Westmoreland category, Page 441
2 jailed after police say 4-year-old girl in car during drug purchase, use
A Sutersville couple accused by state police of using heroin with a 4-year-old girl in the car was jailed Monday, according to court papers. Police said the girl then sat inside a car parked at a Hempfield gas station for more than an hour after one of the suspects passed...
Jeannette man accused of threatening firefighters trying to rescue him from SUV crash
A Jeannette man was arraigned Tuesday on police accusations that he threatened firefighters who were trying to rescue him from an SUV crash in the city last month. Louie A. Bevilacqua, 25, is charged with driving under the influence, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, drug possession and related offenses....
Scammers get $40K in Bitcoin from 2 Indiana County residents through Westmoreland kiosk
Two Indiana County residents were sent to a Westmoreland County location to buy Bitcoin in a scam state police said resulted in the loss of nearly $40,000. A Homer City woman and a Blairsville man reported receiving a text message in October that notified them of unauthorized activity on their...
Former Mt. Pleasant woman sentenced to federal prison for embezzling $143K from 2 businesses
A former Westmoreland County woman was sentenced to 30 months in a federal prison for embezzling $169,000 from two companies where she worked. Jennifer Lynne Clark, 42, was ordered last week to spend three years on supervised release after the prison term. Clark also is known as Jennifer Gill and...
Hempfield Area school superintendent gets 5-year contract
Hempfield Area School Board members have renewed the contract of Superintendent Tammy Wolicki for another five years. “I am blessed and honored to be given this opportunity,” Wolicki said during Monday’s school board meeting. “I look forward to the upcoming years. I know we have lots of great things occurring...
Guilty plea deal rejected in 2018 Jeannette murder and arson case
A Jeannette man charged with murder and arson in connection with a deadly fire in 2018 that killed one person and injured another rejected a proposed plea bargain that would have spared him from a life prison sentence. Brian Rendon would not accept a deal to plead guilty to a...
Ballot error costly as Westmoreland officials scramble to fix 11th-hour mistake
Westmoreland County paid more than $8,100 for postage to correct errors that appeared on 151 mail-in and absentee ballots sent out to voters in two Mt. Pleasant Borough precincts. Officials on Monday confirmed the ballots erroneously instructed voters to choose one of two candidates seeking council seats in the borough’s...
Voter turnout projected to hit 30% in Westmoreland County
More than 200,000 Westmoreland County voters — or more than 80% of those registered — cast ballots during last fall’s Presidential Election. A year later, turnout for Tuesday’s election is expected to be just a fraction of that, election officials said. “We’re saying it will be be around 30%,” said...
1 flown from water drilling rig fire in Mt. Pleasant Township
One person was severely burned after a fire started while crews were operating a water drilling rig in Mt. Pleasant Township Monday afternoon, officials said. According to Kecksburg Fire Chief Adam Krozel, a company was drilling a water well at a home along Freeman Falls Road when something ignited, causing...
Norwin employee arrested, details scant from school district, police
A Norwin Middle School employee was arrested outside the building Friday, according to North Huntingdon police and the school district. Superintendent Jeff Taylor did not identify the employee or their position at the school located at 10870 Mockingbird Drive in the township. In a statement issued Monday, Taylor the district...
Latrobe merchants sweeten Shop Hop event with pie walk
Pie lovers and bargain hunters both will find a reason to visit downtown Latrobe on Wednesday for the business district’s final Shop Hop of the year. During the Fall Fest Pie Walk, slated for 4 to 7 p.m., visitors stopping at participating downtown merchants will have the opportunity to sample...
Incumbent, 3 newcomers in race for 3 city council seats in Latrobe
Four candidates are vying for three open seats on Latrobe City Council in Tuesday’s general election. The field includes incumbent Jim Kelley, a Democratic nominee who was the sole listed primary candidate, and three newcomers who waged successful write-in campaigns: William Yuhaniak, a Republican nominee, and Ann Amatucci and Bridget...
Norwin: Mask issue prominent in divisive school board campaign
The battle among eight candidates seeking four seats on the Norwin School Board features a slate of four Republican candidates who have opposed the district following the state mandate requiring masks in schools. Newcomers Christine Baverso, 44, Alex Detschelt, 45, and Shawna Ilagan, 39, join incumbent Raymond Kocak, 58, on...
Derry Township man arrested in theft of car left running outside convenience store
State police accused a Derry Township man of stealing a car while its owner was inside a convenience store last week, according to court papers. Troopers said they found the Chevrolet Cruze about 27 miles away and identified Aaron Michael Thompson, 27, as the suspect. He is charged with theft...
6 candidates vying for 4 seats on Trafford Council
Trafford residents will seat at least two new members on council in 2022 and possibly four, depending on the outcome of the Nov. 2 general election. Two incumbents and four newcomers are vying for the four available openings. Longtime Councilman Casey L. Shoub Sr., 70, a Democrat, is seeking his...
Police arrest Unity woman accused of pointing gun at driver of moving car
A Unity woman is behind bars after state police said she attacked a woman in a moving vehicle and pointed a gun at a man driving a second vehicle, according to court papers. Pamela Ann Smith, 50, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and related offenses. Troopers...
Incumbents face newcomer, write-in challengers in Penn-Trafford school board race
In the Penn-Trafford School Board race, long-serving incumbents will go up against a newcomer who took the top spot in his primary race, and three first-time candidates who were compelled to start write-in campaigns by what they felt was an unresponsive board. “A lot of things are happening that I...
PennDOT video previews plans for reconfigured I-70/Route 51 interchange
PennDOT has released a video detailing plans for improvements at the Interstate 70/Route 51 interchange while preparing for the possible start of construction on the project in 2022. The project will widen cramped lanes on a 1.7-mile segment of the interstate in Sewickley while replacing the existing cloverleaf interchange with...
Greensburg Holiday Market kicks off holiday shopping at small businessesVideo
Booths filled with Christmas decorations lined South Pennsylvania Street in Greensburg on Sunday morning just hours before trick-or-treaters were scheduled to take to the streets. The first Greensburg Holiday Market of the season kicked off on Halloween this year, attracting residents hoping to get a jump start on their holiday...
Ray Mello, Hempfield softball legend, remembered for his commitment to team, players
Ray Mello, an instrumental coach for the Hempfield Area softball team, will long be remembered for his commitment to the sport and his dedication to the players. Mello died Sunday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 82. “He impacted so many people in the community,” said Bob Kalp,...
Hempfield Area surveying parents on possible covid-19 vaccine clinic
As federal officials inch closer to approving the covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, Hempfield Area School District leaders are surveying parents to gauge their interest in an on-site vaccination clinic. School officials sent out a survey to collect information on whether there is sufficient interest for an...
Franklin Regional Thespian Club gives patrons two plays for the price of one with ‘Nooses Off’
After a school year in which the Franklin Regional Thespian Club put on a virtual play in the fall and a spring production with a cast of only seven, director Richard Sunny said he’s nearly forgotten what it was like to rehearse with a sizable group of actors. So naturally,...
Former plastics industry executive relishes new gig heading Westmoreland Cleanways
Mike Skapura has gone from making items to recycling them. On Sept. 2, he took on the role of executive director of nonprofit Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling in Unity after more than 26 years working at Latrobe’s Westmoreland Plastics plant. “It was a big change going from a for-profit industry...
Roads set to close in Allegheny Township, West Newton; reopening delayed in Mt. Pleasant Township
Road closures are scheduled to begin next week in Allegheny Township and West Newton for maintenance and improvement projects. According to PennDOT, weather permitting, a section of White Cloud Road in Allegheny Township will close beginning Monday for roadway reconstruction and drainage work. The closure will be in effect between...
Therapy stable in Murrysville holds well-attended Halloween-themed fundraiserVideo
Jacob Bereznak was excited to get to Bella Terra Stables in Murrysville on Saturday morning for a glimpse at the Halloween decorations he helped set up. Jacob, 7, of Upper Burrell, was one of the first people at Bella Terra’s Halloween festival fundraiser where children trick-or-treated with seven horses dressed...
