Westmoreland category, Page 56
Jeannette’s 2-term Republican mayor faces challenger in Tuesday’s primary election
A political newcomer is challenging an incumbent in Tuesday’s Republican primary election for mayor of Jeannette. Ed Day hopes to bring a new face to the seat, while Curtis Antoniak is seeking his third term. The winner will face Michelle Langdon, the lone Democrat seeking a nomination and current councilwoman,...
Minivan slams into barn along Eisaman Road in Hempfield
Firefighters had to work quickly — and carefully — Thursday morning to free a motorist who became trapped after crashing a minivan into a barn in Hempfield. Hempfield Fire Assistant Chief Dan Thoma said the vehicle slammed into a load-bearing wall of the structure along Eisaman Road around 7:20 a.m....
‘Person of interest’ in death of Jennah Seibert awaiting extradition from Florida
A “person of interest” in a Rostraver woman’s death is awaiting extradition from Florida on unrelated burglary and robbery charges stemming from an incident in Donora. Dorian C. Jeri-Greene, 39, of Monessen was booked into the Orient Road Jail on Tuesday after being arrested on a warrant by police in...
Transparency, recreation and solar: 7 candidates share key issues in East Huntingdon races
Seven candidates are vying for two supervisors seats in East Huntingdon, as the township navigates a commercial solar lawsuit and brainstorms how to use the former Ruffsdale Elementary property it bought more than four years ago. Incumbent Justin G. Morrow, a Republican who works for the township’s road crew, is...
4 incumbents, 6 challengers in running for Greater Latrobe School Board
A crowded field of 10 candidates is in the hunt for four seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board as the district seeks a new superintendent and decisions loom regarding proposed replacement of the junior high’s leak-prone roof and the future of several aging buildings. Of the four incumbents, a...
‘She earned it’: Penn Township native secures bronze at World Special Olympics
Penn Township resident Kaitlin Grove came to the base of the World Special Olympics ski course with arms raised and a smile across her face. Grove, 28, received a bronze medal in the giant slalom event, taking her place on the podium in Turin, Italy. She was the only Western...
Terry Carcella departing as Latrobe’s city manager for similar post in Springdale
Latrobe officials will look to reassign administrative responsibilities temporarily as City Manager Terry Carcella departs this month to take on a similar post in Springdale Borough. Springdale Council voted Tuesday to hire Carcella, initially paying him a prorated salary of $85,000 through the end of the year. Carcella said his...
Raids lead to charges against businesses run by onetime video poker kingpin
A series of video gambling raids last year across Southwestern Pennsylvania has led to criminal charges against two companies linked to John “Duffy” Conley, Western Pennsylvania’s onetime video poker kingpin. Investigators seized more than 400 illegal video gaming machines from locations in a dozen counties, including Allegheny and Westmoreland. On...
Lyft driver on the lam, no shows for sentencing in North Huntingdon crash
An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for a Lyft driver who pleaded guilty last year for her role in a drunken multi-vehicle crash in North Huntingdon left six people injured. The lawyer for Slobodanka Bulatovic, 49, of North Versailles, told a Westmoreland County judge he learned about a half-hour before...
Chipotle to open restaurant near East Huntingdon’s Countryside Plaza
A Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to open in East Huntingdon, near the Countryside Plaza. Township officials said they’ve been told the restaurant might open this summer. It will be serving customers at 200 Bessemer Road, on the site of a former medical building that has been demolished. Other Chipotle...
Person of interest identified in killing of Jennah Seibert, DA says
A person of interest in the slaying of a Rostraver woman last month has been arrested on unrelated charges, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Spokesperson Melanie Jones did not release his name Wednesday. No charges have been filed in connection with the April 11 death of Jennah...
North Carolina woman extradited to Westmoreland after arrest related to online extortion, theft case
North Huntingdon police made an arrest after sorting through a convoluted scheme that cost a township man nearly $24,000, according to court records. The man reported to police last year that he donated to what he believed was an online fundraiser for a person in need of a heart transplant....
Jeannette City School District considers classroom storage of cellphones for all grades
All student cellphones may spend much of the day locked away at Jeannette City School District buildings if school directors approve a new policy next month. Directors gave an initial OK on Monday to the proposed change that would require mandatory classroom storage of any electronic device for students in...
Springdale hires new manager away from his same position in Latrobe
Terry Carcella worked for several municipalities, in different capacities, while constructing a 42-year municipal government career. Now, he can add the Springdale Borough manager position to that list, as borough council hired him with a unanimous vote Tuesday. On May 27, he’ll assume his new post, which has been vacant...
Monroeville officials debate ways to improve access to Westmoreland Heritage Trail
Monroeville officials plan to improve residents’ access to Westmoreland Heritage Trail. But how that access will be improved has yet to be finalized, especially after the cost of one approach doubled in price. Council on Tuesday night voted to pursue a $250,000 state grant, which would be combined with a...
Westmoreland happenings: Memorial Day program, nature talk, bingo, more
Fundraisers • Community Revitalization of West Newton will host a Red, White and Blue 5K Color Run at 9 a.m. June 7 at Vine Street Park, 110 S. Fifth St. Details: crown15089@yahoo.com. • A ladies afternoon tea will be held 1 p.m. May 24 at the Hall at Robbins Station,...
Westmoreland Democrats to hold town hall to address proposed Trump budget
Westmoreland County Democrats will convene a town hall meeting next week in Greensburg to address potential cuts in federal social service programs. The event, scheduled for 6 p.m. May 19 at Greensburg Hose Co. No. 1, will feature former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and Martin O’Malley, who served as commissioner...
Carpenter’s Apprentice group helping those in need with home repairs
A group of about 30 volunteers from four Norwin area and Penn Township churches will be on a mission this week to help about 15 low-income and elderly residents in need of home repairs so they can live in a safe and secure environment. The Carpenter’s Apprentice will send volunteers...
Parks, building development, public safety draw 6 candidates to pursue Hempfield supervisor post
Options for Hempfield supervisor will range from political newcomers to a longtime incumbent when township Republicans go to the polls Tuesday to nominate candidates during the primary election. Five hopefuls are vying for the party’s nomination to two open seats on the board of supervisors. The two top vote-getters will...
Report details Penn State New Kensington, Fayette’s plights as campuses recommended for closure
Penn State New Kensington has “struggled to maintain relevance and scale” in the Pittsburgh region’s competitive higher education environment. And Penn State Fayette has enrollment, demographic and operational challenges that make it unsustainable. That’s the reasoning behind the Penn State administration’s recommendation to close those two campuses — and seven...
Construction delays cause turbulence for Palmer airport expansion project
Delays have left construction of a $22 million new terminal building at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at least three months behind schedule, officials confirmed Tuesday. Delivery of the domestic steel needed to erect the 32,000-square-foot expansion of the main terminal building was slated to arrive earlier this spring but now...
Jeannette school board eyeing 2-mill property tax hike
A preliminary 2025-26 budget approved by Jeannette City school directors Monday calls for a 2-mill property tax increase. Superintendent Matt Jones said the biggest challenge in balancing the budget is the amount the district has to pay for students who live within the district but attend cyber or charter schools....
Hempfield Area to present new details on high school renovation, district budget next week
Hempfield Area School Board will present next week a schematic design for the district’s high school renovation. The district has discussed in recent years overhauling the high school building — gutting and renovating the interior while leaving most of the exterior intact. School officials declined to share details of the...
Norwin school board to consider maximum allowed tax hike under state index
Norwin school board members will vote later this month on a preliminary 2025-26 district budget that could include a 4.67-mill tax hike. At the board’s non-voting meeting Monday night, President Bill Bojalad requested that finance director Ryan Kirsch prepare a version of the new budget that includes the tax hike,...
Owner of Janet’s Dance Studio in Irwin inspired generations of students
Janet Naughton had the spirit of a Broadway hoofer and the calling to share her talent with generations of younger aspiring dancers. Naughton, who died Thursday at 88, wasn’t tall enough to realize her dream of becoming a Radio City Rockette. But she was overjoyed when students at her Irwin...
