Joe Napsha stories, Page 15
Jeffrey D. Smail, Unity auto dealer, enjoyed family, life
Jeffrey D. Smail was a man who worked hard in his family’s successful automobile dealerships east of Greensburg while dedicating himself to his family and enjoying traveling around the world with his wife. “He was one of the most kind and caring and generous persons. He made everyone feel welcome....
North Huntingdon OKs 3-year contract with police department’s 29 officers
North Huntingdon police officers have a new three-year contract that will give officers a 5% pay raise in 2025, followed by two years of 4% pay raises in 2026 and 2027, according to the township. The new contractwith the North Huntingdon Police Fraternal Relief Association covers 29 officers in the...
Norwin library opts out of state grant for renovation project
The Norwin Public Library in Irwin will not accept a $456,060 state grant for a remodeling project because labor costs required by the grant would increase the price for the interior renovations, the library director said. The library will opt out of a Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority grant under the...
Sewickely Township moves closer to getting new library
Heather Jenkner of North Huntingdon took her son, Lukas, 4, to the Sewickley Township Public Library in Herminie for story time for pre-schoolers last week with the hope that in a year or so, she might be taking him to a new facility. “It’ll be more space for the kids...
Vehicle accident in Parks results in house fire
A vehicle struck a tree in the area of 1000 Dime Road in Parks Sunday afternoon injuring the driver and catching a nearby house on fire, according to emergency dispatch. Multiple fire departments responded to the accident, which was reported at about 2:33 p.m., an Armstrong County dispatch supervisor said....
Nighttime delays extended on I-70 project at Route 51
Motorists traveling Interstate 70 on the eastbound and westbound lanes between the Smithton and Route 51 intersections will face delays from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday on as crews continue to demolish the previously-used bridge carrying Route 51 over the interstate, PennDOT said. Golden Triangle Construction must remove...
Historic Hanna’s Town cemeteries: some history revealed, some buried forever
To Madeline Irwin of Acme, the chance to take a cemetery tour Saturday afternoon at Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield was an opportunity she did not want to miss, even if it meant pushing her double stroller up hilly terrain through the woods. “It’s such a great family experience. I...
Retired Lutheran pastor had passion for her faith, helping others
The Rev. Elaine Marie Hower, who was a pastor at Lutheran churches in Spring Church, Natrona Heights and Lower Burrell for more than 20 years, grew up in the church, had a passion for her faith and a compassion for helping others in need, said one of her three sons....
Conservative Norwin board members lament cancellation of Turning Point USA speech
The most vocal member of the conservative faction of Norwin’s school board this week condemned the way the district handled a request by Turning Point USA to speak to students after classes at the high school. School board member Alex Detschelt said Monday the administration’s decision to cancel an appearance...
Philly man accused of threatening to kill Western Pennsylvania political party worker over poll watching duties
A Philadelphia man is accused of threatening to kill and skin alive a state political party employee from Western Pennsylvania if the political worker did not respond to his request that he serve as a poll watcher in the upcoming presidential election. The suspect, John C. Pollard, 62, is accused...
Fire damages Greensburg auto garage
A former auto sales garage in Greensburg was extensively damaged Friday when a truck caught fire as a worker was using a torch on the undercarriage of the vehicle, Greensburg’s fire chief said. The fire, which was reported at 4 p.m., gutted the interior of the building at the corner...
Democratic Westmoreland commissioner: GOP-spurred double-voting probe a waste of time
An investigation by Westmoreland County detectives into possible voter fraud prompted by a Republican state representative finding duplicate names in voting rolls in Westmoreland is a waste of time, the county’s Democratic commissioner said Friday. Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, initiated the probe by the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. “You...
Sheetz to demolish, rebuild Route 30 store in North Huntingdon
The Sheetz along the westbound lanes of Route 30 in North Huntingdon will be demolished next summer and replaced with a new site including drive-through, the convenience store chain said. The North Huntingdon commissioners Wednesday approved the permit for the demolition of the store and the site plan for a...
About 270 jobs will be lost when Pyrex plant closes, many before Christmas
Bernie Sobek of Perryopolis had a job at the Charleroi glassmaking plant that appeared, on the surface at least, to last forever. After all, the plant has been making glass for about 130 years. Sobek’s 44-year career at the Corelle Brands Inc. plant and its predecessors Anchor Hocking, Corning Glass...
Norwin area: Church to host trunk or treat program
Lamp Theatre to host ‘Rocky Horror Show production The Lamp Theatre at 222 Main St., Irwin, will host a full live production of Richard O’Brien’s classic “The Rocky Horror Show” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at midnight Saturday. The Lamp is producing it and Split Stage is casting...
Painting of aftermath of Trump assassination attempt wins Norwin art exhibition
An oil painting depicting former President Donald Trump after the assassination attempt at the Butler Farm Show grounds on July 13 was judged the Best In Show among 113 art pieces submitted by local artists at the Norwin Art League’s recent 48th Annual Art Exhibition. Laura Bell won for her...
Irwin budget: Tax rates expected to hold in 2025
The tentative 2025 budget in Irwin holds the line on real estate taxes. Irwin council on Oct. 9 introduced a $4.25 million general fund budget that sets taxes at 28 mills, the same as last year. The tentative budget allocates the revenue from 23 mills to the general fund budget;...
Plum hires Norwin board president as assistant superintendent
The president of the Norwin School Board has been hired as the assistant superintendent at Plum School District. Matthew P. Thomas of North Huntingdon, who has been the student services director for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 since June 2018, was hired Oct. 8 by the Plum School Board at...
Irwin offers $5,000 bonus for new cops to stay on the job
Police officers hired by Irwin will have an incentive to stay on the job four years — an incentive worth $5,000. Irwin police Chief Dan Wensel had suggested to council that it create a signing bonus program for any officer hired next year as a way of retaining new officers....
North Huntingdon officials nix $30M sports complex that would have hosted Pittsburgh Riverhounds
A $30 million sports complex that was to include an indoor field operated by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer team won’t be built on municipal property in North Huntingdon. The township commissioners Thursday quashed the possibility of another round of talks on lease with developers NHT Investment Partners LLC, formed by...
Irwin to join Westmoreland County SWAT team
Irwin police are going to join the Westmoreland County Special Weapons and Tactics team. Irwin Council this week approved an interagency agreement to participate in the SWAT team and to recommend that Cpl. Alex Gillingham apply to be Irwin’s representative. Gillingham will have to pass the training necessary to be...
Penn Township author to discuss self-publishing
Penn Township author Leslie Savisky will offer tips on how to self-publish books during a program Thursday at the Penn Area Library, 2001 Municipal Court, Harrison City. Savisky is a freelance writer for Pittsburgh Parent magazine and the Monroeville Times Express. She is the author of the self-published novels, “Other...
Turning Point USA won’t be allowed to use Norwin High School for event
Norwin School District denied a conservative organization’s request to use the high school Oct. 24 for what it described as a motivational speech. A flyer promoting the speech in Norwin by Turning Point USA’s Stephen Davis, part of the organization’s speakers bureau, may have been posted prematurely, the district said....
North Huntingdon to dedicate renamed Shafton Bridge
North Huntingdon officials will dedicate the bridge in the Shafton neighborhood of the township to a former firefighter at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Bridge Street. The township will rename the bridge in memory of the late Christopher Ritenour, a Shafton firefighter who died on June 6 at age 51. The...
Sportswriter to discuss his latest Steelers book at Norwin library
Veteran Pittsburgh sportswriter Jim Wexell will discuss his latest book on the Pittsburgh Steelers, “Pittsburgh Steelers: An Illustrated Timeline,” at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. Wexell, a Norwin High School graduate, has covered the Steelers for 30 years, working as a columnist...
