Megan Tomasic stories, Page 73
10th annual Bilec Bowl to raise money for pancreatic cancer
Jodi Parach has one goal in mind — to raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. And on the 10th year of her mother’s death at age 62 from pancreatic cancer, she’s doing just that. Parach and her family will host the 10th annual Bilec Bowl for Pancreatic Cancer...
Hempfield supervisors halt formation of public safety commission, ask for more information
Hempfield supervisors halted formation of a proposed public safety commission before an ordinance and bylaws could be drafted, asking for more information about the logistics of the operation. The goal of the commission, which was proposed in January, is to make recommendations regarding public safety policy and service levels and...
Westmoreland Transit issuing temporary bus trip cancellations, negotiating with contractor
Westmoreland Transit Authority officials plan to temporarily cancel certain bus routes and trips rather than release individual announcements each day — just one step being taken to fix ongoing issues with its Ohio-based contractor. The bus authority has recently announced a string of last-minute cancellations due to a driver shortage...
Sutersville woman remembered for love of family
Yolanda Orsini would do anything for her family, even if it meant dropping out of school while in eighth grade. The oldest of six kids, Ms. Orsini dropped out to help her mother cook, clean and take care of her brothers and sisters while her mom worked cleaning other people’s...
No incidents reported at Hempfield High School Friday after alleged gun threat
No incidents were reported at Hempfield Area High School on Friday after school officials received reports of threats, Superintendent Tammy Wolicki said. The reports, received a day earlier, suggested students would bring guns to the school Friday. An investigation by school officials and state police officers did not find evidence...
Belle Vernon superintendent, 3 board members resign
The Belle Vernon Area School Board this week accepted the resignation of three board members and received the intent of resignation from the superintendent, according to board solicitor Victor Kustra. Superintendent Michele Dowell and board members Aaron Bialon, John Nusser and Dan Sepesky all resigned, taking the nine-person board down...
Increased police presence expected Friday after Hempfield High School officials receive threat
Students and parents should expect to see an increased police presence at Hempfield High School on Friday after school officials received reports of threats, said Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The reports, received Thursday afternoon, suggested students would bring guns to the school Friday. School officials and police investigated the claims, but...
Uniontown woman charged with stealing, injuring 9-week-old Chihuahua
A Chihuahua returned home with a broken leg after it was allegedly stolen from a North Union Township home, state police said. Kizzy Smith, 18, of Uniontown, was arrested in connection to the incident. Police said Smith took the 9-week-old puppy from a Johnston Avenue house, went to work, and...
Hempfield’s amphitheater to open May 18
After months of planning and debates over the price tag, Hempfield’s amphitheater officially has an opening date. Hempfield officials will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 18 with speeches from township supervisors at Hempfield Park, along with performances and food trucks, Director of Parks and Recreation Aaron Siko said...
South Huntingdon officials responding to structure fire
Five people were displaced from their Jacobs Creek house after a fire broke out Wednesday, Turkeytown Fire Chief Larry Nemec said. Crews from several area departments responded to the Main Street fire shortly after 4 p.m., which started in the kitchen and spread into the rest of the home. “The...
Trying to tie the knot for cheap? Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has you covered
“Good stuff cheap” and … weddings? Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is getting into the marriage business, selling wedding dresses and bridesmaid gowns over the course of five days. The discount store is taking regularly priced wedding gowns and slashing prices, dropping the regular price of thousands of dollars to the lower...
Hunker-based Bella Terra Vineyards to host grand opening celebration in May
Bella Terra Vineyards is opening a new facility, and to celebrate they have an entire weekend filled with events. Running from May 3-5, the Hunker business is inviting guests to check out their new tasting room, winery and event space, according to a Facebook event. “The new building will be...
Several ‘Office’ cast members to appear at Steel City Con
Steel City Con is shaping up to be a reunion of “The Office.” So far, five cast members have announced they will appear at the Monroeville convention, including Leslie David Baker, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Creed Bratton and Brian Baumgartner, according to the convention’s Facebook page. Baker is known for...
WPXI parent company Cox Media Group is being sold
An international company has reached a deal to purchase the majority interest of Cox Media Group, impacting 14 television stations, including Pittsburgh’s WPXI-TV. According to a release on Cox Enterprise’s website, Apollo Global Management, LLC, an alternative investment manager, will soon manage the stations along with Cox’s radio, newspaper and...
4 sent to hospital after 5-vehicle wreck on McKees Rocks Bridge
Four people were sent to the hospital after a five-vehicle crash on the McKees Rocks Bridge on Friday night. Allegheny County officials say nine people were involved in the crash, which occurred just before 9 p.m. Friday. The bridge was shut down and reopened about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Two people...
Route 30 in North Versailles reopened after crash closed lanes Friday
A crash shut down part of Route 30 in North Versailles Friday, according to police. Westbound lanes of the highway between Broad Street and Jackman Street were closed for about two hours after a vehicle wrecked into a telephone pole. The crash occurred around 9:45 p.m., officials said. Police reported...
Private Industry Council receives more than $443,000 in grant money
A local organization was awarded over $443,000 to expand two of its services. The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette is set to use the PAsmart Advancing Grant money to expand their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, or STEM, along with their computer science program. “Grants like these help schools,...
Supermoon to light up sky for 2nd month in a row
Almost a month after January’s supermoon lunar eclipse, another supermoon is set to appear. On the morning of Feb. 19, the moon will be at perigee, meaning its closest orbit to Earth, according to NASA. The moon will be at perigee at 4:04 a.m., and will become a full moon...
Slaughter Hollow Road closed in Sewickley Township
Slaughter Hollow Road in Sewickley Township is closed due to a minor dirt slide and severely leaning tree, roadmaster Joe Kerber said. “It is really not that bad,” Kerber said, but added the road will remain closed between Falls Road and Lowber Road until crews can cut the tree down...
Petland Norwin celebrates after adopting out dogs
For the first time in two years, Petland Norwin has adopted out all their dogs, leaving the cages empty — at least, temporarily. “It’s pretty amazing,” said Kennel Manager Jamie Laitinen. “We’ve never come this close to emptying our kennels.” The Norwin Town Square pet store opened in 2016 and...
Hempfield, Unity would have to pay millions for state police coverage under Wolf proposalVideo
Hempfield could pay almost $7 million for state police coverage under Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal — yet another attempt to collect from municipalities that rely on troopers rather than their own police department. Hempfield is one of nearly 2,500 municipalities across Pennsylvania without a local police department. The proposed...
Math understanding improving this year, Hempfield principals say
As part of their yearly goals, Hempfield Area principals identified numeracy understanding as a top priority — something teachers and principals say is improving. Working on different levels — high school, middle school and elementary school — principals have created curriculum that will help students improve their skills and to...
Juke Records to close in Bloomfield
Juke Records announced Sunday it will close its Bloomfield store before its lease is up this summer. “Fortunately, Pittsburgh has a lot of record stores. Unfortunately, our time is up,” the store noted on its Twitter page. It wasn’t immediately clear when or why the Liberty Avenue store is closing....
West Hempfield Elementary School students raise money for American Heart Association
West Hempfield Elementary School students raised $12,000 for the American Heart Association. The Jump Rope for Heart program encouraged the Hempfield Area School District kids to compete in daily challenges that lead to a healthy lifestyle, taught them jump rope skills and gave them a chance to learn how the...
Star of The Bachelor visits Pittsburgh’s children’s hospitalVideo
Colton Underwood took a break from handing out roses Sunday and instead visited kids at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The current star of ABC’s The Bachelor and a former NFL player with the then San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders, Underwood spent time with the kids as part of...
