Westmoreland category, Page 534
Regional impact of 1918 flu pandemic in Western Pennsylvania continued into following year
Closings of schools, taverns and movie theaters, along with warnings against large gatherings, aren’t new in Southwestern Pennsylvania. On Oct. 4, 1918, communities debated how to enforce statewide restrictions as the region was hit hard by a second wave of a global influenza pandemic that ultimately claimed about 2,000 lives...
Mass vaccination programs pave the way for gradual return to school in Pennsylvania
Matt Jones breathed a sigh of relief Friday as he met with Jeannette High School Principal Joe Baker to chart the latest stage in a phased-in return to five-day-a-week in-person classes. Like fellow school administrators across the region, the superintendent of Jeannette schools has spent countless hours on the phone,...
Greensburg man killed in Route 30 motorcycle crash
A 44-year-old Greensburg man was killed in a motorcycle crash Friday evening on Route 30 in Unity. State police said Allen D. Wallace was speeding on his 2010 Yamaha motorcycle shortly after 9 p.m. when he collided with a 2020 Kia Sportage traveling in the same direction. Police said Wallace,...
Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Yough plan graduations for their normal days
Unlike last year, when some high school graduations were pushed back to the summer, seniors at Penn-Trafford, Norwin and Yough will be among those who will graduate at the end of the regular school year. Penn-Trafford is planning to hold its commencement on Thursday, May 27, and Norwin seniors will...
Medical marijuana dispensary opens in IrwinVideo
For Raymond Myers of Irwin, the opening of a new medical marijuana dispensary in the borough is a blessing, a place he can walk to get medication for his anxiety, depression and back pain. “The medical marijuana has really helped me. I use wax and (marijuana) flower. This (Irwin site)...
Driver in fatal Route 30 crash that killed 4 in North Huntingdon arraigned on homicide by vehicle, DUI charges
A Pitcairn man who drove a car authorities said was responsible for a deadly Valentine’s Day crash on Route 30 in North Huntingdon was arraigned Friday on multiple criminal counts, including homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said the 1996 Buick LeSabre driven by Timothy...
First draft of Greensburg Salem School District budget has $1.3 million deficit
Greensburg Salem School District is facing a $1.3 million deficit in the first draft of its 2021-22 budget, though that is almost certain to change before a final budget is passed in June. District Business Manager J.R. Dzurica, in presenting the preliminary budget to the school board this week, cautioned...
Ligonier Valley Historical Society doubles down on wildflowers for 2nd native plant sale
Butterflies are attracted to Virginia bluebells, the Royal Catchfly and rattlesnake master, and staff at the Ligonier Valley Historical Society believe area backyard gardeners also will like them. They’re just three of the 24 varieties of perennials the society is offering this year in its native plant sale, nearly doubling...
Unity expects bond issue to raise $8M for paving, public works equipment, playgrounds
Supervisors in Unity have authorized the township’s first-ever bond issue to help fund a variety of planned improvements and purchases, and they say the resulting debt service will be covered without raising taxes. The supervisors on Thursday authorized a maximum bond issue of about $10.7 million but said they don’t...
Sewickley Township mobile home destroyed by explosion, no injuries reported
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of an explosion that destroyed a mobile home near Sutersville on Thursday night, a Sewickley Township fire official said. The man who lived at the mobile home on Sutersville Road, in the village of Gratztown along the Youghiogheny River, was not...
Westmoreland County preps for expected $107 million stimulus windfall
Westmoreland County could receive about $107.1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to bolster its budget and fund projects to help recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The allocation is part of the $13.7 billion awarded to Pennsylvania and includes funding for county and local governments, according to a report...
Mt. Pleasant Township man charged with threatening troopers with knife
A Mt. Pleasant Township man is in the county jail on $10,000 bond because he was charged with threatening to stab two state troopers, according to court records. Chad E. Heiser, 42, of Hecla was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, harassment, simple assault and terroristic threats in connection with...
In-person visits at Westmoreland Manor expected to resume soon
Westmoreland Manor could begin in-person visits with residents within weeks even as coronavirus cases continue to pop up among residents and staff at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield. Officials said Thursday that one additional case was reported and there are three active coronavirus infections among residents at the 403-bed...
Youngwood man to serve nearly 2 decades on parole for child endangerment, corruption of minors
A Youngwood man will serve 19 years on probation after he pleaded guilty Thursday to two felony counts of child endangerment and two misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors. Jack Bates,, 47, formerly of Greensburg, who originally was charged with rape and sexual assault of two teenage girls, said it...
Duff family’s roots extend across Western Pennsylvania
The roots of the Duff family tree extend across much of Western Pennsylvania, including to Murrysville, where the surname should ring a bell as the namesake of the municipality’s first park. Duff Park was acquired by the municipality in 1968, and was originally formed from three parcels totaling about 143...
Ligonier Valley selects high school principal to succeed retiring superintendent
A veteran Ligonier Valley administrator is poised to take on the role of superintendent this summer. The school board this week chose high school Principal Tim Kantor to succeed Superintendent Christine Oldham, who is set to retire June 30. Terms of Kantor’s contract for the top administrative position have yet...
Henry’s Hoagies adds new lunch option to downtown Greensburg
There’s a new grab-and-go lunch option in downtown Greensburg. Henry’s Hoagies opened March 2 in the downstairs space at 16 W. Second St. For now, the food service is all takeout, offering eight sandwich options, four varieties of pepperoni rolls, two daily soups, snacks, fresh fruit, yogurt and bottled drinks....
Penn Township man charged with assaulting brother, resisting arrest after standoff
A Penn Township man is charged with assaulting and threatening his brother and refusing to surrender to police for two hours, according to court documents. Robert R. Milburn Jr., 60, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of harassment, resisting arrest, simple assault and making terroristic threats. The reported incident happened about...
Allegheny County adds 19 new covid deaths; Westmoreland County covid numbers stable; state hospitalizations fall
Allegheny County on Thursday saw a slight uptick in cases and hospitalizations, and a higher than usual number of new deaths reported. Westmoreland County saw a decrease in both cases and hospitalizations and two new deaths. The state of Pennsylvania saw cases and deaths remain stable with hospitalizations continuing to...
Gun stopped at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
A Jeannette man was stopped Wednesday when officials found a .380 caliber handgun in his carry-on bag at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, according to the Transportation Security Administration. It was the second gun stopped at the airport this year. The gun was loaded with six bullets, according to...
Greensburg Salem moves to 4 days a week in April; district prepares to vaccinate staff
Greensburg Salem teachers will begin receiving covid vaccines Friday as the district prepares to bring students back to school four days a week. Hayden’s Pharmacy will administer the first of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine to district faculty and staff, according to Superintendent Gary Peiffer. The second dose likely...
Ex-Mutual Aid garage supervisor accused of theft by Greensburg police
A former Mutual Aid Ambulance supervisor is charged with theft after an audit indicated he acquired personal vehicle parts and tires for a himself and a relative last year that were purchased through the Greensburg-based service’s business account, according to court documents. Ben Malesky, 56, of Cook Township also instructed...
Jeannette officials look to pinch pennies to restore $278K to capital reserve account
Jeannette officials said they are hoping to come up with about $278,000 that was moved out of its capital reserve account last year and never replaced. Solicitor Tim Witt is examining a $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief bill passed by federal lawmakers to see if any funds would be available to...
Irwin OKs buying 75 refurbished meters; sets rates at 25 cents for half-hour
Irwin officials took steps this week to standardize parking rates in the borough at 25 cents for 30 minutes. It’s part of an ongoing process that will start with buying 75 refurbished digital parking meters that will replace mechanical ones. Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the standardized rate. It will...
Names of jurors in case against former Westmoreland Sheriff Held to remain under seal
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will not hear an appeal filed by the Tribune-Review seeking to make public the names of jurors who failed to reach a verdict in the 2018 public corruption trial of former Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held. In a one-sentence order, the state’s high court denied the...
