Westmoreland category, Page 30
Woman stabbed at Greensburg apartment, man charged
A woman was stabbed at a Greensburg apartment Sunday morning, and police said they seized about 450 stamp bags of drugs during the investigation. Officers were called to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg after 9 a.m. and learned the woman had been stabbed in the leg, according to court...
Trial date set for man charged in Unity woman’s murder
A Westmoreland County judge has set a February trial for a Unity man accused in the suspected murder of his girlfriend more than seven years ago. Cassandra Gross was last seen in April 2018, and authorities almost immediately named her boyfriend, Thomas Stanko, as a person of interest in her...
Accounting books closed on Jeannette EMS bankruptcy; more than $400K left unpaid
The Jeannette EMS bankruptcy case was closed this month and about $416,000 in unsecured claims were not paid, according to a final report. Those unsecured claims included $46,594 the agency said it owed to cash advance lender Cloudfund LLC, $32,087 to Spartan Business Solutions and $10,428 to WEX, Inc., a...
2-vehicle crash in Mt. Pleasant involving school students sends 3 to hospitals
Three people were injured in a crash involving two vehicles Monday morning in Mt. Pleasant Borough. The crash was reported at 7:15 a.m. at North Church Street and Park Avenue. Mt. Pleasant Area School District Superintendent Tom Gabauer said he went to the scene of the accident with school district...
As back-to-school costs rise, educators rely upon donations to bolster classroom supplies
The brightly colored posters, comfortable seats and hands-on science experiments present in Kaylyn Wojnarowski’s Gateway classroom might not exist if the first grade teacher relied solely on the district’s budget for supplies. Wojnarowski welcomed students back to her classroom at Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary on Thursday — the start of...
Murrysville looks ahead to planned capital projects
Murrysville will spend about $3.8 million on capital projects in 2026, a number that will jump substantially in 2027 and 2028, when the municipality undertakes two major bridge replacements. Murrysville Council held a public hearing Tuesday for its 2026-30 Capital Improvements Plan, which is its guiding financial document for budgeting...
MAWC approves upgraded security at New Stanton campus
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will spend about $350,000 to upgrade security at its New Stanton headquarters. Officials announced the plan last week that includes upgraded surveillance cameras and a gate to prevent unsupervised access to the water and sewer agency’s garages and warehouse. “Over the years we’ve had...
IUP disciplines cheerleaders for hazing involving alcohol
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has remained mum on whether its cheerleading squad will be allowed to perform along the sidelines for the Crimson Hawks this football season. The squad was disciplined over the summer for forcing new members to participate in alcohol-related events, requiring underage members to assist in buying...
State budget stalemate not expected to result in Westmoreland transit authority service cuts
The ongoing budget stalemate in Harrisburg will have little impact on Westmoreland County Transit Authority operations, officials said. Executive Director Alan Blahovec, during the authority’s monthly board meeting Thursday, said the agency has enough funding in place to continue its current schedule of fixed-route bus service and paratransit programs throughout...
Sewing guild busy working on Christmas stockings for soldiers
Members of the American Sewing Guild are getting ready for Christmas, even though it’s August. Guild members were busy this week sewing Christmas stockings to be shipped to military members stationed overseas. The group worked into the early afternoon at Murrysville Alliance Church. The stockings are donated to New Kensington-based...
Hempfield Area drafts 3D designs for high school renovation
Five years after Hempfield Area School District approved a feasibility study for a renovation of its 1956 high school, the district is starting to nail down what the refurbished building will look like. Architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates laid out visions for the project in October, and the school board...
Developer seeks approval for proposed solar array in Ligonier Township
Ligonier Township’s planning commission is set to review a proposal to develop an 18-acre solar farm along Springer Road, the first such facility under consideration in the township. Plans submitted by SunVest Solar call for a 3 megawatt solar array on a 32-acre property owned by Michael Becer. The company,...
Westmoreland happenings: Peach festival, doggie paddle, Hawaiian prom, more
Fundraisers • A peach festival will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the West Newton Lions Field House, 511 Pittsburgh St. Sponsored by First Church of God, the menu will include sandwiches, salads, peach cobbler and drinks. • Mon Valley YMCA, 101 Taylor Run Road, Carroll Township,...
Pet memorial service: helping victims of alleged widespread fraud deal with loss
Mark Petros of Herminie thought it was odd the way Harrison funeral director Patrick Vereb handled his dog, Bear, in late December after Vereb was contacted to cremate the family’s pet, with the understanding they would receive the remains. “I carried the dog out and placed it in his van,”...
Westmoreland County’s ag challenge: keeping the next generation on the farm
How do you keep the next generation of farmers interested in staying on the farm, when that life offers them the guarantee of hard work seven days a week with compensation far below other occupations? That’s a challenge for Westmoreland County farm families, as farmers are getting older, with the...
Allegheny jail guard to serve probation for drunken driving crash in North Huntingdon
An Allegheny County Jail guard pleaded guilty this week to being drunk when he caused a violent crash three years ago in North Huntingdon, injuring another motorist. Dwight D. Edwards, 52, of Penn Township was charged following the Nov. 14, 2022, crash on Morris Avenue. Police said Edwards’ pickup truck...
Children, dog removed, woman arrested after police find fleas, dead canine at Jeannette home
A Jeannette woman is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and three counts of endangering the welfare of children after authorities reported finding the children and a dog in what they described as deplorable living conditions at the woman’s Bullitt Avenue home. Jeannette police, humane officers and animal control officers...
House fire along Route 22 in Salem was site of July pipe bomb explosion
A Salem house was destroyed Friday in a fire state police are investigating as a possible arson. It’s the same property where a pipe bomb was placed in a lawnmower, resulting in an explosion July 20, according to police. Evicted tenant James M. Sever, 54, has been on the run...
Yough-N-Roll bicycle ride benefits Mon/Yough Trail Council
The pre-registration deadline for the annual Yough-N-Roll bicycle ride is Sept. 2 with the event taking place Sept. 13 on the Great Allegheny Passage. The ride will be followed by a free Party on the Trail at the Boston access 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Both events are fundraisers for the Mon/Yough...
Pair of kids stole more than $1,700 in vapes from Derry Township convenience store, police say
Pennsylvania State Police say a pair of masked children smashed their way into a Sunoco convenience store in Derry Township and stole more than $1,700 worth of vapes. A 12-year-old and 14-year-old are facing burglary and theft related charges. Authorities have not released their names. Surveillance footage from the early...
Family that lost home in Penn Township fire grateful for help, daughter’s return from hospital
A couple of agonizing hours passed between the time Laurie Kiss learned that her family’s Penn Township home was on fire until she learned her 11-year-old daughter was rescued. Kiss was on an out-of-state work trip Aug. 4 when a neighbor phoned to alert her to the fire that soon...
Penn Township to draft ‘no parking’ ordinance; Rowe Road residents vie to keep street parking
The Penn Township Commissioners gave the go-ahead to start drafting a “no parking” ordinance for some roads throughout the municipality. Commissioners discussed expanding the parking ordinance to select roads about a year and a half ago but revisited the topic after township staff noticed potential parking complications on Rowe Road....
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 22-24
Back-to-school time has arrived, but even as summer vacation ends, the weekend’s still wide open to have fun with family. Here are some events to enjoy together. Bark in the Boro This Ligonier pet fair will be a perfect day out for you and your pup. Held on the Ligonier...
Husband of Ligonier woman killed by falling branch at McKeesport park sues city for her death
The husband of a Ligonier woman killed by a falling tree branch while she was attending a softball event in a McKeesport park last month has sued the city in Allegheny County Court. William W. Miller, who is the administrator of his late wife, Gendie’s, estate, cites negligence and infliction...
Unity plumber pleads guilty to bilking homeowner
A Unity plumber was ordered to serve at least 11½ months in jail for failing to complete a sewer replacement job at a Hempfield home in 2022. Mark E. Loughran, 55, pleaded guilty to felony counts of deceptive business practices, theft and receiving advance payment for work not completed. But...
