Norwin Star category, Page 111
Irwin rolls to Western Pa. Summer Baseball League championship
When the spring high school sports season was canceled, the Norwin Knights thought they missed out on a chance to contend for a WPIAL baseball championship. Nothing that happened in the Western Pennsylvania Summer Baseball League playoffs could have possibly changed their minds. Irwin, with a roster full of Norwin...
Westmoreland leaders say covid-19 grant awards will take longer than expected
Westmoreland commissioners said Thursday that $10 million in grants for local small businesses and nonprofits hurt by the coronavirus pandemic won’t be awarded until the end of August. The county received 500 grant applications by last week’s deadline. While officials originally suggested that money could begin to flow as early...
State reimburses Westmoreland for some voting machine expenses, talks to start Friday on finding next elections bureau head
Westmoreland County received a $3.4 million reimbursement from the state, which covers about 60% of the costs of new elections equipment purchased over the past year. That money, according to state guidelines, cannot be used to cover costs associated with the November presidential election, officials said. “It will have to...
Dealer school open house scheduled for this weekend at Hempfield mini-casino site
The public has its first chance to tour the new dealer school at Westmoreland Mall this weekend, which is slated to produce employees for the casino under construction at the Hempfield facility. From 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, those interested in the school can speak with experienced table game dealers...
North Huntingdon debating backyard chicken regulations
North Huntingdon officials are battling over proposed regulations that would govern how backyard chickens can be raised without infringing on neighbors’ peace and tranquility. An ordinance the planning commission recommended for approval this week would permit chickens to be raised on property of at least 1 acre; the existing rules...
Norwin parents to protest hybrid school reopening plan
A group of Norwin parents who want their children in school all week rather than two days plan to protest Monday. “We want to get the kids back to school five days a week. It’s like they (district administration) quit on us,” said Leslie Savage of Irwin, whose son is...
Ultraviolet light air cleaner added at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
A safety measure added at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport this week will rid the air of any harmful bacteria or viruses to keep employees and travelers healthy, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority. An ultraviolet light system was installed in the Unity airport’s HVAC unit...
The Westmoreland reopens: A safe space to contemplate art in the midst of pandemicVideo
Doug and Connie Clutter of Washington, Pa., were the first guests through the door when The Westmoreland Museum of American Art reopened Wednesday. A watercolor painter, Connie said she was in need of some inspiration for her work. “We needed an outing, too,” her husband said. “I just missed art...
Citizens Bank, Trib Total Media, Pittsburgh Cares now accepting 2021 Champions in Action applications
Applications for a 2021 Champions in Action award are being accepted by Citizens Bank, Trib Total Media and Pittsburgh Cares until Aug. 21. The program is seeking nonprofit applicants for work done related to covid-19 relief. “Applications will be accepted … from nonprofit organizations focused on solving post-pandemic social needs...
Police: Man who tried to run from North Huntingdon traffic stop had marijuana, warrants
A South Greensburg man was arrested Tuesday after, police say, he tried to run from a North Huntingdon traffic stop. Investigators said they found Tristin Michael Allen Huffine, 20, in possession of suspected marijuana and cannabis oil while he was in the back seat of a car pulled over at...
Westmoreland sheriff uses antibody tests to screen deputies for coronavirusVideo
Westmoreland County deputy sheriffs won’t have week-long waits to determine if they’ve been infected with the coronavirus. Sheriff James Albert said Tuesday his office secured up to 50 rapid antibody tests that his staff will use as a diagnostic tool to determine the likelihood of exposure to the virus. “As...
Census Bureau announces date change for in-person counts
Local communities could be left scrambling after the Census Bureau confirmed there will be one less month to collect population counts vital for determining how federal funds are dispersed and the number of representatives each state has in Congress. The final date for collecting the once-a-decade survey is Sept. 30...
New slides at Mammoth Park temporarily shut down amid claims of injuriesVideo
Jamie Crise was happy to hear Tuesday that Westmoreland County officials temporarily shut down new slides at Mammoth Park after her 10-year-old daughter was hurt there last month. The girl ended up with a brush burn on her shoulder and bruises, leaving the Mt. Pleasant Township mother with concerns about...
Westmoreland election director resigns 3 months out from election day
Westmoreland County officials Monday confirmed the resignation of the elections bureau director, a move that comes as preparations continue for the presidential general election just three months away. Commissioner Doug Chew said Beth Lechman last week notified county leaders of her decision to exit the job she has held since...
Westmoreland restarts criminal trials with case against Rahmael Holt’s father
After a four-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, jury trials resumed Monday in Westmoreland County. A 12-member jury and two alternates were selected to hear evidence in a witnesses intimidation case against the father of the man convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of New Kensington police...
500 nonprofits, small businesses seek pandemic grants in Westmoreland County
About 500 applications for Westmoreland County’s coronavirus-relief grants started being evaluated Monday, and the first awards from a pool of $10 million could be approved this week. County commissioners last month announced the first phase of its grant program that uses $31.5 million in federal funds to assist small businesses,...
Norwin director ripped over controversial posts; some call for resignation
A Norwin School Board director was roundly criticized amid residents’ calls for his resignation for his posts on a private Facebook account. They included messages such as “Gold Star of David coming to the mask wearers,” Democrats are not Christians and the nation should be plunged into war if President...
WPIAL football recruits share written scholarship offers as Aug. 1 arrives
Now, it’s in writing. Aug. 1 is the date each year that college football teams are first able to give written scholarship offers to high school seniors, and many of the recruits shared them Saturday on social media. The Class of 2021 still can’t sign a National Letter of Intent...
Norwin OKs hybrid reopening, delays start to Aug. 31
Norwin students will start the school year Aug. 31 by returning to their classrooms two days a week and then three days at home receiving remote instruction. School officials say the plan is flexible to accommodate full-time, in-school learning or total online, depending on changes in the coronavirus pandemic. The...
Westmoreland advances district judge consolidation plan
Westmoreland County’s final redistricting plan will split caseloads from two shuttered district judge’s offices among four of the remaining 15 local courts, according to documents released Wednesday. Court officials made what was described as minor changes to the proposal unveiled this month that closes court offices in Penn Township and...
2 arrested after crystal meth, THC oil found during North Huntingdon traffic stop
More than two ounces of crystal methamphetamine and THC oil were seized from two men during a traffic stop in North Huntingdon last week, according to court papers. Michael B. Keenan, 41, of Youngwood, and Victor A. Gullatta, 29, of Aurora, Ohio, are being held at the Westmoreland County Prison...
`Music in the Streets’ returns to Irwin
Irwin’s “Music in the Streets” is returning to the borough’s downtown business district this week with performances by several singers. On Thursday, Former American Idol contestant Aubrey Burchell will perform at The Lamp Theatre courtyard from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Gail, Kevin & Company will perform on Fourth Street from...
AMS club swimmers earn All-American status
Allegheny Mountain Swimming recently announced its swimmers who earned scholastic All-American honors for the 2018-19 academic year based on requirements set by USA Swimming. The All-American recognition combines the swimmer’s accomplishments in the pool for his or her club programs as well as achievements in the classroom. To make the...
Norwin student named to environmental ambassador program
A rising Norwin High School sophomore with a passion for science and the environment was selected as one of 31 students in the nation for a program to protect and preserve local water resources through monitoring, restoration and educational outreach. Abrielle Brown, 14, will participate in the EarthEcho Water Challenge...
Norwin to unveil reopening plan July 30
With 5,300 Norwin students scheduled to return in about a month, district administrators will inform the school board next week about how they plan to do that safely. Norwin will have “a number of contingencies and we will discuss them in detail,” said Superintendent Jeff Taylor. Those contingencies will depend,...
