Joe Napsha stories, Page 4

With about five weeks remaining before the deadline to pass a state budget, legislators are in the dark as to how the proposed cutbacks in federal spending will impact Pennsylvania’s fiscal planning. But one thing is certain: No new taxes, the top Senate leader said Thursday. “We’re certainly not going...

An honor guard will conduct ceremonies at four cemeteries in the Norwin area Sunday and the annual Memorial Day parade will be held in Irwin on Monday. The Manor American Legion Post 472 honor guard, in conjunction with the Norwin Historical Society, will conduct Memorial Day ceremonies at four cemeteries...

Irwin store owner Denise Bowen got a heartfelt surprise recently, a sign of respect for her, her late husband and family, courtesy of her fellow business owners and friends. Bowen’s friends raised $1,800 for a black-colored memorial bench in honor of her late husband, Rich Bowen, a longtime football coach...

A slate of four Norwin School Board candidates promising to end the panel’s political battles was leading in the race to win the nominations of both political parties for four seats on the board, according to the results from Tuesday’s primary. With all 32 Westmoreland County precincts reporting, Rob Bunovich...

One Republican incumbent and one new candidate were the leaders among five GOP candidates seeking nominations for two seats on Hempfield’s board of supervisors, according to results from Tuesday’s primary. With all precincts reporting, incumbent Doug Weimer, 55, a Norwin teacher seeking his fifth term on the board, led all...

Dr. Richard Conn is well-­­versed in the challenges of providing health care in rural areas. The primary care physician has been seeing patients in Connellsville for the past 19 years. “For some (patients), preventive care is foreign to them. There’s a hesitancy to do things,” said Conn, 52, a Fayette...

A North Huntingdon martial artist instructor has been nominated for special martial arts award as one of the World’s Greatest Martial Artists G.O.A.T. — the greatest of all time. John Morgart Jr., a 31-year-old sensi who started in martial arts in 2004, shares the recognition with martial arts icons such...

A Norwin High School junior who is in the Aspiring Educators program at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center is headed to Atlanta this summer for a national Skills USA competition in the early childhood education category. Avery Waszo, 17, of North Huntingdon, qualified for the state Skills USA Championship...

A group of about 30 volunteers from four Norwin area and Penn Township churches will be on a mission this week to help about 15 low-income and elderly residents in need of home repairs so they can live in a safe and secure environment. The Carpenter’s Apprentice will send volunteers...

Rebecca Burns recently made a trip to The Pawn and Jewelry Exchange to find out how much her gold jewelry is worth. Skyrocketing gold prices, which have reached over $3,300 for a troy ounce of the precious metal, piqued her interest. Burns brought a necklace and other gold pieces of...

The North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority’s sewage rates will remain the same in the coming fiscal year, but tap-in fees will increase, the authority manager said. The $13.1 million operating budget expenditures include $2.47 million in sewage treatment for customers of the Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority plant along Route 993...

The political battles on the Norwin School Board in 2022 and 2023 may come to an end over the next two years as four incumbents will not be on the May 20 primary election ballot. Rob Bunovich, Monica Kitta, Jakub Sadowski, Chelsea Thomas and Ella Thompson, all of North Huntingdon,...

Republican voters in North Huntingdon’s 6th Ward will be the only ones selecting from multiple candidates in a township commissioners race in the May 20 primary. Three candidates seeking the GOP nomination to succeed Fran Bevan in the ward are William Cummings, Antonio Lio and Leah McGhee. All three are...

A $2.3 million project to build nine cottage-style residences for senior citizens is planned for a site adjacent to the new 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences in Irwin. Construction on the four duplexes and one single unit might begin in early 2026 and be ready for occupancy later that year...

Voters in North Irwin and Irwin do not have contested races in the May 20 primary for either the Democratic or Republican nominations for seats on the two borough councils. In Irwin, Republican incumbents Tyler Baum and Frank Rossi are seeking the GOP nomination for reelection to another four-year term....

A longtime executive director is leaving the Westmoreland County Historical Society’s top post and will be replaced by an experienced leader in nonprofits. Meanwhile, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art has a new fundraiser and external affairs representative. The historical society will have a change in leadership for the first...

Rustic Ridge No. 1 Mine near Donegal has state approval to expand its operations under the Pennsylvania Turnpike and tap into 1,450 acres of a coal seam in an area along Route 711. The work is expected to extend the mine’s life by six to eight years, said Mark Tercek,...

A motorcyclist was killed early Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle head-on collision along Route 51 near Perryopolis, according to state police at Belle Vernon. The victim, Paul Corbett, 57, of Perryopolis, was riding southbound when his motorcycle crossed over into the northbound lanes and collided head-on with a pickup truck...

A homeless man is accused of making numerous harassing phone calls to Ascension Catholic Church in Jeannette, police said. William J. Gay, 55, is accused of threatening to kill a church secretary and set the church on fire, according to court documents. He has been making the calls since October,...

Plant sale planned The Irwin Garden Club plant sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon May 17 at the Norwin Public Library, Caruthers Lane, Irwin. Perennials and gently-used garden items will be for sale. Cash only will be accepted on all transactions. The sale will be held, rain...

Hillandale Farms, among the nation’s top egg producers with a corporate office in Hempfield, was sold last month for $1.1 billion to a Luxembourg-based company. Hillandale Farms, founded by Orland Bethel in 1958, sold its 20-million chicken operations in late March to Global Eggs, according to news reports. Hillandale Farms...

The Norwin School Board members who voted last week for a $25 million stadium project were ripped Monday by critics who called it unnecessary, too costly in times of economic uncertainty and too much of a tax burden, particularly on senior citizens. “I think you failed in your fiduciary responsibilities...

News media organizations applauded a federal judge’s ruling Thursday that Google, the premier internet search engine, illegally monopolized the lucrative online advertising market. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google, a $348 billion behemoth owned by Alphabet Inc., created a monopoly over advertising software used by publishers. “This ruling...

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania wants to boost the monthly gas bill of a typical residential customer 11.3%, but a state consumer advocate says the change could be illegal. The gas distribution rate hike from Columbia Gas would raise the average residential monthly gas bill from $138.50 to $154.30, while small...