Westmoreland category, Page 368
Westmoreland banks loan for East Huntingdon industrial park development
Financing for a $6.3 million project to develop nearly 79 acres at an East Huntingdon industrial park is finalized, Westmoreland County development officials announced this week. County commissioners, serving as members of the county’s Industrial Development Corp., approved an agreement for a $2.25 million low-interest loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial...
Police: Hostetter couple charged in ‘severe neglect’ case
Two people are set to be arraigned Monday after state police said two children were found to be suffering from severe neglect, with a 2-year-old girl unable to walk or stand on her own, according to court papers. Jordan S. Heidt, 27, and Heather M. Johnson, 31, both of Hostetter,...
Undercover state trooper nabs New Jersey man with $50K worth of fentanyl in New Stanton
A New Jersey man is accused of exchanging $50,000 worth of suspected fentanyl for cash with an undercover state trooper Thursday in New Stanton, according to court papers. Police said Leonardo A. Ramirez, 45, of Passaic, parked in a lot on West Byers Avenue at 8 p.m. and met with...
Hempfield hires 3 part-time school officers
Three new school officers are joining the Hempfield Area School District this year. In all, 14 officers will serve at Hempfield schools, said Bob Reger, director of human resources. Members of the Hempfield Area School Board unanimously voted to hire the three new part-time officers during Monday’s meeting. According to...
Irwin gallery hosts star-themed art auction for suicide prevention center
Tracy Alaia thinks that people have something in common with stars — each one, human or celestial, is unique and beautiful in its own way. That idea suggested a theme for a benefit event she’s hosting at her downtown Irwin business, Feathers Artist Market and Gifts. Alaia is inviting people...
Westmoreland commissioners accept state grant to pay for elections
Elections office workers in Westmoreland County will have to begin counting mail-in ballots at 7 a.m. when polls open and continue working around the clock until the process is complete. It’s part of a pledge county commissioners made this week when they signed off on a deal to accept a...
Hempfield Area hopes first 49 queens will join 50th at homecoming ceremony this fall
When Renee Lytwak walked onto Hempfield Area High School’s football field in the fall of 1973, she never expected to leave it adorned with a crown and bouquet of flowers. That day, Lytwak — then a high school senior dressed in a floor-length red gown trimmed with white lace —...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 19-21
Search for meaning “American Idiot,” a musical based on the 2004 concept album by pop-punk band Green Day, will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale. The sung-through musical follows Johnny, Will and Tunny —...
Seton Hill University center gets new name, helps students improve writing skills
Hope Albert had a bad habit of using run-on sentences in the papers she turned in for her college courses. But that problem, and others that hampered the Washington Township senior’s written compositions at Seton Hill University, are in the past tense, thanks to help she received through one of...
Sparks fly over Latrobe area youth football programs at district board meeting
The Greater Latrobe Area Midget Football Association doesn’t have enough players to safely continue with its season, and despite pleas from association parents, Greater Latrobe School District leaders said they cannot allow late additions into the district’s youth football program. Numerous association parents and coaches spoke during the district’s board...
‘Bridging the Gap’ rally planned in Greensburg
A central Westmoreland County citizens activist group will host a “Bridging the Gap” event from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Greensburg YWCA, 424 N. Main St. There will be food, entertainment and tables with information about community services. Representatives from about 15 organizations, including the Blackburn Center, Sage’s...
Music in the Streets returns to Irwin
Music in the Streets returned to downtown Irwin on Thursday evening. The event was presented by Irwin Business and Professional Association and Duncan Financial. Scheduled to perform were: Bob Brooks, at the Colonial Grille Taproom on Main Street; Elaine Painter & Gary, at Brandy’s Basement; the Kenny Blake Band on...
Fire destroys East Huntingdon mobile home, 2 displaced
An East Huntingdon man and his home health aide escaped unharmed from a fire Thursday afternoon that destroyed the residence he shared with his son. The fire, which was reported at 12:30 p.m., gutted two bedrooms and a bathroom in one end of the mobile home of John Thomas of...
Commissioners approve settlement of federal lawsuit filed by former inmate
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday approved a $2,500 payment to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a former prison inmate who claimed he was mistreated at the Hempfield facility. Christopher Batch, 33, of Pittsburgh contended that while incarcerated in 2019 guards and other staff at the county prison mishandled his...
Downtown Greensburg Citizens Bank closed for remodeling
Downtown Greensburg’s Citizens Bank branch is closed for remodeling through mid-September. Spokeswoman Eleni Garbis said the location at 400 S. Main St., next to City Hall, is expected to reopen with a new look on Sept. 15. The branch has been closed since Aug. 10. As part of the makeover,...
Youngstown man jailed on rape charges
A Youngstown man is charged with raping a female repeatedly during a nine-year period from 2012 to 2021. Lee Bowser, 59, was arrested this week on charges of rape, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and related offenses, according to court papers. State police troopers said the accuser told them...
Acme man already in jail after one police chase accused of fleeing stop in New Stanton as well
State police believe they’ve identified a man who fled a New Stanton traffic stop in June and he is accused of leading troopers on two separate chases on Interstate 70 within 24 hours, according to court papers. Seth G. Klingensmith, 26, of Acme, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of fleeing...
Westmoreland County receives first payment of opioid settlement
Westmoreland County and its 11 largest municipalities will split nearly $3 million this year as part of the first installments paid out from a $26 billion national settlement of a federal lawsuit with drug manufacturers implicated in the opioid epidemic. Commissioners on Thursday approved a resolution to receive the county’s...
Veterans picnic on Sept. 2 set at White Oak Park
A veterans appreciation picnic for area veterans and their families will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Magnolia Pavilion at White Oak Park along Carpenter Lane from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 2. Food at the picnic will be a boxed meal catered by Mission...
Firefighters called to blaze in East Huntingdon
Firefighters were called to the scene of a mobile home fire Thursday afternoon in East Huntingdon. The blaze was reported at 12:30 p.m. on Mt. Nebo Church Road, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The home is in a rural area between Scottdale and Alverton and not far from...
Pitcairn man involved in Salem crash died at hospital
A Pitcairn man died Thursday, a day after his car was rear-ended at the interchange of routes 66 and 22 in Salem, according to state police and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. John Farally, 56, of Pitcairn was waiting at a stop light on Route 66 north at 6:30...
Westmoreland Fair gears up for 2022 — from rides to rabbit agility shows
With contest entry numbers back to pre-pandemic averages, the Westmoreland Fair will offer nine days of food, animals, amusement rides, grandstand arena events and more. The fair will kick off at 4 p.m. Friday and conclude Aug. 27. Some attraction highlights include a square dance social, rabbit agility show, pork...
Banana split celebration returns to Latrobe this weekend
There is a bunch of appeeling fun in store for Latrobe this weekend. Beginning Friday, the city will kick off the 2022 Great American Banana Split Celebration to commemorate the invention of the dairy delight. Latrobe pharmacist David Strickler created the fruity treat in 1904 at Tassell Pharmacy on Ligonier...
Norwin band debuts halftime show
The Norwin High School Band offered a public preview of their halftime show, “Upward Trajectory,” on Wednesday at the stadium. The show started about 15 minutes ahead of its scheduled 7 p.m. start in an effort to avoid the rain. Several food trucks were stationed in the parking lot during...
Former Westmoreland County probation officer not guilty of official oppression
A former Westmoreland County probation officer was acquitted Wednesday for an alleged threat to jail a man she supervised on house arrest if he broke off their sexual relationship. The seven woman, five man jury deliberated less than one hour before they returned the not guilty verdict to a misdemeanor...
