Westmoreland category, Page 427
Murrysville arson suspect to remain in jail pending trial
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday rejected a defense request for a nominal bond that would have allowed the Murrysville man accused of setting fire to a local restaurant to be released from jail as he awaits trial. Brian P. Lucas, 44, was charged with arson and other offenses in...
Westmoreland sheriff, commissioners reach deal to end inmate transport standoff
Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said a tentative settlement was reached to resolve a lawsuit he filed in October that sought to lift the requirement for his deputies to transport jail inmates for medical care. Following a closed-door meeting Monday convened by Common Pleas Court Judge Chris Scherer with lawyers...
2 men accused in North Huntingdon kidnapping
North Huntingdon police arrested two men Monday who they said were involved with the kidnapping of a 17-year-old township resident during the weekend, according to court papers. Karrar F. Al Hilali, 39, of West Mifflin and James Keith Maskil, 28, of Graysville, Greene County, are charged with kidnapping, conspiracy, burglary,...
Jeannette could turn to credit agency to collect unpaid property maintenance fines
Scofflaws who ignore quality of life tickets from Jeannette soon could find themselves hounded by a collection agency. City officials are looking over a potential contract with Creditech to collect fines from the tickets that are aimed at property maintenance violations, such as furniture in yards and junk vehicles. Tickets...
W.Va. man subject of PFA jailed on stalking charge after being at Loyalhanna home
A West Virginia man is being held without bail in the Westmoreland County Prison after state police said he showed up at the Loyalhanna home of a woman who has a protection from abuse order against him. Antonio Michael Jeneskee, 22, of Follansbee, is charged with stalking. Troopers were called...
Hempfield Area School District returns to mask-optional policy
The Hempfield Area School District will return to a mask-optional policy this week after the state’s mask mandate was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The message was conveyed in a letter sent to district families Saturday. “The Hempfield Area School District’s Health & Safety Plan indicates that once the...
Excela reopens Unity testing center in response to rising covid-19 numbers
In response to the increasing number of covid cases in the region, Excela Health has reopened its testing center at 443 Frye Farm Road in Unity. The center will be staffed from 2 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and is by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling...
Excela earns more high marks for its maternity program
U.S. News & World Report, in its first list of Best Hospitals for Maternity, recognized Excela Health as High Performing in Maternity Care. The designation — the highest rating U.S. News awards for this type of care — was only for uncomplicated pregnancy, not high-risk pregnancies. For the last two...
Penn Middle Drama Club preps for 1st audience-attended show in 2 years, ‘A Christmas Carol’
Penn Middle Drama Club students are preparing to welcome a live audience for the first time in two years, staging the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 17-18. “We’re super excited about it,” said drama club sponsor and technical director Sharon Wiant. “All of the schools in the...
Bushy Run hosts holiday market in Penn Township
Landon Wells was supposed to be doing some Christmas shopping at the Bushy Run Christmas Market in Penn Township. But the 3-year-old boy was understandably distracted by the model train booth there, which returned after being on hiatus last year. “We’re doing some gift shopping for his mother and father,”...
Lack of oversight, coordination leads to wide disparity in water prices across Western Pa.
Thomas Brudnok is on a quest for answers. His quarterly water bill is never less than $102, even if his Youngstown household uses less than the minimum of 10,000 gallons in that time. What baffles Brudnok is that while Youngstown Borough Municipal Authority buys treated water from nearby Latrobe, he...
Jeannette to save $185K by refinancing bond debt
Jeannette will save $185,000 by refinancing a 2016 bond, according to chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy. Council approved the measure Thursday. Keedy said the savings will be put into the capital reserve fund. There is about $2.7 million remaining to repay through April 2033 with an interest rate ranging between...
Customers mourn year-end closure of Schramm Farms in Harrison City
When Sarah Hough’s mother makes applesauce for the holidays, she’s looking for a specific type of apple, and she’s going to Schramm Farms & Orchards in Harrison City to find it. “They’re Lodi apples,” said Hough, a Murrysville resident. “She’s afraid she’s not going to be able to make it...
Westmoreland boosts tourism with nearly $550,000 in grants to 44 institutions, groups
Westmoreland County’s tourism industry will get a boost of almost $550,000 next year with grants to 44 entities that draw tourists to the county. They include organizations, festivals, museums, theaters, historical societies, hotels and restaurants. Officials say the tourism industry is the second strongest economic driver in the county. The...
Podcast by Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew slated for Dec. 16
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew plans to hold a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16 to discuss the expenditures outlined in the county’s budget for 2022. Those interested in listening to Chew’s budget discussion, can register at facebook.com/search/top/?q=Chew 4 You to see the event. All of Chew’s town...
Jeannette businesses won’t get American Rescue Plan cash for now, officials say
Jeannette will not be offering businesses American Rescue Plan funding, at least for now. A measure that would’ve created an application process was rejected by council Thursday 3-2. Councilwoman Robin Mozley, who had requested the item be placed on the agenda, and Councilman Chuck Highlands cast the affirmative votes. Mozley...
Westmoreland commissioner continues virtual town-hall meetings Dec. 16
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew will host the sixth in a series of town-hall meetings at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. Chew began hosting the online town-hall meetings in October, touching on topics like voter registration and various aspects of the county’s budget. Chew said he wanted to public to...
‘Monticello Lights’ aims to brighten holidays for local charitiesVideo
Delmont firefighters got a sneak peek at the light show on Friday night. In advance of this weekend’s “Monticello Lights” fundraiser, which will raise money for Project Bundle Up and the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department, residents of the Monticello neighborhood took firefighters on a preview tour. From 6-9 p.m. Saturday...
Police seek suspect in robbery of Dollar General in East Huntingdon
State police are seeking information on a suspect who robbed the Dollar General in East Huntingdon on Wednesday. Shortly after 11 a.m., police said someone believed to be on foot robbed the store, on Route 31, while wearing yellow gloves, a tossel cap, mask and hooded sweatshirt. The suspect is...
Half dozen affordable residences coming to Latrobe’s Mary Street
Greensburg-based Homes Build Hope is nearing completion of six new affordable residences in Latrobe that should be ready to rent early next year. Guardian Construction of Export and several subcontractors are installing carpet and countertops and completing painting in the pair of two-story triplex structures on a formerly blighted section...
North Huntingdon light, music show raising money for White Oak-based nonprofit
A North Huntingdon family is once again spreading holiday joy by going to extraordinary lengths to decorate the outside of their house and yard with thousands of lights that shine on displays of snowmen, Santa Claus, candy canes, a Nutcracker, horses, swans, a village and a star — all for...
Out & About: The Westmoreland’s revised happy hour puts regional artist in focus
The Art on Tap happy hour at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art has been reimagined as Art After Hours. While retaining popular elements such as an art scavenger hunt, musical entertainment, light refreshments and libations, the event now has an added emphasis on the artist whose work is showing...
Westmoreland water authority: Adamsburg waterline break won’t be fixed until at least late Saturday
Crews finished repairing a waterline break along Edna Road in Hempfield on Saturday night, according to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. The waterline break was reported at about 3 p.m. Friday, leaving about 60 customers without water service. The repair was completed around 7:30 Saturday evening, according to MAWC...
Twin brother defense rejected in appeal of Jeannette shooting case
A state appeals court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction and life prison sentence of a Penn Hills man who claimed his dead twin brother was responsible for a fatal shooting in Jeannette in 2017. A three judge-panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled this week there was no merit...
Elliott Group steps up to pay for Jeannette police camera lease for 2 years
The cost of dash and body cameras for the Jeannette Police Department will be paid for by Elliott Group for the first two years of a five-year lease. The donation was a surprise to city officials, who discussed this week adding the measure of protection for $15,700 annually. Council on...
