Joe Napsha stories, Page 126
Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva to be Saint Vincent commencement speaker
It’s not many colleges that have a decorated war hero and a professional athlete as the principal commencement speaker, but Saint Vincent College has found one person who can lay claim to being both — former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva, who is an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The...
Irwin-area drivers are Pennsylvania’s worst, survey finds
Irwin-area motorists have the dubious distinction of being No. 1 in Pennsylvania — as the state’s worst drivers. Drivers in the Irwin ZIP code were rated the worst drivers in any “city” in the state, based on data from QuoteWizard.com customers surveyed in 2018 about the number of accidents, speeding...
State to hold hearing on UPMC projects; 2 in Westmoreland
UMPC is planning to spend some of the $500 million from a bond issue on two Westmoreland County projects — its Urgent Care Center along Route 30 in North Huntingdon and Weatherwood Manor assisted living residences in Hempfield. The state Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority has scheduled a public hearing...
Allegheny County Jail inmate who was facing homicide trial dies
Allegheny County police are investigating the death Thursday of an Allegheny County Jail inmate who was facing a murder trial and hung himself Sunday afternoon in his jail cell, authorities said. The inmate, Timothy L. Pauley, 34, of Moon Township, was found unresponsive in his cell at 5:35 p.m. Sunday.,...
Irwin to make deal with North Huntingdon for volunteer firefighter, EMS tax credit
Irwin residents who are active volunteers with one of North Huntingdon’s fire departments or North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, and even those who join in the future, will get a tax break under an agreement the borough’s solicitor will prepare. Irwin Council on Wednesday authorized Solicitor Zachary Kansler to prepare an agreement...
Irwin to fix Caruthers Lane landslide
A landslide on Caruthers Lane in Irwin needs to be fixed before the road sustains more damage that could lead to closing it while it is being repaired, an engineer told borough officials this week.. The crack in Caruthers Lane, which has occurred above the Norwin Public Library, has expanded...
Retired Hempfield Area librarian loved to read
Margaret Rumbaugh served as a librarian at Hempfield Area’s West Point Elementary School and at her church, Charter Oak Church in Unity — an appropriate job for a woman who had a passion for reading. “She loved reading and hated that we (as a society) don’t read as much,” said...
Norwin officials want state law to penalize vaping at school
Norwin officials want the state to make it illegal to sell vaping products to minors as well as for students to vape or have electronic smoking products at school. The administration has asked the school board to consider approving a resolution Monday showing support for amending state House Bill 97....
Norwin plans health, wellness expo
A mini-walk preview of the anti-drug abuse Reality Tour, plus health screenings, food and drug awareness vendors, will be part of the Norwin School District’s free Health, Wellness & Nutrition Expo planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at the Norwin High School, McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon. There...
Norwin expected to replace stadium turf
Norwin high school sports teams, marching band and physical education classes will have a safer field on which to play and march with new artificial turf at Knights Stadium, officials said. School board members this week indicated they support replacing the stadium’s eight-year-old turf as well as repainting its track....
Norwin opposes Sheetz beer sales near North Huntingdon school
Norwin School Board is expected to vote next week to oppose Sheetz Inc.’s plans to sell alcohol at its convenience store across the street from one of the district’s elementary schools. Barbara Viola, board president, said there is a board consensus to oppose Sheetz’s plans to sell alcohol at its...
Turnpike crash in Mt. Pleasant area clogs road
A two-mile backlog was reported on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Friday evening as a result of a tractor-trailer truck that hit a barrier and overturned in the westbound lanes at milepost 85 in Mt. Pleasant Township, a Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety supervisor said. The accident was reported at...
Former Mt. Pleasant man loved cooking, ran a food truck
Former businessman James Lentz loved to cook, whether it was serving barbecues from his food truck at the annual Mt. Pleasant Glass Festival or joining with his wife to cook two big turkeys on Thanksgiving to feed an extended family of 40 to 50 people in his house. “He loved...
Norwin Democrats to meet at library
The 2019 elections and canvassing for those elections will be discussed when the Norwin Area Democratic Committee meets at 6 p.m. April 10 at the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. William Essay, a newly appointed member of the Norwin School Board, will speak about the importance of the...
Norwin `pasta bridge’ holds up as winner
A Norwin High School team’s bridge made of pasta and held together by hot glue was able to hold 37.4 pounds before collapsing, winning the team first place in a competition that aims to increase student awareness in engineering. Several hundred people watched as 19 teams from high schools across...
Cell tower proposed for Manor-North Huntingdon border
Verizon Wireless customers in eastern North Huntingdon, Manor and the Adamsburg areas should get better coverage for phone and data if the company builds a cellphone tower on property Manor owns in North Huntingdon, a Verizon attorney said. The township zoning hearing board this week granted TowerCo 2013 LLC and...
Irwin church to perform ‘Living Last Supper’
“The Living Last Supper,” a dramatization of Jesus’ last meal before his crucifixion, will be performed by First United Methodist Drama Team from April 16 and 18. The free performance will begin nightly at 7 p.m. at the church, 210 Oak St., Irwin. Church members will perform as disciples, Jesus,...
Claridge fish fry top vote-getter
And the winner of the contest for best fish fry in Westmoreland County is … drumroll, please … the Claridge Volunteer Fire Department in Penn Township. Those Claridge firefighters were at the top of the Top 10 Fish Fries of Westmoreland County, according to Jason Saunders, president of The Print...
SCORE to present workshops on social media, business basics
An organization of retired entrepreneurs will present two free workshops on business-related topics this month at the Norwin Public Library on Caruthers Lane in Irwin. Westmoreland SCORE — Service Corps of Retired Executives — will present “Small Business Basics” from 5-7:30 p.m. April 15 for those wanting to start their...
North Huntingdon board dodges appeal of ‘family’ definition for renters
A North Huntingdon woman’s challenge over what constitutes a family when it comes to renters in single-family homes will have to take her cause up with township commissioners. The zoning hearing board cannot offer an “advisory opinion” on an interpretation of the zoning ordinance’s definition of a family, George Butler,...
Hempfield donor recipient thankful for ‘gift of life’Video
Heather Hunter of Hempfield wasn’t supposed to be at Excela Square at Norwin on Wednesday morning, talking about how a double lung transplant in September 2016 gave her a second chance at life. Doctors weren’t sure that Hunter, born with cystic fibrosis, would make it to see kindergarten, let alone...
Sheetz seeks to sell alcohol at store near Norwin elementary school
Sheetz Inc. wants to sell beer at one of its stores located across the street from a Norwin elementary school. The Altoona-based convenience store chain submitted plans to the North Huntingdon planning commission for expanding its convenience store at the corner of Carpenter Lane and Route 30 to provide seating...
Ex-North Huntingdon, Irwin officer named Elizabeth Borough police chief
A former North Huntingdon police officer has been named police chief in Elizabeth Borough. William Sombo took over duties of police chief Monday after being appointed to the position by borough officials last week. He has worked as a part-time officer in Elizabeth for several years, borough Secretary Pamela Sharp...
Race for Grace cancer fundraiser set for April 6
The Race for Grace, a 5K-run and walk around Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, is again expected to attract about 3,000 participants when the race starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, the race director said. Race-day registration begins at 7 a.m., with breakfast available. Late registration costs $30 for adults...
North Huntingdon zoning board faced with issue of ‘what is a family’
Detra Pivirotto lives in Lindale Court, a housing plan in North Huntingdon zoned for single family homes. So when a group of about 10 men moved into a nearby house this year, she had questions. “This was not a familial relationship. It was pretty obvious. It was a commercial relationship,”...
