Westmoreland category, Page 500
Unity man accused of chasing woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield
A Unity man is behind bars after state police said he chased a woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield during a fight, according to court papers. Mucahit Demir, 25, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and walking on a highway. Troopers were called just before 1:30...
Salem man accused of fleeing, hiding from police in Route 30 chase
A Salem man is accused of speeding away from state police over the weekend on Route 30 and hiding in a wooded area before being caught, according to court papers. Aaron Patrick Weimer, 55, is charged with fleeing from police, driving under the influence and related offenses. Troopers were on...
2nd suspect charged in Jeannette shooting
A McKeesport man arraigned Monday is accused by police of ordering the April shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Jeannette, according to court papers. Brandon Lee Ingram, 24, was charged last week with solicitation to commit homicide, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Authorities said Ingram ordered his younger brother to...
Driver shortage limits Westmoreland shared-ride system; hiring event planned for July 1
Door-to-door shared rides on the Westmoreland County Transit Authority’s paratransit system will be limited because of an ongoing driver shortage, officials announced this weekend. Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said the Go Westmoreland system needs to hire up to 15 full-time drivers to ensure the service that provides subsidized rides...
Tastyland to open soon, as other Western Pa. ice cream shops welcome 2021 season
After nearly 45 years of owning Tastyland along Route 66 in Hempfield, owners Bill and Mary Kuhns passed the keys to the roadside ice cream shop and food stand on to someone new. Jill Gunniers became the primary owner of Tastyland in December because she wanted “an adventure” to pursue...
Family-run ‘Anything with Wheels’ show in Latrobe benefits local veteransVideo
Western Pennsylvania’s ninth Veterans Anything with Wheels Show was held Sunday at the Cooperstown Events Center grounds in Latrobe, drawing hundreds of showy vehicles amid the scorching heat. Ranging from vintage to modern-day, automobiles of all makes, shapes and sizes were on display for spectators, veterans and sponsors to judge...
As Pa. mask mandate ends, some rejoice, while others say they will keep masking up
As of Monday morning, mask wearing in Pennsylvania is no longer a mandate. “It’s about time,” said Joe Dibattista of North Huntingdon. Dibattista, 69, and his wife, Chris, were among the many on Sunday at Westmoreland Mall who said they were ready to move forward, with the coronavirus seemingly in...
Man dead in New Stanton crash of classic car
A 72-year-old man was killed Sunday morning when a classic car ran off a winding road near New Stanton, state police said. According to Westmoreland County 911, rescue crews were dispatched at 8:14 a.m. to South Center Avenue near Sandworks Road in response to a report that a person had...
Westmoreland County restaurants lean on combination of self, government helpVideo
After eight years of co-owning and operating J&M Export Deli, Michelle Gilson feels like it’s her first year all over again. Gilson, with co-owner Jennifer Minnick, was forced to make several cost-saving changes to the Export-based deli over the past year — like reducing the staff by three employees and...
Hiring still a problem across most industries
Despite inventive ways to lure new job candidates, owners and managers in many industries have been striking out for months on filling open spots. There was 20 openings in late May at Charley Family Shop ‘n Save stores in Murrysville, Hempfield and Greensburg. Co-owner Tom Charley said the grocer started...
Pandemic business survival a question of help, perseverance
Some relied on government funding to get through. In other cases, employees pitched in, volunteering their time instead of taking a paycheck. Others switched gears entirely, revamping their business plan. Whatever the means, local businesses found a way to survive months fraught with government-mandated shutdowns, capacity restrictions and headaches brought...
Drone program offers job skills to Westmoreland, Fayette studentsVideo
Hannah Sutton said flying drones runs in the family. The Uniontown native, who graduated last month from Laurel Highlands High School, wants to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps that saw him serve in the U.S. Air Force and later earn a license to pilot a drone. Sutton, 18, like her...
DA Peck takes over Cassandra Gross case, says missing Unity woman ‘has not been forgotten’
Kathe Gross sat on a bench outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse surrounded by friends and family, as passing cars honked in support. Despite the outpouring of support from her closest relatives, she couldn’t help but be painfully reminded of the one family member who was missing — her only daughter,...
Westmoreland struggles to give away pandemic cash grants to bars, restaurants, hotels
Like many in the hospitality industry, it was a rough year for Brady’s. The family-owned Acme restaurant that has operated in the Laurel Highlands since 1964 was closed for a while during the pandemic lockdown last year and has operated under pandemic restrictions for most of the latter part of...
Voice of Westmoreland launches survey on priorities for county’s Rescue Plan spending
Westmoreland County’s first installment of $107 million in American Rescue Plan money already hit the bank. It wasn’t quite like winning the lottery, with 3,069 counties nationwide sharing $65.1 billion. And that has left some wondering just how local officials will set their priorities. According to the National Association of...
Fairfield man jailed; police say he stomped on woman’s head while wearing steel-toed boots
A Fairfield man is being held without bond after state police say he stomped on a woman’s head after a Christmas dinner last year, according to court papers. Zachery Allen Collier, 26, was charged Friday with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, stalking and related offenses. Troopers said Collier went to a...
Penn-Trafford linebacker raises money for police department in final season
Penn-Trafford linebacker Jack Jollie has been playing football for eight years, but his focus extends beyond the field in his final season with the Warriors. To give back to the community, the rising senior is gathering sponsors to donate money for each tackle he makes this season. The funds will...
Police: Drug investigation into Delmont home leads to arrests
A months-long investigation into drug activity at a Delmont home led to charges this week against a 29-year-old woman, who is accused of leaving crystal methamphetamine and needles out in the open around two young children. Courtney N. Cline, who has a Penn Township address according to court records, is...
New Latrobe shop pairs ice cream, coffee in repurposed Victorian houseVideo
One of Latrobe’s oldest 19th century residential buildings is entering a sweet chapter in its existence, newly restored as the home of an ice cream parlor and coffee shop. Michael Ciotti of Harmar, a 2002 Greater Latrobe High School graduate, opened 512 Coffee and Ice Cream in mid-June and welcomed...
Westmoreland will borrow $140 million to keep pension fund solvent
Westmoreland County plans to borrow about $140 million to bolster its pension fund. County commissioners this week unanimously approved a bond issue to ensure the fund that pays benefits to more than 1,300 government retirees remains solvent over the next 30 years. Finance director Meghan McCandless said the amount will...
TSA: West Virginia man ‘forgot’ he had loaded gun in baby stroller at Palmer airport
A West Virginia man told Transportation Safety Administration agents he forgot to remove a loaded handgun from his child’s baby stroller when he brought it through a security checkpoint Thursday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. “Our TSA officers physically inspect strollers when they are too large to sit...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: June 25-27
Live at the Lamp Well, the good ol’ days may not return — but at least live music is back at the Lamp Theatre in Irwin. At 8 p.m. Friday, The Breakers will take the stage, playing a tribute show to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Formed in 2018, the...
Route 40 closed near Somerset-Fayette border
A section of Route 40 in Fayette County between the intersection of Route 281 and the Somerset County border was closed late Thursday night because a slide has blocked the road with trees and debris, PennDOT said. The emergency closure in Henry Clay Township will remain in effect until crews...
Murrysville library program will focus on Turtle Creek’s history, recovery
In the 1970s, anyone living in the vicinity of Saunders Station near the Murrysville-Monroeville border is likely to have known Turtle Creek by another name: “Sulfur Creek.” It was a far cry from the waterway’s earliest known name, “Tulpewi Sipu,” which translates from the native Delaware Algonquian as “turtle stream.”...
Bowl For Kids fundraiser expands to include adult Happy Hour and family event
Bowlers of all ages will have an opportunity to get out and support a local program for children when Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region reintroduces its annual Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser. An adults-only Luau in the Lanes event, a happy hour version open to those age 21 or older,...
