Penn-Trafford Star category, Page 73

Visitation for inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison will be restricted to video only through September under a agreement approved Thursday by county commissioners. Commissioners approved an amendment to its agreement with Global Tel-Link Corp., the private company that operates the telephone system at the jail in Hempfield. Warden John...

About two dozen Westmoreland County residents criticized county commissioner’s Chairman Sean Kertes Thursday for comments he made during a political rally last weekend they claim denigrated the county’s younger population. “Here you are Sean Kertes, sowing division based on age, economic standing, race and political affiliation. I get it …...

Penn-Trafford School District students returned to school Thursday — or at least, most of them did. The district originally planned to have a full reopening, but changed course earlier this month to meet state coronavirus guidelines. Students in grades K-8 will attend school as normal, but have the first seven...

The first annual Norwin Elks Summerfest featuring live bands on the lawn was held Sunday, Aug. 23 at the Elks lodge, 135 Elks Lane in Manor. Concert-goers seated on blankets and lawn chairs were treated to live afternoon performances by William Dell & the Wee Jams, The Fabulous Gemtones and...

A portion of Westmoreland County’s local bus service, slowed because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be restored in September. Westmoreland County Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said that an informal survey of riders determined an interest in added public transportation for routes around the county. Specifics about which routes...

As traditional schools weed through reopening plans that largely include at least some online learning, career and technical centers across the region grapple with how to maintain predominately hands-on classes while keeping students and staff safe. Several of the 16 career and technical centers that cater to high school students...

North Huntingdon Christopher Langlais sold property at 9970 Buckingham Place to Freedom Mortgage Corp. for $2,041. RWS Land Co. Inc. sold property at 353 Durst Road to Brandon and Katie Rose Grant for $389,900. Melissa Beckner sold property at 998 Fieldstone Drive to Dana and Terra Hodge for $215,000. IV...

Despite not receiving state aid for hazard pay for frontline workers, a McCandless-based nonprofit will give its employees at 140 community group homes across the region an extra $3 an hour until late October — an initiative that will cost the company about $2 million. Passavant Memorial Homes Family of...

A protest planned for Thursday evening in Greensburg sent local police into short-notice preparation mode in the morning after learning about it through social media. The event is billed as a Black Lives Matter protest that will start at 6 p.m. at the Westmoreland County courthouse, followed by a three-block...

The 25th annual Fire Prevention Night hosted by Hempfield has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event typically draws more than 500 people, and about 80 area fire departments are represented. The event is presented by the Hempfield Township Fire Department’s 12 stations and firefighters from Greensburg, South...

A handful of volunteers answered the Trafford Business Association’s call for helping hands Saturday morning at 427 Cavitt Ave. In a little more than four hours, they brightened up the block by improving a fence on the property of Klassy Bar and Grill. The ad hoc work crew cut and...

When investigators listened in on inmates’ telephone calls during an 18-month probe into alleged drug smuggling at the Westmoreland County Prison, they often heard inmates referring to “spicy chicken,” “deuce” or “papers.” But the conversations weren’t referring to food, card games or legal paperwork. It was code that a delivery...

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court put on hold the appeal of Westmoreland County’s former sheriff, who is seeking the dismissal of two criminal offenses related to allegations of public corruption. The court this week said it will delay a decision on whether it will consider the appeal in the pending case...

Naloxone can now be mailed by community groups to anyone who wants the opioid overdose antidote under an updated standing order. State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed the updated order Tuesday that makes the change to allow for easier access while restrictions are in place related to the...

Two Pennsylvania state troopers with a penchant for connecting communities with police officers are taking on full-time roles that will entrench them in the local area. Greensburg native Cpl. Aaron Allen and Trooper Ismail El-Guemra of the Carlisle area will work with community groups, police agencies and local residents in...

Pennsylvania parole absconders will be given an 11-day window to voluntarily turn themselves beginning next week to receive a better chance of staying out of prison. The state Department of Corrections and the Parole Board on Tuesday announced a statewide Safe Return Initiative. The program will be offered Aug. 24...

Penn-Trafford School District has backed away from a planned full reopening next week, instead adopting a hybrid approach at the high school due to state coronavirus guidelines. High school students will be split into two groups — “green” and “gold,” according to Assistant Superintendent Scott Inglese. Each group will attend...

Westmoreland County saw 13 new cases of covid-19 added to its total Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The new cases make a total of 1,640 cases in the county since the virus was first reported there March 20. Of those cases, 1,591 are confirmed, 49 are considered probable....

A new online gaming site will give a “sneak peek” into two casinos being built on opposite ends of Pennsylvania, including one under construction at Westmoreland Mall. PlayLive!, which launched this week, features more than 100 gaming options, including classic slots and table games, along with online-only titles and jackpot...

Additional opportunities for Westmoreland County’s mail-in voters this fall are being considered as local officials plan for potential slowdowns related to budget cuts at the U.S. Postal Service. Commissioners said Monday no plans have been finalized, but they might consider creating satellite elections bureau locations to allow voters another option...

As teachers get ready to return to a school format in which many will have to do virtual instruction, area experts in online teaching offer some advice. Connect with students, offer rigorous instruction, be a bit improvisational and refrain from simply providing students at home with the same lesson as...

No additional staffers or residents of Westmoreland Manor have tested positive for coronavirus since last month, so in-person visitation at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield could begin in two weeks, officials said Monday. In-person outdoor visits were suspended in late July, the same week they started, when officials learned...

A 10-year-old Westmoreland County girl who went to play at friend’s home in Manor told police hours later a relative of the friend exposed himself to her, borough police allege. After subsequent interviews with a child welfare specialist and police, Penn Township police were notified the girl said similar incidents...

The deputy director of Westmoreland County’s tax department was hired Monday as the new head of the county’s elections bureau. JoAnn Sebastiani, 62, of Hempfield will take over the office that will be under the microscope this fall as county officials gear up for what is expected to be the...