Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 134
Tourism to be focus of new Westmoreland County visitor center on Route 119
Westmoreland County will open a visitor center next month as part of a renewed push to promote tourism. On Thursday, county commissioners are expected to approve an $81,000 contract with the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau to operate the facility in a plaza on Route 119, north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike...
Testimony begins in Latrobe murder case
Confronted by a gun-wielding masked man, Daniel McNerny took it upon himself to put a stop to what appeared to be an armed robbery in front of a Latrobe home nearly two years ago, an eyewitness testified Tuesday. McNerny, who had been visiting friends when he was alerted to the...
Trib appeals decision to delay release of juror names from Sheriff Held’s public corruption trial
The Tribune-Review on Tuesday filed an appeal of a judge’s order delaying the public release of the names of jurors who served in last month’s public corruption trial of Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held. Senior Common Pleas Judge Timothy Creany in late December ruled the names will remain private until...
Westmoreland County commissioner Anderson won’t seek re-election
Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson announced Tuesday he will retire at year’s end and will not run for re-election this year. Anderson, a Hempfield Republican, was first appointed to commissioner in 2008 and served a four-year stint as board chairman until the GOP lost its majority in 2015. “I’ve been...
Opening statements in Latrobe murder trial to begin Tuesday
Opening statements will begin Tuesday morning in the first-degree murder trial of a Latrobe man police said fired two shots on a city street, killing a friend who attempted to intervene in an armed robbery of a drug dealer. The prosecution contends Zachary McGrath, 23, concealed his identity when he...
County judges pick retired teacher to fill vacancy on Norwin School Board
A retired Franklin Regional school teacher is the newest member of the Norwin School Board. Westmoreland County’s nine Common Pleas Court judges Monday selected William Essay, 57, of North Huntingdon, to complete the last year of a term left vacant by the resignation of board member Shawn Petrisko in August....
Westmoreland County Judge Marsili leaves a long career in law, sort of
Judge Anthony Marsili’s career may have started out with him selling ties and shirts at a now-defunct Greensburg department store. But decades later, it’s a black robe that has defined his life’s work. Marsili, 67, of New Kensington, officially retired Sunday after serving 19 years as a common pleas judge...
Hempfield’s Paul Kosko announces bid for county commissioner
The man who oversees the computer systems at the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County announced Friday he will run for county commissioner. Paul Kosko, 57, a Republican from Hempfield, told about a dozen supporters who gathered in front of the courthouse he wants to serve as a bipartisan elected official...
Lawyer seeks way for New Stanton teen to plead guilty but mentally ill for killing mother, brother
A New Stanton teenager could plead guilty but mentally ill this year for killing his mother and younger brother, his lawyer said. Jacob Remaley, 16, is considering a resolution to his murder case that would allow him to serve a portion of his sentence in a mental health treatment facility...
Westmoreland’s chief public defender announces judicial candidacy
Westmoreland County’s chief public defender announced Thursday he will be a candidate for one of two judicial vacancies this year on the Common Pleas Court. Republican Wayne McGrew, 50, of Sewickley Township, is making his first run for judge. “Court appearances can be some of the most stressful times in...
Bicyclist back in hot seat for ignoring court order to stay off Westmoreland roads
The Hempfield bicyclist who served nearly two years behind bars for obstructing traffic on county roadways could roll his way back to jail soon. Westmoreland County prosecutors contend David Smith, 59, violated terms of his probation by riding his bicycle on county roads in late October. “I don’t know what...
Greensburg woman sent to prison for sex trafficking young girl
A Greensburg woman will serve up to 20 years in prison for selling sexual encounters with a 3-year-old girl. Rebecca Shadle was sentenced Thursday after she pleaded guilty in September to trafficking of a minor for sexual purposes, child endangerment, aggravated indecent assault and conspiracy. Prosecutors said Shadle allowed men...
Homeless couple suspected of making meth lab in Vandergrift house pleads guilty to lesser charges
A homeless couple pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges related to a meth lab police said they found at a Vandergrift house in October. Tia Charmagne Klazon, 32, of Arnold, and Kiel Thomas Freeman, 32, of Vandergrift, were each sentenced to serve six to 23 months in jail and two years...
Former Hempfield student admits having weapons in car
A former Hempfield Area School District student will serve three years on probation after police found 16 weapons in his car parked at the high school in March. Rocco P. Valore, 18, of Greensburg pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of possession of weapons on school property. Police conducted a...
Westmoreland sheriff logistics officer gets ARD, probation in DUI case
A corporal in the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department will serve one year on probation for a drunken-driving arrest in May, making her the fourth office employee charged with a crime past year. In court Wednesday, Caitlyn Kralovic, 27, of Rillton, Sewickley Township, was admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program...
