Westmoreland category, Page 169
Western Pa. libraries gearing up for eclipse with free glasses, activities
Here is a list of upcoming programs across the region focused on the April 8 solar eclipse: • March 18: Pre-eclipse event at 6 p.m. Mt. Pleasant Area Library, 120 S. Church St. Registered attendees will receive eclipse viewing glasses. Families with multiple children should register each separately to ensure...
Reenactors, historians celebrate Pennsylvania’s birthday at Bushy Run museum
Educators, craftspeople, reenactors, volunteers and visitors hoping to learn more about local history crowded the halls of the Bushy Run Battlefield Museum on Sunday. The occasion? The state of Pennsylvania’s 343rd birthday, or “Charter Day” — the day in 1681 that Pennsylvania was named, when England’s King Charles II granted...
Brick by brick, Lego build takes over Irwin church
Keith Harmon estimates he has more than 200 pounds of Lego bricks in his Penn Township home. In February, the colorful toy bricks were put to use in a community Lego building event Harmon hosted at his church, First Presbyterian Church in Irwin. “There’s not a lot of room to...
Loyalhanna Watershed Association offers youth conservation internships
The Loyalhanna Watershed Association is accepting applications through April 15 for four summer internships in its annual Youth Conservation Corps program. Interns will assist with conservation tasks in Forbes State Forest and at other public outdoor sites from June 10 through Aug. 3. Each will receive a $500 stipend and...
Dogs learn to obey, compete, bond with owners at nonprofit club’s Salem training center
Maggie’s nose didn’t fail her. Confronted with a cluster of small weights, the 5-year-old Australian cattle dog quickly sniffed out and retrieved the one that had been handled by her owner, Jessica Haney of Jeannette. “She loves obedience and scent work and tracking,” Haney said. She put Maggie through her...
Jeannette art center promotes female artists through biennial exhibit
Every time art professor Maureen Kochanek teaches the women artists course at Seton Hill University, she concludes with the same statement. “In a perfect world, I wouldn’t teach this course,” she tells her students at the Greensburg school, explaining how female artists have been pushed to the periphery of the...
Laurel Mountain open to skiers this week as operations wind down at Hidden Valley, Seven Springs resorts
The first day of spring, March 19, is just around the corner, but ski season may last just a bit longer at area resorts. The season finale is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Sunday, at Hidden Valley Resort in Hidden Valley Meanwhile Laurel Mountain Resort, east of Laughlintown...
Skiers, snowboarders test their ‘skimming’ skills at Seven Springs Mountain Resort
With feet firmly strapped to skis or snowboard, 90 contestants competed on Saturday in the 2024 Rockstar Energy Drink Pond Skim challenge at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Contestants were judged on their skim abilities and on their costumes. Many wore colorful ensembles or dressed as popular characters as they attempted...
Miniature fort building contest brings hands-on education to Fort Ligonier
The 15 tiny forts on display at Fort Ligonier on Saturday were much too small to keep any intruders out. But they were just the right size for kids from elementary to high school to learn about 18th-century history. Through the Model Fort Contest at Fort Ligonier, area students worked...
Forum tackles the future of firefighting in Hempfield
Some Hempfield firefighters came away from a department meeting Saturday with answers to their burning questions. Others left seeking further information. At Saturday’s fire forum, township officials hoped to smooth over concerns, answer uncertainties about the state of the fire department and clarify the “all-in” process, through which individual stations...
Old William Penn bridge in Murrysville has weight rating reduced to 6 tons
Vehicles over 6 tons will be temporarily unable to use a small bridge carrying Old William Penn Highway over Turtle Creek in Murrysville, after the bridge’s weight rating was reduced for the second time in the past few years, according to municipal officials. “It’s an immediate concern and it’s something...
Western Pa. nursing home group defaults on $30M loan; workers unpaid, patient safety concerns voiced
An outside administrator will operate Western Pennsylvania nursing homes owned by Bonamour Health Group LLC, according to documents filed in federal court in Pittsburgh. The company owns six nursing homes, including ones in East Huntingdon, Jefferson Hills, Beaver County’s Hopewell Township and Clearfield, Jefferson and McKean counties. Bonamour defaulted on...
Family of man killed in officer-involved shooting in North Huntingdon seeks police video
An attorney representing the family of a McKeesport man killed in an officer-involved shooting in North Huntingdon said the family has been denied access to police video and audio captured during the Sept. 5 incident. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli on Thursday ruled that the shooting of 30-year-old Dontae...
Scottdale driver charged in fatal wrong-way crash on I-70 in South Huntingdon
Marcia Fuller was relieved Thursday to learn an arrest had been made in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon that killed her son. For nearly two years, she’s kept a close eye on the investigation into David Ott’s June 19, 2022 death. “It’s just been so hard,”...
Westmoreland approves polling site changes for April primary
Westmoreland County’s election board announced a series of changes to polling locations for the April 23 primary. Election Bureau Director Greg McCloskey said a growing reluctance among churches and school districts to serve as host sites for live voting on Election Day had led to a series of changes over...
Derry Area School District plans makeover for Trojan Stadium entrance
When Derry Area High School football fans arrive for their team’s home games this fall, school officials hope to welcome them with an upgraded stadium entrance. The school board this week voted to seek bids for the revamped main entry, which is intended to provide a better experience for those...
Blackthorne Estates plans to build new golf facility, open course in spring
Golfers can return to the course at Penn Township’s Blackthorne Estates community this spring. After being closed to the public in 2023, the course will reopen this season and a new golf facility will be built, according to an agreement reached this week between Blackthorne Investors and the township. The...
Norwin Rotary gets another nice crowd in Irwin for its annual Chili Cook-off and Wing Thing
The 14th annual Chili Cook-off and Wing Thing organized by the Norwin Rotary was held Thursday evening at several locations in downtown Irwin. Visitors could sample chili or wings for a nominal fee, and proceeds go the Norwin Rotary Back Pack/Gift Card Project. The initiative gives needy Norwin students back...
At least 1 person flown to hospital after Sewickley crash
At least one person was flown to a hospital Friday night following a vehicle accident on Dick Station Road in Sewickley. The call for the crash came in around 7:40 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Dick Station Road was closed to address the crash. The dispatcher was...
Murrysville Golf Club likely to remain open under renewed lease
The Murrysville Golf Club is expected to remain open after an arbiter paved the way for current management to continue operating the course. A court-appointed arbiter ruled last month that a three-year lease renewal be awarded to J.K. Golf, the company that operates the public course. James Creenan, lawyer for...
Westmoreland DA: fatal officer-involved shooting justified in North Huntingdon drug buy
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli has ruled that use of deadly force was justified in an officer-involved shooting Sept. 5 that resulted in the death of a suspect in an undercover narcotics investigation in North Huntingdon. Dontae D. Warner, 30, of McKeesport was found dead in his vehicle...
Derry man accused of breaking trucker’s cell phone in Toll Route 66 incident
A Derry Borough man is accused of stopping his SUV in the left lane of Toll Route 66 and arguing with a truck driver, breaking the trucker’s cell phone, according to court papers. State troopers said the encounter with Marshall C. Dolfi, 30, was captured on cameras in the tractor-trailer....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 8 – 10
With the weather beginning to break, it’s time to get out and about. Here are five things to do this weekend in Westmoreland County: Coffee and Conversation Organizers at the Greensburg YMCA, 101 S. Maple Ave., will be hosting the monthly “Coffee and Conversation” event on Friday with some special...
Derry Township to tackle bridge repairs, stormwater
The supervisors in Derry Township are adding repairs to bridges on three roads and improvement of storm drainage on a section of Keeling Avenue to their to-do list. New Alexandria contractor Curry & Kepple submitted the apparent low price of $66,120 for repairs to bridges on Pittsburgh Street, Seger Road...
Greensburg Salem to move forward with contractor on part of outdoor classroom project
The Greensburg Salem school board will vote next week on whether to move forward with a new contractor for the pavilion portion of its delayed outdoor classroom project, after having rejected previous bids for being too expensive. The district plans to go with contractor RJT Contracting for the labor and...
