Westmoreland category, Page 108
New Kensington Democrat seeks to unseat Murrysville’s Jill Cooper in 55th State House race
In a divisive political atmosphere both locally and nationally, Democrat Davon Magwood is proud to be running a race against incumbent state Rep. Jill Cooper that puts negativity aside. “I love that we’re running campaigns where we’re not attacking one another,” said Magwood, 38, of New Kensington, who has worked...
Trafford man accused of numerous drug deals with undercover officer
The amount of money and drugs being exchanged by an undercover North Huntingdon officer and a Trafford man increased over seven controlled buys between August and Tuesday, according to court papers. At their first meeting Aug. 19, Vondae Duane Freeman, 38, is accused of giving the undercover officer a few...
Veterans court offers redemption chance for former service members
John Novotnak knew he needed help. The U.S. Army serviceman whose eight-year career included a tour of duty in Iraq, struggled after he was discharged from the military in 2008. Novotnak, 43, of North Huntingdon was charged in 2022 for the second time with drunken driving when he finally concluded...
Greensburg names Baltzer Meyer the city’s official historical society
Greensburg named Hempfield-based Baltzer Meyer the city’s official historical society Monday. The Baltzer Meyer Historical Society has collected records and artifacts from communities across Westmoreland County for more than three decades, said Vice President Franny Petras — including Greensburg. “We have military records. We have family trees. We have research...
Hempfield reviews visions for high school renovation project after construction stalled last year
More than a year after halting a high school renovation that came in over budget, Hempfield Area School District is getting back on track with the project. Architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates laid out visions for the project during a school board meeting this week, touching on improvement priorities and...
Couple, pet rescued from house fire in Unity
A couple and their pet dog were rescued by a neighbor when fire broke out in their Unity home Tuesday night. A smoke alarm awakened the pair as they were sleeping on the first floor of their Dos Drive home, according to Tom Schultheis, township emergency management coordinator. Blocked by...
Lane restrictions set for I-70, Route 51 as interchange revamp proceeds, old bridge is razed
Overnight single-lane restrictions will be in place for several days on a section of Interstate 70 as crews demolish the bridge that used to carry Route 51 over the interstate in Rostraver. The bridge is being replaced by a more complex crossing as part of a $120.7 million project to...
Hay smolders days after Hempfield barn fire, sparks concern for residents
A fire that destroyed a storage barn Saturday afternoon at Westmoreland Equestrian Center in Hempfield left behind a field of hay that is continuing to smolder and smoke, sparking concerns from nearby respiratory-challenged residents. As of Tuesday, it wasn’t clear how much longer the smoldering may continue at the site...
Judge rejects prosecutor’s request for lengthy sentence for Delmont man
A Westmoreland County prosecutor said rehabilitation was not a viable option for a Delmont man convicted this year of the attempted sexual assault of a woman. Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek, during a sentencing hearing Tuesday for Brandon J. Pyle, 28, argued that his lengthy history of inappropriate and criminal...
Seward man pleads guilty to attempted child rape
A Seward man pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges relating to attempted sex with an underage girl. Anthony Ronald Laughard, 43, was charged last year following an undercover sting operation conducted by the state police. According to court records, Laughard made contact with a person through online communication he believed to...
Bolivar man ordered to serve 10- to 20-year prison sentence for sexual assaults of child
A Bolivar man was sentenced Tuesday to serve 10 to 20 years in prison for the repeated sexual assaults of a young girl. Jerry Boring, 60, was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury in April of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault in connection with accusations...
‘It’s not happening’: Westmoreland airport director dispels rumor regarding overnight immigrant flights
Thousands of immigrants are not being flown in overnight to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, said Gabe Monzo, Westmoreland County Airport Authority executive director. To some chuckles from board members and others in attendance at the authority’s board meeting Tuesday, Monzo addressed the nuisance that has become part of...
2 who fled Scottdale police are caught in Aliquippa
Two people accused of fleeing from police Friday in Scottdale are now being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. A borough officer who stopped about noon at a Water Street convenience store reported recognizing Westley Matthews, 43, of Bullskin, as a person who had warrants out for his arrest. When...
Delmont plans to lower speed limit on Athena Drive
Delmont officials will begin the process to lower the speed limit on Athena Drive from 35 miles per hour to 25 mph. “This is partly the result of some complaints we’ve gotten over the years from residents,” Councilman Stan Cheyne said. “I also recall that Ace Hardware mentioned an issue...
PennWest California readies full slate of homecoming events
PennWest California will welcome back alumni as the school celebrates homecoming with a full slate of events this weekend . A parade and tailgate will take place Saturday prior to the Vulcans’ game against Slippery Rock at Adamson Stadium. Before the weekend begins, the California club hockey teams will host...
Irwin budget: Tax rates expected to hold in 2025
The tentative 2025 budget in Irwin holds the line on real estate taxes. Irwin council on Oct. 9 introduced a $4.25 million general fund budget that sets taxes at 28 mills, the same as last year. The tentative budget allocates the revenue from 23 mills to the general fund budget;...
High school students learn to suture wounds, see ligament repair in Saint Vincent program
Alyvia Peagler wants to pursue a career in health care, just like her grandmother did. But instead of nursing, Peagler is leaning toward becoming a physician assistant after she graduates from Greater Latrobe High School. “I really like helping people,” she said. “I find that stuff really interesting about the...
Hempfield considers redoing auxiliary gym roof, following auditorium roof replacement in August
After replacing its auditorium roof this summer, Hempfield Area High School may see a new roof covering its auxiliary gym. The 7,500-square-foot section of roof is beyond its useful life and leaks into the gym, said Damion Spahr, project executive of the district’s construction manager, SitelogIQ. The gym will require...
Movie, Big Band Swing music presented at free concert
The Pitt-Greensburg Chorale and Chamber Singers, along with the Campana Consort will present a Chorale Cafe on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. for fans of movie music, musicals, doo wop, and Big Band Swing music The audience is encouraged to arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the free event to enjoy...
Plum hires Norwin board president as assistant superintendent
The president of the Norwin School Board has been hired as the assistant superintendent at Plum School District. Matthew P. Thomas of North Huntingdon, who has been the student services director for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 since June 2018, was hired Oct. 8 by the Plum School Board at...
Stormwater system fee increasingly likely for Murrysville property owners
For more than a dozen years, Murrysville officials were able to run the municipality without a tax hike. And even when it did take place, in 2021, it was a small bump to the earned-income and real-estate transfer taxes. When it comes to stormwater management, that may be changing. “Every...
Irwin offers $5,000 bonus for new cops to stay on the job
Police officers hired by Irwin will have an incentive to stay on the job four years — an incentive worth $5,000. Irwin police Chief Dan Wensel had suggested to council that it create a signing bonus program for any officer hired next year as a way of retaining new officers....
Greensburg Salem employees slated for salary, health insurance increases in new contract
Greensburg Salem employees will receive an average annual salary increase of more than 3% across the next five years through a contract approved by the school board. The contract grants an average annual salary increase of 3.19% each year to nearly 200 teachers, nurses and psychologists in the district, Superintendent...
Neighbors recall Scottdale fire victim as quiet, ‘eccentric’
Neighbors remember Thomas Zeller as a somewhat eccentric man who pursued a low-tech lifestyle. Zeller, 71, died Saturday when flames destroyed his Scottdale home. “It’s a sad thing,” Market Street resident Chuck Brownfield said Sunday. “He didn’t really associate with a lot of people, he never bothered anybody.” According to...
Trunk-or-treat events add another opportunity for Halloween fun
Several vehicles are lined up, their trunks wide open, decorated and filled with candy and other treats. It’s a different version of trick-or-treat, where children dress in costume and walk door to door and collect candy on Halloween or some night close to Oct. 31, depending on the community where...
