Quincey Reese stories, Page 24
‘It’s home for me’: Penn-Trafford assistant superintendent bids district farewell after 26 years
For the first time in 10 years, Scott Inglese did not wake up to an alarm or prepare to walk the hallways of the Penn-Trafford School District administration building. Inglese, 56, of Penn Township, has worked at the district for 26 years as a teacher, principal and — for the...
Greensburg could demolish shuttered parking garage near Westmoreland Hospital this summer
The shuttered J. Edward Hutchinson Parking Garage in Greensburg could be demolished and replaced with a new parking lot by the end of the summer, if the state approves the city’s request to repurpose funding. Greensburg City Council approved an agreement Monday with Independence Health System Westmoreland Hospital to repurpose...
Brick by brick, Lego build takes over Irwin church
Keith Harmon estimates he has more than 200 pounds of Lego bricks in his Penn Township home. In February, the colorful toy bricks were put to use in a community Lego building event Harmon hosted at his church, First Presbyterian Church in Irwin. “There’s not a lot of room to...
Jeannette art center promotes female artists through biennial exhibit
Every time art professor Maureen Kochanek teaches the women artists course at Seton Hill University, she concludes with the same statement. “In a perfect world, I wouldn’t teach this course,” she tells her students at the Greensburg school, explaining how female artists have been pushed to the periphery of the...
Son’s lawsuit: Nursing facility reckless in employing Harrison nurse accused of killing 80-year-old
The son of an 80-year-old woman authorities say was killed by a Harrison nurse at Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township said the nursing facility was negligent and reckless in their hiring and handling of the nurse’s behavior, according to a lawsuit. Marguerite A. Laskovich died Jan. 21,...
2 injured in crash on Freeport Road in O’Hara
Part of Freeport Road between Powers Run Road in O’Hara and the Hulton Bridge in Harmar was closed for two hours Friday afternoon due to a two-vehicle crash. Calls for a crash near the intersection of Freeport and Powers Run roads came in shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to an...
1 person injured in Murrysville motorcycle crash off Route 22
A person driving a motorcycle was injured Friday evening during a collision with a vehicle near the Cozy Inn Cutoff in Murrysville, off of Route 22. Murrysville police and EMS responded to the crash just before 5:30 p.m., according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. One person was injured in the...
Blackthorne Estates plans to build new golf facility, open course in spring
Golfers can return to the course at Penn Township’s Blackthorne Estates community this spring. After being closed to the public in 2023, the course will reopen this season and a new golf facility will be built, according to an agreement reached this week between Blackthorne Investors and the township. The...
At least 1 person flown to hospital after Sewickley crash
At least one person was flown to a hospital Friday night following a vehicle accident on Dick Station Road in Sewickley. The call for the crash came in around 7:40 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Dick Station Road was closed to address the crash. The dispatcher was...
Trafford Middle to perform ‘Finding Nemo Jr.’ with puppets made by Seton Hill students
When the Trafford Middle School drama club performs “Finding Nemo Jr.” next week, actors from the 50-person cast and crew will carry puppets created by theater design and technology students at Seton Hill University. Local middle and high school programs often rent puppets or other stage materials from the university,...
‘We’re going all in on Connellsville’: Penn-Trafford grads, Franklin Regional coach seek to enliven city with event center, restaurant
The city of Connellsville is alive with development. Three Penn-Trafford graduates and a former Franklin Regional High School football coach are a part of the reason why — pitching in with plans to build an event center, restaurant and short-term rental property. When Nate Morgan, a 1993 Penn-Trafford graduate, bought...
Penn-Trafford 8thgraders collect donations for school food program
When tasked with completing a community service project leading up to their Catholic confirmation ceremony, eighth grade Penn-Trafford students Jillian Rettger, Ashley Hetrick and Gabby Geary knew they wanted to support the district’s supplemental nutrition program, Backpacks-to-Go. The program, which supports the district’s families in need, gathers meals and snacks...
‘We’re not leaving the community’: Manor Bar & Grille to close doors, reopen in Irwin
Derek and Megan Gutkowski’s three children grew up at Manor Bar & Grille. Howie, 14, cleaned dishes, and Julia, 17, and Madison, 19, helped serve customers. The family’s lives were dedicated to the Manor restaurant, Derek said. “At Manor Grille, if you go in there in our dining room, we...
‘Like treasure hunting’: Greensburg native pursues love of secondhand shopping, opens vintage clothing store downtown
For as long as he can remember, Greensburg native Zach Butler has appreciated vintage clothes. As a kid, he watched antique picker shows such as “Storage Wars” and borrowed clothing from his dad’s closet. “People used to be like ‘You look weird, but it looks good,’” joked Butler, 24, of...
Hempfield supervisors delay vote to advertise part-time fire department driver position
Hempfield supervisors are holding on hiring a paid, part-time driver for the fire department. The township set aside $81,000 in its budget this year to potentially hire four part-time drivers for the fire department, primarily to assist during daylight hours. Candidates for the position must be able to perform fire...
Gator, turtles pulled from fire at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park
At least one alligator and several turtles were pulled from a fire Monday afternoon at Nate’s Reptile Rescue in South Park. Allegheny County Deputy Steve Costello noticed the building at the intersection of Brownsville and McCorkle roads was ablaze just before 4 p.m., Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Mike Manko said. South...
Bushy Run to host open house, celebration for Pennsylvania’s birthday
Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township is hosting an open house with free tours of the park and admission to its museum in honor of Pennsylvania’s 343rd birthday. Charter Day is celebrated annually at the historical site, which played host to the 1763 clash between the British and Native Americans...
Greensburg hires new planning and development director, code enforcement officer
When Director Jeff Raykes resigned in November to focus on his private planning firm, it left a void in Greensburg’s planning and development department, Alec Italiano said. Greensburg council hired Italiano last week to fill the gap as the city’s new planning and development director, with a starting salary of...
‘Providing a little bit of light’: Penn Middle School supports community, local cancer patients in honor of late teacher
Up until three weeks before Jackie Landram died from ovarian cancer, she was doing what she loved: teaching. Landram taught seventh grade English at Penn Middle School in Penn Township for 16 years. She died at home at age 44 on Jan. 25, 2022, following a seven year battle with...
Westmoreland DA will review Penn Township police video before public release
The Penn Township commissioners voted Wednesday to allow the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office to review police body camera video before it is released to the public. Four months after police released body camera video showing an officer shooting a Ligonier Township man, District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office requested in...
Penn Township eyes vote to permit Westmoreland DA to review police video before public release
Penn Township commissioners will vote Wednesday whether to allow the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office to review police body camera video before before it is released. District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office asked police departments in late December to have prosecutors review their footage if there is a request to have...
Harvison Road bridge in Penn Township slated for summer removal
A bridge carrying Harvison Road over the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County’s Penn Township will be removed this summer, according to the turnpike commission. The commission announced in 2021 that it would remove the bridge as part of a $300 million-plus project to widen the toll highway between the Monroeville...
‘There needs to be somebody that looks like me’: Pittsburgh nonprofit creates recreation opportunities for people of color
Jaiya Hughes loves everything about winter. When temperatures drop, Hughes, 10, cannot wait to don her snow coat and boots and hit the hills of her East Liberty neighborhood in Pittsburgh, sled in hand. Her mother, Tazi Hughes, always joins in on the action. But when Jaiya sees fellow sled...
‘A celebration of what we bring to the community’: Westmoreland Cultural Trust hosts annual fundraising gala at Palace Theatre
Suits, ties and evening gowns will grace the stage of the Palace Theatre in Greensburg for the Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s “Party at the Palace” fundraising gala. The theme is “shaken, not stirred,” inspired by the way James Bond takes his martini cocktails. The trust has held the gala for 18...
Hempfield’s High Park fire station suspends service after nearly 2 years on probation
The High Park Volunteer Fire Department will no longer serve Hempfield after nearly two years on probation. The township received an email from High Park on Feb. 8 indicating the station wanted to discontinue its service. Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic suspended operations at the station Tuesday. High Park has...
