Westmoreland category, Page 323
Home again: Exchange student returns to Penn Township after 36 years
When Ada Drescher came to Western Pennsylvania for the first time 36 years ago as a high school exchange student from Croatia, her host family met her at the airport with a sign that read “Welcome Ada.” The same sign greeted Drescher, now 54, two weeks ago when she returned...
Norwin board debates cost of gym floor mats
The Norwin School Board is debating the cost of buying protective mats for a newly refinished gymnasium floor. The board this week spent about 40 minutes debating whether to spend $17,470 on the mats, which would be used in an auxiliary gymnasium at the high school. Mats for the main...
Jeannette man on trial for attempted homicide denies shooting at neighbor
A Jeannette man told a jurors Wednesday he fired a BB gun and set off a firecracker during an altercation with a neighbor. Westmoreland County prosecutors contend Dale Shaw used a rifle and fired at least one round that struck a home next door as his neighbor recorded video of...
Confession barred from evidence in trial of man accused in Jeannette fatal fire
Two confessions from a man charged with murder in connection with a fire in Jeannette were improperly obtained by investigators, a Westmoreland County judge has ruled. In a 27-page opinion, Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said Brian Rendon, 38, of Jeannette was incapable of voluntarily waiving his rights to remain...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild to host Nutcracker Party
Children of all ages are invited to celebrate the holiday season at the Penn-Trafford Drama Guild’s Nutcracker Party, featuring the cast of “The Nutcracker: The Play.” The event will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdayin the main lobby of Penn-Trafford High School, and will include games, snacks, dancing and...
Westmoreland Airshow discount VIP tickets to be sold Cyber Monday
Tickets for the Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity can get the VIP experience for the 2023 event at a discount price on Nov. 28, the county airport authority said. The authority is offering a $50 discount on the $200 ticket by buying...
Tax rate holds steady in North Huntingdon 2023 budget
North Huntingdon property owners will not pay additional real estate taxes to operate the township government next year, based on the preliminary spending plan officials adopted this week. The township commissioners Wednesday approved a preliminary general fund budget of $14.7 million that holds the line on real estate taxes at...
Some MAWC water customers warned of potential health risks, but no corrective measures required
Notifications were sent out Wednesday to more than 50,000 Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County customers who live south of Route 30 about a potential hazard caused by a high level of a chemical that is a byproduct of the process used to clean drinking water. Officials said tests at the...
Westmoreland happenings: Pancake breakfast, bingos, pierogi sale
Church news • St. James Church, New Alexandria, will have all-day Eucharistic adoration Nov. 21 for the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the church, 306 St. James Lane. Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and adoration will continue from 8:30 a.m. until benediction at...
North Huntingdon plans 2023 budget that keeps taxes the same
North Huntingdon officials plan to tap the township’s federal covid relief fund allocation to help balance the municipality’s preliminary budget of $14.7 million for 2023 without raising real estate taxes. The township commissioners are likely to adopt a preliminary budget at the board’s meeting on Wednesday that will hold the...
Greensburg to hold line on taxes next year, proposes nearly $13M budget
Greensburg officials plan to hold the line on taxes as part of a proposed 2023 budget totaling nearly $13 million. It will mark the 15th consecutive year the city has avoided an increase in the tax rate supporting the general fund, according to Councilman Randy Finfrock. He noted the city’s...
North Huntingdon police officer sues, says he was turned down for promotion because of race
A federal lawsuit filed Monday by a Black police officer accuses the North Huntingdon police of retaliating against him because he complained of racist behavior in the department. Albert P. Carson II is suing North Huntingdon Township and former township manager Jeffrey Silka for claims including failure to promote, retaliation,...
Attorney for Irwin man denies sex crime allegations
The lawyer for an Irwin man charged with sex crimes against a 10-year-old girl on Tuesday told a Westmoreland County jury his client denies any wrongdoing. Justin Hartung, 40, is charged with two misdemeanor counts, indecent assault and indecent exposure, based on allegations from a now 14-year-old girl who claimed...
Sen. Kim Ward makes history as 1st female pro tempore of Pa. Senate
State Sen. Kim Ward keeps making history. On Tuesday, the Hempfield Republican became the first woman to be appointed by fellow lawmakers as president pro tempore of the state Senate. She will oversee operations of the governing body and serve as its leader in the new position, holding the responsibility...
Man arrested after police use megaphone, flash bangs outside Latrobe home
Police used a megaphone and flash bangs Tuesday morning at a Latrobe home where they believed an armed man was holed up with a gun, blocking off the neighborhood for about an hour. Peter A. Letso, 49, came out of the Oak Street home after a police dog handler told...
Merchants, motorists frustrated as Route 119 redo in Youngwood approaches its final year
Merchants and motorists in Youngwood are frustrated with the street closures and traffic interruptions that have been associated with reconstruction of the Route 119 corridor through town. They’ll have to bear with some disruptions for about another year, as the $24.1 million project isn’t scheduled to be completed until fall...
Cold-weather shelters open in Allegheny, Westmoreland
With frigid temperatures creeping in this week, cold-weather shelters in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties are open. The United Way is working with the Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg and Union Mission, just outside of Latrobe, to provide emergency housing and transportation. Both will be open when nighttime temperatures drop below...
Police: Maryland trio use stolen cards at Hempfield, North Huntingdon Walmart stores
Three Maryland residents arrested after using a stolen credit card at stores in Hempfield and North Huntingdon told state police they were involved in a global identity theft crime ring, according to court papers. The three suspects used the stolen credit card Nov. 9 to purchase nearly $2,000 in gift...
5th lawsuit claims Mammoth Park’s Giant Slide is unsafe
A fifth lawsuit claims the rebuilt Giant Slide in Mt. Pleasant Township’s Mammoth Park is unsafe. The attraction at the 408-acre park owned by Westmoreland County includes two 100-foot steel racing slides along with a smaller 50-foot slide for children. The current $1.1 million configuration, which opened in July 2020...
Can collections help fund Thanksgiving meal in Jeannette
A group’s efforts to collect aluminum cans in the West Newton-Yukon-Collinsburg areas will pay off in a big way this week as they provide a free Thanksgiving dinner in Jeannette. “I look at it as a way of helping people in need,” said Joseph Muscenti, 67, of Wyano, a retired...
Westmoreland County begins provisional ballot count
Nine bipartisan two-person teams spent Monday sifting through more than 600 provisional ballots cast last week at Westmoreland County’s 307 voting precincts. Election Bureau Director Greg McCloskey said the counting of provisional ballots is expected to be completed Tuesday, leaving just a small number of overseas and military votes to...
Westmoreland Conservation District adds 5 staff members
Four residents from Western Pennsylvania and another from the eastern end of the state have joined the Westmoreland Conservation District staff. Brandon Basinger of West Newton, Allie Shreffler of Mt. Pleasant, Kelly Linsenbigler of Apollo, Kylie Schultz of Pittsburgh and Ryan Peckheiser of Pottstown are the most recent additions to...
Colleges helping students get leg up with professional attire for job interviews
Ryan Cameron of Scottdale was checking out some clothes recently at the Pitt-Greensburg campus in Hempfield, where he is a sophomore. “This will help a lot,” said Cameron, 19, a Southmoreland High School graduate, said of the Career Closet carved out of an office on the second floor of Chambers...
Vehicle overturns in North Huntingdon crash
Two people were reported trapped in vehicles late Monday night in a two-vehicle crash along Morris Avenue in North Huntingdon, according to emergency dispatchers. One vehicle went into a yard and a pick-up truck overturned along Morris Avenue at Barnes Avenue, near the entrance to Oak Hollow Park, at about...
Single-lane traffic to begin on I-70 near Yukon
Traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction during daylight hours beginning Tuesday on Interstate 70 near the Yukon and Madison interchanges in South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships. The lane restriction will be in place, as needed, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., through Friday, according to...
