Westmoreland category, Page 495
Pennsylvania wants kids to get agriculture experience, farmers see technology as future
As the summer growing season gets underway, the agricultural industry continues its perennial mission of looking for a new crop of young people to enter the workforce. “Pennsylvania has long faced a looming agricultural workforce shortage, at one point estimating a deficit of 75,000 workers as farmers retire and new,...
Greensburg Salem grad’s robotic farmhand keeps cattle fedVideo
If Brad Carr has his way, the time-consuming chore of feeding farm animals will be a thing of the past. For his recent senior project, the 2021 Greensburg Salem High School graduate created and programmed a prototype robot to automatically handle that task twice a day at his grandparents’ Lone...
Greensburg beautification project planned downtown
South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg continues to be the site of a lot of investment. A beautification project in the heart of the center city business community is planned to get underway and could serve as a catalyst for similar efforts around town, said Ashley Kertes, executive director of the...
Juneteenth ‘Unity in the Community’ event planned in Greensburg
It may not be a federal holiday yet, but a coalition of Westmoreland County organizations will mark Juneteenth with a celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation with a rally next week. The event, dubbed “Unity in the Community,” will be held from 2-5 p.m. Friday at St. Clair Park in Greensburg....
Shoe drive fundraiser planned at Latrobe hospital, Excela Square at LatrobeVideo
The Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society had to switch gears like many nonprofit organizations after months of interruptions to fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic. President Jan Mills said volunteers are hoping to cash in on unwanted shoes as people clear out closets and go back to the workplace after months...
Pennsylvania hosts state’s 1st national mountain rescue conference at Seven Springs
The national Mountain Rescue Association spring conference, in its 61st year, is making its first appearance in Pennsylvania this weekend — only its third venture east of the Mississippi River. Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County welcomed about 200 guests from across the country and world for the three-day...
Last call for Hempfield’s Midway-St. Clair Social Club
It’s last call for the The Midway-St. Clair Social Club in Hempfield, which has been serving members for about 77 years. The club’s last night of operation is Saturday, said Barry Elder, president of the Midway-St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. Owned by the department, the shuttering of the club on...
Latrobe Little League gets replacement shed, field upgrade with help from Pittsburgh Pirates, othersVideo
Latrobe Little League players are fully equipped for this season’s games, thanks to some major league help. League officials welcomed representatives of Pirates Charities to Latrobe’s Legion Keener Park ballfield Friday to unveil a new equipment storage building and additional improvements. The work was made possible with the donation of...
Half-century and counting for Westmoreland County’s longest tenured employeeVideo
Barb Jollie is in a class by herself. Working as a dependency hearing officer for Westmoreland County’s family court division, Jollie has been the one constant in the government over the past half-century. She was honored this week by commissioners for reaching a milestone, 50 years of employment with the...
Troopers charge Allegheny County pair after $1 million cocaine, heroin bust in New Stanton
Something seemed suspicious as a special Pennsylvania State Police drug unit on Thursday watched a woman tuck a red suitcase into the trunk of a waiting white Chevrolet Malibu moments after it arrived outside a New Stanton motel. Troopers had the property under routine surveillance as the car pulled away...
Westmoreland jail inmate charged with assaulting guard
A Baltimore man in the Westmoreland County Prison awaiting trial on allegations that he was involved in transporting synthetic marijuana through the county in 2019 is now charged with assaulting a prison guard. Jamal Mohammed Alzanam, 32, is charged by county detectives with aggravated assault on a prison guard and...
Winning Treasure Hunt ticket worth $138,357 sold in Delmont
A lucky shopper at a Westmoreland County Walmart is holding a Pennsylvania Lottery ticket worth $138,357, officials announced. The retailer along Hollywood Boulevard in Delmont sold a jackpot-winning Treasure Hunt ticket on Thursday, according to the PA Lottery. The ticket matched all five balls: 1-12-14-26-27. The chances of matching all...
Unity seeks funding for upgrade of Route 30 intersection, replacement of 4 bridges
Unity officials hope to leverage state and federal funding to help improve a hazardous intersection on Route 30 and to replace four deficient bridges. Township supervisors on Thursday authorized Dan Schmitt of engineering consultant Gibson-Thomas Engineering to apply for a grant from PennDOT’s Automated Red Light Enforcement funding program. They...
‘Happy ending for everyone’: Unity family to move flock to end chicken fight with township
A Unity couple is taking steps to move a flock of 20 hens and roosters from their home along Range Street, which would end a zoning chicken fight with township officials. Jeff Kuhns on May 26 filed a land-use appeal in Westmoreland County Court, seeking to reverse a decision by...
Firefighters to get hands-on training as Jeannette building to be torched
Members of several local fire departments will get hands-on commercial building fire training this weekend in Jeannette. A building on the former Jeannette District Memorial Hospital property has been donated to the Jeannette Fire Department and will be burned Sunday. Fire Chief Bill Frye said the training is a great...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County, June 11-13
Just relax Climb up four stories (or take the elevator) for Yoga Under the Stars on the top floor of Robert Bell Parking Garage in downtown Greensburg 8:30-9:30 p.m. Friday. Bring your own mat and water for a one-of-a-kind session with instructor Sarah Just, suitable for all ages and experience...
Unity woman to pick best toy entry at Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
A Unity woman is getting a promotion of sorts this weekend at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. June A. Penta will judge the Toy Group on Saturday after three previous stints of examining specific breeds only at the prestigious show. Her time commanding the ring will be quick —...
Greensburg man guilty of 1st-degree murder in Vandergrift woman’s deathVideo
The Greensburg man prosecutors said beat a Vandergrift woman with a hammer, choked her to death and burned her body in a remote area near Keystone State Park in early 2017 was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder. After 13 hours of deliberations over two days, a Westmoreland County jury returned...
Westmoreland commissioner expresses confidence in election office as director’s suspension continues
The Westmoreland County commissioners said Thursday the staff issues that have plagued the county election bureau this week has not impacted the department’s ability to operate. The commissioners following their June public meeting did not acknowledge the paid suspension of Election Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani but indicated they are working...
Irwin shop seeks rainbow paintings for Big Brothers Big Sisters benefit
A rainbow after a storm is a sign of hope. At Irwin’s Feathers Artist Market and Gifts, owner Tracy Alaia is hoping to spread some peace, love and joy through the second annual Project Rainbow art show and auction. People are invited to purchase a canvas for $2 at the...
Norwin approves budget; holds line on taxes
Property owners in the Norwin School District will not pay more in taxes for the 2021-2022 fiscal year under a budget that maintains the same rate for the first time since 2011 without cutting programs, services or furloughing staff, the district said. The $80.5 million budget the school board unanimously...
Hempfield alumna to assume role as West Point Elementary principalVideo
The Hempfield Area School District has hired an alumna to serve as a new elementary school principal. Lindsay Scarpo will succeed Audrey Dell, who is retiring, as principal of West Point Elementary School. Scarpo will earn a salary of $118,953 during the 2021-22 school year. The school board voted unanimously...
For the first time, Idlewild park to offer beer during summer season
Idlewild & SoakZone will sell beer during its regular summer season for the first time, beginning this weekend. Beer will be available for patrons to purchase in one location initially 一 Mineshaft Kitchen in Hootin’ Holler 一 where it will “pair nicely” with Idlewild’s famous Potato Patch fries, said Jeff...
Westmoreland City man arrested in crash that killed passenger
A Westmoreland City man was arrested on homicide by vehicle charges after state police said it was reported he was speeding before an August crash in Hempfield that killed a passenger, according to court papers. Nick M. Rossi, 34, who also has a Greensburg address listed in court records, was...
Reagan’s Journey benefit event in New Stanton seeks to ‘make life better’ for special needs children
When Kim Neal’s daughter, Reagan, had to receive costly treatments for cerebral palsy at 2 years old, her church and community rallied to offer emotional and financial support for the family. Now, Neal is the program director for Reagan’s Journey, a nonprofit organization that assists families experiencing the same struggles....
