Westmoreland category, Page 29
$5K reward offered for help in finding fugitive James Sever, charged with attempted homicide, arson
A reward has been increased to $5,000 for information that helps police find a wanted man accused of causing an explosion by putting a pipe bomb in a lawnmower. State Trooper Steve Limani said police are hoping that offering more cash will push someone to come forward with information about...
State Public Utility Commission releases annual scorecard on power company outages
Pennsylvania’s power grid is faltering more than ever. The state saw 71 significant power outages last year, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said in its annual reliability report, pushing a decades-long trend of rising service disruptions to new heights. About 2.9 million customers faced outages, which was the highest number...
South Side woman to host Penn Township fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
As an engineering manager for QAI Aerospace, Ashley Sieber isn’t short on stories from flight paramedics whose aircraft receive services from the White Oak-based aviation company. Cystic fibrosis — a genetic disease that impacts the lungs, pancreas and other organs — is sometimes a part of those stories. That’s why...
‘Acts of cruelty’: Former Westmoreland nurses who secretly filmed patients sentenced to jail
Madeline Buchek joined the Marines during World War II and was a vibrant, stylish and witty woman. Frank Rutkowsky Sr. served his country in the Army and was a respectful, independent man who took pride in his appearance. Neither deserved to be demeaned by two Westmoreland Hospital nurses and have...
WCCC sees enrollment increase after years of decline
After 14 years of declining enrollment, Westmoreland County Community College may be starting to reverse the trend. As of the first day of classes, enrollment is up nearly 1.9%, or 42 students, compared to the first day of the 2024-25 academic year. And that doesn’t account for students taking late-start...
Penn Township takes over local recreation as commission dissolves
After nearly a quarter-century in operation, the Penn-Trafford Area Recreation Commission will close its doors. The nonprofit’s five governing bodies — Penn Township, Penn Borough, Penn-Trafford School District, Manor and Trafford — voted in recent weeks to dissolve the organization, with Penn Township commissioners casting the final approval last week....
Ligonier Township proposed solar panel farm gets planners’ OK
The question of whether a three-megawatt solar power array should be built on farmland about a mile from Ligonier Valley High School goes to the Ligonier Township supervisors now that a planning panel Thursday recommended its approval. The Ligonier Township Planning Commission recommended that the supervisors approve Chicago-based SunVest Solar...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 29-Sept. 1
You think summer’s over? Not yet! Even if Labor Day is the unofficial end of the season, there’s still a whole weekend to enjoy the warmth and summer vibes. Here are a few suggestions: Bon Journey at Hempfield Park Cap off the Hempfield Park summer concerts with a bang this...
Clairton man receives 40- to 80-year sentence for fleeing police, wounding officer
The fear Monroeville Patrolman Craig Huhn felt when he was shot twice in 2023 was not just for his own life, but those of his wife and their two sons if he didn’t survive. “I relive the moment I was shot every single day,” he said Thursday during the sentencing...
Witness is 2nd to testify that Derry Township man admitted killing woman in 2007
A woman testified Thursday that she heard Charles E. Ream admit to killing 22-year-old Samantha Lang, bolstering the prosecution’s case against him in the 2007 homicide. Ream’s admission came in 2010 or 2011 while he was smoking crack at a Derry Township mobile home with a few other men, said...
Defense attorney asks Westmoreland court to pay for evaluation in alleged trafficking case
The attorney representing a Philadelphia man who authorities believe intended to traffic a 13-year-old Greensburg girl said Thursday he expects his client to plead guilty in the case. If that happens, Angel Lopez, 19, is likely facing mandatory sentences on at least some of the charges against him, according to...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust keeps eye on donor recognition as it renovates for 100th anniversary
Sandra Finley drove to the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center recently to play bridge, and when she arrived, she noticed that the plaque recognizing the building’s founders was missing. “I didn’t know what happened,” Finley said. She was initially concerned that the Westmoreland Cultural Trust was no longer interested in...
Westmoreland happenings: Antique car show, high school reunions, Seniors for Safe Driving class, more
Fundraisers • The Western Pennsylvania region of the Antique Automobile Club of America will host its 61st annual Paul P. Bell Memorial Antique Auto, Custom and Street Rod Show 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Legion Keener Park, 1658 Catherine St., Latrobe. Entry fee: $15 at the gate....
Legal expert: Misconduct allegations lodged against DA’s office, police may be difficult to prove
Allegations of misconduct aired this week against a former Westmoreland County prosecutor and the New Kensington Police Department could be difficult to prove, according to a legal expert. Saint Vincent College law professor Bruce Antkowiak said Thursday that defense attorneys for a former Pittsburgh man not only have a high...
WCCC to expand burn building used by thousands of region’s firefighters
Firefighters in Southwestern Pennsylvania will have more training options available to them upon the expansion of a burn building at Westmoreland County Community College’s Public Safety Training Center in South Huntingdon. The center — nestled in between corn fields, the Youghiogheny River and industrial buildings in the rural township —...
Firefighters lauded for quick response to Derry Township day care fire
Rhiannon Radacosky raced out of work Wednesday after learning her 2-year-old son’s day care was on fire. Because she is a volunteer firefighter with Derry Township VFD Co. No. 1 of Bradenville, she gets notifications on her cellphone for fire calls. This time, the fire was steps from her Wood...
Greensburg woman featured in Prime Video series about Purina dog competitionVideo
Britney Imhof is no stranger to the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge competition. She has competed in the event with her older dog and now with her younger dog, a 3-year-old miniature American shepherd named Witcher. But for dog and trainer, being followed by Amazon Prime Video camera crews as part...
Westmoreland DA accused of history of misconduct during murder appeal
A former Pittsburgh man twice convicted of a 1999 murder outside a New Kensington bar claims he was the victim of a systematic effort by Westmoreland County prosecutors to subvert and hide evidence. During a hearing Tuesday, lawyers for Denard Galloway, 59, argued the county district attorney’s office withheld key...
Ex-Jeannette mayoral candidate found guilty, fined for tacking signs on utility poles
A Jeannette man who was cited by state police for attaching mayoral campaign signs to utility poles was found guilty Tuesday during a summary trial. Ed Day, 61, was fined $100 plus costs, totaling $273.75. He faced a maximum fine of $300. He vowed to appeal the ruling before leaving...
Mt. Lebanon named highest-ranked Pittsburgh-area high school in national listing
Mt. Lebanon was the highest-ranked Pittsburgh-area school in a U.S. News and World Report listing of the country’s best public high schools. The list, released last week, assessed more than 24,000 public high schools across the country. The majority of the schools, 18,000, were ranked on several performance-related factors: college...
Fast-moving fire damages Scottdale salon and house
A home and salon were damaged in Scottdale Monday afternoon during a fast-moving fire, said fire Chief Dave Wendell. But the contents of some rooms were spared because the doors to them were closed, he said. Photos posted on the department’s Facebook page from inside the Loucks Avenue home showed...
Hempfield OKs housing plan along Forbes Trail Road
A new residential development is expected to bring 70 homes to Hempfield. Township supervisors on Monday granted final conditional approval for the Deer Point site plan. Farmland along Forbes Trail Road at Fetters Road will be turned into 24 town homes, 16 duplexes and 30 single family homes. A clubhouse...
Menards seeks extension for site plan of home improvement store in Hempfield
Home improvement store chain Menards is seeking an extension to its site plan through the end of 2025, according to a letter sent to Hempfield obtained by TribLive. Township supervisors are expected to consider the extension during their September meeting, manager Aaron Siko said. “It’s so exciting to know they’re...
Encouraging nightlife reason to tweak property zoning ordinance, Greensburg officials say
Greensburg has changed over the years, but its zoning ordinance hasn’t. Work is underway to update the decades-old zoning map to better reflect the community’s look and how it could evolve. There are several upcoming opportunities for members of the public to provide input. “Zoning does affect everybody,” said Alec...
Man admits stealing car with Lucky the dog inside, but provides no leads
Willard Martz and his dog, Lucky, were nearly inseparable. Martz, a retired Marine from Donegal Township, had cared for his late son’s dog since 2020, and they were rarely apart until last fall, his daughter told a Westmoreland County judge Monday. She addressed the court during a guilty plea hearing...
