Westmoreland category, Page 379
Monessen police seek man accused of using cinderblock in assault, robbery
Monessen police are seeking a 55-year-old man accused of beating a man with a cinderblock during a robbery in the city early Friday. Dwayne M. “Peenie” Grogan is charged with attempted homicide, assault and robbery in connection with the 12:50 a.m. attack at a home in the 200 block of...
Former Mt. Pleasant funeral director, state legislator Eugene Saloom spent life ‘helping people’
Whether it was helping a constituent acquire a replacement driver’s license, working on a grant application for a local community or assisting someone with funeral preparations, former state representative and Mt. Pleasant funeral director Eugene G. Saloom always enjoyed helping others, according to family members. Saloom, 87, of Mt. Pleasant...
PennDOT plans bridge closure, line painting along I-70
PennDOT plans to close a North Belle Vernon bridge that crosses Interstate 70 on Monday, the day when line painting also is scheduled to begin on the interstate. The Fayette Street bridge, slated for replacement, is expected to remain closed to all traffic through mid-September, depending on weather that might...
As population continues to decline, the fate of some communities could be in jeopardy
Bob Davis spent only seven years of his childhood in Adamsburg before his family moved to Greensburg in 1966, but the borough made an impression. Davis lived in an old farm house along Main Street. He fondly recalls a bustling town filled with several businesses. There was a service station...
Hempfield school board to continue discussion of books available to high school students
The Hempfield Area School Board will discuss next month tweaking a policy related to reevaluating course materials. It’s part of a monthslong conversation that stems from the challenging of two books available to high school students. The board’s policy committee on Wednesday decided not to move forward with any immediate...
Bushy Run Battlefield race to aid fight against human trafficking
Runners will have a chance to compete in a 3.1-mile race at the Bushy Run Battlefield along Route 993 in Penn Township on June 18 and raise awareness of human trafficking, sexual abuse and assault, and homelessness in the region. Those participating in the race, Colors for a Cause, will...
Hempfield Area middle school consolidation, timeline topic of meeting
Leaders in the Hempfield Area School District are hosting an informational session this week to discuss possible middle school consolidation plans. The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in the Harrold Middle School auditorium, 1368 Middletown Road. Officials will discuss consolidating sixth, seventh and eighth grade students into Wendover...
Greensburg Salem OKs proposed budget with no tax hike, locks in electricity rate
Greensburg Salem School District property owners won’t have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay their 2022-23 tax bill, according to a proposed district budget approved Wednesday at a school board meeting. The board unanimously approved a $49.2 million spending plan that would hold the tax rate at 89.72...
Compass Inn goes rogue — blacksmiths and ‘scoundrels’ featured at Laughlintown site
Visitors to Laughlintown’s Compass Inn Museum will find a gathering of blacksmiths on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. , as many as 25 area blacksmiths will be demonstrating their skills on the grounds of the historic Route 30 inn, which has been restored to its prime 1830s appearance....
Monessen woman ordered to pay $66K in restitution in pandemic unemployment fraud case
A Monessen woman was sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison after, authorities said, she received $66,240 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment assistance. Amanda Fairfax, 37, was ordered to spend three years on supervised release after the prison term. Fairfax pleaded guilty in January to five counts of mail fraud....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: May 20-22
Here’s your sign Grammy Award-nominated comedian Bill Engvall brings his “Here’s Your Sign ‘It’s Finally Time’ Farewell Tour” to The Palace Theatre for shows at 6 and 9 p.m. Friday. The tour takes its name from Engvall’s 1996 platinum debut album, “Here’s Your Sign,” based on a routine in which...
Fit4Boxing gym in Murrysville, Hampton offers program for those with special needs
When Fit4Boxing opened in Hampton in 2015, its owners already had an eye toward working with people of all abilities. “We started working with people affected by Parkinson’s disease when we first opened,” said Brett Burkhart, managing partner with Fit4Boxing. “My uncle had been training with a guy from Sewickley...
Hepler’s Hardware celebrates 80 years of family business in New Stanton
After 80 years in business, a New Stanton hardware store has processed more than 3 million customer transactions. Multiple generations of the Hepler family have worked at Hepler’s Hardware on State Route 119 North since it opened in 1942. Megan Orient, co-owner and president, is part of the fourth generation...
Greensburg policeman recalls chaotic scene at hospital as suspect lunged for officer’s gun
A Greensburg policeman said the scene was frantic as he ran into the emergency room at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg upon hearing reports there was a man with a gun inside. “There were about 20 to 25 people all in hospital scrubs — hospital staff — running out,...
Westmoreland native continues growing gamer-coaching company Metafy
Over the past three years, Derry native Josh Fabian has turned his gamer-coaching company, Metafy, into a major player in the gaming industry, raising $25 million in venture capital from international hedge funds such as Tiger Global and Seven Seven Six. As the company has continued to scale up —...
Greensburg to unveil new public works garage with tours, fire department display
Greensburg’s public works staff moved into a new garage in March. The public will be invited inside to tour the nearly 13,000-square-foot facility at 520 Urania Ave. during an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. While adults might be curious to see the results of the roughly $1.7...
Wolf & Whisk bakery opens in Greensburg’s Trendy Bunny shop
One of Kelsey Blahovec’s first cookie batches came out “in the form of edible concrete.” That’s what happens when you add a cup of baking soda instead of a teaspoon. It didn’t chase her out of the kitchen, though. She doubled down on her baking efforts and now is the...
Goat crew works to clear invasive plants at Historic Hanna’s Town
There’s a crew working hard to clear underbrush on a woodsy tract at Historic Hanna’s Town, but they’re not your typical 9-to-5ers. The team comprises 11 goats, and the supervisor is a miniature donkey. They’re on the scene, courtesy of Allegheny Goatscape and a Laurel Highlands Landscape Conservation Grant, to...
North Huntingdon OKs plans for road to proposed senior citizen building
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority cleared another hurdle this week toward building a 50-unit, four-story apartment building in Irwin for low-income senior citizens by winning North Huntingdon’s approval of plans for a 1,300-foot roadway to connect the complex to a township road. Despite strong and impassioned opposition from several residents...
North Huntingdon narrowly approves backyard chickens for 2 homes
North Huntingdon officials this week narrowly approved permits for two residents to keep chickens, with a warning from one council member that it could open the floodgates for more backyard hens. By 4-3 votes, the commissioners approved permits for Megan Javor of Lancelot Drive and Sarah Helzlsouer of Adams Drive...
Man shot in Derry Township accused of damaging $900 worth of property at suspect’s home
A man who was shot in Derry Township this week is accused of setting a fire at the home of the person state police believe pulled the trigger, according to court papers. Police said the fire damaged $900 worth of items. Troopers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Thomas Corey, 39, of...
No tax increase planned in preliminary Hempfield Area budget
Residents in the Hempfield Area School District will not see a tax increase after school directors on May 16 unanimously passed a $100.9 million preliminary budget. This is the fourth consecutive year that taxes held steady, following five years of gradual increases. Taxes will remain at 83.46 mills. Of the...
Greensburg Salem searches again for business manager, OKs maintenance, custodial contract
The Greensburg Salem School Board last week approved a new three-year contract with maintenance and custodial workers extending through June 2024. The board also agreed to search for two new central office administrators, including a replacement for business manager Joan Wehner, who has resigned to accept a similar post at...
Pit bull shot after escaping Cook Township property
A Cook Township man’s dog was shot Sunday night after leaving his property, police said. The pit bull belonging to Mark E. Ahner, 60, of Stahlstown, escaped the property and became aggressive toward two men near the intersection of Main Street and Hoffer Plan in Stahlstown shortly after 9:30 p.m.,...
Boy, 15, charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe incident
A 15-year-old boy is being charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe police said he threatened another juvenile. A report about the incident was made to the department’s Greater Latrobe school resource officer and police said they seized “items of evidentiary value” during the investigation. There was no danger to school...
