May 24. In what could be considered equal...
Shawnee re-enactor to speak at Bushy Run Battlefield
A Native American re-enactor will portray a Shawnee warrior of the 1700s and discuss Shawnee culture at 7 p.m. May 15 at the Bushy Run Battlefield Museum, Route 993, Penn Township. Thomas Vecchio, of Shaler, will present a first-person program detailing the Shawnee’s way of life. Vecchio has studied the...
Candidates needed for Irwin, North Irwin and Manor councils
Two boroughs — Irwin and North Irwin — should put out a “help wanted” sign to attract anyone willing to serve on council. Only one person — an incumbent in Irwin — is seeking his party’s nomination in the May 21 primary. There are three seats up for grabs in...
Safety program for children planned in Penn Township
Youngsters can learn about basic safety measures, tips and awareness lessons that promote personal and community safety during a Safety Township program next month in Penn Township. The program, taught by police, firefighters and other emergency responders, will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. June 17-21 at the Level...
Trout Unlimited to aid disabled vets in fly fishing at Foggy Mountain Lodge
A group of about 45 disabled veterans are expected to test their fly casting skills during a fishing outing on May 11 at Foggy Mountain Lodge Lake off Route 130 in Cook Township. The disabled veterans will have the opportunity to enjoy fly fishing as a way of relaxing and...
Penn-Trafford Community Band to help Lamp Theatre with concert fundraiser
The Penn-Trafford Community Band and its jazz band, the Jazz Warriors, will hold a fundraising concert for The Lamp Theatre in downtown Irwin with a performance there on Sunday. The recently restored theater at 222 Main St. has become one of the best concert venues in the area, said Ron...
North Huntingdon woman’s book inspired by son’s death
A North Huntingdon woman has written a book about miracles from God, inspired by the unexpected death of her son in September 2013. Laurie R. Sweeney is the author of “Have You Found Your Penny,” a book she says has been five years in the making because it was inspired...
National Road group cancels plans for history-themed dinner
The National Road Heritage Corridor has cancelled plans to create a special “Sunday Supper in the Park” on May 19 in Washington, the organization said Wednesday. “Unforeseen challenges” forced the organization to cancel the special fundraising dinner on May 19 at Washington Park, said Donna Holdorf, executive director of the...
Fire hits house in Derry just before midnight
Multiple fire departments responded to a fire at a house in Derry Borough late Wednesday night. The fire was reported at about 11:55 p.m. at 111 Walters St., according to Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety. Initial dispatches from the scene said that the occupants of the house escaped the...
Pittsburgh area jobless rate falls, lowest since ’76
The Pittsburgh area unemployment rate dipped slightly to 3.9% in March, the lowest level since 1976, when the region’s steel industry still was vibrant. The jobless rate, adjusted for seasonal factors, dropped 0.1 of a percentage point in March, and was down from 4.4% a year ago, according to the...
Lymphoma survivor from North Huntingdon raising funds for leukemia society
A North Huntingdon man who recently celebrated one year in remission from lymphoma is raising money for research into fighting blood cancer. Charles Colletti, 53, a business development manager for Touch of Color Flooring, is among a group of 12 candidates — six men and six women — competing for...
State honors three Bushy Run Battlefield volunteers
The state has honored three Bushy Run Battlefield volunteers for their contributions of time and talent at the historic colonial battlefield along Route 993 in Penn Township. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission recognized Emily Liska, John Harris and Nick Sopko during the annual Volunteer of the Year ceremony Saturday...
Former FBI agent, Derry teacher remembered
As a young man, Michael G. Christoff was an FBI special agent in Pensacola, Fla., and Mobile, Ala. The former South Greensburg and Unity resident had risen from being a personal secretary to one of the FBI assistant directors during the reign of legendary Director J. Edgar Hoover to a...
Irwin reaches deal with new Cafe Supreme owner on $11,100 garbage bill
Robert Juliano moved a step closer to owning the Cafe Supreme restaurant in Irwin after reaching a tentative agreement with Irwin Borough to pay more than $11,000 in delinquent garbage bills that had piled up from the restaurant’s previous owner. Juliano paid Irwin council $3,000 toward the unpaid garbage bills...
