Norwin Star category, Page 105
More coronavirus cases found at Westmoreland Manor; county calls in National Guard to helpVideo
As coronavirus cases at Westmoreland Manor continue to rise, county commissioners on Thursday called in the Pennsylvania National Guard to take over testing of residents and staff at the county-owned nursing home. County officials said Thursday another 14 residents and four employees tested positive for the virus. That brings the...
Westmoreland commissioners dole out $4.3 million in covid-19 relief grants
Westmoreland County commissioners Wednesday awarded more than $4.3 million in grants to 26o small businesses that suffered financial losses because of the covid-19 pandemic. The grants were funded through $31.5 million in federal funds funneled through the state as part of the government’s coronavirus relief program. “Our goal was to...
More coronavirus cases found at Westmoreland Manor
Westmoreland officials said Tuesday another 12 residents and an additional staffer at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield tested positive for coronavirus. The latest test results means that 9.5% of the Westmoreland Manor’s 336 residents are infected. Federally mandated baseline testing for the virus started last week at the facility....
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport runway on track for reopening Friday
Crews are wrapping up work this week on widening the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Meanwhile, construction has begun on an addition to the airport terminal. “We’re right on track,” for scheduled reopening of the improved runway on Friday, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County...
Norwin rejects efforts to ask controversial director to resign; Censure move fails
The Norwin School Board on Monday refused to ask for the immediate resignation of a member whose statements on a private conservative Facebook page were deemed offensive by some members. An attempt at censure failed as well. By identical 6-3 votes, the majority of the board turned back attempts at...
North Huntingdon man recognized for helping keep Linn Run park trout stream cleanVideo
On a warm September morning atop a wooded ridge where only insects and a small stream break the silence in Linn Run State Park, Dennis “Denny” Hess shoveled pure limestone into the water to neutralize acid rain in the water so the insects that trout thrive upon can populate the...
North Huntingdon emergency management coordinator resigns
North Huntingdon is searching for a new emergency management coordinator after the man who held the position for 13 years resigned. Township commissioners accepted the resignation of Gene Komondor, who agreed to remain in the post until a replacement is selected, said Commissioner Zachary Haigis, board president. “I’m hopeful he’ll...
Top-ranked girls volleyball teams keep positions in coaches rankings
WPIAL girls volleyball competition turns to Week 2, and section races are heating up in the four classifications. The top-ranked teams in each class from last week’s preseason Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association top-10 poll — North Allegheny (Class AAAA), Franklin Regional (Class AAA), North Catholic (Class AA) and Bishop...
Hempfield brings back wrestling coach Vince DeAugustine
Hempfield Area School District board hired a familiar face to coach its wrestling team at Monday’s meeting. By a vote of 7-0, the board hired board member Vince DeAugustine as its coach. DeAugustine did not vote on the motion. DeAugustine coached at Norwin the past two seasons, where he helped...
Hundreds of Trump supporters parade down Route 30Video
A convoy of hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles paraded down Route 30 on Sunday, with horns blaring, flags waving and shouts of “four more years.” The parade, and the ensuing rally at Irwin Park, was held to support the reelection of President Trump. Bruce Egan of North Huntingdon drove...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of Sept. 20
Churchill Robert Feinberg trustee sold property at 2240 Harmain Road to Dario and Kathy Donatelli for $221,000. Edgewood Maxwell Williams sold property at 504 Greendale Ave. to Aaron Charles Watson and Marisol Edelmira Lalut for $359,500. Forest Hills Dolores Marie Paul trustee sold property at 110 Braddock Road to Aaron...
Norwin golfers take to hilly layout at Youghiogheny
Norwin moved its boys home golf matches to Youghiogheny Country Club near McKeesport. A long way from home? Sort of, yes. But the Knights have taken to the hilly layout. They won their first three matches on the private club that in the past has played host to WPIAL Class...
Norwin boys soccer ready for another playoff run
After a lengthy first-round playoff drought, Norwin broke through and reached at least the WPIAL boys soccer quarterfinals two years in a row. The Knights were the WPIAL Class 4A runner-up in 2018. A mostly young team a year ago, the Knights bring back a number of core players and...
Norwin superintendent to explain how district will transition to fully in-school or all online
Norwin officials plan to reveal at Monday’s school board meeting the district’s plans for evaluating how to transition from its hybrid model of two days in school and three days of online learning to either fully in class five days a week or to a completely remote online learning model....
Last four members of Iannelli gambling operation sentenced
The final four people charged last year for their alleged roles in the Iannelli gambling ring that operated throughout western Pennsylvania were sentenced Friday to serve one year probation terms as part of a deal with prosecutors in which their criminal records could ultimately be expunged. Each of the four,...
Coronavirus impacts High Holy Days in Jewish community
In a typical year, members of the Jewish community would’ve dressed up and assembled Friday night at the local temple for two days of services with friends, family and fellow congregants to mark the start of the High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in 2020 are different. Congregations...
Westmoreland Transit hopes to boost rebound with extended hours, trips
Two hours of local bus service on Westmoreland County Transit Authority routes will be added in early October as the struggling agency seeks to rebound from massive losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said final details on the expanded service will be released as early...
Westmoreland County high school football players to watch for Week 2
Dom Barca Norwin, Jr., RB Barca scored both touchdowns for Norwin in its loss to Hempfield. He opened the scoring with a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and then added a 46-yard jaunt in the third quarter. He finished with nine carries for 100 yards. Last year as a...
Westmoreland Manor staff to be tested for coronavirus
All staff at Westmoreland Manor will again be tested for coronavirus. Commissioners on Thursday cut a deal with Excela Health to test the staff of the county owned nursing home in Hempfield as part of a federal mandate put in place this week. The county will pay Excela $105 per...
Slot machine arrival marks milestone in Hempfield casino constructionVideo
The former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield is starting to look a lot like a casino. Live! Casino Pittsburgh, a $150 million venue owned by The Cordish Companies of Maryland, is slated to open before Thanksgiving with 750 slot machines and 30 table games. By Thursday, about...
Area happenings
Flu shots available at church Flu vaccinations will be provided at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 12727 Lincoln Way, North Huntingdon, at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 27, after worship service. Those receiving the shot do not need to participate in the service. The church will follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines for...
Jeannette native helping students of military personnel killed or disabled
A Jeannette native is spearheading efforts to raise money for educational scholarships for families of military service people who have died or have been disabled while on active duty. Michael Popella of Grove City founded the Folds of Honor of Western PA Chapter after meeting the national organization’s founder, Lt....
North Huntingdon officials cry foul on backyard chicken ordinanceVideo
The months-long debate over keeping chickens in North Huntingdon residential areas will continue after the commissioners rejected a proposed change to the rules on Wednesday. Commissioners cried foul on adopting an ordinance that would allow residents to obtain a permit to have four hens in a residential district if they...
Head of Pittsburgh area gambling ring, son, plead guilty to running numbers
The 90-year-old patriarch of a Pittsburgh family connected to gambling operations in Western Pennsylvania for more than a half century agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve charges the family operated a sports betting and numbers running business dating back to 1994. Robert “Bobby I” Iannelli, of Pittsburgh, along with his...
Derry man accused of assaulting, spitting on woman in attempt to make her crash
North Huntingdon police say a Derry man repeatedly tried to make a woman crash her car as she drove through Westmoreland County on Monday. Police arrested Jason M. Thomas, 30, on charges of harassment, reckless endangerment, simple assault and making terroristic threats following the alleged 7:30 p.m. assault inside the...
