Westmoreland category, Page 164
Franklin Regional students, staff raise money to fight pediatric cancer with Mini-THONVideo
Franklin Regional students and staff were dancing the day away on Wednesday at the school’s first Mini-THON, modeled on the wildly successful Penn State fundraiser that raises money for pediatric cancer patients and families through care, support and research. This is the first year for the Franklin Regional Mini-THON Club,...
Arnold man sentenced for unlawful possession of a firearm, drugs
An Arnold man was sentenced Tuesday to five to 10 years in a state prison in connection with crystal meth, guns and more than $15,000 in cash seized from his home in April 2022. Tyson J. Bargerstock, 38, pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of a firearm and possession with...
Prosecutors ask judge to revoke $500K bond for East Huntingdon man accused of shooting at troopers
Westmoreland County prosecutors asked a judge to revoke the $500,000 bond posted by an East Huntingdon man accused of shooting at state troopers in January. Meanwhile, the defense on Wednesday secured access to James R. Miller’s cellphone in an effort to see whether a Ring doorbell video exists of the...
Former Allegheny County DA detective has assault charge reduced to harassment citation
A former Allegheny County detective initially charged with simple assault and harassment after being accused of punching two women at an Export bar last year instead was given a lesser summary citation in court this week. Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, said the initial charges...
Duquesne man accused of groping female Westmoreland sheriff’s deputy
A Duquesne man is accused of groping a female Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy this week, moments after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a drug case, according to court papers. Investigators said Jerome D. Felton, 23, pinned the deputy up against a wall and groped her while she was...
School mask policy incident in 2021 results in conviction on disorderly conduct, other charges
A South Greensburg man was acquitted this week of two assault counts related to a 2021 incident at Hempfield Area High School in which he got into an altercation with school police while demanding to deliver a letter related to the district’s mask policy. Richard M. Bettis, 58, was convicted...
Westmoreland happenings: Easter services, kindergarten registration, meetings, more
Church News • Living Word Congregational Church, 2003 Ridge Road, Jeannette, will have Holy Week prayer services at 7 p.m. March 25 through March 29. A celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord will be at 11 a.m. March 31. • Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, 3618 Hills Church...
Neighbors oppose special exceptions for 2 Unity homes housing college students
About a half dozen neighbors told the Unity zoning hearing board Tuesday that they don’t want the panel to clear the way for a township couple to continue operating two rental homes for Saint Vincent College students in the township’s Lawson Heights residential neighborhood. The panel’s decision is at least...
SummerSounds and Greensburg Community Development Corp. make merger official
SummerSounds, an annual Greensburg concert series and community favorite for the past 23 years, took a big leap into the future Tuesday as its members voted unanimously to merge with the Greensburg Community Development Corp. The merger will help ensure the summer concerts, which garnered around 41,000 total visitors last...
Wendover Middle School seventh graders participate in special day of service
Wendover Middle School seventh graders participated in a day of service at the school Tuesday, including participation in a Chemo Comfort Care Totes Project. The project started in 2017. Each year students assemble tote bags filled with comforting items for community members beginning chemotherapy treatments. The totes hold blankets, socks,...
Total donations for victims of Jeannette fire surpass $250,000
Fundraising continues as donations to GoFundMe and local accounts total more than $250,000 in support of the families affected by last week’s fatal fire in Jeannette. Organizers of Monday’s fundraiser at the American Legion in Jeannette said they expect the total donated to surpass $18,000. Volunteer Michelle Langdon said that...
Westmoreland judge to consider recusal in case involving suspended Arnold police officer
A Westmoreland County judge said he will consider a request to remove himself from the case of a man accused of lying about how his patrol vehicle was damaged while working as an Arnold police officer. Judge Scott Mears asked attorney Marc Daffner to file a formal motion seeking his...
As garbage collection costs rise, Latrobe seeks options for next waste hauling contract
Latrobe passed along to residents a 2% hike in garbage collection fees charged this year by the city’s hauler, Republic Services, and the city is anticipating another 2% hike in 2025, under a contract extension with the service provider. Looking further down the road, officials are considering more flexible options...
Hempfield Area works through ‘legal ramifications’ in effort to use former architect’s work for renovation
Hempfield Area School District officials say they won’t know what they can use from a completed architectural plan for the high school renovation project until a legal process plays out between the district and the firm that drew up the plans. Interim Superintendent Kimberlie Rieffannacht declined to provide specifics about...
Ligonier Valley Historical Society to hold Tastes of Town fundraiser
The Ligonier Valley Historical Society’s Tastes of the Town is set to return on April 18 at The Barn at Ligonier on Springer Road in Ligonier. Among those slated to offer food at the fundraiser are Carol & Dave’s Roadhouse, The Creamery at Pleasant Lane Farms, The Eastwood Inn, El...
Planning and events continue to mark Youngwood’s 125th anniversary
As part of ongoing celebrations for the 125th anniversary of Youngwood Borough, the Youngwood Fire Hall will host a karaoke night from 6 to 10 p.m. April 27. The event will be held at 104 S. Second St. in Youngwood. Replicas of the borough building, T-shirts, hats, totes and an...
Jeannette residents continue to rally around family torn by blaze that killed 4 children and their father
Lisa Peltier of Jeannette was not surprised to see hundreds of people gathered Monday evening outside the American Legion on Fifth Street. “It’s a very tight-knit community,” said Peltier, who grew up in the city. “People will do anything for each other here.” That was evident at a fundraiser for...
Quicker response needed for those in crisis, transportation options lacking, providers say
Social service providers say individuals in mental health crisis or challenged by drug and alcohol abuse need better access to both mobile and on-site treatment. “We have to ensure that the services for crisis support is easy and seamless for anyone in crisis,” Robert Hamilton, director of the county’s Department...
Arnold man latest to be sentenced in 2022 New Kensington shooting
An Arnold man was sentenced Monday to 18 to 36 months in a state prison followed by five years of probation in connection with a 2022 fatal shooting in New Kensington. Jonathan E. Felder, 19, was ordered to spend five years on probation after the prison term. Prosecutors agreed to...
2 mobile homes in Hempfield left ‘uninhabitable’ by fire, heat damage
Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Monday afternoon blaze that damaged two mobile homes in Hempfield. No one was injured in the fire reported just after 1 p.m. in the 100 block of Lambert Lane, according to Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic. Kovacic said radiant heat from the...
Saint Vincent College hosts panel discussion on women in business
A four-member panel will discuss issues concerning women in business in a free presentation Tuesday at Saint Vincent College. Held in conjunction with International Women’s History Month, the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Robert S. Carey Student Center lounge on the college’s campus in Unity. The event...
Westmoreland juvenile detention center set to reopen Wednesday
With nearly $1 million in renovations still to come and learn-as-you-go training planned for some staff, Westmoreland County will reopen its juvenile detention center Wednesday. The center will have four beds available initially while staff members get their footing, director Rich Gordon said. “Some of our staff have never worked...
Military support organization to restore U.S. Army helicopter at Lynch Field
When Stephanie Redovan trekked past the retired Army helicopter at Lynch Field in Greensburg, she saw that it could use a facelift. Redovan was completing a ruck — a hike while carrying a weighted backpack — with teammates from local fitness club Fit and Fun Life and she noticed the...
Area real estate agents await impact of $418 million settlement over structuring commission fees
The proposed settlement of a nationwide class-action lawsuit over the commissions that sellers pay in a real estate transaction could lead to more confusion for some when it comes time to sell property, said a veteran Westmoreland County real estate agent. “It will cause more problems for the public who...
Norvelt roundabout construction to trigger detour in Mt. Pleasant Township
A section of a complex triangular intersection in the Mt. Pleasant Township village of Norvelt will close Monday as part of PennDOT’s construction of a new roundabout. The short section of Mount Pleasant Road that curves to the right for southbound traffic heading onto Route 981 will close. Instead, southbound...
