Westmoreland category, Page 141
Jeannette residents lag in seatbelt use; state officials look for ways to boost safety awareness
Tapping into the minds of young people might be a way to promote traffic safety to their peers. That could mean handing out treats to Jeannette City High School students who follow traffic rules, such as wearing a seat belt on the ride to school, or having them create social...
Greensburg rock group heads to Woodstock farm for festival’s 55th anniversary
Greensburg rock group the Derek Woods Band is headed back to Woodstock. While the festival has only happened a few times, the Yasgur family farm near the festival site in Bethel, N.Y., has hosted the Yasgur Road Reunion music festival where Woods had a chance to play on Woodstock’s 50th...
Norwin sets vote on hiring current assistant superintendent, Natalie McCracken, as new leader
The Norwin School Board will consider hiring a person very familiar with the school district — the district’s assistant superintendent — as the new top administrator when the board meets Monday morning. Assistant Superintendent Natalie McCracken, of North Huntingdon, was named Friday in the special meeting agenda as the person...
West Penn Power volunteers turn out for 10th anniversary of Build-A-Bike program
West Penn Power volunteers assembled bicycles as part of the United Way’s Build-A-Bike program Thursday at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township. The program provides bicycles, helmets and locks to 300 children across Westmoreland, Allegheny, Fayette, Butler and Armstrong counties. The program marks its 10th anniversary this year. Volunteers have...
Greensburg unveils improved Spring Avenue Park
City officials unveiled a new and improved Spring Avenue Park in Greensburg’s Fifth Ward Thursday. The city began looking at rehabbing the 1.4-acre site in 2020. Greensburg received about $600,000 in funding for the design and the construction through the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. Sports and Recreation Associates...
Westmoreland register of wills meets deadline, pays $422,000 into county treasury
More than $422,000 from court fees collected by the Westmoreland County Register of Wills Office was turned over Thursday to the county treasury. Treasurer Jared Squires confirmed the embattled row office met a court-ordered, afternoon deadline to turn over funds it received from routine office filings since the start of...
Westmoreland County launches human services expansion
Officials with Westmoreland County’s burgeoning human services department said an expansion of services launched this month will improve the quality of care for many of its 35,000 clients. A newly formed six-member complex care unit will oversee the consolidation of services administered by the county’s separate human services departments including...
Murrysville Eat’n Park remodel includes pick-up window
Murrysville’s Eat’n Park location is set to undergo a full remodel over the next several months. Courtney Caprara, marketing manager, said the renovations include the return of the salad bar, a pick-up window for takeout orders and additional seating. The remodel of Eat’n Park, which is located off Route 22...
North Huntingdon teen killed in Butler crash
A North Huntingdon teen who graduated from Norwin High School last year was killed early Thursday morning in a one-vehicle crash in northern Butler County, state police at Butler said. The victim, Josiah Pastories, 19, was traveling northward along Kittanning Pike in Fairview Township at about 6:20 a.m. when he...
Derry Borough appoints Eikenburg to fill vacant council seat
Derry Borough resident Rich Eikenburg enlisted in the Army National Guard last year and now has added a civilian service stint to his plate. Borough council this week voted 4-1 to appoint Eikenburg to join the seven-member panel, filling a vacancy resulting from the recent death of council President Al...
Hempfield Area considering replacing high school auditorium roof
Hempfield Area School District’s high school renovation project may yet take a step forward this summer with replacement of the auditorium roof. The roof over the seating area and stage is in poor condition, according to high school principal David Palmer. “Honestly, we cannot continue with the roof the way...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend
On this Father’s Day weekend, here are a variety of events to excite any dad, from beer lovers to history buffs. Frontier Court Days For a peek into history, check out Historic Hanna’s Town this weekend for Frontier Court Days. On Saturday and Sunday, go back to a time when...
Derry Township man surrenders after overnight standoff
A lengthy overnight standoff in Derry Township ended peacefully early Thursday when a man surrendered to state police, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Benjamin T. Clawson, 42, was taken into custody on charges of simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats stemming from an incident that prompted troopers to be called...
New turnpike maintenance facility in Penn Township would be solar powered
A new Pennsylvania Turnpike maintenance complex in Penn Township could feature nearly 8 acres of solar panels to offset energy costs, according to preliminary plans. Township commissioners next week will consider the plans for the complex, which is scheduled to be built by fall of 2026, according to the turnpike...
2 jailed in Monessen child endangerment case
Two Monessen residents were jailed this week after city police said their two children were found living in deplorable conditions, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Jerimiah E. Roberts, 30, and Felicia Renee Dugan, 29, both are charged with child endangerment. Monessen police responded to the Park Manor...
SupperMarket returns to Lincoln Highway grounds
The Lincoln Highway Experience SupperMarket returned Wednesday evening for its 11th season — a week after the scheduled start was canceled by rain. The food festivals along Route 30 in Unity are scheduled each Wednesday through Aug. 28 on the museum grounds. The $5 cost serves as a fundraiser for...
Embattled Westmoreland Register of Wills vows to remain in office through 2027
Westmoreland County Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton, who faces a potential jail sentence next week for contempt of court, said Wednesday she will not seek reelection when her term expires at the end of 2027. “After careful consideration and prayer, I have decided to retire from politics at the...
Therapy dogs offer comfort for Westmoreland County Courthouse employees
Employees in Westmoreland County’s controller’s office spend much of their work day staring at numbers. It was quite the welcome distraction Wednesday morning when volunteer handlers brought a parade of therapy dogs into the first-floor courthouse office for belly rubs and heads scratches during a brief 15-minute break in the...
Mt. Pleasant manufacturer’s apprentices keep winning manufacturing competition
Jacob Koelsch knows his way around a machining blueprint. The 23-year-old North Huntingdon native is a fourth-year apprentice at Penn State Tool & Die, and for the second consecutive year, Koelsch has taken the top spot in the MSC Industrial Supply & National Tooling & Machining Association Pittsburgh Chapter’s annual...
Greensburg diocese to comb through 10K personnel files to see if more convicts are working at parishes
The personnel files of 1,000 employees and 9,000 volunteers in the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg will be under a microscope as diocesan officials work on an audit to learn whether any of them have criminal records. The audit, which is expected to take several months, comes after a cursory review...
North Huntingdon cop hurt in aftermath of undercover drug sting
A North Huntingdon police officer was hurt Tuesday night when a man who authorities said accompanied a suspected drug dealer to an undercover buy hit an unmarked police vehicle as he fled the scene, according to court papers. Township police and agents from the state Attorney General’s Office worked together...
Caterer seeks to rent former Rostraver Airport restaurant
An Allegheny County man who recently sold his Elizabeth Township tavern said he wants to rent a former restaurant at the Rostraver Airport for his catering business and to serve takeout barbecue meals. Gary Musisko of Elizabeth said he wants to rent the site of the former Eagle’s Landing II...
Hempfield Area to vote on 5-mill tax hike, elimination of 2 librarian and 4 teacher positions
Two librarian positions, one special education teacher position, and three teacher positions are up for elimination at Hempfield Area School District as part of a proposed budget that includes a 5-mill tax hike. The district is set to vote on its nearly $109.6 million budget for 2024-2025 on June 24....
Westmoreland happenings: Flag Day celebration, art show, fishing derby, more
Art • An art show featuring the works of Nancy Rusbosin will have an opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. June 13 at Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. The exhibition will continue through July 19 during regular library hours. Details: ghal.org. Father’s Day • A free...
Penn State New Kensington students and staff concerned for future of campus
Penn State New Kensington student Karisa Smalling has some concerns about changes for Penn State’s Commonwealth campuses. “My concern is that they are claiming to make these changes to create the most efficient organization possible, but I don’t see how offering buyouts to employees is going to make it more...
