Westmoreland category, Page 259
Rustic Ridge Mine opponents to petition DEP to reject mining permit
A Fayette County-based citizens group is planning to present a petition Monday to state officials asking that environmental regulators reject the request for a permit renewal at a Donegal Township mine. The proposal would extend the mine underneath the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Mountain Watershed Association in Champion plans to hold...
Rides, music, animal encounters provide families day of fun at Mammoth Fest in Mt. Pleasant Township
Carnival rides, engaging animals, live music and favorite foods provided a variety of fun for families who spent part of their Sunday at the annual Mammoth Fest in Mt. Pleasant Township. A repeat visitor, nurse Brandi Barrick of neighboring Mt. Pleasant Borough brought her four kids to enjoy this year’s...
Fire heavily damages unit at Derry apartment building; no injuries reported
No one was injured but there was major damage to a first-floor apartment where a blaze started Sunday morning at the Derry Manor apartments in Derry Borough, a fire official said. Emergency crews were dispatched shortly after 7:30 a.m. to the building at 118 W. Fourth Ave., said Josh Campbell,...
Firefighters: Residents attack Unity house fire with water from outdoor hot tub
Damage was limited mostly to the outside of a home in the Glen-Aire neighborhood of Unity on Sunday morning as residents poured water on the flames while emergency crews were on their way, firefighters said. Dry Ridge Volunteer Fire Department was among the companies called about 3:30 a.m. to the...
Greensburg gets new tap room as craft beer making recovers from pandemic lows
Another craft brewer has opened a tap room in Greensburg, the fifth to be selling its own beer within a mile of the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Jeremy and Jennifer Shearer opened their Stone Bridge Brewing Co. tap room at 239 E. Pittsburgh St. this week, during a time when craft...
Retiring from retirement: Whether for financial reasons or boredom, a growing number of older adults are rejoining the workforce
Michael Trenga was retired two days before he jumped back into the workforce. The decision was financially motivated. “I retired on a Friday and went back to work on a Monday,” said Trenga, 71, of Leechburg. “Without my job, I would have to cut back on a lot — not...
SupperMarket food, music nights return to Lincoln Highway Experience
Outdoor dining and music will be available again when the weekly summer SupperMarket returns Wednesday to the Lincoln Highway Experience in Unity. The Wednesday events, running from 5 to 8 p.m., offer outdoor dining options from several area food purveyors, along with a live musical act. Serving up a la...
Westmoreland Pollinator Partners set sights on boosting local butterfly population
Penn State Extension Master Gardener Deb Christopher wants people to learn what to feed their local monarch butterflies. “Once you know what’s good for the monarchs, you know what’s good for most of the other pollinators,” she said. Christopher is part of the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, a consortium of 26...
Behind the Art: Pittsburgh’s John Kane was first renowned self-taught artist
(Editor’s note: Behind the Art is a recurring series highlighting artistic works throughout the county.) John Kane was both a rough-and-tumble immigrant laborer and a self-taught artist of renown. Born in Scotland in 1860, he emigrated to the United States at age 19. He landed in the Pittsburgh area, where...
Salem gymnastics team racks up first-place finishes in 2022-’23 season
Hannah Gentile has been part of the gymnastics world for most of her life, first as a gymnast and then as a coach. In 2019, she and her fiancee Seth Feroce “decided we wanted to get a little more serious with it,” Gentile said. Less than four years after opening...
Penn-Trafford senior wins third student Emmy for public service announcementVideo
Penn-Trafford High School’s video production students are no strangers to bringing home hardware from awards competitions. They regularly earn nominations and wins at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Student Production Awards. That group includes senior Phelan Newman, who brought back two NATAS Awards from this year’s Mid-Atlantic...
Out & About: Library art exhibit showcases Vandergrift couple’s work
Retirement afforded Gary and Ginger Hepler time to spend on creative pursuits that they didn’t have during their working years. The fruits of their labor are on display until June 17 in a show called “City Mouse, Country Mouse” at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. The name isn’t representative of...
Vintage jewelry, mid-century collectibles among draws at Ligonier antiques show
Dennis Conway sifted through a box holding dozens of vintage salt-and-pepper shakers and selected three pairs to purchase from Greensburg antiques dealer John Mickinak. One of 30 vendors set up in Ligonier Borough at Saturday’s semi-annual Antiques on the Diamond Antique, Vintage & Retro Faire, Mickinak displayed some of the...
Developer seeks help for former Monsour hospital site in Jeannette
Colony Holding Cos. is enlisting the help of another firm in an effort to bring tenants to the former Monsour Medical Center property in Jeannette. The Route 30 parcel has sat empty since 2017 following a $2 million demolition project. Don Tarosky Jr., whose company purchased the property for $2.1...
Seven Wonders has SummerSounds organizer wondering if it’s biggest crowd yetVideo
The music of Fleetwood Mac has something that can appeal to almost anyone. From strident rock anthems to poignant break-up songs, anyone who can appreciate a well-constructed tune can find something to like. That — plus a beautiful Friday evening in Greensburg — may help explain why the Fleetwood Mac...
Plea in catalytic converter thefts spotlights larger problem
While a New Florence man was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution this week for his role in a catalytic converter theft ring, a salesman at one of the dealerships targeted said there’s little more that could have been done to prevent the crime. William J. Glover III,...
North Huntingdon sewage authority raises tap-in fees
North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority’s 12,560 customers will not see an increase in their sewage rates for the fiscal year that began May 1, but customers will see an increase in the tap-in fees starting July 1. The municipal authority, which has its plant along Turner Valley Road, will increase...
2 patients flown from Salem crash
Two people were flown by medical helicopter following a multi-car crash in Salem, according to Westmoreland emergency officials. Fire and paramedics were called to the intersection of Route 819 and Bowman Road just after 3 p.m. for a two-vehicle crash, according to a Westmoreland 911 supervisor. Landing zones were set...
Forecasters: Early heat wave precedes cooling off this weekend
Summer doesn’t officially arrive for another few weeks, but don’t tell that to the sun. Friday is expected to be the crest of the mini heat wave that’s blanketed the region this week, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Bill Modzelewski. “So far we’re at 87 degrees in Pittsburgh,” Modzelewski...
Police say Greensburg man sold drugs to undercover trooper 3 times in 8 days
A Greensburg man was jailed Friday after state police said he sold heroin/fentanyl to an undercover trooper three times in eight days. Tywan David, 25, who also has an address in East Pittsburgh, was charged with drug offenses in three cases. His cumulative bail was set at $225,000. According to...
Nighttime road restrictions set next week during epoxy overlay work in Westmoreland County
PennDOT District 12 is alerting motorists about nighttime road restrictions next week during epoxy overlay preservation work in Westmoreland County, weather permitting. Single-lane restrictions will occur from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the following timeframes: Upper Burrell: Monday evening through Wednesday morning at Route 366 (Greensburg Road) between Albee...
Mystery writer K.C. Constantine’s home for sale in Greensburg’s Academy Hill
When Carl Kosak returned from work to his home in Greensburg’s Academy Hill neighborhood, he got something to eat and then headed down to the basement. That’s where he assumed his second identity — one long hidden from co-workers, neighbors and friends — as acclaimed mystery writer K.C. Constantine. “My...
Morning Roundup: Motorcyclist injured in Penn Township crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, June 2: Motorcyclist injured in Penn Township crash One person was taken to the hospital following a motorcycle crash early Friday in Penn Township, Westmoreland County. The crash happened around 2:40 a.m. near the intersection of Claridge Elliott...
Greensburg Salem, Jeannette students explore careers in Pitt-Greensburg workshops
Students from the Greensburg Salem and Jeannette City school districts explored career fields during an array of workshops Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg campus. The students were placed in career-focused groups based on their interests and participated in morning workshops organized by the campus’ newly established Office...
McKeesport man faces stalking, harassment charges
Text messages reportedly sent to a Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau caseworker have landed a McKeesport man in trouble with police. Westmoreland County detectives on Wednesday charged Dirk M. Mayernik, 48, with stalking and harassment. The caseworker reported to authorities May 26 that she received concerning messages from Mayernik, who is...
