Westmoreland category, Page 532
Westmoreland jail inmate accused of biting guard, grabbing breasts
A woman incarcerated at the Westmoreland County Prison is accused by police of biting a female guard and grabbing the officer’s breasts, according to court papers. Patricia D. Proctor, 27, of Mt. Pleasant Township, is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by a prisoner and simple assault. County detectives said...
Greater Latrobe picks assistant to serve as next athletic director
Greater Latrobe looked within to find the district’s next athletic director. The school board Tuesday promoted Zachary Heide, the assistant athletic director, to take over the department’s top post beginning July 1. His new salary was set at $65,000. Heide, who served in the district in various capacities for about...
Norwin closes high school, 1 elementary school because of covid spread
Norwin’s high school and Stewartsville Elementary will be closed Wednesday and Thursday and all athletics and activities have been canceled because of covid cases, the district said Tuesday. The high school will be closed because of a seventh positive case, and Stewartsville Elementary will close because there was a third...
Defense points finger at victim’s friend for 2018 Arnold shooting
The lawyer for a man charged in the attempted homicide of man in Arnold three years ago said it was another man who fired three shots in a secluded alley. Defense attorney Adam Gorzelsky told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday that, despite what he expects will be a courtroom identification...
Former Saint Vincent student testifies in attempted rape trial of Latrobe man
A woman told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday she was able to break free from the man prosecutors claim planned to rape her as she walked along a trail near Saint Vincent College, where she was an 18-year-old freshman in September 2017. Now 22 and attending another school, the Kittanning...
Norwin considers starting next school year after Labor Day
Norwin students are likely to get a longer summer vacation under a proposed school calendar that would have classes begin after Labor Day. Superintendent Jeff Taylor recommended to the school board Monday that it would be better to start school on Sept. 8 than in mid-August for several reasons related...
Pa. sees most covid cases since January with majority reported in eastern counties
Pennsylvania on Tuesday reached a level of reported covid cases that hasn’t been seen since January. But of these additional cases, the majority of them are coming from a specific region of the state, while Pittsburgh-area cases continue within current ranges. Cases Pennsylvania reported 6,638 additional covid-19 cases Tuesday (4,215...
Franklin Regional looks at shift to improve students’ career readiness
Jeff Stanczak, the internship coordinator for Franklin Regional School District, said he understands it might seem strange to ask a 14-year-old to make decisions about their career and future. “But if we hold off on those decisions until a student’s junior or senior year — as so often happens —...
Fayette County woman accused of stealing, wrecking Monessen police cruiser
A Fayette County woman is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after being charged with stealing a Monessen police cruiser and crashing it into a tree early Monday, according to court records. Jamya Dee Avona Leonard, 19, of Uniontown, was charged with receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest...
Latrobe promotes 1 police officer, hires another, in advance of sergeant’s retirementVideo
Latrobe Council hired a new officer and promoted another to sergeant this week as it shored up the ranks of the city’s police force. The new officer, Zachary Gustafson, is a graduate of Greater Latrobe Senior High and has six years of experience working with other area police departments, most...
DeNunzio’s cries ‘politics’ as county leaders press to open restaurant lease at Arnold Palmer airport
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority plans to seek proposals for leasing the restaurant space at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The rental agreement is set to expire next year, and county commissioners pressed the authority to open the lease to other potential operators. Chairman Paul Puleo, at Tuesday’s authority meeting, referred...
1 hurt in crash between ambulance and car in Unity
A patient being transported by ambulance sustained minor injuries Monday after a car collided with the vehicle in Unity, according to state police. Troopers said a Mutual Aid ambulance was traveling on Route 981 with its emergency lights and sirens activated at 6:15 p.m. as it approached the intersection with...
PennDOT to unveil updated plans for Route 51 interchange upgrade on Interstate 70
PennDOT is ready to display updated plans for improving the Route 51 interchange on Interstate 70 in Rostraver. Virtual project plans will be displayed at i-70projects.com from 5 p.m. Wednesday through 5 p.m. April 21. Those who lack online access can pick up a project handout and comment form during...
Hempfield Area temporarily closes 2 elementary schools because of covid-19 cases
Two Hempfield elementary schools will close for two days this week because of positive covid-19 cases, district leaders announced Monday. West Point and West Hempfield elementary schools are closed Tuesday and Wednesday after two students at each school contracted the virus, according to a letter from Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. Students...
Unity zoning panel turns down couple’s appeal to keep chickens in their backyard
Jeff and Kristin Kuhns are considering their options now that Unity’s zoning hearing board denied a variance they sought to continue raising chickens in their backyard. After the board voted to deny the variance at a special meeting this week, chicken owners Jeff and Kristin Kuhns said they would await...
2 taken to hospital following multi-car crash in Salem
Two people were transported by ambulance from a multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on William Penn Highway, emergency officials said. Emergency responders were called to Route 22 eastbound near its intersection with Hollywood Boulevard, near the border between Murrysville and Salem, shortly after 5 p.m. for a four-car crash, according to...
Former Scottdale district judge dedicated to God, family, community
Former Scottdale police officer and longtime District Judge J. Bruce King was a man dedicated to the important things in life, his friends said. “He was first dedicated to God. Second, dedicated to his family and, third, dedicated to his community,” said Roger Eckels, a former Mt. Pleasant Township district...
Inmate infections continue downward trend at Westmoreland jail; court appearances to resume
Westmoreland officials said Monday an additional inmate at the county jail tested positive for coronavirus as the overall number of new cases has declined over the last three weeks. Warden Bryan Kline said there are 17 inmates at Westmoreland County Prison with active cases of the virus during the second...
Countryside Plaza sold in East Huntingdon
An East Huntingdon shopping plaza near the intersection of routes 119 and 819 has been sold to an Oakmont-based development firm for $8.5 million, according to filings with the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds. PDQ Israel Family Countryside L.P. of Pittsburgh last month sold the 16.9-acre Countryside Plaza property to...
Security upgrades planned for Westmoreland County Housing Authority sites
Eight public housing complexes throughout Westmoreland County will see security upgrades later this year. Those upgrades included installation of high-definition security cameras at seven county Housing Authority sites in Irwin, Latrobe, Scottdale, Monessen and Trafford, and modernized door locks at a facility in New Kensington. The project will be paid...
Former Southwest Greensburg part-time cop heading to trial in Fayette County cases
A former part-time Southwest Greensburg policeman ordered to stand trial in Westmoreland County last month on an official oppression charge is facing multiple criminal complaints in Fayette County. Last week, James Edward Shaw, 54, of Mt. Pleasant Township waived his right to preliminary hearings on multiple criminal charges of false...
Latrobe man pleads guilty to 2018 fatal Memorial Day crash in Derry
A Latrobe man pleaded guilty Monday to charges he was under the influence of drugs when he crashed his car into an oncoming motorcycle, killing its rider and injuring a passenger on Memorial Day nearly three years ago in Derry. Preston C. Haines, 34, will be formally sentenced Tuesday morning,...
Man charged after 13 animals seized from deplorable conditions in New Stanton apartment
A former New Stanton man is set for a preliminary hearing Wednesday on neglect charges after state police said they seized 13 animals from deplorable conditions at his home. Mason Timothy Fronius, 25, of Connellsville, is facing 39 misdemeanor animal neglect counts along with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Troopers...
Clearfield County man accused of shooting at SUV on Route 22 at Indiana-Westmoreland border
State police arrested a Clearfield County man over the weekend and charged him with shooting at another vehicle along Route 22 near the border of Indiana and Westmoreland counties, state police said. Elijah N. Helmick, 23, of Osceola Mills, was arrested in connection with an incident at 5:39 p.m. Saturday...
$12.9M rental, utility assistance program opens for Westmoreland applicants
An emergency aid program opened Monday for Westmoreland County residents who are behind on their rent or unable to pay utility bills. Before noon, 40 applications had been received, said Dan Carney, executive director of Union Mission of Latrobe Inc., which is in charge of distributing $12.9 million the county...
