Megan Tomasic stories, Page 55
Mass-casualty plans become reality as Western Pa. hospitals treat turnpike crash victims
Doctors and nurses buzzed around Allegheny Health Network’s Forbes Hospital early Sunday as they waited to receive 11 patients who were involved in a tour bus crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike that left five dead and about 55 injured. More than twice as many crash victims — 31 in all...
Hempfield band recognized by people across the world following London paradeVideo
The Hempfield Area Marching Band is being recognized by people across the world after the band performed Wednesday in London’s New Year’s Day Parade. “We’ve received tons of messages from people all around the world, and even from many people stopping us on the street,” said band Director Brian Tychinski...
Firefighters battle house fire in Mt. Pleasant Township
Firefighters are battling a house fire in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Officials were called to the vacant house at 513 Pine St. shortly before 8:30 p.m. Firefighters initially reported smoke showing but quickly changed it to a working fire. Further information was not immediately available....
Another store to close at Westmoreland Mall
Another store is shuttering its doors at Westmoreland Mall. Motherhood Maternity, located past the food court on the second floor, is closing, according to posted signs. Changes have been occurring at Destination Maternity Corp., the company that owns Motherhood Maternity, in the past year, including filing for bankruptcy and streamlining...
Census workers get pay raise as officials work to fill positions
Census workers in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties are getting a slight pay raise as officials push to fill positions ahead of the upcoming population survey. Workers in Westmoreland will earn $18 per hour compared to the $16 per hour wage suggested last year, while those in Allegheny will earn $21...
State licensing process delays opening of Hempfield hospitalVideo
Almost two months after officials held a grand opening ceremony for one of the region’s first “micro-hospitals,” doors to the new facility remain closed. The 120,000-square-foot Allegheny Health Network Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital, located at Route 30 and Angew Road, was slated to open in the weeks following the Nov. 9...
Hempfield band performs in concert series ahead of New Year’s paradeVideo
The Hempfield Area Marching Band took a break from sightseeing Monday evening as several members of the wind ensemble took the stage to perform in the annual London New Year’s Day Parade Concert Series. The series, which features the “finest young musicians,” according to their YouTube page, included 15 bands...
2 more stores close at Westmoreland Mall
While December brought droves of shoppers to Westmoreland Mall, one store has shut its doors and another has announced its impending closure. PacSun, also referred to as Pacific Sunwear, is slated to close, according to signs posted around the store. Based in Anaheim, Calif., the clothing store caters to teens...
Gander Outdoors closes Greensburg location
Less than two years after reopening under the Gander Outdoors name, the Greensburg location has permanently shut its doors. A sign reads: “It is with great regret that we announce the closing of Gander Outdoors of Greensburg, PA. We have enjoyed serving our customers in the community and sincerely apologize...
Hempfield puts focus on planning in 2020Video
Hempfield leaders are looking to the future as they shift their focus to planning in the township during the coming year. Supervisors voted unanimously to create a director of planning and zoning position, which establishes a department specifically for planning purposes. Current planning coordinator Patrick Karnash will take over as...
Uber to open self-driving test track in Findlay Township
Months of speculation have come to an end after Uber Technologies announced the purchase of an almost 600-acre parcel in Findlay Township that will be used for a self-driving test track. Uber spokeswoman Sarah Abboud confirmed the purchase via email to the Tribune-Review, adding that she does not have “further...
Big Shot Bob’s to open new Hempfield location
Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings is expanding once again, this time outside Westmoreland Mall. The wing joint will be located at the former Winghart’s spot in Westmoreland Crossing behind the mall. Owner Keith Wassel said he hopes to open the Hempfield location, which will serve over 100 flavors of...
Grapeville ball field remains in limbo as Hempfield combines fire stations
As Hempfield supervisors tie up loose ends to make the township’s 12 fire stations fall under one department, assets like a Grapeville ball field are left in limbo while fire chiefs make “hard decisions” on what to keep and what to sell. The field, at 1260 Toledo St., is utilized...
2 Hempfield sites named among Schools to Watch
Recognized for their high performance and willingness to improve, two Hempfield middle schools were named Schools to Watch by the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education. Awarded to Harrold and West Hempfield middle schools, Schools to Watch is a recognition program based on four main criteria: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness,...
Grapeville residents banding together to save ball field
Community members may have thrown their last pitch last summer at a Grapeville ball field after residents say members of the fire department sold the land. The field, at 1260 Toledo St. in Hempfield, has been a staple in the community and is utilized by an adult coed team, said...
Christian Layman volunteer Wayne Clemens, 85, wins volunteer of the year awardVideo
For 15 years, Wayne Clemens has loaded trucks full of clothes and furniture, preparing to deliver the donated items to charities as far as West Virginia and Kentucky. The 85-year-old Hempfield resident has been a staple at Greensburg’s Christian Layman store, making deliveries, maintaining trucks and keeping them up-to-date on...
Officials: Route 30 closed briefly early Saturday after crash
The westbound lanes of Route 30 in Unity Township were closed early Saturday after a vehicle crash, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash happened near the Route 982 overpass shortly before midnight Friday. Responding emergency crews found an abandoned pickup truck blocking both of the westbound lanes just...
Unity Township road reopens after car crash
A car crash closed Union Cemetery Road in Unity Township Friday night, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The road, which closed between McCullough Road and Auction Barn Road before 10 p.m., was reopened before 12 a.m. One person was freed from a vehicle and was in the care of...
Officials: Driver flees after crashing into Hempfield parts storeVideo
A driver fled the scene after crashing into an AutoZone along Route 30 on Friday evening, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Officers responded shortly before 5:45 p.m. to the parts store, at 6499 Route 30 in Hempfield, where they found a white pickup that had crashed into the corner...
Hempfield considers new fire detection systems for township-owned buildings
On the heels of a fire that ravaged the Greensburg public works building and destroyed several thousands of dollars in equipment and vehicles, Hempfield is looking to protect more than $5 million in assets with new fire detection systems. While supervisors have not made a final decision on what to...
Greensburg woman had passion for helping others, family
When Chris Luccy was growing up, he said his mom, Barbara, would sit in his room, listening to the elaborate stories he made up for his G.I. Joe. “She sat there and listened to my explanations of everything,” he said. “I think part of why I’m a writer now is...
Hempfield tax assessment appeal program up for vote in January
The future of Hempfield school district’s controversial tax assessment appeal program will be decided in 2020, after board members debated the process this week. The program, adopted in 2015 to target under-assessed commercial and industrial parcels, essentially raises property taxes to what they would be if officials did a countywide...
Hempfield students use engineering magic to clinch competition crown
Want to see a card trick? Hempfield high school students have one, and it takes over 20 different steps to execute. Performed by a student-built contraption named “Ab’rube’cadabra,” Hempfield students clinched the top spot last week for the magic trick at the annual Chain Reaction Contraption competition held at the...
Once upon a time, malls transformed into Christmas wonderlands
When Debi Hall’s daughter, Kelly, saw the Christmas decorations at the former Greengate Mall in Hempfield years ago, she thought she was at the North Pole. Each year, the mall was decorated with a towering Christmas tree set up near the Lazarus department store, curtains of string lights flowing from...
Proposed bill would honor 3 men who dedicated lives to community, country
Three Western Pennsylvania men who dedicated their lives to ensuring the safety of their communities and country could soon be memorialized for their sacrifices. Former Greene County Sheriff Brian Tennant and Pfc. Joseph Frank Duda and Cpl. Denny Ray Easter, both of Fayette County, could live on through street names...
