Joe Napsha stories, Page 16
Hempfield man denied bond reduction in alleged murder-for-hire case
A Hempfield man accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his sister in April in a dispute over money and property he expected to inherit will not see his $250,000 bail reduced. Westmoreland County Judge Scott Mears said during a hearing Monday that the charge against Peter...
Trio pleads guilty to attempted metal theft from Hamill Manufacturing
Two men were sentenced to almost a year in prison Monday after pleading guilty to the attempted theft of U.S. submarine metal from a Penn Township manufacturer. Bobby Lucci, 27, and Marcello Miguel, 22, both of Mt. Ephraim, N.J., will serve from 364 days to two years, less one day,...
Trump puts Charleroi’s Haitian population in spotlight
As the political spotlight shines on Charleroi, a Mon Valley town settled by immigrants and named after a city in Belgium, its residents are disputing Donald Trump’s portrayal of its burgeoning Haitian population. Haitian Marie Occimable lived in Miami and Atlanta, then heard Charleroi could be a place where she...
Battle to save Charleroi glass plant entangled in political campaign for Senate
The battle to save a Charleroi glassmaking plant whose owner wants to close it by year’s end and move operations to Ohio became entangled Friday in the politics of the U.S. Senate campaign in Pennsylvania. Republican Senatorial candidate David McCormick blamed the pending closure of the LCN Corelle Brands plant...
Reproductive rights rally slated for Pitt-Greensburg
A social welfare organization associated with the non-partisan Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania plans to discuss reproductive rights during a rally from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Pitt-Greensburg’s Mary Lou Campana Chapel off Mt. Pleasant Road in Hempfield. “It’s important to have these conversations with college students, because they...
North Huntingdon sports complex developers must revise lease
Developers who want to build a sports complex in North Huntingdon with multiple athletic fields — including for Pittsburgh’s professional soccer team — likely will have to amend a tentative lease with the municipality to move the project forward. North Huntingdon commissioners Thursday said the revised version of the initial...
Norwin briefs: Library to hold genealogy program; Gig on Main set
Norwin library holds programs Norwin residents have the opportunity to learn about English as a Second Language services and programs in the community during a free presentation at 6 p.m. May 23 at the Norwin Public Library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin, Cathy Maloney, the ESL coordinator for Calvary Church in...
For volunteers, Flight 93 Memorial ‘like a phoenix rising’
Retired elementary school teacher Kathy Lioi is among dozens of volunteers who walk the grounds and tell the story of United Airlines Flight 93 and its ending on Sept. 11, 2001. “I want to tell people about its history. It’s hard not to feel a part of this place,” said...
Queen of Angels students, staff create a legacy with mosaic
A mosaic in the design of a Western Pennsylvania landscape — rolling hills, clouds in a blue sky with a shining sun — is framed around the doorway at the Queen of Angels Catholic School in North Huntingdon, a legacy for the students, staff and the artist who worked on...
OSHA to probe fatal Hempfield tractor accident
Federal workplace safety regulators will investigate the fatal accident that killed a man driving a tractor that overturned into a creek at a Hempfield nursery on Thursday, an agency spokeswoman said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct the investigation into the death of Clifford E. Schweinsburg Jr., 79,...
Pittsburgh-area family of Pearl Harbor sailor ID’d after more than 80 years attend Arlington burial
A Pittsburgh-area family whose distant relative died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was at the reinterment this week of the sailor whose remains were unidentified for 80 years until DNA tests and military researchers traced his descendants back to America’s enslavement of African-Americans, a...
‘Battle of Bushy Run’ screening aims to raise money for Battlefield Heritage Society
The story of the pivotal Bushy Run battle where British and colonial soldiers defeated native warriors, enabling them to end the siege of Fort Pitt during Pontiac’s War in August 1763, will hit the big screen locally Sunday, Sept. 15. “It’s a good tool to introduce new people to the...
Longtime Irwin art teacher enjoys camaraderie with students
Patricia Vaughn loves teaching others to paint. “I really enjoy the people. It’s the camaraderie. It’s fun watching them grow, year after year” said Vaughn of North Huntingdon, who has been a teacher at the Norwin Art League since 1977. Vaughn teaches classes three days a week in the cozy...
North Huntingdon vet, longtime ‘teacher’ recognized with lifetime achievement award
While other kids wanted to be a firefighter, a policeman or an astronaut when they were growing up, Dr. Harvey R. Bendix knew what he wanted to be when he was in grade school in the 1950s: a veterinarian. “I‘ve loved animals since I was in my late grade school...
Police: Pittsburgh man nabbed with gun stolen from Lower Burrell owner
A Pittsburgh man who ran from police after allegedly threatening another man with a gun in downtown Pittsburgh, was found to have a gun that was stolen in Lower Burrell, Pittsburgh police said. Tymozh Toles, 18, of Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood, is accused of having a loaded gun in a backpack...
Ex-Children’s Hospital doctor faces child pornography charges
A former chief radiologist at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was arrested for allegedly having images of child pornography, the U.S. attorney ‘s office in Pittsburgh said Wednesday. Dr. Ashok Panigrahy, 53, of Pittsburgh, pleaded not guilty Tuesday before a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh to charges of transporting and attempted...
While elections aren’t error-free, rigged outcomes are a fantasy, Westmoreland commissioner says
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett knows about winning — and losing — a gubernatorial election. On Tuesday night, Corbett gave a sobering assessment of the nation’s electoral process, just 62 days before the presidential election. “There is no such thing as a perfect election,” Corbett told more than 100 people...
UPMC posts $313 million loss for first half of 2024
UPMC lost $313 million in the first six months of the year, the Pittsburgh-based health care giant said. The company announced the financial picture at a time when it is cutting about 1,000 jobs. UPMC said Thursday its expenses topped $14.7 billion, but had $14.47 billion in revenue from its...
Norwin briefs: Pavilion to be dedicated; foundation raising money during Norwin homecoming
VFW Post 781 to dedicate remodeled pavilion The J. Howard Snyder Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 781 on Billott Avenue in North Huntingdon will dedicate the remodeled Don Kattic Pavilion in a ceremony at noon Sept. 28 at the post. The 28-year-old pavilion, named at the late VFW commander Don...
Highmark Health revenue up $1B
The parent company of Highmark Health insurance and Allegheny Health Network said Thursday its insurance business plans drove revenue in the first half of the year to $14.7 billion — up more than $1 billion from the same period last year. Highmark Health also reported net income of $417 million...
State urged to reject Donegal mine’s renewal of permit to discharge water
Almost two dozen Donegal-area residents and environmental activists urged state regulators Wednesday to reject a mining company’s request to renew its permit to discharge water from its Donegal Township mine. They contend that the water pollutes the creek, and digging out coal has damaged homes and water supplies. “Our community...
Fundraiser set for family of Paintertown firefighter killed clearing storm damage
A fundraiser will be held at an Irwin art and gift shop on Sept. 15 for the family of an 18-year-old Penn Township firefighter killed this summer while clearing trees downed by a tornado. Feathers Gift Shop at 102 Fourth St., will hold a special event 11 a.m. to 4...
Trafford man stabbed in domestic dispute; woman charged
A Trafford woman is accused of stabbing a man with a knife multiple times Saturday morning during a domestic dispute, Trafford police said. Danielle Smith, 44, is accused of stabbing a man in both arms during an argument at about 9:30 a.m. at her Adrian Avenue residence, Trafford police said....
Penn Township man accused of injuring Manor police officer, jailed on assault charges
A Penn Township man is accused of assaulting a Manor police officer during a neighborhood dispute in Harrison City, township police said. Police said Kurt J. Pfeiffer, 58, of Harrison City resisted arrest on Aug. 19 by tucking in his arms and twisting his body, causing the officer to fall,...
Norwin honors former football players killed in crashes
A Norwin graduate who was on the football team and a student who was on the team, both of whom were killed in vehicle accidents this year, were honored in a ceremony before Friday night’s home football game against Penn-Trafford. A moment of silence was held for Josiah J. Pastories,...
