Westmoreland category, Page 502
Scottdale Pride Picnic organizers receive ‘outpouring’ of support for community’s first pride event
After attending his first Pittsburgh Pride event in 2019, Stephen Elcock knew he wanted to bring the concept to his hometown of Scottdale. This year, the 24-year-old decided to pursue this ambition upon encouragement from his friend, Mackenzie Eicher. “Why do you have to go to Pittsburgh when there are...
North Huntingdon police car involved in Clay Pike crash
A North Huntingdon police SUV en route to a reported crash on Robbins Station Road was involved in a two-car crash Tuesday night near Robbins Station’s intersection with Clay Pike, emergency officials said. Police were dispatched to the initial crash around 8 p.m. While the police SUV was traveling to...
Mike Reese Memorial 5K will help establish foundation in late lawmaker’s memory
Before state Rep. Mike Reese died unexpectedly in January, it wasn’t unusual to see him out running with his friend David Keefer on Sundays near Mt. Pleasant Township’s Mammoth Park. “It wasn’t really about where we went,” said Keefer, who had been friends with Reese since high school. “We both...
Expert testifies on use of force at former Derry mayor’s trial
A police use-of-force expert testified Tuesday that he believed the former Derry Borough mayor acted appropriately when he used a gun to stop a fight among three children because he believed a knife was involved. Cliff Jobe Jr., a retired state trooper, said Kevin M. Gross, 40, made attempts to...
Wings Across Westmoreland art project lands in Smithton
Smithton is spreading its wings, so it’s appropriate the town will be the next site for a Wings Across Westmoreland community art installation. Framed in the shape of a pair of wings, the art piece incorporating images of the town’s present and past will be unveiled at 1:30 p.m. Saturday...
10 Greensburg businesses share $90,000 in covid-19 relief funds
Several Greensburg business owners are sharing $90,000 in grant funding aimed at helping them recover from the economic fallout of the covid-19 pandemic. Issued by the Greensburg Community Development Corporation as part of the Covid-19 Main Street Jump Start program, the funding went to 10 city businesses that experienced financial...
It’s time again to celebrate Greensburg’s Summer in the City
After an absence of several years, Greensburg’s Summer in the City festival is set to return this week. The four-day festival that draws people to downtown Greensburg and highlights local businesses and restaurants runs from Thursday through Sunday. The event is hosted by the Greensburg Businesses & Professional Association, the...
Air Supply to perform at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg
Air Supply will perform at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. The show is at 8 p.m. Aug. 7. Tickets are $49.75- $79.75 and go on sale here at 10 a.m. Friday. Band members Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock met on May 12, 1975, the first day of rehearsals for “Jesus...
Hempfield Area passes final budget with no tax hike
Hempfield Area School District residents won’t see a tax increase for the third consecutive year. The district’s budget, passed unanimously by the school board Monday, includes $98.9 million in revenues and $99.7 million in projected expenditures, according to budget documents. The $769,100 deficit, incurred by the adoption of a new...
Greensburg man charged with sexually assaulting girl
A Greensburg man in a probationary program on child endangerment and cruelty to animals charges was arraigned Sunday, charged with sexually assaulting a girl, according to court papers. John Harry Patak III, 30, is charged with aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and related offenses. City police...
Irwin Sunoco gets OK for expansion
The owner of a Sunoco gas station-convenience store in downtown Irwin will be allowed to expand his building to add walk-in coolers. By a 2-0 vote Monday, the Irwin Zoning Hearing Board approved a request by store owner Robert Dobariya for a variance to expand the non-conforming commercial use of...
Franklin Regional’s 2021-22 budget includes maximum allowed tax hike
Franklin Regional school directors approved a 2021-22 budget with a tax hike of just over 3 mills Monday night. The $63.6 million budget includes $375,000 from a district fund dedicated to state-mandated pension contributions, and just over $1 million from a fund being used to gradually phase in debt service...
Norwin lifts mask mandate as of June 28
People attending events and activities at Norwin School District, including students and employees involved in the summer camps, will no longer have to wear masks as of June 28. The decision Norwin announced on Monday is in line with the state’s Department of Health’s directive that the order requiring the...
Vandergrift man pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 2 girls
A Vandergrift man pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting two girls, avoiding trial. Eric Jermain Emory, 35, will be sentenced June 28. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney James Lazar said Emory waived a presentence investigation. Prosecutors are recommending a state prison sentence for Emory, who has been jailed since July....
Leechburg man gets probation in crash that seriously injured woman
Life hasn’t been the same for Helen Shaw after her car was forced off the road in Allegheny Township by an unlicensed driver. She can’t do some her favorite activities, like swim or take her dog for a walk, because the pain becomes overwhelming. Mostly, she stays at home. “The...
New Kensington man pleads guilty to homicide by vehicle in death of woman
A New Kensington man pleaded guilty Monday to driving drunk when a woman died in 2017 after falling from his moving pickup in Lower Burrell. James Jay Jenniches, 55, formerly of Vandergrift, pleaded guilty to charges of homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence, avoiding a trial. He is...
Former Derry Borough mayor expected to testify in own defense at trial
Jurors are being asked to determine what former Derry Borough Mayor Kevin M. Gross’ intent was in 2019 when he pulled out a handgun at a playground during an altercation among three teenagers. Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorney Pete Caravello said Monday during opening statements that Gross, 40, pointed the...
Boy, 16, shot outside Greensburg apartment; police make 2 arrestsVideo
A 16-year-old boy was shot Sunday outside a Greensburg apartment complex, and police arrested two people Monday, according to Capt. Shawn Denning. Officers were called to Eastmont Estates about 1:30 p.m. Sunday for a reported shooting involving several people. The teen was shot in the leg and hand and is...
Loyalhanna Brewfest returns with added vendor variety, 2 admission levels
Loyalhanna Watershed Association’s brewfest is back. Dubbed Loyalhanna Brewfest 2.1, the event is set from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the association farm off West Main Street, just outside Ligonier Borough. This is the second year for the association to present the evening of food, live music and tastings...
Hempfield man pleads guilty in DUI crash that seriously injured another motorist
A Hempfield man pleaded guilty Monday in connection with a 2019 drunken-driving crash that seriously injured another motorist. Joseph J. Forbes, 66, entered a general plea to charges of aggravated assault by vehicle and driving under the influence. Prosecutors dismissed other offenses. State police arrested Forbes in connection with the...
Police: East Huntingdon contractor again accused of taking money for remodel work never started
An East Huntingdon contractor is facing fraud charges after police say he accepted $9,650 in payments for work he did not complete, according to a criminal complaint. Jason Ray Pirl, 40, who does business as Proline Painting, is charged with one count of home improvement fraud after police say he...
What Western Pa. doctors are saying about controversial Alzheimer’s drug
Whether the first U.S. drug intended to thwart Alzheimer’s disease signals a major milestone or “dangerous hope” depends on which Western Pennsylvania doctor you ask. One thing many in the medical community seem to agree on: They didn’t expect the drug to win over federal regulators, at least not yet....
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 53. But this Unity woman is not giving up.
The neurologist’s diagnosis sent Sara Belt’s family members into shock. Alzheimer’s disease? At just 53 years old? “I went numb,” her husband, Don Belt, said of that summer day three years ago at the Westmoreland County specialist’s office. The 74-year-old venture capitalist and former corporate marketing executive recalls feeling helpless...
Norwin grad realizes ‘lifelong dream’ by making Paralympic goalball teamVideo
A 2013 Norwin High School graduate will play for the U.S. goalball team in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in August. “It’s been a lifelong dream to be playing in the Paralympics. It’s exhilarating,” said Calahan Young, the North Huntingdon native now living in Fort Wayne, Ind., the training site...
Devout Brewing in Penn Township expands outdoor seatingVideo
It doesn’t typically get loud and rowdy at Devout Brewing in Penn Township. But if it did, co-owner Matt Joseph wouldn’t have to worry about complaints from the neighbors. Situated in the Bushy Run Corporate Park off Mellon Road, all of Joseph’s neighbors are pretty well cleared out by 6...
