Westmoreland category, Page 131
Storm chasers gather for ‘Twisters’ premiere, meet-and-greet at Evergreen Drive-In
Countless cars lined up outside of the Evergreen Drive-In Theater in East Huntingdon Friday night for the “Twisters” movie premiere and “Meet The Storm Chasers Night.” “Twisters” is the movie sequel to the 1996 blockbuster hit, “Twister.” Starring Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos, the sequel scored a 79%...
Kecksburg celebrates UFO Festival, attracting believers, others
The tiny village of Kecksburg in Mt. Pleasant Township is once again the center of attention this weekend for its Kecksburg UFO Festival, which attracts true believers in unidentified flying objects and Big Foot — as well as those who enjoy food, vendors, games and sharing stories with UFO investigators,...
Hempfield motorcycle crash sends 1 to Monroeville trauma center
One person was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville following a motorcycle crash Friday night in Hempfield. Spokesman Shawn Penzera said the patient was in stable condition during the transport by Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. The crash was reported at about 9:15 p.m. at Walton Tea Room Road and Everglade...
Car cruise set for Youngwood Park N Pool
An car cruise fundraiser is set for July 28 at Youngwood Park N Pool. Pool board president Ed Christofano said past events have raised $7,000 in donations to keep the facility in operation. The Hayden’s Pharmacy Car Cruise will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Vehicles can participate for...
Energy ‘off the charts’ at Republican National Convention, Westmoreland attendees say
Jill Cooper thought there was a lot of energy swirling around at the 2016 Republican National Convention during Donald Trump’s initial candidacy for president. That was before attending this week’s convention in Milwaukee. “The energy was off the charts,” said the state representative from Murrysville, who attended the convention as...
Jeannette officers file suit seeking overtime payments for time spent feeding, caring for police dogs
Jeannette’s two police dog handlers claim in a federal lawsuit that the city violated labor laws by not paying them an overtime rate for time spent caring for their canines. Sgt. Jim Phillips and Officer Matthew Painter said in the filing that they spend at least 30 to 60 minutes,...
‘We don’t close during a remodel,’ Hempfield Walmart manager says as store unveils facelift
Customers at the Hempfield Walmart may have already noticed the storewide changes — added self-checkout stations, an expanded pet department and a new mother’s room, among others. Store officials said Friday that the three-month renovation project is now complete. A similar one at the East Huntingdon location is wrapping up....
Latrobe man called danger to community sentenced to 3-year prison term
A Westmoreland County judge said he had no choice this week but to impose a three-year maximum prison sentence for a Latrobe man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a teenage girl. Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger ordered Cristofer R. Dowden, 25, to serve at least 18...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: July 19-21
At last, it might not be too hot to spend some time outdoors. Here are some things to get you outside while the temperatures are more temperate — or stay in the air conditioning — this weekend. Parish festival Come out for a day of family, fun and fellowship at...
‘A lawyer, not a politician’: John Peck, former longtime Westmoreland County district attorney, dies
As Westmoreland County’s top prosecutor, John Peck would go to Mass every day. And then he’d go to work, always well-dressed — even if it was a Saturday. Friends and former coworkers remembered the former district attorney on Thursday as an exceptional trial attorney, someone who they could count on...
Westmoreland OKs new jobs, more pay for human service staffers
Westmoreland commissioners on Thursday added 32 jobs to the county payroll to expand the fledgling human services department and help ease staffing concerns at Westmoreland Manor. Commissioners also extended the workday for 10 human services administrators in what officials said was a coordinated effort to enhance public outreach and could...
Sinkhole forces closure of Greensburg alley
A section of a Greensburg alley was closed Thursday after part of the road started sinking into an old street basement access to a building, according to public works director Tom Bell. Part of John D. Reese Way, between Tunnel Way and Otterman Street, was blocked off and a metal...
August filled with community festivals in Delmont, Murrysville and Export
Delmont officials are always looking for additional volunteers to help with the borough’s annual Delmont Daze celebration. This year is no different. The Delmont Daze committee will host its final organizational meeting before the festival at 6 p.m. July 22 at the borough building, 77 Greensburg Street. “We’re very excited...
Youngwood town hall to address veterans’ health care concerns; new clinic plans noted
Representatives from the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System will field questions and concerns from area veterans at an upcoming meeting in Youngwood. Plans are underway for a new veterans outpatient medical clinic in Westmoreland County. The outreach event set for Tuesday at the town’s fire hall includes a town hall...
Sentencing for former Greensburg police chief set for December
A sentencing date for the former Greensburg police chief on a drug case has been pushed back to December. The attorney for Shawn Denning, 43, of Delmont, requested more time to prepare for the hearing while in the midst of handling other, unrelated cases, according to court filings this week....
Franklin Regional teacher returns from scientific expedition on Lake Erie
Franklin Regional Intermediate School science teacher Brienne May thought she understood the problem micro-plastics posed to the environment. Then she took a look through the lens of a microscope, at what appeared to be a completely empty petri dish full of water from Lake Erie. “I saw a rainbow of...
Electric vehicle owners will have to pay $200 in annual taxes starting in 2025
Twenty years ago, John Belak was watching David Letterman, listening to Tom Hanks gush about his electric-powered vehicle. “He was telling him about how he got an electric car, and he was going to save the world,” the Murrysville man said. At the time, Belak was paying about $40 a...
North Huntingdon rejects lease for gas drilling on township land
North Huntingdon will not permit a driller to tap into the natural gas reserves some 8,000 feet beneath a 4.5-acre piece of property owned by the township. The North Huntingdon commissioners on Wednesday rejected, by a 5-2 vote, a proposed lease from Apex Energy LLC of Marshall for the rights...
Power outage blamed for smoke in several buildings at Saint Vincent College, prompting evacuations
An electrical power outage caused several motors in Saint Vincent College buildings to start smoking, prompting an evacuation of multiple buildings Wednesday evening, fire officials said. According to Chief Brian Schultheis of the Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department, no one was injured. Some groups of students are on the grounds for...
Judge limits taxpayer funds for father’s death penalty defense in New Kensington slaying
A Westmoreland County judge said she will limit defense spending of taxpayer funds for the pending trial of a Brackenridge man who faces a potential death sentence in connection with the alleged killing of his 9-year-old son. Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said Wednesday excessive costs incurred by public defenders...
Beaver Run’s water levels remain OK despite dry spell, authority officials say
Water levels at Beaver Run Reservoir remain far above the limit where conservation efforts need to be enacted, Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said Wednesday. The recent dry spell that has turned lawns brown and wilted flower gardens in Western Pennsylvania has so far not stressed the primary water...
Unity shopping plaza blaze was accidental, state police fire marshal says
A state police fire marshal has ruled that an April 23 blaze in a Unity shopping plaza was accidental. Trooper Chet Bell said there was an electrical fault or failure where the sign belonging to Roadman’s Country Living Shoppe was affixed to an overhang on the building. He estimated damage...
Former ‘Dance Moms’ cast member charged with DUI in Murrysville
A cast member from the former hit Lifetime reality series “Dance Moms” was charged with driving under the influence after a crash in Murrysville. Christina M. Lukasiak, 47, of Mars was charged following a June 27 crash on Logan Ferry Road near Remaley Road, according to court records. Police said...
Community embraces Latrobe couple grieving daughter’s loss in crash; fundraising underway
The community has rallied in support of a Latrobe couple following a vehicle crash that claimed the life of their 5-year-old daughter and injured the mother and another child. Multiple fundraising efforts are underway by family, friends and coworkers of Noah Wingrove and his fiancee, Tori Jones. Their daughter Natalie...
Ramp work at I-70 interchange to interrupt Route 51 traffic in Rostraver
Motorists can expect to be temporarily halted in their travels along Route 51 Thursday in Rostraver. PennDOT has advised that intermittent traffic stoppages are slated to occur between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. on the stretch of highway between Concord Lane and Route 981. As part of ongoing reconstruction of...
