Westmoreland category, Page 201
Apollo man claimed wife’s taunt led to fatal shooting
Alfred Keith Steele told Westmoreland County detectives he had enough of his wife’s badgering when he shot her one time in the back of the head as the estranged couple argued last year in a Lower Burrell storage locker. “We were arguing, yelling at each other between storage units,” Steele...
Pitt-Greensburg student struck by car in ‘serious condition’
A Pitt-Greensburg student who was struck near the entrance to the college in Hempfield is in serious condition, a state police spokesman said. Audrey Fruehauf, 18, of Rector, was crossing Mt. Pleasant Road near Finoli Drive and University Drive when she was struck by the car, according to a state...
Delmont Council proposes 2-mill tax hike, pursues $1M road work grant
Delmont officials are proposing a 2024 budget that will raise property taxes for the first time in more than a decade. Council voted 6-1 to advertise the $1.67 million budget, which calls for a 2-mill tax increase. Councilman Stan Cheyne voted no. A final vote on the 2024 budget will...
Greensburg seeks grant for solar roof at fire hall, plans to hold line on taxes in 2024
Greensburg Council has approved a tentative 2024 budget that will keep property taxes at 27.05 mills next year. But city spending on several potential capital projects won’t be determined until spring, including a proposed new fire hall roof that could tap the sun’s energy. Council is considering a balanced budget...
MAWC warns of mandatory water restrictions as dry autumn persists
Mandatory water conservation could begin as early as next week for customers in the northern half of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s service area as water levels at the Beaver Run Reservoir continue to fall amid a dry autumn season. Authority manager Michael Kukura said more than 56,000 customers...
Excela pays $10M to settle suits by 2 cardiologists, doctors’ attorney says
Excela Health is paying $10 million to settle civil suits brought by two cardiologists who formerly held staff privileges at the health system’s Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, according to an attorney representing the doctors. In the suits that were dropped Tuesday in Allegheny County Court, Drs. George Bou Samra and...
Latrobe trash fees, zoning permit costs will increase in 2024
Latrobe will hike garbage collection fees and zoning permit costs in the new year. There will be a 2% rate hike for residential customers and a 5% hike for commercial customers in 2024 — based on a rate increase from Latrobe’s collector, Republic Services, for a one-year contract extension. Roll-off...
Southwest Greensburg man accused of sexual assaults from 2 decades ago
A Southwest Greensburg man is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met while working at a Derry Township restaurant 20 years ago, according to court papers. Michael C. Bompiani, 43, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors....
Greensburg holiday parade to kick off with later start time
Greensburg’s annual holiday parade is set for Saturday, with a later start time than usual. City council member Sheila Brumley said the parade will begin at 4:30 p.m., to encourage participants to include holiday lights in their entries. She advised those who are arriving by vehicle to see the parade...
1 injured in Salem rollover crash
One person was transported by ambulance following a rollover crash near the northern end of the Route 66 Bypass in Salem on Wednesday morning. Westmoreland County 911 officials said the crash, involving a car and tractor trailer in the southbound lanes, was reported around 8:45 a.m. The car was heavily...
Shinsky Bridge overhaul expected to begin next spring in Unity
The Shinsky Bridge over the North Branch of Sewickley Creek in Unity is set to be replaced beginning next spring. Unity officials sought a $1 million state grant to help pay to replace the bridge, said Mike O’Barto, chairman of the township supervisors. The local service grant through the gaming...
Westmoreland happenings: Poultry bingo, holiday craft show, more
Church News • St. James Parish, New Alexandria, will sponsor a seminar series “Living as Healthy Disciples” over the winter at the church, 306 St. James Lane. The first session will be at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 in the church social hall. Robert R. Baum Jr., director of counseling services...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in North Huntingdon
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Pitt-Greensburg student struck by car near campus entrance
A University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg student was struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening near the entrance to the college in Hempfield, according to school officials. First responders were called to the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Road and University Drive just after 5 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911...
Westmoreland airport contemplates future as airline merger looms
Local leaders insist they don’t know what the future holds for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport amid fears the Unity facility’s lone carrier could pull up stakes pending the outcome of a proposed airline merger. “We don’t have a plan,” said Westmoreland County Airport Authority board member Richard Ridilla. “No one...
Postal Service reducing number of Greensburg collection boxes, cites limited use
Two of four blue outdoor mail collection boxes likely will be removed as early as this week along Greensburg’s South Pennsylvania Avenue, across the street from the post office. Some residents have expressed concern about the removal of the boxes, which was indicated with 30-day notices posted on the boxes...
Mother of Sorrows principal will take administrative reins at Greensburg Central Catholic
Theresa Szmed is going to have to get used to seeing older students in the hallways of her workplace. Szmed, who has served as principal at Mother of Sorrows School in Murrysville since 2016, will become the new principal at Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School starting in January, diocese...
Pathologist testifies Apollo woman was killed by shot to back of head at storage unit
Kelly Steele was shot execution style with one round fired from a semi-automatic pistol pressed against the back of her head, according to testimony Tuesday in the second day of her husband’s murder trial. Forensic pathologist Dr. Jennifer Hammers testified Steele, 41, was killed as a bullet traveled through her...
Antique props, colorful choreography shine in Geyer theater’s upcoming ‘Pirates of Penzance’
For director Martha Oliver, the Geyer Performing Arts Center’s upcoming performance of “Pirates of Penzance” was a long time coming. “I have wanted to do this since 1982. That’s 40 years,” Oliver said. As a young actress, Oliver performed in a Penn State Fayette rendition of the classic musical in...
2 arrested in theft of $3K worth of assorted merchandise from Hempfield Lowe’s
Two people were arrested by state police after tips from the public helped troopers identify the suspects in a theft of approximately $3,200 worth of merchandise from a Westmoreland County Lowe’s. Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the suspects were identified as Matthew John Murphy, 38, of Greensburg, and Heather Lynn Kunkle,...
‘I beg you to ask for help’: Penn Middle School speaker talks bullying, mental health support
Standing on the Penn Middle School auditorium stage, John Halligan looked out at more than 500 students, many of whom reflected the same youthful innocence as his 13-year-old son, Ryan, who died by suicide in 2003. Just as Halligan has done for the past 18 years — for about 1...
Casey proposes anti-bullying bill
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, introduced a bill last month that could help protect K-12 students from bullying and harassment. The Safe Schools Improvement Act would require school districts to include a line in their code of conduct prohibiting bullying and harassment surrounding race, color, national origin, sex, disability and...
Hempfield Area mulls changes to program that allows some seniors flexible schedules
Future Hempfield Area High School seniors may see restrictions on an existing flexible schedule arrangement, which allows them to come in late or leave early if they have enough credits to meet graduation requirements. School board members are considering changes to the program, dubbed early release/late entry, that would be...
Outgoing Greensburg planning director worked to make office more ‘approachable and welcoming’
Greensburg is looking to beef up its planning and development office next year by adding a code enforcement supervisor. It also will be searching for a new planning director, as Jeff Raykes resigned from that role effective Friday. Raykes, who joined the city staff in 2019, is leaving to focus...
Award-winning Hunker artist explores ‘Woman and Variations’ in WCCC exhibit
The creative works of Hunker artist Stephanie Oplinger are featured in the exhibit “Woman and Variations,” running through Dec. 1 in the Science & Innovation Center Gallery on the main campus of Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. In her LinkedIn profile, Oplinger notes she works in a surrealistic style,...
