Westmoreland category, Page 491
Kids return to Saint Vincent College for Challenge Program, ‘Galactic Mission’
As the world opens back up, students at Saint Vincent College’s Challenge Program are blasting off into the worlds of space and in-person socialization. The Challenge Program, a weeklong science- and math-based summer camp, has been in existence for 40 years. After a year off because of the pandemic, program...
Excela Health lifting some visitor restrictions, closing covid testing center
Excela Health is closing its Unity covid-19 testing center and lifting some restrictions for hospital visitors as coronavirus cases continue to drop in Westmoreland County, officials announced. The center on Frye Farm Road opened after the first cases of the coronavirus were discovered in the county in March 2020 and...
Mt. Pleasant songwriter Andy Davis nominated for 3 Josie Music AwardsVideo
Mt. Pleasant native Andy Davis was happy to be nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award in 2017 for his work as an on-air radio personality at Pittsburgh country station Y108 FM. But, after spending the past five years writing songs and working to gain recognition as a performer,...
Cook disputes Guy Fieri; says discrimination charges not resolved at Hempfield casino eatery
A former line cook who alleged racial discrimination at Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield this spring said the situation has not been resolved. The denial by Nate Ridley, 46, of East Pittsburgh came days after Guy Fieri in an interview with The New...
Latrobe’s banana split fest to return in person, at new park venue
Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration is returning with an in-person format featuring entertainment and activities Aug. 21 at Legion Keener Park. After pandemic restrictions prompted the switch to a virtual festival in 2020, “We’re very excited to be able to return to an in-person format,” said Briana Tomack, president...
Pavilion at West Point Elementary gets new life thanks to Eagle Scout project
A former West Point Elementary School student headed an Eagle Scout project this spring that returned a pavilion at the school to its former glory. Justin Finfrock, 16, who is going into his junior year at Hempfield Area High School, spent a weekend in April pressure-washing the structure, replacing boards,...
Man charged in connection with New Alexandria crash that injured 2
An Indiana County man is headed to trial in connection with a 2019 three-vehicle crash in New Alexandria in which one person was hospitalized, according to court papers. State police said Todd Douglas McCoy, 41, of Buffington was under the influence of antidepressant and smoking cessation drugs at the time...
West Point fire company in Hempfield placed on probation
The West Point Volunteer Fire Company in Hempfield was put on probation this week, a decision township leaders attributed to the resignation or transfer of three members, including the chief. Township supervisors Monday unanimously voted to place the company on probation, giving them 30 days to submit a corrective plan...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 2-4
Critter count Amateur naturalists are invited to help with a “bioblitz” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Keystone State Park in Derry Township. Participants can hike the McCune Run or Davis Run trails during the day and and compile a list of all of the living things they can see...
North Huntingdon event to promote auditing 2020 vote in Pennsylvania
A state senator who traveled to Arizona to see a private company recount votes in the presidential election that Donald Trump lost is scheduled to speak to a group in North Huntingdon on July 18. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, is planning to speak at the Audit The Vote...
Westmoreland commissioner forms nonprofit to help students land skilled labor jobs
Westmoreland Commissioner Sean Kertes, along with his chief of staff and the county treasurer, on Thursday announced the formation of a private, nonprofit entity that will work to connect high school students and young adults with skilled labor jobs. Grow Westmoreland will solicit private donations and conduct fundraising events to...
Food passion fuels Milwaukee teen’s restaurant review success, leads to Primanti Bros. visit
“Holy cow!” exclaimed Dominic Dean, his eyes wide as saucers, as he stared in awe and excitement at the towering sandwich placed in front of him. The 16-year-old Milwaukee native is an up-and-coming food critic with a special twist — a focus on positivity and kindness. Dominic, who is on...
Westmoreland elections director fired days before her ouster was made public
Westmoreland County’s former election bureau director was out of a job a week before her bosses officially signed off on her removal, according to a document obtained by the Tribune-Review. JoAnn Sebastiani was fired as elections bureau director effective June 19, according to an “action form” created by the county’s...
Old William Penn road work set to start Friday in Murrysville
Road work on Old William Penn Highway will begin at 7 a.m. Friday beginning at its intersection with Vincent Hall Drive, Murrysville officials announced Thursday morning. The first portion of work will take place between Vincent Hall and Old William Penn Highway’s western intersection with Route 22. The remainder of...
Upgrades on Route 119 in Youngwood, I-70 lead PennDOT’s Westmoreland construction projects
PennDOT is wrapping up work on one Interstate 70 improvement project in Westmoreland County while work continues to upgrade an adjacent stretch of the interstate and Route 119 in Youngwood. In addition to those summer construction efforts, prep work could begin this year for the first phase of the Laurel...
State’s Level Up funding supplement helps 3 of Westmoreland’s least wealthy school districts
Administrators at three Westmoreland County school districts are glad to accept supplemental state funding approved this year for Pennsylvania’s least wealthy districts. But, it may take a little while to decide how best to spend the extra money, which Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday as part of a $300 million...
Greater Latrobe students create video games, musical instruments in STEM programsVideo
Greater Latrobe elementary students created their own video games and model miniature golf courses while their counterparts at the junior high will fashion homemade musical instruments. Those STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiatives are among several programs at the district that received support through teacher grants recently awarded by...
Penn Township woman arrested in drug bust
A Penn Township woman is behind bars after a drug bust at her home Wednesday afternoon, according to court papers. Susan Marie Basa, 59, is charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of drug possession as well as single counts of criminal use of a...
Coroner’s office said Hempfield man killed in crash Sunday died of multiple injuries
A 72-year-old driver who was killed Sunday in a wreck near New Stanton died of multiple injuries, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s office. The coroner’s office said Ronald C. Ondrejko of Hempfield was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7:54 a.m. Sunday crash along South Center Avenue. Ondrejko...
Penn Township man jailed on $15K bond after 2nd arrest for indecent exposure in as many months
Greensburg police used security video from a East Pittsburgh Street shop and a store discount card to identify a man accused of exposing himself to an area woman and her juvenile daughter, according to court documents. Daniel A. Corall, 46, of Penn Township was arraigned Wednesday on charges of corruption...
South Huntingdon man charged after gun fires inside bar
A South Huntingdon man was charged Wednesday in connection with a gun being discharged at a Sewickley Township bar last month. Andrew John Takach, 42, is facing charges of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. State police said they were called at 3 a.m. June 16 to the Boot Scoot’n Saloon...
2021 July Fourth fireworks, events around Westmoreland County, beyond
After the cancellation of most large Fourth of July fireworks shows last year because of the covid-19 pandemic, some local venues and communities are celebrating our country’s independence once again. Saturday, July 3Connellsville: Arch Street, 9:45 p.m.; part of the Dave Reed Rockin’ Rib Fest from 4-11 p.m.Latrobe: Memorial Stadium...
Murrysville student gets opportunity to work on atomic microscope project
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Carjacking, kidnapping outside Westmoreland prison nets Jeannette man up to 30 years
A Jeannette man will serve up to 30 years in prison for carjacking a West Leechburg woman parked in front of the Westmoreland County Prison as her 13-month-old grandson was in the vehicle, which later crashed two miles from the lockup. Thomas Lee Williams, 38, formerly of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty...
Guy Fieri says discrimination claim stemming from Hempfield restaurant ‘has been resolved’
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri in an interview with The New York Times this week said a situation involving a former line cook who alleged racial discrimination at Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar at Live! Casino Pittsburgh in Hempfield was resolved. “The situation has been resolved,” Fieri said. “And I...
