Westmoreland category, Page 433
Supervisor-elect tapped to fill vacant seat on Hempfield board
A vacant Hempfield supervisor seat set to expire at the end of the year will be filled by a supervisor-elect whose six year term starts Jan. 1. Bill Bretz, who ran unopposed in the Nov. 2 election, was unanimously appointed to fill the term that ends Dec. 31. “About five...
Virginia couple to face charges in girl’s disappearance with Westmoreland case resolved
A Virginia couple who authorities believe were caring for a 3-year-old girl when she died were sentenced this week in Westmoreland County court on receiving stolen property, drug and related charges. Assistant District Attorney James Lazar said Travis R. Brown, 29, and Candi Jo Royer, 41, both of Waynesboro, Va.,...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Nov. 26-28
Holiday rock opera The Wizards of Winter super-group will present the holiday rock opera, “The Christmas Dream,” at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin. The 11-member ensemble includes former members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Def Leppard, Blue Oyster Cult, Rainbow, Trixter and the Ted Nugent...
As Hempfield casino marks a year in business, local leaders say it provides more than a place to gamble
Westmoreland County leaders are touting Live! Casino Pittsburgh as an “incredible economic engine” after the facility pumped millions of dollars into the economy during its first year of operation. Located in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall, the casino has seen economic impact investments totaling almost $135 million since opening last November, officials...
Norwin seeks 30-day delay in releasing info on contracts
The Norwin School District says it will need 30 days to release details of the recently approved six-year contract with the Norwin Education Association and a five-year agreement with building principals and administrators not represented by a collective bargaining agreement. Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor stated in a Nov. 22 email...
Greensburg Turkey Trot ends with a pop — a proposal, that isVideo
Manny Hidalgo had only one thought on his mind Thursday morning as he prepared to run in his first Greensburg Turkey Trot — proposing to his girlfriend. Hidalgo planned the surprise proposal for the end of the 5K race, when he got down on one knee to pop the question...
Hempfield Area senior marching in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Jacob Onoffrey knows marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of Macy’s Great American Marching Band is the chance of a lifetime. When the Hempfield Area High School senior found out he was chosen to be part of the event, he was shocked. “It was the biggest spark...
Legendary jazz trombonist, Jeannette native Slide Hampton dies at 89
Whenever legendary jazz musicians Slide Hampton and Harold Betters got together or spoke over the phone, the renowned trombonists frequently spoke of their Western Pennsylvania roots, said Betters’ daughter Cheryl Kelly. “Oh, Dad and Mr. Hampton were super close for a very long time. They were great friends and actually...
Westmoreland happenings: cookie sale, light up night and festival of lights
Fundraisers • St. John United Church of Christ, 1320 Brownstown Road, Larimer, North Huntingdon, is accepting orders for a cookie sale. Varieties: raspberry almond shortbread, snickerdoodles, nut horns, peanut butter blossom kiss, thumbprints, tassie nut cups, peanut butter cup, lemon cookie bar and seven layer, $5 per dozen. Order deadline:...
State police seeking red SUV in connection with Key Bank robbery in Greensburg
State police in Greensburg are looking for a man they say robbed an East Pittsburgh Street bank Wednesday morning. The robbery at the Key Bank branch at 800 E. Pittsburgh St. occurred at 10:09 a.m., according to surveillance video footage. Investigators believe the suspect exited the bank and...
Jeannette officials consider special tax program to attract development
Jeannette officials are considering tax breaks in an effort to spur redevelopment in specific areas. Establishing one or more Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance zones around the city could allow developers the opportunity to get a break on increased property taxes in exchange for investing in dilapidated parcels. Fire Chief...
13 cadets graduate from WCCC’s Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy
After completing a rigorous five-month program, 13 cadets graduated Tuesday from Westmoreland County Community College’s Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy. Wearing their gray-and-black uniforms, the cadets celebrated the end of their 930-hour program that trained them to become police officers in municipalities and cities across the state. “I truly believe...
Kentucky doctor who reaped $565K in kickbacks from Hempfield lab gets 2 years of home detention
A Kentucky doctor who admitted reaping more than $500,000 in illegal kickbacks from the owner of a now-defunct Westmoreland County drug testing lab will serve two years of home detention, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. John Baird, 55, a Louisville physician who specializes in physical medicine, rehabilitation and pain management,...
Jeannette seeking controller after woman who won lots drawing declines post
Jeannette is seeking applicants for the controller position after a woman selected through a lottery last week declined the job. Solicitor Tim Witt said letters of interest and resumes are being accepted. Someone will be appointed to the four-year post at council’s Jan. 3 reorganization meeting. The move came after...
Police: Ohio woman, son found wandering at Keystone State Park in Derry Township
An Ohio woman is facing child endangerment charges after she and her son were found Monday evening wearing wet clothes and wandering near the lake at Keystone State Park in Derry Township while temperatures were near freezing, according to court documents. The boy, whose age was not listed in the...
Hempfield teen charged in knife threat released on unsecured bond
A Hempfield teen charged in connection with an attempted knife attack last month in a Greensburg park was granted an unsecured bond and released from custody on Tuesday. Janis Biller, 16, was charged earlier this month as an adult with multiple counts of aggravated assault, robbery and conspiracy based on...
Hempfield man sentenced to serve up to 20 years after pleading guilty to fatal shooting in Forest County
A 37-year-old Hempfield man will serve up to 20 years in a state prison after pleading guilty Monday to shooting and killing a man outside a Forest County hotel in 2020 during a confrontation over a woman. Richard M. Gardner Jr., 37, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with...
Franklin Regional board bans using schools for covid-19 vaccine clinics
Although it’s now recommended that children 5 and older get covid-19 vaccines, they won’t be able to get one in a Franklin Regional School District building. The school board voted 7-2 this week to ban the use of district facilities as covid-19 vaccination sites for students. While other schools in...
Greensburg merchants kick off holiday sales by unveiling window displays
Downtown Greensburg merchants rang the curtain up on holiday shopping Monday by unveiling storefront windows specially decorated for the season. The event harkened back to window reveals that once were an eagerly awaited tradition for major department stores in Pittsburgh and other cities. That tradition was revisited in Greensburg last...
Troopers: Hempfield man used bad check to pay for $206K luxury SUV
A Hempfield man had a $206K luxury SUV delivered to his home last week but paid for it with a bad check, state police said. Jordan C. Steward, 22, of Arona Road in Hempfield, was arrested Sunday and charged with receiving stolen property, theft by deception and writing bad checks...
Westmoreland commissioners approve final certification of municipal, Commonwealth Court races
Westmoreland County commissioners on Monday certified votes from the Nov. 2 election, including those for the judge of the Commonwealth Court that were subject to a recount. Commissioners unanimously approved the final certification of the municipal election results with the exception of judges of election and inspector of election —...
Youngwood business, motorcycle group join to deliver Thanksgiving meals
In 2020, Tom Grove of the Cheesecake Connection in Youngwood said the business delivered about 160 prepared turkey dinners to needy families, but the logistics of delivering and arranging pickups of prepared meals was “really, really difficult.” Enter the Blue Knights motorcycle club, which is comprised of members who are...
Lawsuit over stone removal nets Mt. Pleasant man $5,000
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County was ordered to pay $5,000 in damages to a Mt. Pleasant man who claimed the utility removed as much as $700,000 in slate and shale from his property during a water line extension project a decade ago. A jury heard two days of evidence...
Woman seriously hurt in crash into Derry Borough home
A Derry woman was seriously hurt after crashing into a house in the borough Saturday afternoon, according to state police. Rebecca M. Bennett, 33, was taken by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh for treatment. Troopers said Bennett was driving a Chevrolet S10 on West Fourth Avenue at 2...
Monroeville man charged after woman is shot in road-rage incident on Pa. Turnpike
A Monroeville man who police say shot a woman Sunday during a road-rage incident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike attempted to thwart investigators by hiding a 9 mm handgun in the trunk of his car. Andrew Michael Skinner, 30, shot the woman after investigators say she accidentally drifted into his lane...
