Western PA Local News category, Page 1320
Greensburg man faces prison in Ohio prostitution case
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty last month in Ohio court to attempted compelling prostitution and failure to follow a police order after a grand jury indicted him for attempting to have sex with a minor, according to court papers. Louis Rosensteel, 56, is facing a potential state prison sentence as...
Wigle launches ‘412 the Moon Cinnamon Whiskey’ for museum
Two uniquely Pittsburgh entities, Wigle Whiskey and the Moonshot Museum are joining forces to celebrate the grand opening of the Moonshot Museum on Oct. 15. Wigle Whiskey is launching its “412 the Moon Cinnamon Whiskey” in conjunction with the grand opening of the museum. Anyone 21 and older can sample...
Remember When: Plum native William D. Boyce was founder of Boy Scouts of America
William D. Boyce was a school teacher, outdoorsman, lumberjack, coal miner and an enterprising publisher. But he is best known as a founder of the Boy Scouts of America. William Dickson Boyce was born on a farm in the New Texas section of Plum Township — later to become Plum...
New Kensington mourns death of firefighter Chris Ploski
New Kensington is mourning the loss of a respected volunteer firefighter. Chris Ploski was one of the city fire department’s most active members, responding to 200 to 250 calls per year while also working his full-time job, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. Ploski, who was diagnosed just over a...
Wilkinsburg man charged with dragging Penn Hills police officer with his car
A Wilkinsburg man has been charged with aggravated assault, after police say he dragged a Penn Hills officer about 20 feet with his car early Tuesday morning. Shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Penn Hills policeman was flagged down by a tow truck driver, who said an SUV had gone...
Westmoreland happenings: Silent auction, ethnic dinner, pickleball clinic, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Greensburg Civic Theatre’s ‘Play That Goes Wrong’ promises big laughs
If calamity befalls Greensburg Civic Theatre’s upcoming production, they’ll know they did it right. Organized chaos is the goal when you’re presenting something called “The Play That Goes Wrong.” The award-winning comedy will be staged at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Greensburg Garden &...
2 Westmoreland men accused of causing $2,500 damage to Somerset soybean fields
Two Westmoreland County men are accused by state police of driving four-wheelers through Somerset County soybean fields last month, causing $2,500 in damage. The two men, both 19, from Irwin and Jeannette, were not named in a news release about the Sept. 3 incident. Troopers said the pair drove onto...
Legislation could allow Pittsburgh to fine residents, businesses for excess trash, uncut lawns
Legislation introduced to City Council Tuesday would allow Pittsburgh to fine residents or businesses for quality of life violations, like an accumulation of garbage, tall weeds or improperly stored garbage cans. The measure, sponsored by Councilman Bruce Kraus, aims to tackle issues surrounding properties that are not properly maintained. Such...
Halloween events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Community events To have your event listed, send information to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084; or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Trick-or-Treat Residents participating in trick-or-treat should turn on their porch lights. Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Apollo: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29....
The Stroller, Oct. 5, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Parks Township photographs and memorabilia to be displayed Victorian Vandergrift Museum...
New Freeport mayor eager to help residents, local businesses
New Freeport Mayor Zachary Gent greeted business owners and others while strolling through the town in sandals in late September, which is appropriate for this river-loving town. He succeeds longtime Mayor James Swartz Jr., who resigned in June. Borough council had difficulty finding candidates and, several months later, voted unanimously...
Greensburg wants to tap state gambling revenue to help fund ice arena update
Greensburg officials are looking for additional state funding to help replace the aging refrigeration system at the city’s ice arena. The city is seeking a $400,000 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account. The funds, which are generated through state gambling revenue, would supplement a $1.5 million state...
Westmoreland communities place their bets on windfall from casino revenue
Community leaders are hoping to be flush with cash after they placed their bets on winning a share of $3.75 million in local casino revenue. A portion of the money that gamblers spent having fun at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield last year could be used for community upgrades such...
Latrobe in talks to add electric vehicle charging stations downtown
Downtown Latrobe could welcome numerous electric vehicle charging stations in the near future. On Monday, Sept. 26, the Latrobe City Council discussed the logistics of adding nine electric vehicle charging stations within the city limits. City Manager Terry Carcella said the city needs to install stations eventually as electric cars...
Employers have jobs to offer, yet struggle to fill vacancies
Gemma Koury of Greensburg was looking for a job Sept. 26, checking the various employers who lined the halls of the PA CareerLink office at the Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. “I was looking for something in elder care,” said Koury, 32, who had been working in a restaurant...
Lawsuit calls Allegheny County probation detainer system unconstitutional
Six people being held in Allegheny County Jail filed a federal lawsuit this week alleging that the probation detainer system violates their constitutional due process rights. The suit, filed by the Abolitionist Law Center and Civil Rights Corps, seeks class-action status to represent all people held on a probation detainer...
Driver killed in crash when his dump truck goes airborne on Indiana County highway
An Indiana County man was killed early Tuesday morning when the empty dump truck he was driving on Route 119 south of Indiana, Pa., went off the highway and flew through the air before landing on the road below, according to state police at the Indiana station. The victim, Thomas...
New Kensington awards $50K contract to resurface Valley Street
A heavily cracked and patched section of a New Kensington road is set to be resurfaced. City council has accepted a $50,325 bid from Tresco Paving Corp. for Valley Street. Valley Street will be milled and resurfaced between Freeport Road and Caldwell Avenue, city Engineer Tony Males said. That distance...
New Florence man charged in police assault seeks release from jail
A former New Florence man acquitted in the fatal shooting of a police officer in 2015 claims his speedy trial rights were violated as he awaits trial on charges that he assaulted police at his home last year. Ray A. Shetler Jr., 38, wants to be released on a nominal...
Domestic violence focus of next Unity in the Community event in Greensburg
A Greensburg-based community group wants to help raise awareness about the pervasive problem of domestic violence. Coinciding with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, “Break the Silence” is the title of an event hosted by Unity in the Community from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the YWCA, 424 N. Main St.,...
What’s in a name? GOP congressional candidate Mike Doyle shares name with retiring Democrat, sowing confusion
A candidate’s name in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District race is turning out to be a key issue in the campaign. Mike Doyle, the Republican nominee in the race, has the same name as the man who represented the area for the past 28 years in Congress. Democrat Mike Doyle is...
Developer aims to revive Hyde Park Plaza in Allegheny Township
Big changes are coming to the former Big Kmart and the plaza it occupies in Allegheny Township. A new owner is redeveloping the once-busy plaza at 451 Hyde Park Road. Hyde Park Plaza was purchased for $3.8 million Sept. 16 by Pittsburgh-based developer Jeff Paul of Fox Chapel. The long-shuttered...
Out & About: Greensburg Garden Center event features tips from radio’s ‘Handy Andy’
Hardware store owner and all-around handyman Andy Amrhein said he likes presenting programs for the Greensburg Garden Center. “You have a lot of questions, and I have a lot of answers,” he told about 80 attendees at the group’s annual Meeting Out on Tuesday at Greensburg Country Club. Amrhein, who...
No change in Plum fireworks rules in wake of new state law
The lighting of what Pennsylvania law deems as consumer fireworks will continue to be permitted in Plum. During their Oct. 3 work session, members of borough council agreed to maintain existing local regulations in the wake of a new state law that became effective in September. “The changes aren’t so...
