Westmoreland category, Page 132
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...
Westmoreland Land Trust unveils preliminary plan for parking, trails at Unity preserve
An expanded network of trails, multiple parking areas and an enlarged farm stand space along Route 30 are elements of a preliminary master plan the Westmoreland Land Trust unveiled this week for its St. Xavier Nature Preserve in Unity. About 25 people turned out for a Wednesday afternoon gathering to...
Kennywood, Idlewild to close Friday because of Tropical Storm Debby
Kennywood Park in West Mifflin and Idlewild Park and SoakZone will be closed Friday because of expected bad weather. Company officials cited remnants of Tropical Storm Debby moving through the area as their reason for the closure. The announcement was made via the amusement parks’ websites Thursday. All tickets for...
Unity woman accused in $2K theft from neighbor
A Unity woman is accused of using a man’s vehicle without his permission for a day and making almost $2,000 in unauthorized purchases and withdrawals with his credit card and bank debit card, state police at Greensburg said. The suspect, Bruna M. Leonard, 54, of Tabby Lane, is accused of...
Westmoreland register of wills to leave office 4 months early
Westmoreland County’s Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton will leave office four months early. County officials on Thursday confirmed that Hamilton, the three-term Republican officerholder who last spring was stripped of her administrative duties, said she will resign her elected position effective Sept. 3. Hamilton previously agreed leave Dec. 31...
Beefed up: Western Pa.’s burger scene gets bigger and bolder
Look out Pittsburgh — restaurant burgers are getting bigger and more creative. The classic burger that once graced most menus has evolved into beefy specialty creations at most eateries. “Gone are the days of your traditional burger,” said Cicero’s Bar & Grill co-owner Olivia Rapone. “They’re not as simple anymore.”...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Aug. 9-11
Looking forward to a celebratory weekend after a rainy week? There’s lots to do on those precious days off. Take a look at five events to enjoy this weekend: The Stroll in Ligonier Take a walk back through time this Friday night at The Stroll. This event will be held...
Fayette man accused of soliciting photos from girl
A Fayette County man is behind bars after state police said he solicited partially-clothed pictures from a 12-year-old girl for $200. Neal A. Snyder Jr., 39, claimed to have been high on drugs when he contacted the girl, according to court papers. He was arrested Wednesday on charges of corruption...
Infusion drugs to battle Alzheimer’s disease give hope to Western Pa. patients
At age 57, Christine Lieb of Scottdale has hope that the new treatments she is undergoing for early onset Alzheimer’s disease will give her more time to enjoy her life. “I feel 100% better when I’m done. I feel it when it is time to have another one,” Lieb said....
Buy a vacant lot, build a house and get a tax break under proposal to spur redevelopment in Jeannette
A tax break program for certain residential areas in Jeannette is in the works as officials hope to promote redevelopment of lots that have been cleared of deteriorating homes. Under the current proposal, anyone who buys a vacant lot and builds a house on it can benefit from three years...
Bushy Run continues clearing damage from June tornado, receives financial support from community
The sounds of cannons and rifle fire that were supposed to ring through the air at Penn Township’s Bushy Run Battlefield this weekend were replaced with the whirring of chain saws. Six weeks after a tornado whipped through the state historical site, Bushy Run is still picking up the pieces...
1 dead dog and 2 others infested with fleas prompt charges against Derry man
A Derry Borough man is facing animal cruelty charges after police said he failed to get his dogs veterinary care, according to court papers. One dog died and two others had severe flea infestations and Lyme disease, borough police said in court papers. Authorities spent about five weeks trying to...
Video of dog abuse also shows tattoo that helps ID South Huntingdon man in case involving shih tzu Snickers
Fourteen graphic videos depicting the abuse of a dog were played by prosecutors Wednesday in district court in support of criminal charges against a man accused in the incidents. District Judge Charles Moore stood behind the attorneys and watched as the clips, most a few seconds long, were played on...
Westmoreland happenings: Art exhibit, car cruise, harvest festival, motorcycle show, more
Art • Latrobe Art Center will display the works of artist Kathy Sobota through Aug. 24 at the center, 819 Ligonier St., Latrobe. More than 50 watercolor paintings will be on display. Details: 724-537-7011 or visit latrobeartcenter.org. Church News • Greensburg Church of the Brethren will host a night of...
East Huntingdon man battles rare liver cancer, raised money to help other patients
Corey Rhodes says focusing on helping other liver cancer patients has assisted him in his own tough battle against a rare form of the disease. The East Huntingdon man’s tumors have stabilized after nearly three years of trying multiple treatments for fibrolamellar carcinoma. With support of family, friends and his...
Jeannette footing $30 per day kennel fee for unemployed police dog Diesel
The future of an out-of-work police dog is up in the air. For now, Diesel, a 4-year-old Belgian malinois on Jeannette’s police force, is staying at a kennel until decisions can be made after the department’s police dog program was disbanded last month, according to city officials and handler Sgt....
Running series attracts growing number of kids to Latrobe park
The nonprofit Healthy Kids Running Series is returning to Legion Keener Park in Latrobe for five weekly fall sessions, Sept. 15 through Oct. 13. Local enrollment in the national program has increased from about 50 to 60 boys and girls ages 2 to 14, according to community coordinator Ryan Thomas...
Former Latrobe man acquitted of rape charges
A former Latrobe man was acquitted of felony rape charges Wednesday but found guilty of less serious misdemeanor offenses stemming from incidents in 2020 involving two teenage girls. Glenn D. Jones Jr., 25, now of Hostetter, was found guilty by a jury of possession of marijuana and two counts each...
