Westmoreland category, Page 125
Hempfield, state officials see $16M site near Route 30 as community. emergency response hubVideo
Looking out over the bare dirt across 43 acres in eastern Hempfield, township Commissioner Jay Anderson was reminded of his days as a Boy Scout leader. “You’d arrive at Scout camp and it’s just this big open area, but then everyone starts getting set up and before long, it really...
State police to increase late-night patrols in Export
State police will increase late-night patrols in response to recent reports of car break-ins in Export. Lt. Michael Sbardella was at council’s Aug. 6 meeting to address concerns about thefts from vehicles along Lee Street, Pierce Street, Italy Road and Lincoln Avenue. Sbardella said he would speak with midnight-shift officers...
Couple accused of smuggling drugs into Westmoreland prison
A husband and wife are accused of smuggling drugs into the Westmoreland County Prison by concealing them in a suit jacket needed for a court appearance, according to police. Westmoreland County detectives detailed in court papers numerous conversations John Joseph Kukonik, 35, had with Olivia A. Weber, 46, while he...
Jeannette EMS plans to remove former station from bankruptcy estate because of liens on property
If there are no objections filed this week, the former Jeannette EMS station will be removed from the organization’s bankruptcy estate, according to court filings. Because of liens on the property, the South Sixth Street station and its contents have no value to the estate, attorneys said in a notice...
North Huntingdon woman charged with providing alcohol, corruption of minors
While investigating a fatal dirt bike crash in North Huntingdon, police said they learned that a township woman had regularly been hosting drinking parties for teenagers in the community, according to court papers. On Friday, they arrested Kimberly Strashensky, 53, on charges of child endangerment, corruption of minors and providing...
Morning Roundup: Burning ban issued in North Franklin; 3 injured in North Versailles crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Aug. 12: Burning ban issued in North Franklin A temporary ban on burning has been enacted in a Washington County township as dry weather is expected to continue this week. Trib news partner WTAE reported that North Franklin...
Residents: New senior citizen building in Irwin ‘top of the line’
It’s back to their roots for Libby and Ted Fenster, McKeesport natives who are among the first residents to move into the four-story, 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences in Irwin. “I love it here. Everything is just top of the line,” said Libby Fenster, who moved into the Westmoreland County...
Proposed new Derry-Ligonier power line to follow path of existing one
Rosslyn Kemerer is breathing a huge sigh of relief now that a proposed new high-voltage power line connecting Derry and Ligonier is set to bypass her family’s small Ligonier Township farm. Others who have property in the path of the utility line FirstEnergy expects will help minimize power outages may...
Grandma’s cookie jars: Nostalgic trend making a sweet comeback
Lifting the lid and reaching in to sneak a cookie from a cookie jar is a childhood memory for many. There was nothing better than grabbing one — or more — of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies we knew were just waiting for us inside that ceramic, porcelain or...
Westmoreland happenings: Hawaii day, seminar, prayer service, more
Church News • Mother of Sorrows Parish will offer a free seminar, “Expressing Gratitude,” with Dennis C. Daley from noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 13 in the parish social hall, 4202 Old William Penn Highway. Plan to arrive by 11:30 a.m. Bring a brown bag lunch. Beverages provided. • Living...
Horror movie to be filmed at Irwin’s Lamp Theatre
The renovated Lamp Theatre, which was showing movies in downtown Irwin for more than six decades before it closed in 2004, is the set for a movie production this summer. Independent movie director and producer Mark Cantu, 45, of McKeesport said he will return to the theater in downtown Irwin...
Safety, disruption concerns prompt proposed cancellation of Norwin Halloween parades
With classes set to start Aug. 22, Norwin School District officials are working to find a balance between education and celebrations with a focus on safety. The school board this past week debated ending Halloween parades at the district’s elementary schools because of concerns regarding safety and class disruptions. Director...
200 monarch butterflies released during annual Greensburg Garden Center event
Kylynn Kelsey, who is 6, said she started liking butterflies Saturday following the annual monarch butterfly release at the LeFevre Butterfly Garden behind the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center. Her favorite part was getting them to land on her wand made of flowers, made available at the event hosted by...
Offense carries West Point softball to brink of title-game berth in Little League World Series
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Now that the bats are warming up — along with the weather — West Point is finding its comfort zone in the Little League Softball World Series. West Point scored in each of its first three innings — highlighted by a five-run third — to oust Cranston...
Pipe project to close Creek Road in Fairfield until late this month
PennDOT will close a section of Creek Road Monday in Fairfield, causing a detour that is expected to continue through late August. The road will be closed between Hirsch and Midget Camp roads while crews replace a pipe. The posted detour will divert traffic along Midget Camp Road and Route...
Unity family’s ATV use on farm pits them against neighbors
A Unity family who wants an ordinance changed so they can ride all-terrain vehicles, quads and dirt bikes on trails on a farm are opposed by the residents of the Cambridge Point housing development near the property. Township supervisors will be tasked with deciding whether to change the municipality’s ordinance...
Franklin Regional’s Spencer Lee takes wrestling silver in Paris, but to his fans he’s goldVideo
Greg Sill was heartbroken by Spencer Lee’s loss in the Olympic wrestling finals Friday, but he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of hometown pride. The assistant varsity wrestling coach at Franklin Regional High School watched in awe before 2017 graduate Lee took home a silver medal from Paris....
Burning bans lifted in Derry, Unity townships
Recent bans on burning in Derry and Unity townships will be lifted beginning Saturday , according to officials in the municipalities. The bans were put in place following a stretch of dry weather in the area. Several rainstorms have provided some relief this week. Burning of paper, cardboard and yard...
Hunker woman is latest to sue county over Giant Slide safety concerns at Mammoth Park
A Hunker woman, who says she was injured in February on the Giant Slide in Mammoth Park, claims in a lawsuit filed this week that the 100-foot amusement ride is unsafe. Ashley M. Coonelly says that she traveled down the slide at a high rate of speed and was unable...
Flights, county fair coincide with Westmoreland Airshow this year
Zachary Stull spent Friday morning at the auto shop, preparing his car for a 15-hour drive from Westmoreland County to Orlando, Fla. Stull, 43, of Bolivar, scheduled a trip to Disney with his wife and their 6-year-old son months ago. He realized only four days ago that the Spirit Airlines...
North Huntingdon police accuse 2 of using credit card skimmer
Two men already accused of stealing customers’ credit card information using a skimmer device at supermarkets in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, are also accused of using a device to steal the identity of customers at a North Huntingdon supermarket, according to township police. Thomas Fuchs, 34, of Pittsburgh and Alexandru...
‘Keeping their memories alive’: Cemetery volunteers to lead workshop on cleaning, resetting fallen headstones
For the past two years, Bill Bray has been on a mission to restore abandoned cemeteries. Bray, 57, of Penn Township, has cleaned headstones covered in years of mold, moss and lichen and reset stones that tipped over or sunk into the earth. The Army veteran has replaced nearly 75...
School start dates getting earlier in some districts
If it seems like the first day of school is getting earlier each year, you might not be too far off. It just depends on which district you live in. An analysis of the first day of school for students found some have inched up the start date over the...
$21.5M in upgrades proposed at Greater Latrobe high school campus
Greater Latrobe School District is mulling over a consultant’s proposal for updating aging climate control systems, lighting and other equipment at the senior high and junior high at a projected cost of $21.5 million. Siemens representatives presented the proposal at this week’s school board meeting, citing an estimated $8.2 million...
Jeannette residents pack council chambers to support police dog program that was recently scrapped
Jeannette residents pleaded with council members Thursday to rethink a decision to end the city’s police dog program, while criticizing the move that has put two canines out of work. “We just cut eight feet out of that police unit,” resident Kathie Tanyer said. “Those dogs are invaluable.” A police...
