Westmoreland category, Page 412
Greensburg band to provide Groundhog Day music in Gobbler’s Knob
Greensburg’s Derek Woods Band will provide the musical backdrop for this year’s Groundhog Day festivities Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. And if the past is any indication, Woods and his band members had better start layering their clothes now. “The sets we played were limited to about 10...
Westmoreland commissioners approve $1.3 million plan for 2022 tourism
The Westmoreland County commissioners approved spending $1.3 million to promote what one called the “crown jewels” of the region. The money, generated through a portion of the county’s 5% hotel tax, will pay for marketing efforts as well as upgrades to parks, the purchase of property and grants to help...
Derry Township looks to complete 1 stormwater pond, open bids for 2nd
Derry Township expects this spring to complete construction of a retention pond next to the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center while planning another nearby to help control flooding along Sulphur Run in the township and neighboring Latrobe. Once completed, the pond near the CTC will take in stormwater from...
2 hopefuls seek appointment to vacant Latrobe Council seat
Latrobe Council will consider filling a vacancy in its ranks at its Feb. 14 meeting. Appointments to standing committees also will be considered, as council looks to organize a special panel to review a study for proposed streamlining of the city fire department. Two men who are involved in other...
County commissioners approve demolition of 12 Westmoreland buildings
Twelve residential and commercial structures in eight communities are slated for demolition through Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority. Jason Rigone, director of the county’s planning division, said the goal is to bring all of the buildings down within a year. “They’re either blighted, abandoned or vacant,” he said. The county commissioners...
Franklin Regional marching band director announces retirement days before Disney trip
Citing ongoing health concerns and family considerations, longtime Franklin Regional School District band director Lawrence Silvestri announced his retirement Saturday, according to band officials. Silvestri’s immediate retirement was announced Saturday via private email forwarded through acting marching band director Nick Nutter to high school marching band members and parents. “Yes,...
2 men shot outside Greensburg bar
Greensburg police are seeking the public’s help in connection with a shooting early Sunday that sent two men to area hospitals. Police Det. Justin Scalzo said the shooting occurred just before 2 a.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue outside the Rialto Cafe bar. “Neither of the injuries are life threatening. We’re asking...
Lower Burrell man accused of threatening Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert online
A 55-year-old man accused of making threats on social media to harm Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert and his family was taken into custody after a search of a home in Lower Burrell on Saturday. Matthew A. Betts was found hiding in a storage locker at a residence on Lori...
Westmoreland 911: One person reported injured in Rostraver bedroom fire
One person had to be rescued from a residential house fire Saturday in Rostraver, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatching supervisor. The working fire was reported at 2:55 p.m. at 623 Sixth Ave., the dispatcher reported. Firefighters from Rostraver Central were among several fire departments called to assist the...
Ligonier firefighters secure ownership of 85-year-old borough building at auction
There was little drama during Saturday’s auction of the former Ligonier Borough Municipal Building. Ligonier Volunteer Hose Company 1 made the winning $315,000 bid that will allow the fire company to keep using it. Winning the public auction of the 85-year-old building at 112 N. Fairfield St. was a big...
Ex-Greensburg-area dentist to remain jailed awaiting trial in wife’s death
A former Greensburg-area dentist lost a bid this week to be released from a Denver detention facility as he awaits a trial on accusations he killed his wife during a safari in Zambia in 2016. U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez in Colorado on Thursday upheld a federal magistrate’s Jan....
Engineering expert: ‘Poor’ ratings don’t mean Westmoreland bridges are unsafeVideo
A collapse is the most dramatic outcome in a bridge’s lifespan. But it’s just the potential worst-case scenario for the 143 state-inspected bridges in Westmoreland County that are rated in poor condition and are likely to need attention sooner or later, if they haven’t already been closed. PennDOT lists a...
Rostraver man jailed, accused of smashing former tenant’s windshield outside Greensburg courthouse
A Rostraver man is behind bars after Greensburg police said he smashed the windshield of a former tenant’s car while she was sitting in it outside the county courthouse, according to court papers. Marco Testa, 38, is charged with robbery, theft, simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. City police were...
Irwin woman accused by police of stabbing man 6 times
An Irwin woman is free on $15,000 unsecured bond after police said she stabbed a man six times, according to court papers. Lori Jo Olsen, 53, is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and simple assault. Borough police said they were called to Olsen’s Spruce Street home Thursday at 9...
Man suspected in Derry Township hit-and-run surrenders to authorities
The suspect in a Derry Township hit-and-run that left a Latrobe woman seriously injured surrendered to authorities Friday morning. Bobby Paul Bryer, 30, posted $50,000 bail through a bail bondsman. He is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury and several related offenses, including speeding....
Depot Street detour to begin in Youngwood
A key block of Youngwood’s Depot Street will be closed beginning Monday as work continues on reconstructing the Route 119 corridor in the borough. Depot will be closed between Third Street, which carries northbound traffic on Route 119, and Fourth Street, which has the southbound lanes, while crews complete drainage...
‘Kentucky rifle’ enthusiasts head to Salem for annual Historic Arms Show
Modern rifles might be easier to use, more streamlined in their design and more accurate. But you won’t find any at the 24th annual Historic Arms Show this weekend at the Lamplighter in Salem. Organized by the Old Westmoreland Rifles group’s Collectors Show Association, the show will take place Friday...
Pittsburgh Bereavement Doulas embrace parents through the loss of a baby
Their tiny hands will never hold on to their parents. Their small feet will never take a step. Their eyes will never open wide with wonder. The unthinkable death of a baby is a moment that lives on in a parent’s heart forever. The heartache of losing them is infinite....
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Jan. 28-30
Art-making opportunity Community members are invited to participate in MadLab work sessions planned for noon to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 19 at Your Are Here gallery, 406 Clay Ave., Jeannette. MadLab is an art project that creates benches and mosaic planters made of recycled materials to be placed...
Visitation and inmate transfers halted as covid-19 surges through Westmoreland County Prison
Westmoreland County Prison brass on Thursday suspended inmate visits as another surge of covid-19 cases has erupted at the lockup in Hempfield. Warden Bryan Kline said more than 100 inmates have the coronavirus and additional cases are expected once pending test results are reported. The outbreak involves about 20% of...
Norwin library to hold book sale
The Friends of the Norwin Public Library will hold a sale of “gently used materials” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 2. The proceeds from the book sale will benefit the Norwin Public Library, especially the children’s summer reading program. No electronic scanning devices will be permitted by patrons....
What’s that? John Irwin House holds history of borough
For some who grew up in the Irwin area, the yellow house at the corner of Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Irwin may simply be known as the teddy bear shop. While it hosted Ye Olde Teddy Bear Shoppe for 25 years, drawing in children with an easily...
Saint Vincent College exhibits explore art, spirituality, stereotypes
Part of the mission of the Verostko Center for the Arts at Saint Vincent College is to feature work that exists at the nexus of art and spirituality, according to curator Andrew Julo. Two new exhibits, “People of the Book & the Storyboard” and “The Hoods Series,” explore that connection...
Wily ‘coyote’ — or maybe dog — on lam after clawing out of Mt. Pleasant Township shelter
An animal that was undergoing testing to determine whether it is a dog or coyote escaped from the Mt. Pleasant Township wildlife rehabilitation center where it was being treated for mange. Rescuers were searching for the creature Thursday, said wildlife rehabilitator Morgan Barron. Wildlife Works founder, director and senior rehabilitator...
Judge rules that Greensburg police illegally searched sleeping man’s car
A Westmoreland County judge has ruled that police illegally searched a sleeping man’s parked car outside of a Greensburg convenience store. City police had no legal authority to search the vehicle, in which they found drugs, cash and a loaded weapon, without a warrant, Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani...
