Westmoreland category, Page 47
Franklin Regional hikes taxes by 4 mills for 2025-26 school year
The Franklin Regional school board approved a final 2025-26 budget with a 4-mill property tax hike. The board unanimously OK’d a final budget at its June 16 voting meeting. The $71.25 million budget has a $671,000 deficit, covered with $147,000 from the district’s technology fund balance, along with approximately $525,000...
Westmoreland happenings: Trap shoots, bank retiree lunch
Meetings • Rostraver Sportsmen and Conservation Association, 539 Cedar Creek Road, will meet at 7:30 p.m. June 23. The club hosts trap shoots from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, and at 10 a.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Public welcome. Details: 724-984-6611 or rostraversportsmen@gmail.com. • Retirees and former employees of...
Latrobe street paving project includes base repairs near hospital
A block-long Latrobe street bordered by parking lots for the town’s hospital is among a dozen streets that are slated for improvement in an upcoming city paving project. Derry Construction was awarded the $367,343 contract for the project — including extensive work on Taft Street. which intersects with Second Avenue...
Housing authority seeks sponsor to fund 9 cottage-style residences in Irwin
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority plans to seek another sponsor for a state application to fund the $2.3 million construction of nine cottage-style houses next to the Grand View Senior Residences. Irwin Borough declined the opportunity. The borough council last week rejected the housing authority’s request that the borough sponsor...
New Alexandria man sentenced for 2023 confrontation with police
A New Alexandria man convicted of resisting arrest during a 2023 confrontation with state police in Unity was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation but will serve no additional jail time. Denton G. Krapf, 49, was found guilty in February of one misdemeanor count by a Westmoreland County jury....
Observation of federal Juneteenth holiday varies throughout region
Many areas of Western Pennsylvania are inconsistent in their approach to observing Juneteenth. Federal and state offices are closed and employees will have a paid day off Thursday for the official holiday that was designated in 2021. Meanwhile, workers at courthouses in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties will be on the...
Greater Latrobe OKs 1-mill tax hike for 2025-2026
Greater Latrobe School Board on Tuesday approved a 1-mill property tax increase to help raise local revenue for a final 2025-26 district budget of $68 million. District business administrator Dan Watson had recommended a 2-mill hike to help Greater Latrobe prepare for future capital projects as it deals with school...
Housing authority director says federal budget cuts to have drastic impact on residents
Two key programs that assist low-income Westmoreland County Housing Authority residents are on the chopping block as part of the Trump administration’s federal budget proposal awaiting congressional approval. Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Washowich said the bill passed last month by the U.S. House, and awaiting a Senate vote, slashes...
Cellphone classroom storage fails to get full support from Jeannette board
A committee of Jeannette City School District administrators and teachers will consider revisions to a proposed policy that would require mandatory classroom storage of cellphones and related devices. The first proposed policy received a 4-2 vote from school directors Monday, but needed five votes to pass. Two members of the...
Jeannette school directors plan 2nd session as they work at budget approval
A proposed 1-mill property tax increase failed to get enough affirmative votes Monday, so Jeannette City School District directors will meet again next week to get the 2025-26 budget approved before the June 30 deadline. The tax hike got a 4-3 vote, but, to pass, a measure must get at...
North Huntingdon to consider plans for reconstructed Sheetz store along Route 30
Sheetz Inc. plans to demolish its convenience store along Route 30 east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in North Huntingdon this year and start construction in January on its replacement with a drive-through window, a Sheetz spokesman said. The new store at the intersection of Route 30 and North Thompson Lane...
Paid family leave: Potential blessing for Pa. workers, challenge for employers
Meagan Paul of Lower Burrell would have loved to have had a paid leave program when her son, Sullivan, was born and she was working. “I didn’t have it. … You feel like you are committing a crime by taking 12 weeks of unpaid leave,” Paul said during a recent...
Hempfield expects September opening of park at new complex along Route 30
While zipping past a new Hempfield complex that’s forming along Route 30, it’s hard to tell how much progress has been made. But on the ground at the burgeoning municipal site between the Mt. Pleasant Road and Cedar Street exits, west of Westmoreland Mall, a park is starting to take...
Good for the gander: Wildlife Works heals goose injured by discarded fishing line
The Canada goose hesitated for about a minute when the door to its kennel opened. Outside lay its home, Twin Lakes Park, and, feet away, the family it hadn’t seen in almost a month. Once the goose stepped out of the kennel Monday, it walked straight to the rest of...
Hunker man pleads guilty in forged check theft scheme, ordered to repay victims
A three-year theft ring operated by a Hunker man swindled dozens of businesses and led to the prosecution of two innocent people whose stolen checks were used in the scheme. Police said William D. Barnhart used forged stolen checks to purchase high-priced merchandise throughout the region. Barnhart, 56, pleaded guilty...
West Newton woman accused of stealing $82K in lottery tickets
A West Newton woman is accused of stealing about $82,000 worth of Pennsylvania Lottery tickets from December 2024 to June 12 from the Hempfield gas station where she worked, according state police. Cheryl C. Keller, 52, of North Second Street, allegedly took the lottery tickets from the BP gas station...
Romeo resigns from Irwin council; Gass to resign in North Huntingdon
Officials will be seeking replacements for an Irwin councilman and a North Huntingdon commissioner who are resigning from their positions this month. In Irwin, Ron Romeo last week submitted his resignation to council, effective June 15. Romeo’s term expires Dec. 31 and council is accepting letters of interest from residents...
Greater Latrobe to end elementary Spanish program, considers tax hike of less than 2 mills
Greater Latrobe School District is looking to eliminate elementary Spanish instruction in its proposed 2025-26 budget as most school board members want to limit any potential tax increase to less than 2 mills. The board is expected at its meeting Tuesday to vote on finalizing a budget with $68.4 million...
Bubble bursts for Greensburg record attempt
Greensburg blew it. The city’s attempt to set a new world record for group bubble-gum blowing fell short Saturday. But organizers pledged to try again. “We did get a Westmoreland County record but did not make the world record,” said Amy Beeghly, president of the Greensburg Business & Professional Association,...
Jeannette plans to reset recreation board to 5 members
Jeannette is planning to reduce the size of its recreation board from seven to five members after difficulties in getting volunteers to join. “We’re having a problem with the rec board getting seven members,” said Councilman Chad Krawtz, who is on the board. “Right now, we’re down to five and...
Western Pa. nonprofits hopeful state will pass bill to accept online, card payments for raffles
Gone are the days when Western Pennsylvania’s fire departments relied solely on community donations, hoagie sales and summer festivals to finance new equipment. Many stations rake in hundreds of dollars per month through tip boards — raffles in which participants purchase tickets with a chance to win prizes, ranging from...
Father’s Day fishing derby brings out dads and kids
The lure of the lake made Father’s Day special for Sean Joyce and his two boys. Joyce, along with 14-year-old Declan and Finn, celebrating his 12th birthday, were among the hundreds at Twin Lakes Park, straddling the border between Unity and Latrobe for Westmoreland County’s annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby....
Card skimmer found on Hempfield gas station ATM
State police released surveillance images on Monday of a person who they said installed a credit card skimmer/camera device on an ATM at a Hempfield convenience store. Trooper Steve Limani said the person entered the GetGo convenience store on Route 30 at Lowry Avenue on Wednesday just before 4 p.m....
More flash flood warnings issued for areas around Pittsburgh
Additional flash flood warnings are being issued for the Pittsburgh area. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued flash flood warnings for: • An area including Bethel Park, Washington and Canonsburg until 7:15 p.m. Sunday. • An area including Monroeville, Plum and West Mifflin until 6:30 p.m. Sunday. •...
Westmoreland happenings: cooking classes, property tax seminar, senior citizen news, more
Classes • Refuge Church, 21 Broadway Ave., Manor, will offer free cooking classes from 10 a.m. to noon June 28 and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 30. Additional sessions will be Aug. 23 and 25. All skill levels welcome. Free childcare will be available. Reservations required. Reservations: tinyurl.com/msw9y475. • A...
