Quincey Reese stories, Page 29
Westmoreland Blue Knights chapter collects toys for foster children, families
On Dec. 17, tables along the walls of the Youngwood Fire Hall will be filled with toys that will be gifts for foster children. Law enforcement officers from Westmoreland and Fayette counties are gearing up for their fifth annual toy drive for foster families. The amount of support the initiative...
New Florence man charged with aggravated assault of infant
A New Florence man was charged Thursday with aggravated assault of an infant earlier this month. Christopher M. McClellan Timko, 30, was charged by state police Wednesday with two counts of aggravated assault of a child and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents....
Holiday celebration slated to ‘start the season’ in Scottdale with house tour, vendors, parade
Scottdale’s holiday celebration will take on a new meaning this weekend as the borough continues to mark its 150th anniversary. Start the Season day, slated for Saturday, will feature a vintage house tour, vendor markets and a parade, said Tom Zwierzelewski, president of the Scottdale Historical Society. “We’re working on...
Penn Township approves preliminary land development plan for independent living facility
Penn Township commissioners voted last week to approve the preliminary land development plan for an independent living facility proposed for Harrison City-Export Road. The 119-unit facility was proposed by contractor Concordia of Monroeville for 21 acres of land behind the Westmoreland Country Club. Commissioners tabled the vote Oct. 18, primarily...
Penn-Trafford media literacy students to host holiday vendor market
Four Penn-Trafford students flexed their communication and organization skills to arrange a holiday vendor market at the high school, slated for early December. The holiday market, hosted by students in the high school’s media literacy class, was first held last year. The event drew about 200 people, senior Zarra Krek...
Greensburg Garden Center gears up for annual holiday sale
Wreaths, garlands, trees, ornaments and other handmade decorations will be up for grabs at the Greensburg Garden Center’s annual holiday sale next week. The sale, scheduled for Dec. 1 and 2, features decorations made by about 30 of the center’s volunteers, said Co-President Carla Rusnica. Common items are artificial and...
‘The demand is obvious’: WCCC graduates 26 cadets into amid high need for police officers
Twenty-six cadets who graduated Monday from the police academy at Westmoreland County Community College shouldn’t have trouble finding jobs. “You look around and every department is — I mean, I get constant phone calls about,‘What’s your graduating class? Can we come in and do a recruiting effort?’ ” said Police Academy...
Downtown Greensburg Project, Live Casino Pittsburgh collaborate for holiday market series
The Downtown Greensburg Project will bring its fourth annual holiday market series indoors this season at Live Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield. The market — scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 3 — will feature about 55 vendors selling holiday-themed items, decorations and gift boxes, said Downtown...
Pitt-Greensburg student struck by car in ‘serious condition’
A Pitt-Greensburg student who was struck near the entrance to the college in Hempfield is in serious condition, a state police spokesman said. Audrey Fruehauf, 18, of Rector, was crossing Mt. Pleasant Road near Finoli Drive and University Drive when she was struck by the car, according to a state...
‘I beg you to ask for help’: Penn Middle School speaker talks bullying, mental health support
Standing on the Penn Middle School auditorium stage, John Halligan looked out at more than 500 students, many of whom reflected the same youthful innocence as his 13-year-old son, Ryan, who died by suicide in 2003. Just as Halligan has done for the past 18 years — for about 1...
Casey proposes anti-bullying bill
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, introduced a bill last month that could help protect K-12 students from bullying and harassment. The Safe Schools Improvement Act would require school districts to include a line in their code of conduct prohibiting bullying and harassment surrounding race, color, national origin, sex, disability and...
‘Something to learn, an adventure’: 3 Irwin brothers, business owners add coffee shop to repertoire
Brothers Chris, Nick and Mike Juricich have spent their entire lives in the restaurant business and have no intention of changing it. The brothers, who reside in Irwin, co-own Ginny’s Neighborhood Pizza Joint in Murrysville, Parkside Creamery ice cream shop in Trafford and Mr. Squeegy window cleaners in North Huntingdon....
Penn Township set to vote on plan for independent living facility
Penn Township commissioners will vote this week on a land development plan for an independent living facility proposed for Harrison City-Export Road. The 119-unit facility was proposed by contractor Concordia of Monroeville for 21 acres of land behind Westmoreland Country Club, near the Bella Victoria housing plan. Commissioners tabled the...
Greensburg Art Center offers unique, handmade creations at Art of Gifting sale
Handmade works by about 30 artists are up for grabs at the Greensburg Art Center’s holiday sale until late December. The Art of Gifting will run through Dec. 20, said sale chairperson Debbie King. The art center at 230 Todd School Road in Hempfield has held the sale for about...
North Huntingdon Marine honored during Veterans Day 5K
Members of the Steel City Naval ROTC still look to the legacy of Lt. Col. Chris Raible, who died 11 years ago in Afghanistan while serving in the Marines. The former North Huntingdon resident will be honored during the unit’s 5K race Saturday in Schenley Park near Carnegie Mellon University,...
Penn-Trafford to bring Shakespeare ‘play within a play’ to stage this weekend
The Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild will bring a twist on a Shakespeare classic to the stage this weekend for the first time in about two decades. The drama guild will perform “Romeo and Juliet: Together and Alive At Last,” a story about two middle school students, Anabell and Pete,...
Boil-water advisory extended for Ligonier, Laurel Mountain, portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships
A boil-water advisory has been extended as the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County awaits the results of a third precautionary test following a water main break in Ligonier Township on Sunday. Spokesperson Matt Junker said the latest water sample was taken Wednesday and tests take about 24 hours to get...
Salem car dealership kicks off November food drive with Steelers tight end
Victory car dealership in Salem kicked off a monthlong food drive recently for the Westmoreland Food Bank where attendees met Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington. Selected in the third round of April’s NFL draft, Washington, who won two college national championships at the University of Georgia, said he enjoyed...
‘You don’t have to let it go in the river:’ Breeders, owners defend exotic pets, push responsible care
Of the 600 to 700 reptiles Jessie Freeman brought to the Westmoreland Reptile Expo on Sunday, the crocodiles are his favorite. “They’re cool. They can hide and thrash out on you so fast, yet … if you understand their behavior, you can interact with them,” said Freeman of Asheboro, N.C....
Ligonier, Laurel Mountain residents asked to boil, conserve water following main break
Residents in Ligonier and Laurel Mountain boroughs and portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships will have to boil their water before use following a water main break Sunday near Waterford. The main break occurred along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water Authority, said Matt Junker, spokesperson for the...
‘His impact is almost immeasurable’: Longtime YMCA leader bids job farewell in pursuit of foundation position
After 27 years of working for the YMCA, Larry Stormer will pursue his goal of foundation work with a local nonprofit benefiting children and families in need. Stormer, 54, of Ligonier, has worked at YMCA branches in Greensburg, Erie, Plum and Ligonier Valley. He has served as fitness director, executive...
Loyalhanna convenience store sustains damage in fire
A convenience store in Loyalhanna Township sustained significant damage in a fire Friday night. Saltsburg, Bell Township and New Alexandria volunteer fire departments responded to a fire at Marshall’s Market, located along Route 981, around 10:15 p.m. Friday, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. None of the fire departments...
Manor church’s free clothing store expands hours, options to meet community need
Grandparents trying to clothe their grandchildren. A woman looking for clothes to bring with her to rehab. A nursing student in search of affordable scrubs for school. Refuge Boutique, a free clothing store run by Refuge Church in Manor, has helped people in each of these scenarios. In the spring,...
Penn Township man set to run New York City Marathon to support his son, raise funds for genetic disorder foundation
Will Hoffman’s main motivation for running the New York City Marathon on Sunday has little to do with a finishing time or position. Rather, Will and about 25 other runners are chasing down a fundraising goal of $150,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation — an organization that supports research for...
New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department hosts 3rd winter clothing giveaway
Hundreds of winter clothing items are available for those in need this weekend at the New Stanton Volunteer Fire Department. Located on South Main Street, the department will host its third annual winter clothing giveaway from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday — donating coats, sweatshirts, gloves, ear muffs and...
