Westmoreland category, Page 485
Westmoreland DA to seek death penalty against man accused of double murder
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck says he will seek the death penalty against a North Huntingdon man accused of gunning down a Penn Township couple. The county’s top prosecutor said the May 16 fatal shootings of Jacob R. Erdeljac, 40, and his girlfriend, Mara Casale, 27, came amid a...
Charges withdrawn against Unity man
Multiple criminal charges were withdrawn against a Unity man arrested in June after being accused of assaulting a woman in Latrobe , according to court records. Latrobe police had charged Aaron M. Klingensmith, 38, with multiple offenses, including burglary, harassment, simple assault and strangulation after he was accused of breaking...
YWCA Westmoreland’s new executive director hits the ground running
When Carol Palcic of Southwest Greensburg met her new co-workers at the YWCA, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. “The volunteers, the board and staff have all been tremendous,” said Palcic, who came on board as executive director for the YWCA Westmoreland County in early June and was officially...
Keystone State Park beer makes debut; 1st in a series for Williamsport brewery
Of all the 121 state parks in Pennsylvania, a Williamsport craft brewery named the first of its specially themed line of beers after the 1,200-acre Keystone State Park in Derry Township. New Trail Brewing Co. writes on the can of the hazy IPA — called K.S.P. — that it is...
Fort Ligonier Days will return in October, organizers say
One of Western Pennsylvania’s most popular fall festivals, Fort Ligonier Days, is set to return Oct. 8-10 after a hiatus last year because of the covid-19 pandemic, the festival’s chairman confirmed. “Absolutely, we’re moving forward. We’re excited about it,” said committee Chairman Jack McDowell. Usually held the second weekend in...
Police say Derry Township man was intoxicated in 2018 crash that injured motorcyclist
A Derry Township man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a crash almost three years ago that left a motorcyclist seriously injured. Troopers said Orrin William Burbank, 41, was intoxicated and didn’t have a valid drivers license, according to court papers. He is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while...
You Are Here gallery in Jeannette hosts 3rd anniversary show
You Are Here gallery is celebrating its third anniversary with an exhibition opening Saturday. A public reception is scheduled for noon-6 p.m. in the art space at 406 Clay Ave., Jeannette. At 3 p.m., there will be a toast to the featured artists, along with a reading of original haiku...
Butcher’s block from burned-down Spaghetti & Steak House gets new lifeVideo
When the Spaghetti & Steak House in Murrysville burned down in mid-May, owner Monica Meehan was fairly certain there was nothing left. “One of our waitresses called in the middle of the night, because her boyfriend had a scanner and heard it was happening,” Meehan said. But, as she began...
Westmoreland news includes concerts, photography workshop and church anniversary celebration
Church news • Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, West Newton, will mark its 50th anniversary Aug. 7 and 8 at the church, 820 Plummer School Road, South Huntingdon. An outdoor celebration will be held 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 7 with a free corn roast lunch served from noon to...
SummerSounds returns to Greensburg Friday
The sounds of summer will echo through Greensburg as SummerSounds, one of the region’s longest-running free outdoor concert series, returns Friday for its 21st year. The Steepwater Band, a rock band from Chicago, is scheduled to take the stage at 7 p.m. at the Robertshaw Amphitheater in St. Clair Park....
Pennsylvania Turnpike crash launched $200K Lamborghini out of trailer
A Lamborghini worth more than $200,000 “was totaled” after it flew from the front of a trailer in a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, its owner said Tuesday. The crash happened close to 6 p.m. July 24 at mile marker 76.4 in Hempfield, according to state police. Paul B. Eddington,...
New Stanton council holds off vote on 1 million-square-foot warehouse
Following a closed-door session, New Stanton council on Tuesday held off voting on preliminary plans for a warehouse of more than 1 million square feet proposed for Glenn Fox Road. Council members will revisit plans for the proposed distribution center and warehouse during their Sept. 7 meeting. “Considering all the...
North Huntingdon man seeks transfer of robbery case to juvenile court
A North Huntingdon man who turned 18 earlier this year wants armed robbery charges transferred to juvenile court. During a court hearing on Tuesday, the lawyer for Elijah Ben Chaabane asked a Westmoreland County judge to reduce a $100,000 bond to allow a potential release from jail for his client...
Westmoreland commissioners mum on mask requirement as county sees substantial virus spread
The CDC on Tuesday said there is now a substantial level of coronavirus transmission in Westmoreland County, a designation that puts indoor mask requirements back under consideration for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people under updated federal guidelines. But, county leaders said no mandates have as yet been issued. “At this...
Defense claims Unity man’s confessions illegally obtained, seeks dismissal of homicide charge
The lawyer for Unity man awaiting trial in connection with the killing of a Derry mother who police say was shot while asleep in her bed last summer told a judge Tuesday that two confessions his client gave were illegally obtained. Defense attorney Emily Smarto said Nathan Quidetto should have...
GetGo proposed for former Family Video site in Greensburg
The former Family Video store in Greensburg could be home to a GetGo fuel station and convenience store if plans are approved. According to Jeff Raykes, city planning director, proposed plans would entail tearing down the structure at 531 S. Main St. and building the new gas station. “There’s no...
Community Health Clinic’s new medical van delivers health care to Westmoreland County residents
Community Health Clinic’s new medical van is bringing health care to people in Westmoreland County, offering covid-19 vaccinations and tests along with primary care. Headquartered in New Kensington with additional locations in Vandergrift and Greensburg, the Community Health Clinic provides low-cost health care, offering a sliding payment scale for residents...
Spirit Airlines cancellations, delays continue Tuesday for 3rd straight day
Flights on Spirit Airlines continued to be canceled and delayed Tuesday at Arnold Palmer Regional and Pittsburgh International airports. The “proactive cancellations” are a result of “overlapping operational challenges including weather, system outages and staffing shortages,” Spirit spokesman Field Sutton said. It was unclear when the issues might be resolved....
Police charge 2 with selling fatal dose of heroin to Latrobe man
Latrobe police this week arrested a man and woman, charging them with selling fentanyl and heroin to a man who died of an overdose in January, according to court papers. Kevin B. Shaffer, 48, of Latrobe and Ayla M. Taylor, 24, of Greensburg are charged with drug delivery resulting in...
Latrobe pair charged in fatal January overdose
A pair of Latrobe residents are facing charges in the overdose death of another man early this year. Zachary R. Dunlap, 27, and Megan L. Wingard, 34, both of Latrobe, are charged with selling fentanyl and heroin to a man who died of an overdose, according to court papers filed...
Murrysville man, former port authority executive, named Westmoreland chamber director
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is bumping up its game with the creation of a new post this month. Chamber officials announced that Dan DeBone, a longtime executive with the Port Authority of Allegheny County, was appointed as its new executive director. DeBone, 54, of Murrysville, will assist Chamber...
Westmoreland Airport Authority director new head of state aviation council
Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo has been selected to lead a statewide industry organization. Monzo is the new president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania and will oversee the organization’s various committees. He has served on such panels for more than three decades. Part of his mission...
Youngwood man charged with shooting neighbor through floor
A Youngwood man is accused of firing a gunshot through the floor of his apartment, striking his downstairs neighbor in the hand. State police charged Shawn M. Moran, 46, on Monday with a felony count of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another...
Irwin man to serve probation, house arrest for friend’s fatal overdose
Franceso Ziegler told a judge that he wants to take responsibility for his friend Christopher Holleran’s 2019 overdose death. But Holleran’s family said that two years earlier, Ziegler denied any involvement in the overdose and couldn’t even bother to attend his 28-year-old friend’s funeral. Ziegler, 30, of Irwin was sentenced...
Fallen Heroes Run will honor 14th Quartermaster reservists killed by Iraqi missile
Motorcyclists are invited to visit Hempfield on Saturday to “ride for a reason” — honoring the ultimate sacrifice 30 years ago made by 13 members of the local Army Reserve 14th Quartermaster Detachment. The third annual Fallen Heroes Run, organized by nonprofit Operation Vet NOW, will begin at 10:30 a.m....
