Joe Napsha stories, Page 27
Lawyer buys former Steelers player’s estate where retreat center had been planned
A 133-acre Ligonier Township estate owned by a former Pittsburgh Steelers player who wanted to operate a retreat center for clergy and pastors was sold to a former Pittsburgh attorney who said this week he plans to use it as a personal home. Antonio “Tony” and Amy Dias of Miami...
Strong wind topples utility poles, sparks fire in East Huntingdon
High winds Tuesday afternoon snapped three utility poles along Route 819 and caused an attic fire from the downed power lines, an East Huntingdon fire official said. The fire damaged a house adjacent to Smillie’s Family Restaurant, said Chris Brinker, an assistant fire chief for East Huntingdon. Brinker said he...
$10 million athletic complex proposed for North Huntingdon
The owner of a North Huntingdon business who organizes and manages youth sports leagues is proposing a $10 million, privately owned, indoor-outdoor sports complex at the township’s public works property. Shane Larkin, owner of the N Zone Sports — Westmoreland franchise, said the proposal he presented to the North Huntingdon...
Realtors see rebound for housing market in 2024, spurred by lower interest rates
Western Pennsylvania’s housing market took a hit last year that real estate agents attributed to higher mortgage rates that priced some buyers out of the market and fewer homes being available for those ready to make a move. “All the companies were down about 131⁄2%,” said Dennis A. Cestra Jr.,...
Pittsburgh police: Missing Braddock girl found safe Saturday
A 17-year-old girl with Down syndrome who went missing after she was dropped off early Friday morning at Sto-Rox High School has been found safe, Allegheny County Police said Saturday afternoon. The girl, Kayla Durler, of Braddock, was last seen at a nearby bus stop in Stowe shortly before 10...
Nature walk set for Powdermill Nature Reserve
The Powdermill Nature Reserve along Route 381 in Cook Township is conducted a guided walk through the trails in its woods from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 17. The After-School Story Stroll will have educators and naturalists guiding the hike. There will be pages along the way and hands-on activities...
Norwin area: St. Elizabeth Ann church to hold bingo; North Huntingdon appoints board members
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to hold bingo A Super Bingo with a $1,000 jackpot payout will be held at Mack Hall at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 200 Leger Rd., North Huntingdon, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 24. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. The price is $30 per ticket, with...
Rep. Dunbar’s former aide to seek seat
A former chief of staff to Republican state Rep. George Dunbar is seeking to succeed his former boss in the 56th District. Brian Rasel, 37, of Penn Township, announced his candidacy last month for the Republican nomination in the wake of Dunbar’s announcement that he would not seek reelection for...
Irwin businesswoman will fill vacant post on council
Irwin Borough council selected an Irwin woman active with the Irwin Business & Professional Association to fill a vacancy on council. Amanda Morrison, who operates the non-profit Come Talk Inc., was unanimously selected by council Tuesday to fill the vacancy created by the resignation last month of Leslie Savage. Morrison...
Hundreds take icy dip in the Yough to celebrate 2024
Instead of a morning snooze, 2024 began, for several hundred people, with a dip in the ice-cold Youghiogheny River. “It’s a good way to start the new year,” said Shawn Hayes, 44, of Dawson as he waded into the river carrying his 2-year-old daughter, Paisley, on his shoulders. Hayes, who...
2024’s 1st babies born at Allegheny Health Network, UPMC hospitals
Three babies were born within a minute of each other shortly after the new year at UPMC and Allegheny Health Network hospitals. Two of the three babies were born at 12:45 a.m. at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, officials said. Couple Jonathan Mrockosky and Emily Helbling of Zelionople had a daughter, Madison....
Family ties apparent at Westmoreland County district judge swearing-in ceremonies
When it comes to electing district judges in Westmoreland County, the position sometimes remains all in the family — a fact never so obvious as at the swearing-in ceremonies Friday for judges who won their seats in the November election. Of the nine district judges who were sworn into office...
Power outage in Greensburg traps 4 in courthouse elevator
The wheels of justice may grind slowly, but for four people riding in an elevator Friday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, those wheels actually ground to a halt. Senior county Judge Al Bell was one of four people trapped inside the elevator for about 45 minutes when a...
Pedestrian suffers head injury in Downtown Greensburg hit-and-run, police say
An elderly woman was injured by a hit-and-run driver late Thursday night while crossing South Main Street in Greensburg, city police said. The victim, whose identity was not available, suffered a head injury from the collision with the vehicle at about 9:45 p.m. and was transported to Allegheny Health Network...
Police chase ends with suspect’s car in Forest Hills pool
A man who flashed a weapon at Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies Wednesday was arrested Thursday after a second police chase ended with his vehicle sinking in a Forest Hill swimming pool, authorities said. The suspect, Jeremy Neal, 31, was arrested after a chase that began in the city, went onto...
Health Department reports rodents, fruit flies at Waterworks Cinemas
A health inspection this week at Waterworks Cinemas in Pittsburgh cited a rodent and fruit fly infestation. The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday issued a consumer alert about the movie theater’s conditions after a Dec. 26 inspection found six violations. An inspector found evidence of an active rodent infestation,...
Westmoreland DA wants to review police video before it’s released to public
Four months after police released body camera video showing an officer shooting a Ligonier Township man, the Westmoreland District Attorney’s Office is asking local police departments to have prosecutors review similar footage before it is released publicly. The request hasn’t been opposed by police, but legal, law enforcement and open...
North Huntingdon holds line on taxes
North Huntingdon property owners will not pay higher real estate taxes to operate the municipality’s government in 2024. The budget retains the tax rate at 11.55 mills. Of that 9.23 mills is devoted to the $15.8 million general fund, which was reduced from $16.4 million this year. Revenue from an additional...
Amtrak anticipates spending $6.6M on Greensburg, Latrobe station projects
As Amtrak, the state and Norfolk Southern Corp. are planning major improvements to the rail line from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg, the passenger rail service is projecting it will spend $6.6 million over the next two years on improvements to two Westmoreland County train stations, in Greensburg and Latrobe. Amtrak has...
Man killed in Derry Township crash
A man was killed Wednesday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash in Derry Township, the Westmoreland County coroner said. Derek W. Skillings, 40, of the township, died of blunt force injuries when his southbound Dodge Caliber hit a tree after leaving the right side of Pandora Road at 2:20 p.m., Coroner...
Unity man in cryptocurrency theft to lose house, begin 3-year prison sentence in January
A Unity man who is to start serving a three-year prison sentence Jan. 2 after pleading guilty to being part of a California cryptocurrency theft ring, may need a new home when he gets out of jail. The federal government intends to sell the house he purchased for $942,500 in...
Loyalhanna house gutted by fire, family left homeless right before Christmas
A Loyalhanna family of four was left homeless Wednesday afternoon by a fire that caused extensive damage to their two-story house, a fire official said. No one was injured in the accidental fire that appeared to start in the living room of the two-story Stewart Avenue home, Saltsburg Assistant Fire...
Tay Waltenbaugh, former Community Action leader, had passion for helping people
At 6 feet, 7 inches tall, Tay R. Waltenbaugh was a larger-than-life person who had a passion for helping those in need become self-sufficient. “He did so much for so many people. No one was more committed to helping others in Westmoreland County than Tay,” said county Commissioner Ted Kopas....
Independence Health: Hospitals post positive operating revenue but health system losses remain
Independence Health System’s five hospitals posted positive operating revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, hospital officials said Monday, even as the former Butler and Excela health systems individually lost millions of dollars in that 12-month period. Latrobe Area Hospital topped all the other health system hospitals — Butler...
Man hurt in dirt bike crash on South Side
A man was reported hospitalized in critical condition Saturday night as a result of injuries he suffered in a dirt bike collision on Pittsburgh’s South Side, Pittsburgh police said. The driver, who was not identified, was found lying on East Carson Street between South 11th Street and South 12th Street...
