5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: July 14-16
Double the fun There are two places for music lovers to party on Friday in Greensburg. A 21-and-older Art on Tap is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St. The event promises outdoor music by The Belladonnas, tailgate-inspired games, light...
Dismissal of cruelty charges against former Pittsburgh animal control officer draws criticism
A Pittsburgh police officer and an animal rights activist say they are disturbed by a district judge’s decision to throw out animal cruelty charges against a former city animal control officer. District Judge James A. Motznik dismissed all four charges against James Genco III, 48, during a July 6 preliminary...
Police: Blairsville carjacking suspect arrested in Georgia
A man accused of cutting a woman in the face and neck during a Blairsville carjacking was arrested Thursday in Georgia, according to state Trooper Tristan Tappe. Authorities had been searching for Michael A. Whitfield, 35, since the violent attack Wednesday morning outside a personal care home. He also is...
Police say 900 packets of fentanyl seized during raid at New Kensington woman’s home; 2nd suspect sought
State and county narcotics agents accused a New Kensington woman of being a drug dealer after, they say, 900 packets of fentanyl were confiscated during a raid at her home. Ieesha Franshawn Rajab, 41, of the 1100 block of Fifth Avenue was charged with two felony counts of possession of...
Trooper: Stolen car pulled over speeding through Turnpike construction zone in Richland
State police accused a man of having pot in the car while he was speeding through a Turnpike construction zone in Richland in a stolen vehicle. Alexander David Rocco, 22, of Dover Drive in Cranberry was charged with a felony count of receiving stolen property along a count of prohibited...
Library StoryWalk planned for Verona
Books don’t have to be, well, books. Along a fence in an Oakmont Carnegie Library garden is a StoryWalk, a series of laminated poster-sized pages from a selected children’s volume set up sequentially so youngsters can enjoy an educational stroll. And the concept looks to be coming to Verona. During...
Police: Man who stole 3-wheel bike from Iron City brewery returned days later on different stolen bike
A homeless man from Colorado accused of breaking into the Pittsburgh Brewing plant in East Deer and stealing a three-wheeled pedal bike told police he stole another bicycle three days later to ride back to the facility, according to authorities. David Austin Jay, 45, was charged by Allegheny Valley Regional...
Jury: Pittsburgh synagogue attacker eligible for death penalty
Robert Bowers is eligible for the death penalty. Whether a jury will impose it will be determined over the next few weeks. On Thursday, after deliberating for less than two hours, a jury of seven women and five men found that the man who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh...
Road closures planned in Mt. Pleasant Township for work on Route 981 roundabout
State Street will close Friday at Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township as construction continues on a new roundabout at that intersection. State Street is expected to remain closed through late July as crews from Walsh Construction Company complete a connection between the street and the roundabout that is set...
Flour Power: Navy veteran brings global foodie experience to Hampton
After 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Hampton resident Amy Knight has transitioned into a new form of service by opening Flour Power Cooking Studios — Pittsburgh, which recently marked its first anniversary. Her years in the Navy took her all around the globe, where she had the...
Morning roundup: Kennywood reverses course to remain open on Tuesdays
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, July 13: Kennywood to be open Tuesdays Kennywood has reversed course and will be open Tuesdays into August, according to the West Mifflin amusement park’s online calendar. “Due to an increase in demand from our guests we have...
The Stroller, July 13, 2023: 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 two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Safety day to be held at Crooked Creek Lake The Armstrong...
Westmoreland County to spend $10 million for broadband expansion
Westmoreland County leaders are expected to allocate more than $10 million in covid relief funds this year to expand broadband to residents currently unable to receive reliable high-speed internet service. Commissioners on Thursday are expected to approve a $1.7 million contract with Verizon Pennsylvania LLC to install about 30 miles...
Previously uncertified parking meters operational, now being enforced in sections of Vandergrift
It’s time to feed the Vandergrift parking meters again. At least some of them. After several months with unenforceable meters, borough officials are making progress in their efforts to repair and certify 330 meters in Vandergrift to make them operational again. Police began enforcement of the parking meters Monday along...
Settlement reached to end federal lawsuit against Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County will pay a former county employee $130,000 to settle a federal discrimination lawsuit in which she claimed she was inappropriately fired in 2019. Tiffany Schomer, a former deputy recorder of deeds and assistant office manager in the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office, contended the county commissioners fired her four...
Latrobe Police Department opens applications for Youth Appreciation Day
Latrobe Police Department will be hosting a Youth Appreciation Day for children in kindergarten through seventh grade on Aug. 3. The day will start off at 10 a.m. at the Latrobe Art Center where children will paint rocks with officers and art center staff. They will then be taken to...
Westmoreland will be asked for $4M for airport project
The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport terminal expansion is projected to cost $22 million, and after figuring in expected contributions from the federal and state governments, officials are asking Westmoreland County to put $4 million towards the project. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority board this week approved making a formal request...
Twin Lakes fishing tournament honors Delmont man’s memory, passion for nature
There isn’t much that John Negich of Export recalls more fondly than standing on the banks of a stream in southeastern Wyoming, fishing and watching the local wildlife with longtime friend Tom Washburn. “Tom was my brother’s best friend,” said Negich. “And I’m Tom’s brother’s best friend. The four of...
Plum thanks Pat McAfee after another donation
Former Indianapolis Colts punter, current TV star and Plum native Pat McAfee was thanked by the borough for another charitable act. McAfee paid for every child age 17 and younger to have an all-day ride ticket at Plum’s SummerFest. According to borough manager Michael Thomas, the total cost was around...
North Huntingdon police locate missing autistic teen
North Huntingdon police located a 16-year-old autistic boy who had been reported missing late Wednesday night. Authorities were looking for the boy who was missing from the Ridge Road area of the township. They reported in an alert after midnight that the child had been found....
Police: 1 of 2 victims in Brighton Heights shooting has died
One of two women shot in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood Wednesday night has died, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Darkale Bonner, 35, died at a hospital just before 8:30 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said. The office said Bonner died from a gunshot wound to the head...
Guardian Angels Parish Festival in Harrison underway
The Guardian Angels Parish Festival in Harrison had great weather Wednesday for its opening night. The festival runs nightly through Saturday night with rides, games and music. The festival is held on the church grounds at 800 Montana Ave. in Natrona Heights, just off of Freeport Road....
Fire damages house of Greensburg firefighter, neighboring apartment
A Greensburg firefighter whose home was damaged by fire Wednesday night received hugs of support from his fellow firefighters and first responders as he sat on his neighbor’s front porch steps and watced his colleague’s efforts to extinguish any hot spots. Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell said the home of...
Bolivar man convicted in attempted murder, kidnapping of Ligonier joggerVideo
A Bolivar man was convicted Wednesday of the attempted murder and kidnapping of a college student who was out for a winter run through Ligonier. After hearing three days of testimony and deliberating more than four hours, a Westmoreland County jury said Frank Springer, 56, is guilty of all eight...
Former Derry man convicted of illegal recording at courthouse
A former Derry man was convicted Wednesday of three felony charges for violations of the state’s wiretapping laws. Justin Juan De La Martinez, 43, now of Illinois, was found guilty of illegally recording and distributing video of a employee in the Westmoreland County Court Administration Office. Prosecutors contended Martinez did...
