Westmoreland category, Page 380
Latrobe Elks hope to attract new members with new lodge building
The Latrobe Elks Lodge and Golf Club hopes to attract members with a new building. The Elks held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building Wednesday. About two dozen people came to the Derry Township organization to celebrate and enjoy refreshments. The new building, which overlooks the Elks’ golf course, features...
Inflation blamed for Westmoreland municipal authority cost overruns
Inflation led to an 11% increase in Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County expenses in March, and utility leaders said Wednesday they are bracing for more cost overruns in the months ahead. “I don’t think prices will get cheaper, and we will continue to look at overages,” authority business manager Brian...
Voter turnout strong for Westmoreland primary as political leaders look to fall campaign
More than 41% of Republicans and nearly 40% of registered Democrats in Westmoreland County voted in Tuesday’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate primaries, numbers that have local political leaders predicting an energetic fall campaign. The county’s results closely mirror statewide totals as Democrats backed Lt. Gov. John Fetterman for Senate while...
Court rejects John Lesko’s appeal in 1980 western Pa. ‘Kill for Thrill’ spree
One of the last appeals for Pennsylvania’s longest-serving death row inmate has been denied. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday rejected 64-year-old John Lesko’s request for a new trial and sentencing hearing. He was convicted in the 1980 murder of Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller,...
Acme man jailed on $250K bond, accused of raping boy
A 33-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy in 2020-2021. Brandon J. Hoffer of Acme was arrested and ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $250,000 bond after he was charged with 26 felony and misdemeanor criminal counts filed...
Ligonier Township property listed at $1.45 million was inspired by builder’s dream
Builder Joseph Minyon said the idea for the 12,000-square-foot, chateau-inspired home he built in Ligonier Township came to him in a dream. “I saw a bird in flight with wings outstretched — I’m not sure what kind of bird it was, but I’ll say it was an eagle,” he said....
Judge won’t remove lawyer in federal gun case against suspect in Cassandra Gross disappearance
A judge on Wednesday refused to remove the attorney for a Unity man suspected in the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross from his representation in an unrelated gun case. Instead, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak ordered that Komron Jon Maknoon continue working with Thomas G. Stanko, 51, in...
The Westmoreland’s Director/CEO Anne Kraybill leaving for Kansas museum post
Anne Kraybill will step down as the Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art on July 22 to become director/chief executive officer of the Wichita (Kan.) Art Museum. “This is a bittersweet moment for me because the past four years at The Westmoreland have been some...
North Belle Vernon man accused of animal cruelty
A North Belle Vernon man is facing a preliminary hearing next month after humane officers reported finding his dog with several open wounds and a large tumor. Dan Karbowsky, whose age was not provided in court papers, was charged Tuesday with aggravated animal cruelty and neglect of animals. Officers with...
1 person reported seriously injured in Route 22 crash in Murrysville
At least one person was reported seriously injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash along Route 22 in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The crash occurred at 11:08 a.m. at the highway intersection with Harrison City Road, the dispatcher reported. The highway stretch was temporarily closed. It re-opened...
Westmoreland happenings: Blessing of the Bikes, broom sale and yard sales
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Cooper unseats incumbent Silvis; Dunbar wins in landslide
Former Westmoreland County Republican Committee Chairwoman Jill Cooper unseated first-term incumbent Rep. Jason Silvis in the GOP primary for the redrawn 55th state House district. Two years ago, Silvis, 47, defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Petrarca in 2020 to win the legislative seat that was previously based in Derry. A redistricting...
Police: 17-year-old Unity girl returned home to mother
A 17-year-old Unity girl who left home with her boyfriend last month and had not been seen since has returned home to her mother, according to state police in Greensburg. State police had put out an alert Tuesday about the missing teen, Kylie Madison Germello, 17, of Crabtree, after the...
Former manager of Salem discount store charged in theft of $18K
A man accused of stealing $18,097 earlier this month from a Dollar General store where he worked in Salem apologized for the thefts to other employees in the store, according to state police. Austin M. Rider, 23, of Jeannette, was charged with receiving stolen property and theft in connection with...
Jeannette man pleads guilty to homicide charge in 2019 shooting outside McKee Stadium
A Jeannette man entered a guilty plea Tuesday to third-degree homicide in connection with a 2019 fatal shooting outside McKee Stadium during the fourth quarter of a high school football game. Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey said entering the general plea was a difficult decision for Greg Harper, 43, to make....
Summer workshop to teach art, tech skills to Westmoreland high schoolers
A summer workshop will aim to broaden the STEM-related knowledge of creative high school students in Westmoreland County and parts of Fayette. From June to August, ArtTEK will offer classes focusing on videography, 3D printing and more at 462 W. Main St. in Mt. Pleasant. In its inaugural year, the...
Man hurt in Derry Township shooting; suspect arrested
A man shot outside a Derry Township home early Tuesday is expected to survive and the person accused of pulling the trigger was jailed, according to state police. Troopers said the suspect — Edward B. Hart, 57 — fired about a dozen rounds at the man at 2:30 a.m. after...
Norwin board debates whether to hike taxes or cut spending in proposed budget
Norwin School Board members have yet to reach a consensus on how they will deal with a projected $4.1 million shortfall in the district’s proposed 2022-23 budget. Board members and residents this week debated whether the district should increase taxes, dip into its reserves or make spending cuts to balance...
Giant gas pump, Packard replica on Route 30 reminders of bygone days
Gas was an average of 22 cents per gallon when gas pumps resembling the 21-foot-tall replica along Route 30 east between Latrobe and Ligonier were used in the 1940s. Now, tack on an additional $4 to that price and the 4,900-pound supersized structure is a reminder of bygone days. It...
Teen injured, houses damaged in North Huntingdon after lightning strike, officials say
A 15-year-old girl was hurt and a house has a gaping hole in its roof after a lightning strike Monday night that impacted six North Huntingdon homes. Crews responded to the strike on the 12000 block of Sedona Drive at around 8:10 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the...
Hempfield man pleads guilty in woman’s shooting
A Hempfield man was paroled Monday after he pleaded guilty to charges related to an incident last year in which a woman sustained a gunshot wound to her ring finger. Police said Timothy John Luchon, 40, had a physical altercation with a woman at a home near New Stanton on...
Ex-inmate’s lawsuit claims Westmoreland County violated settlement terms, wants $150K
A New Mexico man who received a $150,000 payment to settle a federal lawsuit against Westmoreland County claims public officials violated terms of a confidentiality agreement and wants an additional payment from taxpayers. Westmoreland commissioners, at a public meeting in February, approved the settlement with James Mapp, 34, to end...
North Huntingdon Army veteran receives Quilt of Valor for service in Germany
A North Huntingdon man was elated but humble Monday after receiving a Quilt of Valor recognizing his military service. “I just think there’s a lot more people that are deserving,” said Ron Ickes, 81, of Biddle. Sally Strait, a member of Norwin Quilters, presented Ickes, an Army veteran, with the...
Greensburg YWCA panel to discuss messages in Amanda Gorman poetry
The poetry anthology of Amanda Gorman will be discussed by a local NAACP official, a college professor and three young adults at 6:30 p.m. May 25 at the Greensburg YWCA, 424 N. Main St. The panel discussion of “Call Us What We Carry” will feature Ruth Tolbert, president of the...
Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township will host ‘Paws for Prevention Walk’ for dogs, owners
There will be plenty of fun for four-legged family members at a fundraiser Saturday at Mammoth Park. Organizer Sarah Opalinski said activities for dogs will be mixed in with community resources at Paws for Prevention Walk at the Mt. Pleasant Township park. The proceeds will benefit the Council on Substance...
