Westmoreland category, Page 445
Lemak, Lingg, Stepanovich and Dice come out on top in Murrysville council race
Two incumbents and two first-time candidates earned four-year terms on Murrysville council out a field of six in Tuesday’s municipal election. Newcomer and Republican Jason Lemak was the top vote-getter with 3,407 votes, followed by fellow first-timer and Republican Jamie Lingg (3,323), and incumbent Republicans Carl Stepanovich (2,996) and Dayne...
Franklin Regional school board will see 4 new members
One incumbent and three first-time candidates came out on top of a field of six candidates in the Franklin Regional school board election on Tuesday night, according to unofficial results. Additionally, retiree Diana Altieri Hand, 60, won election as the sole candidate running for a two-year term for the seat...
Carson defeats Bacha in Westmoreland coroner’s race, as GOP sweeps county row offices
Scottdale’s Tim Carson on Tuesday went from caterer to coroner and ended the political dynasty that has held the Westmoreland County office for nearly a half century. With 100% of the vote counted, the Republican appeared to defeat five-term incumbent Democrat Ken Bacha. The owner of Carson’s Premier Catering in...
Incumbent Republicans retain seats on Greensburg City Council
Two Democratic challengers were leading the way early against two incumbents Tuesday night for a seat on Greensburg council, but that all changed by midnight. Republican incumbents Donnie Zappone Jr. and Gregory Mertz both won another term on council, grabbing 29% and 28% of the vote total, respectively, unofficial election...
Ziccarelli surges to win Westmoreland district attorney race over Peck
For the first time in more than a quarter century, Westmoreland County will have a new top prosecutor. With 100% of the county’s 307 precincts reporting Wednesday morning, Republican Nicole Ziccarelli erased an early lead held by six-term Democratic incumbent John Peck and claimed the race for district attorney. Peck...
4 chosen for Delmont council
Three incumbents and one newcomer took the top spots for four Delmont council seats in Tuesday’s municipal election. Incumbent Republican Stan Cheyne was the top vote-getter with 470 votes, followed by incumbent Republican Pam Simpson (450), incumbent Republican Andrew Shissler (437) and newcomer Republican Jeff Cunningham (416). “I’m excited to...
Incumbent Urban wins another term as Delmont mayor
Republican incumbent Alyce Urban earned another term as mayor in Delmont, beating out Libertarian challenger Nate Jobe, 453-193, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election. Urban, 74, a former council member appointed to the mayor’s seat in 2014, ran on a platform of preserving the police department, which recently relocated...
Salem senior home residents taken to Delmont fire hall after problem with heating system
About 40 residents and staff members were moved from Ark Manor senior living facility in Salem to the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday night after a problem with the heating system, a move that emergency officials hope is temporary. “We’re trying to get the heat temporarily back on in...
Norwin guidance counselor accused of having drugs on school grounds
A Norwin Middle School guidance counselor told police the suspected crystal meth and a glass pipe authorities found in his car wasn’t his, and he “didn’t even know what it was,” according to North Huntingdon police. Richard Wesley Kean, 54, of Verona is accused of having a plastic bag with...
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...
