Westmoreland category, Page 452
Irwin senior housing project approved for funding; construction set to begin in 2022
Westmoreland County Housing Authority officials expect construction of a new 50-unit apartment building for low-income seniors to begin next year in Irwin and the doors of the proposed four-story facility to open in early 2024. “There is a tremendous need for this. We have long waiting lists in all of...
Hempfield father and son arrive home to burning house
Matthew Kissell and his son, Daniel, have made a tradition of stopping at the Burger King in South Greensburg after his football games for what the pair call “Whopper Wednesdays.” This week, the seventh grader at Harrold Middle School and his father opted to head straight to their Hempfield home...
Art ‘thieves’ to hit The Westmoreland for night of whodunit fun
The art world was rocked in 2004 when Edvard Munch’s iconic painting, “The Scream,” was stolen from museum in Oslo, Norway. Luckily, it was recovered three months later. Now, art thieves will infiltrate The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg for a night of whodunit fun at 7 p.m....
Westmoreland coroner called to fatal crash on Route 30 in Hempfield
The Westmoreland County coroner was called Thursday to a fatal crash along Route 30 in Hempfield, according to a county dispatch supervisor. Route 30 was closed in both directions more than one hour after the multiple vehicle crash happened about 12:45 p.m., the dispatcher said. The roadway reopened just before...
New Stanton man jailed after 18-mile police pursuit that began in Jeannette
A 38-year-old New Stanton man is in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond on drug and traffic charges. Police arrested him following an 18-mile pursuit on Route 30 that started in Jeannette and ended at a roadblock in Forest Hills, according to court documents. The incident started about 1:45 a.m....
Irwin fire department to get land for new base
The Irwin Volunteer Fire Department is a step closer to getting a larger firehall at the site of the former Sixth Street School, with hopes of moving into the building next year. Irwin Council on Wednesday approved the transfer of the property to the fire department at no cost. The...
Kennywood, Idlewild pumpkin spice up fall-themed menu items
Now you can get your pumpkin spice fix at Kennywood. Fall festivities at both Kennywood and Idlewild parks are enhanced this year with the addition of special seasonal food items. For visitors to Kennywood’s Phantom Fall Fest, that includes a pumpkin spice-flavored funnel cake and cheesecake, along with turkey legs,...
Latrobe OKs library sidewalk repair, seeks police technology grant
Latrobe Council seeks to improve access to the city’s public library while it pursues funds for upgrading technology used by the police department. City council this week awarded a $5,845 contract to low bidder McMahon Construction for replacement of a sidewalk located between a city parking lot along Chestnut Street...
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...
