Westmoreland category, Page 162
Mt. Pleasant native looks to give former Cook’s Lumber, salvage store new life as an auction house
A Mt. Pleasant native is investing in her hometown, with plans to repurpose a closed resale business. Dee Ankney, who sells home improvement goods in Canonsburg, has purchased the former nonprofit American Architectural Salvage store along Mt. Pleasant’s Main Street. She intends to turn it into an auction house specializing...
Some say it’s time for the Norwin stadium project, others ask if district can afford possible $15M cost
An architect will begin designing improvements to Norwin’s Knights Stadium that could cost more than $15 million. But some school board members are questioning what the scope of the project should be and whether the district can afford it. The school board this week approved an agreement with DRAW Collective,...
Pittsburgh region sees lowest presidential primary turnout since 2012
It’s not your imagination if your polling place seemed emptier than usual on Tuesday. This week’s primary ranks as one of the sleepiest in recent memory during a presidential election year in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Not since 2012 have the counties seen lower voter turnout for a primary when...
‘You never think something you are doing is going to take off’: Greensburg Night Market returns for 6th season
When Jessica Hickey launched the Greensburg Night Market in 2019, 28 vendors lined half a block of South Pennsylvania Avenue. Starting its sixth season Thursday, the night market series has expanded to feature food trucks, live music and more than 150 food, beverage, art and craft vendors. Each market —...
Westmoreland politicos put primary in the past, look ahead to November
A day after only 30% of Westmoreland County’s voters cast ballots in a sleepy primary with few contested races, local political leaders said Wednesday they are setting their sights on what they expect to be a rugged general election campaign. Even with just a handful of down-ballot races on the...
Manor singer-songwriter set to release 1st single from debut album
During his day, Matt Pitschman of Manor tries to take note of any interesting or catchy phrases he hears, tucking them away in case they might develop into a new song someday. Pitschman, 36, is getting ready to release the first song from his debut record, “Long Road to Heaven,”...
Stage Right’s ‘Jersey Boys’ finds harmony with Broadway actor
A little slice of Broadway is coming to Greensburg. Russell Fischer, who first played the role of young Joe Pesci on Broadway in “Jersey Boys,” will star in Stage Right’s upcoming rendition of the award-winning jukebox musical — this time as lead vocalist Frankie Valli. The show, scheduled at Greensburg’s...
Westmoreland happenings: Fishing derby, strawberry festival, pork and sauerkraut dinner, more
Art • Latrobe Art Center will host an opening reception for the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society’s annual member exhibit “Waterworks” at 2 p.m. April 27 at the center, 819 Ligonier St., Latrobe. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served, and many of the artists will be on hand. The exhibit will...
Dziados leads in Democratic primary for chance to unseat Reschenthaler in Congress
Retired U.S. Army veteran Chris Dziados, with overwhelming support from his home county, appeared ahead in the race to secure the Democratic nomination in the 14th Congressional District. According to the unofficial results, Dziados will face incumbent Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in November. Dziados, 43, of South Strabane, Washington County, had...
Jill Cooper scores decisive win in GOP primary for 55th District House seat
First-term state Rep. Jill Cooper cruised to a commanding victory Tuesday night over challenger Jamie Lingg in the Republican primary race for the 55th District in northern Westmoreland County. Cooper, 62, garnered nearly 78% of 7,576 votes cast, according to the unofficial tally, with all 54 of the district’s precincts...
Students from former Soviet republics get taste of democracy
Aleksis Ratenieks stood outside a polling site in Hempfield on Tuesday morning, working with fellow Hempfield Area students to greet voters and see democracy in action during the primary election in Pennsylvania. “It really does make me appreciate democracy. It makes me appreciate democracy, with all that horrible stuff that...
Latrobe condemns 2 Ligonier Street rental properties
Latrobe officials have condemned two renter-occupied houses on Ligonier Street they say pose a health and safety hazard. City code enforcement officer Dan Weimer said Tuesday he’d learned that occupants of two apartments at 1207 Ligonier St. and of a three-story home at 1522 Ligonier St. have made arrangements to...
Murrysville homeowners’ association wants dredged sediment cleared away
One of the main reasons homeowners associations exist is to ensure the neighborhoods they govern remain clean and tidy. It’s little wonder, then, that members of the Lyons Run Estates Homeowners Association are not pleased they’ve had several tons of dredged sediment sitting on their property for nearly two years....
Greensburg nonprofit hosts workplace diversity conference to boost Westmoreland businesses, create welcoming community
Carlotta Paige wants people to feel welcome in Westmoreland County. Paige of Unity grew up in Greensburg. Apart from a 20-year stint in New York, she has lived in Westmoreland County her entire life. When Paige heard complaints from Westmoreland residents and business owners about population decline, she took action....
Franklin Regional approves summer artificial intelligence program
Franklin Regional school board members ultimately approved a summer program focused on artificial intelligence after members of its curriculum committee spoke with program organizers about their concerns. Inspirit AI is an eight-session summer program developed and taught by graduates of Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Students will...
Rick Sebak to stir ‘Kennywood Memories’ for Greater Latrobe audience in benefit
Whether it was the thrill of riding the Thunderbolt roller coaster or the tasty treat of gobbling down Potato Patch french fries, many area residents can recall favorite moments of their childhood spent at Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh. Rick Sebak, longtime producer of documentaries for WQED and PBS, will revive...
Fire at Unity shopping plaza damages multiple businesses
Jackie Tustin was treated like family when she worked once a week at Roadman’s Country Living Shoppe in Unity. “This isn’t my full-time job. It’s my fun job,” she said. But she and a few other employees are out of work, at least for now, after a fire Tuesday severely...
Election primer: What to know heading into the 2024 primary
There’s no way around it: This year’s Pennsylvania primary lacks much intrigue. The presidential contenders from both major parties clinched their nominations weeks ago. The state’s U.S. Senate race also has only one nominee for each party: incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick, a former hedge fund...
Regional surveillance system will record license plate images on major roads
Five years after toddler Nalani Johnson was kidnapped and murdered, license plate readers that law enforcement officials say could have saved her will be installed in numerous municipalities across Westmoreland County. The readers will be part of a multicounty surveillance network spearheaded by district attorneys and local law enforcement officials....
After hiring new architect, Hempfield ‘moving forward with a stronger team’ for renovation project
A new architect was hired Monday to work on Hempfield Area School District’s long-stalled high school renovation project. The school board hired Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates of Mechanicsburg to replace Bellevue-based Core Architects, which resigned from the district’s high school renovation project in February. The district’s solicitor and administration will...
Texas trucker returns home after hit-and-run guilty plea
A Texas truck driver was scheduled to jet home Monday night to Dallas after serving nearly 16 months in the Westmoreland County Prison for a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of a Hempfield auto parts store. Quantae M. Beavers, 26, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault, simple assault,...
Volunteers plant 256 trees at Hempfield Park on Earth Day
West Penn Power Green Team volunteers planted 256 trees at Hempfield Park on Monday — Earth Day. The volunteers also distributed free trees in Jeannette last Friday. The tree giveaway and planting are part of West Penn Power parent company FirstEnergy’s effort to plant trees in its service area, said...
Game commission plans insecticide spraying on state land
The Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to spray insecticide on game lands in the southwestern part of the state in an effort to control invasive insect the spongy moth. Statewide, more than 123,000 acres of game lands will be targeted in late April and May, just as egg masses hatch. Spraying...
Greensburg police seek information about abandoned dog
Greensburg police are looking for the owner of a dog that was found Sunday night chained to a fence or railing at Rohrer Street and Westminster Avenue. The canine was found just after 9 p.m. and no neighbors recognized it, said Police Chief Charles Irvin. It was abandoned sometime during...
‘It’s life-changing’: Collegiate, high school esports programs on the rise
Brayden Seech has been playing video games since he was in elementary school. He started with Nintendo’s Wii and DS devices, shifting into Xbox and PC games as he got older. Now, as a 17-year-old senior at Penn-Trafford High School, Seech has earned a college scholarship to continue his hobby...
