Westmoreland category, Page 281
Sutersville woman to serve probation for sexual assault of teen
A Sutersville woman was ordered Thursday to serve two years on probation for having sex with a 13-year-old boy she tutored during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Ashley E. Sherry, 23, pleaded guilty in January to felony charges of statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors. A more serious count of...
April programs promote growth of backyard butterfly habitats in Westmoreland
Spring’s arrival brings two programs to Westmoreland County to guide backyard gardeners in selecting plants for their property that are attractive to the senses and to migrating butterflies. The staff of the Penguin Court preserve in Laughlintown on Tuesday will lead a virtual program on creating a “Monarch Waystation,” or...
Out & About: Black Tie event benefits Excela Health heart, lung institute
Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll wasn’t above invoking scripture to teach a lesson. So said four-time Steelers Super Bowl champion Jon Kolb to VIP party attendees at Black Tie for Hearts, hosted by Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation on March 25 at Greensburg Country Club. The event raised funds for the...
From sheep to shawl: Loyalhannon Spinners keep age-old craft alive
About 10 years ago, Trafford resident and knitting enthusiast Liza Jennings Seiner began to wonder: where does yarn come from? “I’ve been a knitter since I was a kid, and it just never occurred to me,” she said. “You can go down to Joann’s and you can buy yarn and...
Out & About: Greensburg Garden Center hosts biggest-ever spring tea
Obviously, the word is out about the annual Greensburg Garden Center Spring Tea. The March 25 event at the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center was a hot ticket, drawing its biggest-ever attendance of 122. Each of the 15 tables was decorated in a unique theme created by the table hostess...
Out & About: Local songbirds shine at ‘Westmoreland Has Talent’
Pitt-Greensburg students might be intrigued — or appalled — to know that, after hours, their leader can really rock out. President Robert Gregerson brought a heavy-metal growl to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” as one of the featured performers in Westmoreland Has Talent on March 25 at Live...
Trout group seeks to work with state on improving Linn Run watershed
A trout fishing organization wants to work with state conservation officials on projects that can maintain and improve seven-mile-long Linn Run and its watershed. The stream is a high-quality habitat for trout in Ligonier and Cook townships in eastern Westmoreland County. The hope of the Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout...
Sutersville man sentenced for using arrow to puncture tires, threaten neighbors
A Sutersville man was sentenced to three years and nine months to 7½ years in state prison Friday for using an arrow to puncture a neighbor’s tires and threaten another resident. Rickie L. Case, 61, was ordered to spend an additional five years on probation on charges of aggravated assault,...
Concrete base in place at Westmoreland courthouse parking, plaza project
Trucks continuously pulled in front of the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg early Saturday and through the morning to feed thousands of cubic yards concrete that formed the base for a new courtyard plaza. Some 50 laborers were directing the 4-inch hose that spewed the concrete pumped from two giant...
Stored ammo pops as house burns in East HuntingdonVideo
An East Huntingdon house was destroyed by a fire Saturday morning, a fire official said. No one was injured in the fire that destroyed the house in the 200 block of South Quarry Street, East Huntingdon Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Kite said. The fire was reported about 8 a.m....
Greensburg Salem Mini-THON exceeds goal, nets $71.5K for pediatric cancer charity
Greensburg Salem High School’s Mini-THON committee raised the bar for its fundraising goal during the 2022-23 school year. The student group hoped to generate $60,000 for the battle against pediatric cancer, an increase of more than $10,000 from the previous year’s campaign. Ultimately, the charitable effort sailed far over that...
County begins demolition at Ligonier Beach
Ligonier area residents are saying goodbye to the remnants of the Ligonier Beach property. With the support of federal funding, Westmoreland County has officially started demolition at the Ligonier Township property in accordance with the countywide movement to fight community blight. The township applied for a blight remediation grant through...
Greensburg reaches $35K settlement with police officer who sued after not getting promoted
A Greensburg police officer who sued the city, claiming he was discriminated against after being passed over for the chief’s job, accepted a $35,000 settlement to end his lawsuit, according to federal court filings. W. Robert Jones on Wednesday formally accepted the settlement offer that was extended by the city...
Fortuneteller to remain in custody pending court hearing
A fortuneteller accused of bilking clients will remain in the Westmoreland County Prison after she was arrested earlier this month in Florida. Alexis Mitchell, 29, was charged with theft and other offenses after a North Huntingdon man claimed he paid her $10,000 for illegal fortunetelling services last August. Police said...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: March 31-April 2
Fine photos An exhibition by members of the Westmoreland Photographers Society will open with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St. It will run through April 28. The show will feature about 60 images from amateur and professional photographers, including fine...
Roseytown Road section in Hempfield to close for reconstruction; paving set for other state routes
A section of Roseytown Road in Hempfield will close for reconstruction beginning Monday. The $1.5 million project will include replacement of 500 feet of concrete in the Norfolk Southern railroad underpass, where potholes have been an ongoing problem. The road will be closed to traffic between Route 119 and North...
New Stanton warehouse construction continues; operator remains unidentified
Motorists traveling along the Pennsylvania Turnpike near New Stanton or along Arona Road parallel to the turnpike can see what a $120 million warehouse project covering more than 1 million square feet looks like. The walls have been constructed, and doors for loading docks are visible. The extensive earthmoving that...
Arnold Palmer airport awarded $855K for control tower improvements
The control tower at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport will receive an $855,000 upgrade funded by federal money. “The tower was built in ’81 and it’s going to be a general refurbishment of the tower’s integrity,” said Gabe Monzo, Westmoreland Airport Authority director. The Unity airport has received more than $5...
Westmoreland Conservancy officials seek off-road riders who damaged reserve property
Westmoreland Conservancy officials are seeking information about who drove all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes through the Morosini Reserve property in Murrysville, damaging a fragile ecosystem in the process. Sometime between March 24-26, riders entered the property and drove through what is called a vernal pool off the south trail at...
Sewickley Township library prepares to reopen, plans for a new building
Sewickley Township Public Library officials are moving forward with plans to build a library adjacent to H.W. Good Elementary School in Herminie. The estimated cost of a new facility could be around $1 million, said Marci Suggars, library board president. A capital campaign and government funding could cover the cost,...
North Huntingdon man serving life sentences seeks return of seized property
A North Huntingdon man serving two life prison sentences for the 2021 murders of a Penn Township couple wants his belongings back. The lawyer for Victor F. Steban asked a judge during a court hearing Thursday to order prosecutors to return dozens of items that were seized after Steban’s arrest...
Romanian nationals plead guilty to Walmart thefts in Hempfield, North Huntingdon
Three Romanian nationals face potential deportation after pleading guilty to stealing gift cards from two local Walmart stores. Police said the two women and one man, who listed home addresses in Baltimore, initially claimed they were part of a global identity theft ring but with help from a translator told...
Jeannette seeking donors so fees for nonprofits to use Clay Avenue amphitheater can be waived
Jeannette is seeking $6,000 in sponsorships this year in an effort to waive fees for nonprofits to use its Clay Avenue amphitheater. Chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said the city has already received about $2,500 in donations from the Jeannette Initiative, Jeannette Business Association and an individual. “If it’s successful,...
Chicago woman accused of being part of catalytic converter theft ring
A Chicago woman was jailed this week in connection with a catalytic converter theft ring in Southwestern Pennsylvania that authorities said caused $200,000 worth of damage. Westmoreland County authorities initially sealed the arrest papers for Maria D. Padilla, 37, because of ties to a street gang in Chicago and concerns...
Connellsville native among 7 victims in massive chocolate factory explosion in Pa.
PHILADELPHIA — The Berks County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday released the names of the remaining victims of the explosion at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory in West Reading that killed seven people. The remaining five were identified as: Susan H. Halvonik, 63, a Connellsville native who lived in Upper Providence...
