Westmoreland category, Page 560
Southwest Greensburg woman accused of providing fatal dose in June drug OD death
Police arrested a Southwest Greensburg woman this week, accusing her of providing drugs to a man who later died of an overdose, according to court papers. Jennifer Lynn Gartland, 45, is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver and child endangerment. Southwest Greensburg police said...
Ignoring covid side effects could be deadly, doctors and patients are finding
Sean Kertes says he first began to notice a slight tightness in his chest two days before New Year’s Day. The 34-year-old Westmoreland County commissioner tried to brush off his concerns as he went about activities in his Greensburg home, like taking down the Christmas tree and putting away decorations....
Downward trends continue for North Huntingdon-Irwin covid case count
The increase in covid cases in four ZIP codes covering most of the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin areas remained below 10% for the third consecutive week, based on state Department of Health data released Monday. There was a 7.8% increase in the number of confirmed covid cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin,...
Grant-funded retrofits allow stormwater ponds to ‘do more of the heavy lifting’
Getting the most bang for your buck is not just a good operating philosophy, but it also is a good way to attract interest from those doling out grant money. Boosting the efficiency of stormwater detention ponds has translated into nearly $375,000 in grants for the Westmoreland Conservation District, going...
Hyde Park man challenges murder charges in wife’s fatal beating
The lawyer for a Hyde Park man accused of the fatal beating of his estranged wife told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday there is insufficient evidence to support murder charges. Jeffrey Fondrk, 58, was charged with criminal homicide days after his wife, Patricia, was beaten to death in July...
Greensburg man pleads guilty to girlfriend’s drug overdose death
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty Monday to providing the drugs that killed his longtime girlfriend at her Hempfield home in 2019. Stephanie Rae Johnson, 34, died March 19, 2019, after consuming fentanyl-laced heroin police said she got from her boyfriend, Christopher Patrick Showalter. Showalter pleaded guilty to a felony count...
After weeklong closure for ignoring covid restrictions, Tin Lizzy bar set to reopen
After a weeklong shutdown for defying Gov. Tom Wolf’s temporary restrictions on indoor dining during a surge in covid cases, the Tin Lizzy Tap Room and Restaurant in Youngstown will reopen 7 a.m. Tuesday. “A trooper from liquor control was in here (Monday) and gave us the OK to reopen,”...
Excela Health seeing fewer covid hospitalizations, though number remains high
Hospitalizations of covid patients at Excela Health appear to have leveled off, but the overall total number still remains high, according to Dr. Carol Fox, its chief medical officer. For most of the past few weeks, the number of covid patients hospitalized in Westmoreland County has hovered between 160 and...
Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg staffers, residents get covid vaccines; about half of Pa. nursing homes have been treatedVideo
Karen Stock’s 40-year tenure at Redstone Highlands’ Greensburg campus got her an edge Monday — she was the first to get an initial immunization against the coronavirus. The activity supervisor said she decided to get vaccinated to protect her husband and those who are cared for there. “Our residents are...
State police accuse East Huntingdon woman of abusing 5-year-old girl
An East Huntingdon woman is accused of seriously injuring a 5-year-old girl last month, according to state police. Shelbi Lee Richter, 28, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault on a victim less than six-years-old, child endangerment and simple assault filed by state police in connection with the alleged Dec....
Cupid’s Chase charity race in Latrobe adds virtual option
The annual Cupid’s Chase charity race that benefits people with special needs is set for Feb. 13, beginning at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. This year’s event also will have a virtual option, as organizers hope to draw more participants during the covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s foot race attracted about 75 participants....
Washington Township store sells winning $195,000 Cash 5 ticket
A winning Cash 5 ticket was sold at a Washington Township store, officials with the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday. The winner, who purchased the ticket at Thomas’ General Store along Saltsburg Road, will take home $195,000. The ticket was one of two that won the $390,000 jackpot. The other winning...
Westmoreland County adds 400 more covid cases in past 2 days
Another 404 cases of coronavirus were added to Westmoreland County’s total over the past two days, according to a Monday report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Officials said 231 cases were added Sunday and another 173 added Monday. Of the new cases, 315 cases were confirmed through 817 PCR...
Hempfield middle school closed due to covid-19 cases
A middle school in the Hempfield Area School District is temporarily closed due to multiple covid-19 cases, officials announced over the weekend. Wendover Middle School is closed Monday after four positive cases were reported, according to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The closure comes a week after students returned following the holidays....
Police: Safe, tools and $5,500 in cash stolen in East Huntingdon
State police are looking for whoever who got away with a safe containing $5,500 in cash and a tool set worth about $300, which were stolen in East Huntingdon. The theft occurred on Leighty Hollow Lane. It was discovered Dec. 28, according to police. The unknown thief or thieves accessed...
Greensburg-Salem to return to hybrid instruction; P-T middle school sports halted
Greensburg Salem’s 2,700 students will return to hybrid instruction on Jan. 19 instead of Jan. 26th, as previously announced, provided the number of positive covid cases among students and staff in each building meet state guidelines. The school district said all covid prevention and mitigation measures such as cleaning procedures,...
Unity sports bar allowed to reopen following shutdown because of covid violations
John and Jamie Huemme were delighted Friday when a state inspector reversed an order that would have forced Sharky’s Cafe and Pier, one of the region’s largest sports bars, to close during Sunday’s Steelers-Browns playoff game. The landmark sports bar and eatery, located along Route 30 in Unity, was ordered...
A Slice of New York brings Big Apple pizzas to ManorVideo
Sean Jefairjian’s dream of opening a pizza shop was partially because of frustration. “It’s very hard to find a traditional New York pie,” he said. A native of the Bronx, Jefairjian has lived in Southwestern Pennsylvania for 20 years. There are a few places in the region to get pizza...
2020 brings increase in Westmoreland overdose deaths
There appears to be a slight uptick in the number of people who died from a drug overdose in Westmoreland County in 2020 after two consecutive years of decreases. County coroner statistics show that 102 people died of a drug overdose last year and 19 more cases are suspected. That...
Nearly $1M in state grants will address mine drainage, stormwater in WestmorelandVideo
The Turtle Creek Watershed stretches across 147 square miles, straddling Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. With the support of a state grant, the 50-year-old watershed association plans to assess the many areas where abandoned mine discharges pollute the creek and its tributaries, to help qualify for additional funds to clean up...
Sports card appraiser looking at Greensburg collection says sell valuable cards now
Collectors holding onto cards of star football, basketball or baseball players as a financial investment should consider selling them now, according to a vintage sports card and memorabilia appraiser who plans to evaluate a Greensburg-area collection this week. “Now is a good time to sell. Prices have exploded higher than...
From high school dropout to $3M venture, Derry native launches gamer coaching platformVideo
When Josh Fabian dropped out of high school in Derry and moved out of his parents’ home all before the age of 18, he wasn’t expecting a career in web design to fall into his lap. He certainly wasn’t expecting to be heading up a gamer coaching company that’s attracted...
Norwin adds 16 covid cases this week; 32 since holiday break
Norwin School District officials said they were notified of 12 more coronavirus cases among students and staff on Friday, raising the total number of cases to 32 since the holiday break began Dec. 22. Two students each from the high school, middle school, Hillcrest Intermediate, Stewartsville Elementary and Sunset Valley...
Readying for renovation in GreensburgVideo
An excavator for Vince Construction Co. of Greensburg removes the debris gutted from a five-story building at South Pennsylvania Avenue and West Second Street in Greensburg, that Westmoreland County Treasurer Jared Squires purchased last year. Squires has said the renovated building will have a dance studio on the first floor,...
Westmoreland Clerk of Courts to close offices noon to 1 p.m. daily for sanitizing
A covid-19 outbreak has promoted officials to announce new hours at the Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts office. Clerk of Courts Bryan Kline said beginning Monday, Jan. 11, the office will be closed from noon to 1 p.m. daily for cleaning and sanitizing. “We have had another surge of covid...
