Joe Napsha stories, Page 24
Scrapped merger of Spirit, JetBlue good news for Westmoreland airport, official says
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s top official welcomed Monday’s announcement that Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways are grounding plans for a proposed $3.8 billion merger. “It is a great opportunity for us to know what we are facing. I think it holds nothing but good news for us,” said Gabe Monzo,...
Man arrested in connection with fatal Hill District shooting in January
A Pittsburgh man was jailed Friday after being arrested on the East Busway as he fled from officers from multiple law enforcement agencies seeking to capture him in connection with the Jan. 31 fatal shooting of a man in the city’s Hill District, police said. The suspect, Deshawn Wallace, 46,...
Urban Air Adventure Park banks on attracting youngsters, adults to North Huntingdon site
Mary Ann Brown of Adamsburg got a sneak peak Friday at an indoor entertainment venue in North Huntingdon replete with a zip line hanging from the ceiling, a double-layer 1,000-foot electric go-kart track, four 30-foot-high climbing walls, a battle beam and a sea of 200,000 plastic balls for youngsters to...
Babies leap into Leap Year birthdays
Ben and Lindsey Ereditario were expecting their first child to arrive on Sunday, but little Louis waited until Thursday to make his appearance at Independence Health System Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. He’s among several newborns in the region who joined the ranks of Leap Year babies that day. There are...
Norwin area: Church to hold ham bingo; Norwin Elks to hold luncheon for veterans; bus trip planned
North Huntingdon church to hold ham bingo St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church at 90 Bethel Road, North Huntingdon, will hold its annual Ham Bingo from 1 to 4 p.m. March 17. The doors will open at noon. The bingo will feature 20 games for $20. The will be specials, basket...
Diocese efforts to resettle Ukrainians: Helping refugees helps businesses
Two years after Russia invaded their country, five Ukrainian refugee families are living in Westmoreland County through a Catholic Diocese of Greensburg mission, an initiative to help them get a fresh start while easing the region’s worker shortage. “It is my prayer that when we, the ecumenical, business and community...
Westmoreland County employers say they have a tough time finding workers who want to work
In an era when some businesses offer a flexible post-covid schedule, some employers at a job fair in Hempfield on Wednesday said it is a challenge to find employees willing to work — and do it five days a week at a job site and be there when the company...
Employers at job fair face hurdles to fill slots — fewer workers and low unemployment rate
About four dozen businesses and organizations seeking workers at a job fair this week in Hempfield are facing a double whammy as they attempt to woo prospective employees: The jobless rate is at a record low, and there are fewer people in the workforce since the covid pandemic upended the...
Job fair set for Feb. 28 in Hempfield
Those seeking a job or looking for employees can make connections at the Westmoreland Assists Native Talent Job and Career Expo Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Ferrante’s Lakeview banquet center along Route 30 in Hempfield. The WANT Job and Career Expo is expected to have a a diverse...
‘Something’s not right to me,’ UPS worker says of cuts at New Stanton hub
A United Parcel Service employee said she felt betrayed this week after receiving news the company plans to shed about 200 jobs from its New Stanton delivery hub. “In the end, we got screwed. It’s rough. Something’s not right to me,” said Lindsey Kramer, 37, of Mt. Pleasant. She was...
North Huntingdon nixes plans for multi-use field at Oak Hollow Park
A multi-use field at North Huntingdon’s Oak Hollow Park is not in the near future for the township since North Huntingdon officials determined that an estimated $3 million price tag was too expensive. Commissioners decided not to apply for a $500,000 grant to the state Department of Conservation and Natural...
UPS plans layoffs at New Stanton facility
Global shipper UPS plans to eliminate the full daylight shift that sorts packages at its New Stanton facility April 15, the company said Tuesday. Teamsters Local 30 in Jeannette will meet with its members Wednesday to discuss the company’s plans to cut the local workforce, said Eugene “Geno” Bosetti, president...
Norwin hires firm for superintendent search
Norwin will pay a Harrisburg-area consultant nearly $20,000 to oversee the school district’s search for a new superintendent. The school board Monday split 5-4 on hiring Templeton Advantage LLC of Newport, about 25 miles northwest of Harrisburg. Templeton will charge Norwin $17,000 for its services, plus a maximum of $2,500...
Mark Smail, 62, carried on the family automotive business, was active in community
While Mark A. Smail had the responsibility of operating the family’s successful automotive dealerships east of Greensburg, he also made it a priority to spend quality time with his family and enjoy life. Smail enjoyed boating in the Florida Keys in the summer, going to the family’s lodge in Ontario’s...
In-demand apprentice machinists compete for regional awards as industry looks fill vacant jobs
Travis Bayne of New Kensington was focused on cutting a cylinder-shaped piece of aluminum on a manual lathe Friday as part of a competition for apprentice machinists determined to produce a precise, quality machined part as quickly as possible. “You’re trying to get the job done as fast as you...
Irwin group gets money for blight fight efforts
An Irwin nonprofit that mounts programs and initiatives to help homeowners unable to maintain their properties and deal with hoarding will get money from the borough to help it land a larger grant for its joint projects. Fight the Blight Inc. won unanimous approval from Irwin Borough Council on Wednesday...
Irwin to seek funding for police body cameras
Irwin’s police chief is seeking money to purchase six body cameras for the department’s police officers. “We want to make sure that our officers and the borough are protected,” Irwin police Chief Dan Wensel told borough council at a recent meeting. Wensel told borough council that Axon Enterprise Inc. could...
Penn Township author to offer tips on book publishing
A Penn Township author who has self-published two fictional books and is working on a third one says she loves what she is doing, even if she will not get rich from pursing her passion in writing. “I sell my books for $10. It’s not always about money. You have...
Norwin area: Norwin student shine in history contest; Softball team holds fundraiser
Norwin softball team to hold fundraiser The Norwin High School softball team will hold an “egg your yard” fundraiser for Easter morning for school district residents. Families will be able to wake up Easter morning on March 31 to candy-filled eggs in their yard. The team is charging $15 for...
$22M terminal project at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to take off by summer
A $22 million expansion of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport could begin by summer, the airport’s engineer said Tuesday. Bids were opened in January and contracts for the first phase of the work could be awarded by April, engineer Scott Kunselman told Westmoreland County Airport Authority board members. “The bids are...
Norwin considers hiring firm for superintendent search
The Norwin School District may end up paying about $20,000 to hire an executive search firm to help find a new superintendent to replace Jeff Taylor, who will leave the post at the end of the school year. School directors this week authorized its personnel committee to hire a search...
Primanti Bros. seeks liquor license for North Huntingdon restaurant
Pittsburgh-based Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar chain wants to use a liquor license from Mt. Pleasant at the restaurant it plans to open in North Huntingdon. The North Huntingdon Township commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m,. Feb. 21 to take comments and receive testimony about Primanti’s request...
Winning Match 6 Lotto ticket sold in Monessen
Someone is $1.4 million richer — minus taxes — after buying what turned out to be Saturday’s winning Pennsylvania Lottery Match 6 Lotto ticket at the Par Mar store in Monessen, the Pennsylvania Lottery said. The winner’s Match 6 Lotto ticket matched all six winning numbers — 8-12-22-25-28-29. The Par...
Penn Township board will visit proposed natural gas compressor site
Penn Township Zoning Hearing Board members will take a road trip to the site proposed for a natural gas compressor station. Before it makes a decision on the request for a permit, the five-member board unanimously agreed to visit the rural site along Wilderness Road near the Murrysville border. Protect...
Fire destroys South Huntingdon houseVideo
A fire destroyed a multi-story wooden house along Boy Scout Road in South Huntingdon house Friday. Firefighters from Turkeytown, Smithton and Scottdale fought the blaze, which was reported at 11:45 a.m., a Westmoreland County Public Safety Supervisor said....
