Westmoreland category, Page 448
Lawsuit regarding Mt. Pleasant student alleges bus company negligence
The parents of a former Mt. Pleasant Area School district kindergarten student claim their daughter was injured and received improper medical care during a bus ride home from classes more than a decade ago. According to a two-count lawsuit filed this month in Westmoreland County court against First Student Inc.,...
North Huntingdon manager leaving post
North Huntingdon will be looking for a new township manager with the pending departure of Jeffrey M. Silka for a similar job in Western Maryland. Silka, who has served as township manager since November 2017, will be leaving his post on Oct. 22 for the city administrator’s job in Cumberland,...
Smart Growth Partnership marks 20 years of community planning efforts in Westmoreland
Entrances to the Coal and Coke Trail in southern Westmoreland County have new solar-powered lighting, Smithton has gained a kayak and canoe access point along the Youghiogheny River, and New Kensington has seen 36 businesses open in the past 21 months. All are outgrowths of the Smart Growth Partnership of...
Norwin superintendent reaches out to parents following Confederate clothing incident
Norwin’s top administrator reached out to parents in the school district via email Wednesday, days after two students wore racially insensitive clothing to class. “These images are offensive to many within the Norwin community,” Superintendent Jeff Taylor wrote in the emailed statement. “This situation … (is a) learning opportunity to...
9 people homeless after fire erupts at home in Hempfield
A house fire in Hempfield on Wednesday evening displaced nine people, according to township fire Chief Tony Kovacic. In all, five adults and four children were impacted by the fire reported on the 400 block of Newport Drive around 6 p.m. Officials said the fire that began in the kitchen....
Covid death of veteran Jeannette EMS paramedic declared to be in ‘line of duty’
First responders said longtime Jeannette EMS paramedic William J. “Bill” Sekora was the answer man — the person first responder veterans and newcomers alike usually went to with their questions. “And almost always, Bill did have the answer,” said Randy Highlands, operations director of Jeannette EMS. “He’s definitely going to...
Westmoreland County approves drop boxes for mail-in ballots
A drop box for mail-in ballots will be available at the Westmoreland County Courthouse starting Oct. 18 and at five regional locations during the two weekends before the Nov. 2 general election. Westmoreland elections officials said more than 19,000 ballots were mailed to voters on Wednesday, according to election bureau...
Brian Wilson, special guests bring Beach Boys catalog to The Palace
Some things just never get old. For original Beach Boy Al Jardine, that includes singing the songs that made the group famous 60 years ago. Jardine will perform hits and deep cuts from the group’s vast catalog with co-founder Brian Wilson on Oct. 19 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg....
New roundabouts at I-70 exits spotlighted during tour
PennDOT’s ongoing Interstate 70 improvement projects were center stage this week during a tour that highlighted the importance of transportation funding. The tour took a group of state legislators, contractors and engineering consultants to several roundabouts in Sewickley Township and New Stanton while also stopping at a concrete plant to...
Rapid covid testing coming to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Outbound passengers flight soon will be able to undergo rapid covid-19 testing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The pre-departure testing, which is by appointment only and is not covered by medical insurance, should be available to commercial passengers in about two weeks, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the...
Greater Latrobe OKs superintendent’s retirement, promotion of assistant
Greater Latrobe School District’s top administrative leaders passed the baton this week, as the school board approved Superintendent Georgia Teppert’s retirement and promoted Assistant Superintendent Michael Porembka to succeed her. The transition will happenat the beginning of 2022, with Teppert departing on Jan. 3 and Porembka picking up where she...
County parks officials seek volunteers for Hobgoblin Hike scare stations in Rostraver
Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation officials are looking for a few good hobgoblins. Well, you probably don’t have to dress specifically as a hobgoblin, but parks officials are seeking additional volunteers to help with this weekend’s Hobgoblin Hike, set for Saturday at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver. “Volunteers age 15...
Westmoreland happenings: business expo, Rosary rally and Octoberfest
Art • The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will host an exhibition of the works of Michael Max Mosorjak through the end of October at the museum, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. From 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15, there will be a meet and greet with the artist, an...
West Overton fundraiser guests will sample long-awaited rye distilled on-site
Guests at West Overton Village and Museums’ upcoming fundraising dinner will be among the first to sample the long-awaited rye whiskey being distilled on-site. The dinner is scheduled for 5-8:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the East Huntingdon historical complex. It’s been more than 100 years since whiskey was distilled at...
Survey: Half of firms in Pittsburgh region don’t require covid vaccines; some using incentives
As the debate rages nationally over whether employers should require covid-19 vaccines for workers, a recent survey of businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania found that close to half of all firms have decided not to mandate the shot to protect against the coronavirus. On the other hand, less than 30% of...
Westmoreland coroner challenged by former Scottdale mayor
Ken Bacha wants to break his father’s record. Leo Bacha served as Westmoreland County coroner for 23 years and four months before he retired in 2002, the longest tenure anyone has had in the office. A victory for Democrat Ken Bacha in November would mean the opportunity to take over...
Victim flown to hospital from South Huntingdon crash
One person was airlifted by medical helicopter after a crash involving a bicycle Tuesday night in South Huntingdon. Emergency responders were called shortly after 10:30 p.m. to the intersection of Mount Pleasant Road and Greensburg Pike just outside West Newton for a report of a crash involving a vehicle and...
Plea deal in the works for Excela Health program coordinator accused in thefts of scholarship funds
Attorneys told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday that a plea bargain is expected to be finalized this year for a New Stanton woman accused in the theft of money from Excela Health Latrobe’s medical residency program and a scholarship fund. Suzanne Strickler, 39, was charged in September 2020 with...
Troopers: Rape victim took quick photograph, video of Salem suspect as he fled
A Salem woman who told state police she was raped early Monday was able to take a photograph and film a video of the suspect driving off in his black Chevrolet pickup truck, according to court records. Bryan M. Wallace, 31, also of Salem, was apprehended and arraigned on multiple...
Leadership shifts on Westmoreland airport authority board
Janice Smarto will lead the Westmoreland County Airport Authority board, filling a role formerly held by Paul Puleo — one of two board members jettisoned by a recent 2-1 vote of the county commissioners. The authority “will move forward. We’re here to serve the county and make the best decisions...
Greensburg appoints new detective within police force
Greensburg’s police department has a new detective. Patrolman Justin Scalzo was sworn into his new position during Monday’s city council meeting. Scalzo has been on Greensburg’s police force for eight years. He previously worked as a Jeannette police officer. During his time in Greensburg, Scalzo has worked as a handler...
Confederate clothing donned for Norwin’s ‘Merica Day homecoming event draws ire
The father of a Norwin High School student complained that his daughter was subjected to racial intimidation for hours Monday when two students attended school wearing clothing with a Confederate flag pattern. Robert Dye said the actions were part of the school’s “’Merica Day,” promoted by the district as part...
2 arrested on charges of assaulting police, resisting arrest at Fort Ligonier Days
A Virginia man was armed with a handgun and brass knuckles when police say they found him visibly drunk and leaning on a sign pole Saturday during Fort Ligonier Days. In a separate arrest, police charged a Unity man after a disturbance at a Ligonier bar during the event. Ligonier...
Police looking for thieves who stole 35 catalytic converters from Salem RV dealership
State police are trying to figure out who stole thousands of dollars worth of catalytic converters from exhaust systems of 35 vehicles parked in the lot at a Salem recreational vehicle dealership along Route 66. The thefts took place about 2 a.m. Oct. 2 at Valero Century RV, just north...
Commercial developer to begin building new facility at Sewickley Township industrial park
The first lot that sold at the Commerce Crossing industrial park in Sewickley Township will be home to a 250,000-square-foot distribution center, according to Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. officials. Commercial developer Al. Neyer plans to begin construction this month at the county’s newest industrial park, after signing a $1.53...
