Joe Napsha stories, Page 5
DEP gives preliminary nod to $10B Homer City plant, environmental group sounds alarm
State environmental regulators say they intend to approve an air quality plan for a proposed natural gas-fired power plant near Homer City, despite concerns from an environmental group that the facility would become the largest air polluter in Pennsylvania. The Department of Environmental Protection said the air quality plan submitted...
Norwin won’t attempt to retrieve deleted videos, may consider new records policy
A North Huntingdon resident’s attempt to get Norwin School District to spend money on retrieving deleted school board meeting videos has been denied. Bill Bojalad, board president, said last week there is no support among board members to hire a data recovery company to try to find the videos that...
Irwin to explore fire safety inspection program
Irwin borough officials have approved a plan for the fire department committee to develop a new fire safety inspection program. The committee will work in collaboration with the Irwin fire department and community stakeholders. The borough council voted unanimously to approve the initiative, which will be spearheaded by council members...
World War II end to be commemorated at Lamp Theatre
The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be commemorated at The Lamp Theatre in Irwin on Sept. 21 with newsreels from World War II, Jeeps such as the ones used during the war, historical artifacts and military displays. The free GI Canteen for a Day program...
Norwin planning for stadium demolition
Norwin officials are expected to get an update this week on the plan to demolish the high school stadium, with work set to begin in November. This is part of a $25 million renovation project that is scheduled to be completed in June 2027. Superintendent Natalie McCracken said a meeting...
Irwin firefighters propose fire safety inspections
Irwin’s fire department wants borough officials to consider giving their stamp of approval to developing a fire safety inspection program. It’s an initiative that will improve safety in town and give the fire department a better rating, leading to lower insurance premiums, the fire chief said. Irwin Council is expected...
Irwin office conversion costs rise; mural considered for side of building
Irwin Borough officials are finding the cost of converting a former storefront into administrative offices is running about $75,000 more than the $1.1 million in contracts initially awarded. Contractors began working on the conversion of the former Rosendahl’s Appliance Center storefront at 424 Main St. early this summer. The project...
Yough River cleanup planned from Cedar Creek to West Newton
Boaters who want to keep the Youghiogheny River clean of discarded tires and other trash from Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver to West Newton can paddle down the river on Saturday and join in removing the unsightly mess. The Mountain Watershed Association, an environmental organization based in Melcroft, is sponsoring...
Raptors, virtual tour of Henry Ford museum on tap for Norwin library
Four raptors are expected to be at the Norwin Public Library on Thursday as part of a program on their importance to the ecosystem. Talon Talk will be presented by Nature’s Educators of Florence, Colo., at 6 p.m. at the library, 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. Members of the nonprofit wildlife...
North Belle Vernon mine subsidence prevention project to begin
The state will pump almost $12 million into an abandoned mine subsidence program in North Belle Vernon beginning next week. A slurry mixture of grout will be injected under about 140 homes in the neighborhood, which lies atop an old coal vein and the voids that were caused by mining...
Ligonier Township proposed solar panel farm gets planners’ OK
The question of whether a three-megawatt solar power array should be built on farmland about a mile from Ligonier Valley High School goes to the Ligonier Township supervisors now that a planning panel Thursday recommended its approval. The Ligonier Township Planning Commission recommended that the supervisors approve Chicago-based SunVest Solar...
Twilight Foundation’s gift helps North Irwin’s Grandma Moose keep typing
A magnifying glass donated by the Twilight Foundation will help Grandma Moose as she types up information to spread the word about the bus trips she organizes. Her real name is Virgie Smith and she lives in North Irwin. Since 1980, she’s billed herself as Grandma Moose and she organizes...
IUP disciplines cheerleaders for hazing involving alcohol
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has remained mum on whether its cheerleading squad will be allowed to perform along the sidelines for the Crimson Hawks this football season. The squad was disciplined over the summer for forcing new members to participate in alcohol-related events, requiring underage members to assist in buying...
2 stabbed in Perry South neighborhood
Two women were hospitalized early Sunday morning as a result of stab wounds in the Pittsburgh Perry South neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said. The victims, who were not identified, were found on the street outside 30 Strauss St., shortly after 1:15 a.m., police said. One woman who was stabbed in her...
Pet memorial service: helping victims of alleged widespread fraud deal with loss
Mark Petros of Herminie thought it was odd the way Harrison funeral director Patrick Vereb handled his dog, Bear, in late December after Vereb was contacted to cremate the family’s pet, with the understanding they would receive the remains. “I carried the dog out and placed it in his van,”...
Westmoreland County’s ag challenge: keeping the next generation on the farm
How do you keep the next generation of farmers interested in staying on the farm, when that life offers them the guarantee of hard work seven days a week with compensation far below other occupations? That’s a challenge for Westmoreland County farm families, as farmers are getting older, with the...
Motorcyclist killed in Clairton crash
A motorcyclist was killed late Friday night when his vehicle hit a telephone pole in Clairton, Allegheny County Police said. The man, who was not identified, struck the pole in the 500 block of State Street. The accident was reported at 9:50 p.m. He was dead at the scene, county...
Residents, landowners tell state regulators they oppose 2nd Rustic Ridge mine in Donegal area
A group of about two dozen Donegal area residents pleaded with state environmental regulators Wednesday to reject an application for another coal mine next to an existing one. They cited mine subsidence damage, loss of water supply, coal truck traffic and stream pollution from the mine the Johnstown company already...
Mold remediation continues at Norwin High School
Crews continued to clean mold at Norwin High School on Monday, and maintenance and custodians helped teachers and staff clean district and personal items in preparation for the first day of school this week, the district superintendent said. Superintendent Natalie McCracken told the school board Monday a disaster restoration contractor,...
Norwin officials: Schools safe to open after mold remediation
Classes at Norwin will begin Wednesday as scheduled as the district has been working to remediate mold problems discovered at Norwin High School, the Knights Stadium and other buildings in the district, the school superintendent said. Superintendent Natalie McCracken told the school board this week that the facilities are ready...
North Huntingdon man accused of disrupting township meeting
A North Huntingdon man who has verbally lashed out at township commissioners, administrators and the police department is charged with disrupting a public meeting last month. Nicholas A. Carrozza, 35, is charged with one misdemeanor count of disrupting a commissioners’ meeting July 16, according to the affidavit filed by township...
North Huntingdon couple celebrating 50th anniversary; among the few who have reached that milestone
A North Huntingdon couple will be celebrating 50 years of wedded bless on Aug. 16, making them among the few couples that celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Kenneth and Vickie Vargo Tickerhoof will be joining family and friends during the evening of Aug. 16 at the Greenhouse Winery on Gracin...
Westmoreland Transit: State budget stalemate not hurting yet
With state funding for mass transit held hostage in the seven-week budget battle between Senate Republicans, House Democrats and the governor’s office, Westmoreland County’s bus system does not face the financial cliff looming for other transportation systems, a county transit official said. “It has not impacted us. We have sufficient...
Despite dangers, South Huntingdon man who died at Clairton Coke Works loved his job
Tim Quinn joined generations of Southwestern Pennsylvanians 17 years ago seeking a good-paying job with benefits at a local steel mill. A few years after the South Huntingdon man graduated from Yough Senior High School, Quinn followed his father, Tom, into U.S. Steel Corp.’s Clairton Works, the nation’s largest coke-producing...
State sets hearing on Donegal area new coal mine
A Johnstown coal mining company’s plans to open a second Rustic Ridge Mine in Donegal and Mt. Pleasant townships will be explored during a public hearing Aug. 20. The state Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an informal open house at 6 p.m. at St. Raymond of the Mountains Church,...
