Joe Napsha stories, Page 18
Irwin-Harrison City area churches forming mission to help those in need with home repairs
Volunteers from four Irwin, Penn Township and North Huntingdon churches have banded together in an initiative to make home repairs in a three-day stretch in October. “We have a ton of people who are chomping at the bit to help. We will do the work and provide the supplies,” said...
Berlin Airlift plane draws crowds, elicits memories at air show
A piece of post-World War II history captivated crowds at the Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow as a DC-54 four-engine cargo plane was among the attractions. The Douglas DC-54 helped hundreds of thousands of Berliners stay alive through a Soviet blockade of their city in 1948-49. “The challenge to flying...
Missing girl found, police say
Pittsburgh police said Sunday morning that an 11-year-old girl has been located after being reported missing after running away from home following an argument. Police did not say where Kashaie Davis was located. Police believe she may be in the Terrace Village or Hill District areas. A city camera captured...
Record-breaking participation for Norwin library’s summer reading program
More than 1,000 children took a break from their electronic devices this summer to participate in the Norwin Public Library’s Children’s Summer Reading Program. In addition to the record-breaking participation, Diana Falk, library director, said that circulation of children’s materials was 13% higher this year than it was in June...
Man shot in Homestead
A man was reported in critical condition in an area hospital after being shot multiple times early Sunday morning in Homestead, Allegheny County Police said. The victim, who was not identified, was shot in the 1100 block of Sylvan Avenue, police said. Allegheny County 911 received a report of the...
Navy jet pilot at air show: Latrobe native achieved his dream
It was like old home week for Latrobe native Will Brooks, a Navy pilot who flew an EA-18G Growler into the Shop ’n Save Westmoreland Airshow at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe. He greeted old friends and teachers Saturday next to the jet displayed on the airport apron. The...
Health check-up time for Westmoreland Fair rabbits; open eyes wide
It was health check-up time Saturday morning for a few hundred rabbits that were being entered into the rabbit judging contest at the Westmoreland Fair in Mt. Pleasant Township. “I look over the general body to make sure they are healthy to be entered into the fair,” said Marianne Miller...
Norwin hires school social worker for elementary schools
A licensed school social worker will be assigned to work with students in the Norwin School District’s four elementary schools. Johanna Belako was hired by the school board Monday to serve in the school demonstrating the greatest area of need. A $200,000 School Safety Grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on...
Norwin area: Library book sale set; Irwin hires police officer
Library group to hold book sale The Friends of the Norwin Public Library will have a Back to School book sale from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the library at 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. There will be a large selection of gently used books for all ages....
Norwin names assistant high school principal
Norwin has a new assistant high school principal, who has been the dean of students at the high school since 2017. The Norwin School Board Monday unanimously approved Kelly Jones as the assistant high school principal at a salary of $109,500. Superintendent Natalie McCracken said Jones was an English teacher...
Residents: New senior citizen building in Irwin ‘top of the line’
It’s back to their roots for Libby and Ted Fenster, McKeesport natives who are among the first residents to move into the four-story, 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences in Irwin. “I love it here. Everything is just top of the line,” said Libby Fenster, who moved into the Westmoreland County...
Horror movie to be filmed at Irwin’s Lamp Theatre
The renovated Lamp Theatre, which was showing movies in downtown Irwin for more than six decades before it closed in 2004, is the set for a movie production this summer. Independent movie director and producer Mark Cantu, 45, of McKeesport said he will return to the theater in downtown Irwin...
Safety, disruption concerns prompt proposed cancellation of Norwin Halloween parades
With classes set to start Aug. 22, Norwin School District officials are working to find a balance between education and celebrations with a focus on safety. The school board this past week debated ending Halloween parades at the district’s elementary schools because of concerns regarding safety and class disruptions. Director...
Unity family’s ATV use on farm pits them against neighbors
A Unity family who wants an ordinance changed so they can ride all-terrain vehicles, quads and dirt bikes on trails on a farm are opposed by the residents of the Cambridge Point housing development near the property. Township supervisors will be tasked with deciding whether to change the municipality’s ordinance...
North Huntingdon police accuse 2 of using credit card skimmer
Two men already accused of stealing customers’ credit card information using a skimmer device at supermarkets in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, are also accused of using a device to steal the identity of customers at a North Huntingdon supermarket, according to township police. Thomas Fuchs, 34, of Pittsburgh and Alexandru...
Unity woman accused in $2K theft from neighbor
A Unity woman is accused of using a man’s vehicle without his permission for a day and making almost $2,000 in unauthorized purchases and withdrawals with his credit card and bank debit card, state police at Greensburg said. The suspect, Bruna M. Leonard, 54, of Tabby Lane, is accused of...
Infusion drugs to battle Alzheimer’s disease give hope to Western Pa. patients
At age 57, Christine Lieb of Scottdale has hope that the new treatments she is undergoing for early onset Alzheimer’s disease will give her more time to enjoy her life. “I feel 100% better when I’m done. I feel it when it is time to have another one,” Lieb said....
Reports: Parent company of Kennywood, Idlewild & Soak Zone exploring sale of U.S. holdings
Western Pennsylvania’s landmark amusement and water parks — Kennywood in West Mifflin, Sandcastle Water Park in West Homestead and Idlewild & Soak Zone in Ligonier Township — may be up for sale as part of their Spanish corporate owner’s move to seek the value of all of its U.S. assets,...
Reports: Parent company of Kennywood, Idlewild & Soak Zone exploring sale of U.S. holdings
Western Pennsylvania’s landmark amusement and water parks — Kennywood in West Mifflin, Sandcastle Water Park in West Homestead and Idlewild & Soak Zone in Ligonier Township — may be up for sale as part of their Spanish corporate owner’s move to seek the value of all of its U.S. assets,...
Indiana County woman accused of attempted homicide
An Indiana County woman is charged with attempted homicide and is accused of severely beating and stabbing a man Saturday during a domestic dispute in Conemaugh Township, state police said. The suspect, Mary Elizabeth Stuller, 60, of Clarksburg, is accused of hitting the man in the head with a glass...
North Huntingdon man among thousands waiting for kidney transplant as Pa. marks Donor Day
Tom Farino of North Huntingdon is eight months into what could be a seven-year wait for a kidney transplant. A transplant would give Farino, 72, a new lease on life. “They’re trying to find a living donor before I need dialysis,” Farino said. Farino said his doctor at Allegheny General...
Lamp concert to raise money for Irwin police
The Lamp Theatre in Irwin will be the site of an alternative rock band concert Friday night to help raise money to pay for tasers and the associated software for Irwin Borough police. “We want to do something to help raise money. We want to do what we can to...
Shot hits Station Square restaurant; no injuries
A restaurant window at Station Square on Pittsburgh’s South Side was hit by a gunshot Tuesday afternoon, Pittsburgh Police said. No one was injured when one of the bullets damaged one pane of a two-pane window about 2:30 p.m. at Joe’s Crab Shack, 226 W. Station Square Drive, police said....
Amazon’s New Stanton facility could provide economic boost, challenge for small businesses, officials say
Amazon’s efforts to attract 600 workers for its new warehouse in New Stanton is like a double-edged sword for Westmoreland’s economy — great for job creation but potentially tough on small businesses that must compete for talent with the multibillion-dollar behemoth. “It’s great that they have selected New Stanton,” but...
Some say 7% boost in Pa. Medicaid funding is not enough for nursing homes; Sen. Kim Ward agrees
A 7% increase included in the recently passed Pennsylvania budget for nursing home residents on Medicaid — upping the total to $120 million — will help facilities caring for the elderly but won’t cover the gap between cost of the care and the state’s Medicaid reimbursement, a nursing home official...

