Quincey Reese stories, Page 16
Fayette County skier defies odds to compete in Junior World Championships
As Jessie Duda fought through traumatic brain injuries caused by a post-prom car crash, doctors told the Fayette County native she may never be able to ski again. But about 2½ years later, Duda will travel to Kazakhstan to compete against athletes ages 14 to 19 from across the world...
‘It makes their spirits’: Norwin middle school basketball team brings holiday cheer to Ligonier Township care home residents
Members of a Norwin middle school basketball team took their final day of Thanksgiving break to bring holiday cheer to residents in the Bethlen Home assisted living facility in Ligonier Township. Ava Reichl, one of nine players on the team, came up with the idea. She wanted to do something...
Shooting in Duquesne leaves 1 dead
A Duquesne man died after being shot early Saturday morning, according to police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as James Earl Robinson II, 34. Allegheny County police were dispatched to the intersection of South 5th Street and Viola Way in Duquesne for a shooting around 5:10...
Steepest slope in Pa. draws skiers, snowboarders to Laurel Mountain Ski Resort for opening day
For Marnie Golden, having the steepest ski slope in the state just 20 minutes away from her house is a point of hometown pride. Golden, 17, of Ligonier Township was 9 when she started skiing at Laurel Mountain. Lower Wildcat, the steepest slope in Pennsylvania, is her favorite there. “I...
Western Pa. casinos see revenue spike as state Gaming Control Board reports record monthly profit
As the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reports an all-time high monthly revenue driven by increases in sports betting, profits also are on the rise at Western Pennsylvania casinos. The state Gaming Control Board reported November revenue of more than $562 million — a 26% increase from November 2023. Rivers Casino...
‘Nothing more than a traffic jam’: Penn Township residents dread interchange, loss of quiet community
Anita Lipinski has lived in her Four Seasons Lane home in Penn Township all 55 years of her life. Growing up, Lipinski remembers there was only one other home on the street — now a quiet sanctuary for a handful of homeowners. Woods that separate her narrow, gravel road from...
Community rallies around Penn-Trafford junior diagnosed with leukemia
Nicole Cianciotti had driven only about 4½ miles from UPMC Children’s East when she got the call that her son Braeden’s left lung collapsed. The 17-year-old Penn-Trafford junior — Nicole’s oldest of six children — sat next to her in the passenger seat Nov. 22, seemingly unaware of the battle...
Former Latrobe CEO’s 20-year sentence commuted by Biden
President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted the sentence of Gregory J. Podlucky, former chairman and CEO of a now defunct Latrobe beverage and bottling company who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2011 for his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme. Podlucky’s commutation was part of a...
Father, son arrested in Mt. Pleasant Township shooting; preliminary hearing set
A father and son were arrested in Mt. Pleasant Township for firing multiple shots at a man in a moving truck, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Paul Caletri Jr., 70, and Paul Caletri III, 30, were arrested by state police. They are each charged with aggravated assault,...
Murrysville Medic One, Mutual Aid to assist in aftermath of Saltsburg-based ambulance service closure
Two Westmoreland County ambulance services are helping to pick up the slack after Saltsburg-based Lifestat EMS abruptly closed its doors this week. Citing financial constraints, the Indiana County ambulance station terminated its services after 36 years Saturday night, according to a statement it released Tuesday. “This difficult decision comes as...
Hempfield Area police chief set to retire, former Jeannette police chief to take his place
After a decade serving as police chief for Hempfield Area School District, Len Lander will retire from his post. Former Jeannette police Chief Shannon Binda will take the reins in the new year, following a vote by the school board Monday. Lander was a state police trooper from 1991 to...
Hempfield Area to tackle 1 of 3 roof replacements, test pool ahead of high school renovation
As Hempfield Area moves forward with a nearly $281,000 roof repair at Fort Allen Elementary, the district also plans to address projected million dollar roof projects at two of its other schools next summer. The school board voted Monday to hire Garland Company Inc. to replace the roof covering Fort...
‘I’m a wreck, but I’m alive’: North Huntingdon karate teacher hurt in crash focuses on recovery, is grateful for support
Elizabeth Lindsay opened her eyes and saw her brother sitting at her hospital bedside. She had been unconscious for about three weeks in August, recovering from a life-threatening motorcycle crash that month. “I think I wanted to understand what had happened,” said Lindsay, 39, of Greensburg. “I didn’t want to...
Forbes trauma program brings accessible care to patients
Forbes Hospital in Monroeville marked the 10th anniversary of its trauma program in October 2023. Prior to the program’s opening 11 years ago, patients in the eastern portion of Southwestern Pennsylvania who suffered severe injuries relied on medical helicopters to take them to the nearest trauma centers — stationed in...
CNX Resources to acquire Apex, gain 36K acres in Westmoreland County
Natural gas company CNX Resources Corp. will expand into Westmoreland County in a $505 million deal. CNX announced this week it will acquire Pine-based Apex Energy II LLC — a move that will add about 36,000 acres in Westmoreland County to CNX’s scope. It will also earn CNX 8,600 acres...
‘They got it all’: Burglar wipes Penn Township jewelry store of inventory before Thanksgiving
Ron Duvall knew something was wrong the minute he approached the door of his jewelry store in Penn Township last week. Owner of Valmax Jewelers in the township’s Penn Crossing shopping plaza, Duvall pulled the keys to the building from his pocket only to realize the door was already unlocked....
Penn-Trafford video production class telethon unites community to support Make-A-Wish
It’s crunch time for Penn-Trafford High School’s video production class. The class of 26 students is in the final days of piecing together its 4½-hour broadcast raising money for Make-A-Wish — a nonprofit that grants experiences to children with critical medical conditions. “We’re putting a puzzle together, but we’re missing...
Rizzo’s opens Italian market in former Wagon Wheel restaurant in Salem
The taxidermy grizzly bear and red devil’s food cake that were once staples at the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Salem have been replaced by fresh pasta salads and Italian aromas. Wagon Wheel closed its doors almost exactly a year ago after more than six decades in business. Rizzo’s has opened...
DEP suspects Unity sinkhole caused by abandoned mine
The Unity sinkhole investigators suspect a woman fell into late Monday could be the result of an abandoned mine, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP’s Bureau of Mine Safety was dispatched to Unity’s Marguerite Road early Tuesday. Upon initial review, officials suspect the sinkhole was caused...
Greensburg Salem approves $68K contract to upgrade sound systems in high school gym, auditorium
Greensburg Salem will spend nearly $68,000 to upgrade sound systems in the high school gym and auditorium. The current systems are antiquated and unreliable, Superintendent Ken Bissell said. “There are times where kids onstage are singing or saying their lines and it cuts out,” Bissell said of the auditorium system....
Penn Township residents raise concerns over proposed zoning changes
Paul Bush moved to Penn Township three decades ago for the quiet, rural environment. But as the Pennsylvania Turnpike plans a new interchange in Penn Township and township officials weigh proposed zoning changes aimed at encouraging economic development, Bush is worried the community will lose its peaceful atmosphere. “The existing...
Jeannette art gallery to host exhibit honoring retired Seton Hill professor
Jeannette art gallery You Are Here’s next exhibit holds professional and personal meaning for co-owner Jen Costello. The exhibit features work created by former students and friends of Maureen Kochanek, who retired from Seton Hill University this year after 42 years teaching art history. “I had Maureen as a professor...
3 businesses debut in Westmoreland County — mobile gaming, custom framing, barbershop
For Joe Perriello, opening a mobile video game business is the perfect mesh of work and family. In January, Perriello of Penn Township will launch Rolling Video Games PGH — a 25-foot trailer decked out with seven TVs and 10 gaming consoles that can be transported to children’s birthdays, graduation...
Staff welcome challenge of serving ‘fully booked’ restaurants on Thanksgiving
While the runway of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was quiet Thursday, the DeNunzio’s Italian Restaurant above the empty terminal was bustling with activity. Red and white poinsettias and soft yellow Christmas lights greeted customers as they shed their umbrellas and winter jackets. Wait staff weaved through the diners to resupply...
Southwest Greensburg fire department gives college students free housing in exchange for service
Some of Michael Meyer’s fondest memories of his time at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg were spent at the Southwest Greensburg Volunteer Fire Station. Meyer, 28, grew up in Green Tree, just outside of Pittsburgh, and started serving the Green Tree Volunteer Fire Company in 2014. He joined the...
