Westmoreland category, Page 291
Belle Vernon musical scrambles to replace costumes lost in fire
A second high school in the region has seen its performing arts program impacted by a devastating fire. In early February, the auditorium and its contents at Elizabeth Forward High School were destroyed in a blaze. Wednesday morning, a devastating fire at DC Theatricks in Buffalo, N.Y., that cost a...
Jeannette property owners protest plans to demolish dilapidated structures
Jeannette officials want two property owners to see it as a favor, or gift — their blighted houses will be demolished at no cost to them, leaving behind a clean slate and possibly lower taxes. But the property owners don’t seem to be interested. “Do you feel that the city...
Former chief deputy sheriff launches 2nd bid for Westmoreland commissioner
A former chief deputy sheriff announced she will run a second time for Westmoreland County commissioner in this spring’s primary election. Patricia Fritz, 68, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant, finished sixth in a seven-candidate GOP field in the 2019 primary. “I know I can make a difference,” Fritz said. “I...
Murrysville Council will look into updating zoning map after ‘litany of rezoning requests’
Murrysville Council’s discussion about its latest rezoning request Wednesday night grew into a larger conversation about taking a closer look at — and potentially updating — the municipality’s zoning map. “I would like to propose a subcommittee to look at zoning in our community,” Councilwoman Jamie Lee Korns said. “I...
Police say Jeannette man used gun to rob teenager
A Jeannette man was denied bail Tuesday after city police said he pointed a gun at a teenager and robbed him of THC oil cartridges. Devin J. Dapra, 19, is charged with robbery, receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Jeannette police were notified by Penn-Trafford High School resource...
Pittsburgh’s Prime Stage heads to Narnia with ‘Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe’
Rehearsals for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” are about to enter what stage manager Britt Kolek said is the best but also the most difficult phase. “We’re starting the really heavily technical rehearsals,” said Kolek, 24, of Freeport, who has been working at...
Delmont fiber arts show expands into larger venue
Those interested in creating or learning about fiber arts or purchasing crafted fiber items will find an expanded selection of vendors at the semiannual Raggz Fiber Affair show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Delmont. Organizer Toni Ritchey-Ridella of Salem Township said she’s seen interest in fiber arts,...
Westmoreland schools set plans to bolster safety
Like districts across the state, Derry Area wants to ensure that its students, faculty and staff have the safest academic experience possible. So when security weaknesses were identified during an armed intruder drill last year, the district knew it had improvements to make. Now, thanks to a state grant, those...
Murrysville doctor charged with writing fraudulent prescriptions, pocketing patients’ pills
A Murrysville doctor has been arrested on charges related to writing fraudulent and illegal prescriptions. Dr. Jessie Kunkel, 39, of Murrysville is accused of prescribing patients drugs, such as Adderall and Xanax, and keeping a portion of the pills for herself in exchange for writing the prescription, according to Acting...
Cocaine possession added to child endangerment charges against Latrobe pair
A Latrobe woman and man charged with child endangerment last summer in Jeannette were arrested Tuesday in Latrobe and have been additionally charged with drug possession. Latrobe police and Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies served a warrant Tuesday morning at a Lloyd Avenue home in their search for Samantha Linn Stanford,...
Belle Vernon Area community gathers to remember 6-year-old Aria Woznick
Aria Woznick would have loved the spotlight that her family, friends, teachers and classmates shined upon the 6-year-old North Belle Vernon girl Wednesday. A community in mourning gathered en masse to remember the child described as a precocious kindergartener who loved life and embraced everyone she met. “I really think...
‘We’re back’: Bushy Run’s 2023 battle reenactment will be held
HARRISBURG — This year’s Battle of Bushy Run reenactment is back on after Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission members unanimously voted to allow the Penn Township site to hold the event this August. The fate of future reenactments has yet to be determined. The commission plans to conduct a study...
Native American tradition meets modern art in Westmoreland Museum exhibit
Past meets present in “Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1945-1975,” running through May 28 at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. With 52 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by 32 artists, the traveling exhibition is the first of its kind exploring the innovation and experimentation present in...
Norwin grad Colleen Shogan, Biden’s pick for U.S. archivist, questioned over social media posts
WASHINGTON — The nominee for archivist of the United States made her second appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee Tuesday, after the panel blocked her last Congress following a high-profile probe into records at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Colleen Shogan, an executive for the...
Westmoreland happenings: Backyard birding seminar, Lenten events, blood drive, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Greensburg man burned in fire that destroyed mobile home
A Greensburg man who was burned early Wednesday in a fire that destroyed his mobile home was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital, the city fire chief said. Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell said the mobile home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived shortly after receiving the alarm at...
Irwin considers adding surveillance cameras along Main Street
If you are walking in downtown Irwin in the near future, smile, because you could be on a candid camera. Irwin Police Chief Dan Wensel on Tuesday received permission from council to explore the costs of placing two surveillance cameras along the borough’s Main Street for what the chief said...
Bayer grant boosts food access at Salvation Army in Brackenridge, Greensburg
Brackenridge Salvation Army chef Cheryl Bieranoski doesn’t mess around when it comes to good eats. The self-described lunch lady is gleeful scooping out whopping-sized servings of sloppy Joes and fruit salad to more than 100 people Thursdays at the free Community Lunch. “Everyone is so grateful,” said Bieranoski, who has...
Stabbing victim files lawsuit against Greensburg Rialto owner
The now shuttered Rialto Bar and Bistro in Greensburg violated state liquor laws, had insufficient security and improperly trained staff prior to a near-fatal stabbing that left one man injured in November, a new lawsuit alleges. The court filing in Westmoreland County claims the Rialto on Otterman Street had an...
‘Westmoreland Night of the Stars’ gets encore with new producers
Less than two weeks after founder John Noble announced the demise of Westmoreland Night of the Stars, the annual showcase of county school musicals is getting an encore. Tony Marino, founder of Westmoreland Performing Arts, said his organization will take over producing the show, to be staged May 3 at...
Game Commission to host waterfowl briefing
Hunters and members of waterfowl organizations can attend the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s virtual annual waterfowl briefing, streamed by the agency’s Facebook page, on March 9 at 1 p.m. Waterfowl Program Specialist Nate Huck and Wildlife Operations Division Chief Ian Gregg will review the proposed 2023-24 waterfowl hunting seasons, regulations, and...
Couple faces charges in connection with burglary in Unity
State police charged a Unity couple in connection with a burglary at a township home after some of the items taken were found at pawn shops in the area, according to court papers. Julie Amanda Farabaugh, 41, was jailed last week on charges of receiving stolen property, forgery and drug...
Thiel announces candidacy for Ligonier district judge
Allison Thiel wants to continue in her mother’s footsteps. Thiel, 38, of Ligonier Township, announced she will run for the soon-to-be vacant district judge’s seat, replacing her mother, Denise Snyder Thiel, who will retire at the end of the year after serving more than three decades in office. Allison Thiel...
$5K worth of THC cartridges stolen from Hempfield man, police say
A Hempfield man was hospitalized Monday night after state police said he was robbed by three suspects who reportedly stole $5,000 worth of THC oil cartridges, according to court papers. One of the three suspects was arraigned Tuesday morning — James Walter Ryan, 21, of Penn Township. Arrest warrants were...
Bushy Run reenactment debate headed to Harrisburg
The battle over Bushy Run’s annual reenactment is coming to a head Wednesday morning in Harrisburg. There, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission members plan to vote on the future of force-on-force reenactments at PHMC sites, including Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township. PHMC’s staff previously decided to halt such reenactments,...
