Joe Napsha stories, Page 2
Norwin area: Book sale, heating assistance, tree sale, more
Scouts to sell Christmas trees Boy Scout Troop 284 of Irwin will be selling live Christmas trees at the Busy Beaver store parking lot at the Norwin Hills Shopping Center. The tree sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 12; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 13; and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m....
Cause of blaze that destroyed Hempfield home under investigation
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a home in Hempfield’s Fort Allen section Tuesday morning. Flames and billowing smoke ripped through the residence at 318 Hopi Drive after the fire was reported about 9:15 a.m. Hempfield Fire Department Chief Anthony Kovacic confirmed...
Greensburg Lutheran church sells shopping plaza along Main Street
A Greensburg shopping plaza has been sold to a Unity church. Charter Oak Church on Frye Farm Road has purchased the Mid Town Plaza, at 450 S. Main St., from First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 246 S. Main St. for $1.15 million, through its COC Holdings LLC, according to documents...
North Huntingdon OKs draft rules on leasing public land
North Huntingdon officials have approved a draft ordinance to govern the leasing of public land. The move is intended to prevent a recurrence of the controversy that surrounded a proposal for a sports complex on the public works facility site. Last month, the commissioners authorized advertising the ordinance, which would...
Fire destroys Cook Township house; man left homeless
Firefighters had to battle a smoky fire at a Cook Township house Sunday while being careful as ammunition in the house was exploding, a fire official said. There were no injuries from the fire along Hoods Mill Road off Route 130, said Chestnut Ridge Fire Chief Shawn Kestner. The owner,...
Fire guts Penn Township house
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that gutted a Penn Township house late Saturday night, a fire department spokesman said. The fire at the two-story brick house at 300 Murrysville Road in the Level Green section of the township was reported at about 10:30...
3 injured in Penn Hills crash
Three people were injured early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle accident on Verona Road early Sunday morning, Penn Hills Fire Department No. 7 said in a Facebook post. Penn Hills police said the accident was reported at 2:15 a.m. and that the injuries were minor. One man was...
Jeannette business district: ‘Fledgling stages of being reborn’
As people were flowing into Jeannette’s downtown business district Saturday for the city’s holiday parade, there was a positive vibe among several business owners along Clay Avenue that downtown is seeing a revitalization. “It’s slowly coming back. There’s a lot of great things happening. We just need more,” said Jen...
Norwin student recovers from serious injuries to win martial arts crown
River Pendergrass could be considered the Norwin area’s comeback kid. Less than two years after suffering severe injuries when he was hit by a vehicle, Pendergrass has become a national martial arts champion. Pendergrass was an 11-year-old sixth grader when he was hit by an SUV on Nov. 10, 2023,...
North Huntingdon police Chief Rizzo to retire in January
North Huntingdon’s police chief will be retiring in January. Robert A. Rizzo II, who has served as the township’s police chief since September 2018, will be leaving the force on Jan. 2, said Harry Faulk, township manager. “Chief Rizzo is the gold standard for chiefs in Westmoreland County. He is...
Acquisition, not merger: WVU Health System moves to take control of Independence Health’s workers, debt
WVU Health System will acquire the facilities, employees — and debt load — from Independence Health when the two entities are officially joined in the second half of next year, according to hospital officials. It also will gain access to what Independence Health has touted as more than 750,000 people...
Norwin Holiday House Tour slated
Seven houses in North Huntingdon and Irwin decorated for the holidays will be on display at the Norwin Historical Society’s annual Holiday House Tour from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at Norwin Public Library at 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin; the Norwin Chamber of Commerce office at...
North Huntingdon plans 3.5-mill tax hike
North Huntingdon officials plan to raise real estate taxes by 3.5 mills in 2026 to balance a general fund budget of $15.8 million, a tax increase they said is necessary to fund ongoing operations and projects now that federal covid funds have been exhausted. Without the tax hike, the township would...
Norwin area: Christmas tree sale, toy drive, book sale, more
Scouts to sell Christmas trees Boy Scout Troop 284 of Irwin will be selling live Christmas trees at the Busy Beaver store parking lot at the Norwin Hills Shopping Center. The tree sale will be from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 6 and 13; and...
Chipotle eyes Irwin site for new restaurant
Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle plans to open a new eatery in Irwin. The Irwin Planning Commission is scheduled to review a land development plan at 6 p.m. Dec. 15 that Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has filed with the borough for a restaurant at 9174 Route 30 where Denny’s is currently...
Westmoreland judge considers new trial for convicted murderer of mother, sister and aunt
A New Kensington man who was a juror in the trial of a man accused of a triple murder in Loyalhanna testified Tuesday in Westmoreland County Court that he heard a fellow juror comment on why the suspect did not join the judge, attorneys and jurors when they toured the...
Norwin students: giving so others can share a similar holiday experience
A group of Norwin High School students gave of money that students raised and gave of their time Thursday to shop for and shelve groceries at an Irwin food pantry to help less fortunate families. “The food bank is really important,” said Lizzy Martina, a junior who is her class’...
Inadequate payment for services nudges small health systems like Independence toward merger, officials say
The merger of smaller regional hospital systems such as Independence Health with a larger health system — this one from West Virginia — is likely being driven, in part, by hospitals hurting from insufficient reimbursement for the cost of treating patients, a Pittsburgh-based health care consultant said. West Virginia University...
Norwin area: Sage’s Army toy drive, Wreaths Across America fundraiser, staffing agency toy drive, more
Sage’s Army holds toy drive Sage’s Army and Dream Life Recovery are holding a holiday toy drive for children and teens, with a party planned for 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at its Hempfield office, 6044 Route 30, Suite 400. Donations can be dropped off during normal business hours....
Norwin director sues district again over 2nd censure
A Norwin School Board member has filed a second federal lawsuit against the district and fellow directors. Alex Detschelt, an attorney representing himself, claims he was retaliated against for exercising his First Amendment rights after the board censured him for sexually descriptive blog posts. Detschelt filed the three-count lawsuit Monday...
Norwin Works! program: preparing students for life’s work
Autumn Serembo, a Norwin High School senior, was busy Tuesday afternoon scraping off stickers that would identify books as being from Norwin Public Library, in preparation for the books to be sold at an upcoming book sale. She was one of about six students at the library who are in...
Former national archivist has new role exploring presidential leadership
A North Huntingdon native who was the national archivist until she was removed by President Donald Trump in February has found a new role leading an initiative that will explore lessons in leadership from American presidents. Colleen Shogan, who led the National Archives and Records Administration from May 2023 until...
For the right price, Norwin will sell naming rights to its new stadium
The Norwin School District hopes to sell the naming rights to its stadium to recoup some of the cost of a $25.4 million renovation that began this month. School leaders want the funds to defray the cost of the renovation of the 60-year-old Knights Stadium, said Superintendent Natalie McCracken. “We...
Irwin OKs $148K in changes for building project
Irwin council this week approved another round of unanticipated costs for converting a former storefront in a century-old building into modern municipal offices, resulting in a project delay of about four months. On Wednesday, the council approved approximately $148,000 in additional spending to convert the former appliance store into accessible...
Norwin area: Holiday parade, new code enforcement officer, more
Irwin sets holiday parade, free parking The annual Light Up Norwin event will usher in the holiday season with a parade and entertainment on Nov. 20 along Main Street in Irwin. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with the East End Kids, followed by Main Street Music students at 5:30 p.m....
