Norwin Star category, Page 84
Well-traveled Spanish teacher at Norwin honored with global educator award
A Spanish teacher at Norwin who established the Global Scholars Program at the high school has been recognized by a statewide language organization as furthering intercultural understanding and global competence in students. “This recognition has only been possible with the contributions that all Norwin educators have made in their daily...
Fun-loving Norwin softball team blanks Hempfield to clinch section titleVideo
When Norwin softball players were told by their coach, Brian Mesich, that an umpire wanted them to “tone it down” on the field, they seemed taken aback. They weren’t sure what that meant, exactly. “They don’t want us to have fun, I guess,” one player said. “So let’s have extra...
Norwin baseball team blanks Hempfield, clinches tie for section title
The Norwin baseball team clinched at least a tie for the Section 2-6A title Wednesday behind a strong pitching performance from Jake Bazala and timely hitting. Bazala blanked Hempfield into the sixth inning, and Zach Potthoff came in for a save as Norwin won 3-0 on a cool, damp day....
Irwin man gets 15 years for role as ringleader of gang’s drug operation
An Irwin man who led a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania will serve 15 years in prison. Christopher Highsmith, who was responsible for the distribution of 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug conspiracy in September before U.S. District...
Irwin woman accused of falsifying police documents, claiming to be male officer in insurance claim investigation
An Irwin woman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she claimed to be a male police officer to an insurance investigator and falsified several documents relating to a claim, according to court papers. Sharon K. Powell, 49, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft, criminal use of a communication facility,...
On the Move: Promotion for Irwin woman, scholarship for Norwin senior
Irwin native Bethany Dressler, who lives in Erie, was promoted to account manager for HUB HDH, a global insurance broker with offices in Erie. Dressler, a Norwin High School graduate, has worked at HUB for seven years. Its regional headquarters is in downtown Pittsburgh. She previously was enrollment coordinator. Dressler...
Brother of North Huntingdon overdose victim charged in her death
The brother of a overdose victim in North Huntingdon was one of two men arrested Monday on charges of helping his sister buy a dose of heroin-fentanyl that killed her Jan. 12, according to court documents. Forrest G. Piper Jr., 49, of West Newton, the brother of Iona J. Runkle,...
Newly reported covid cases drop slightly in North Huntingdon-Irwin area for week of April 26, 2021
The number of newly reported covid cases dropped slightly from April 26 to May 3 among residents in the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin areas, the second consecutive week of declining new coronavirus cases, according to state Health Department data released Monday. There were 44 new covid cases from April 26 to...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of May 2, 2021
Chalfant Louise Walczyk sold property at 355 West St. to Louella Hall Carter for $104,850. Delmont Timothy Washa sold property at 201 E White Oak St. to Ryan Silan and Brooke Denlinger for $189,000. Edgewood Jack Ellenberger sold property at 225 E Swissvale Ave. Unit 4 to Kelly Fraasch for...
Norwin softball team expects to keep on contending
Norwin had just lost to Hempfield, 10-5, to snap a four-game winning streak. It was the first Section 2-6A loss for the softball Knights, who vaulted to No. 2 in the Trib HSSN rankings. They quickly brushed off the defeat, learned from it and moved on rather abruptly. “We’ll use...
Covid vaccine clinic set for Norwin students
Norwin High School students age 16 and older can get the first of the two-dose Pfizer covid vaccine during a clinic Friday, May 14 at the Norwin High School auxiliary gymnasium. The vaccine will also be available to any student’s family member older than 16. The clinic will be held...
North Huntingdon man ordered to pay more than $50,000 in auto repair, check fraud case
The owner of a former North Huntingdon auto repair shop will pay more than $50,000 in restitution to customers who paid for work that was never performed and for buying $13,000 worth of goods with bad checks. Dean Vezzani, 43, of North Huntingdon agreed Friday to pay $400 a month...
Norwin area charges filed as of April 29, 2021
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty before a judge in Westmoreland County Court. • Donna L. Rich, 55, of Irwin, by borough police with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. • Aaron...
Norwin area happenings include scavenger hunt, tax rebates
Pet Friends plans scavenger hunt Pet Friends Inc. of Irwin, will hold a scavenger hunt/word game fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 15 in downtown Irwin. The event will include a meet and greet with the cats and dogs that are available for adoption, a police K-9 demonstration,...
Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds office to close Friday for computer upgrades
The Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds office at the courthouse in Greensburg will be closed Friday as technical staff work to complete a $90,000 computer system upgrade officials say will improve public access to property records. The closure means the filing of deeds, mortgages and all other documents will be...
Norwin High School closed because of covid cases
Norwin High School will be closed Wednesday because of a sixth positive covid case at the high school within a 14-day rolling period. The closure will allow contract tracing to be completed and for sanitizing the building, the district said Tuesday afternoon. The school was closed upon the recommendation of...
Police say Irwin woman stabbed man after he took her vodka
An Irwin woman is accused by police of stabbing a man with a kitchen knife after he took her bottle of vodka. Donna L. Rich, 55, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment in the incident at an apartment in the 500 block of Walnut Street in the...
Talented Norwin keeps rolling, beats Upper St. ClairVideo
There is so much talent on the Norwin baseball but not enough starting spots to go around. Eric Chorba didn’t start against North Allegheny on April 23, but he still managed to contribute to the victory. Chorba got the start Monday against Upper St. Clair and helped No. 1 Norwin...
Norwin area weekly covid case count drops as of April 26
For the first time in three weeks, the number of newly reported covid cases fell week over week in the North Huntingdon, Irwin and North Irwin areas covered by four ZIP codes, according to state Department of Health data released Monday. There were 48 new covid cases from April 19...
Irwin OKs plans for development at Penn-Irwin Motel site
The former Penn-Irwin Motel property along Route 30 in Irwin is a step closer to a transformation after officials approved plans for the site, although much of the hillside will be removed before construction can begin. Irwin Borough approved development plans submitted by Colony Development Co. of North Huntingdon for...
Seton LaSalle takes over top spot in WPIAL Class AA volleyball coaches rankings
The Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association released its Week 5 rankings Monday morning, and there is a change at the head of the Class AA Top 10. Seton LaSalle leapfrogged Ambridge and North Catholic into the No. 1 spot after a week in which the Rebels scored a 3-0 nonsection...
Norwin adjusts for ‘The Little Mermaid’ performances
The Norwin High School Theatre Company’s production of “The Little Mermaid” is not going under the sea, but it will be heading outside. The musical will be performed under the lights in the Norwin Knights Stadium at 8 p.m. May 6-9. Performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was canceled last...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of April 25, 2021
Churchill Silas Watkins sold property at 3857 Greensburg Pike to Matthew Zamba and Alexandra Hay for $151,965. Delmont Lee Adams sold property at 138 Freeport St. to James Tobin for $99,900. Edgewood William Weaver sold property at 1109 E End Ave. to Dane Brody for $363,000. Nicholas Gasparro sold property...
Irwin to get new parking meters, rate increase
Motorists in downtown Irwin will see new parking meters in the near future, and a rate increase. The borough was to receive an order of 200 refurbished digital meters Friday from Take A Powder Inc. of Paterson, N.J., said Stacie Santimyer, assistant borough manager. Council on April 14 approved buying...
North Huntingdon, Latrobe police expecting body cameras
With the increase in controversial and sometimes deadly encounters between law enforcement and citizens across the country, more local police departments in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are looking to outfit officers with body cameras — but they are scrambling to pay for them. “There’s no question that law enforcement needs...
