Westmoreland category, Page 562
Westmoreland-based Derek Woods Band wins national music awardVideo
“I really didn’t see that coming,” said musician Derek Woods about winning an award at Wednesday’s Hollywood Music in Media Awards. The Westmoreland-based Derek Woods Band took honors for Americana/Folk/Singer Songwriter Song of the Year for “Unforgiving Tree” during a livestreamed program that Woods and his band mates watched from...
Greasepaint Players’ ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ plans livestream, live audience
Greensburg Civic Theatre’s Greasepaint Players are working on a production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” to play for both livestream and in-person audiences. About having a live audience, director Becky Ziegler Koch said, “People might say, ‘Why are you doing this now?’ But we thought it was important to...
Next round of bids eyed for Keystone State Park sewer line, trail project
The Derry Township Municipal Authority has inked easement and lease agreements and is seeking a second round of bids for a project to update sewage facilities serving Keystone State Park and install a recreational trail. The trail would follow the path of a sewer line connecting the park to the...
Unity to update comprehensive plan, considers easing billboard restriction
It’s time for Unity officials to update the township’s comprehensive plan and supervisors say they want to look at ways to support business development and encourage modern signage along Route 30 while improving infrastructure and access to recreational facilities. This will be the third review of the plan, which assesses...
Excela Health sees drop in covid hospitalization, keeps eye on new variants
Hospitalizations of covid patients at Excela Health facilities are decreasing and Westmoreland County appears to have missed any potential surge in coronavirus cases from the holiday season. But now the system’s chief medical officer has something else to worry about — more infectious variants of the virus that are making...
1 hurt in Derry Township blaze that destroyed home
A Derry Township man was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital for treatment of burns after escaping a house fire early Thursday, according to Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. Firefighters were called to the home near the intersection of Pizza Barn Road and Toms Lane at 2:40 a.m, according to Westmoreland...
Parks foundation raising money for sensory pathway at Murrysville Community Park
The Murrysville Recreation Department is seeking ways to keep the public engaged during the winter, through exercise promotional programs and other activities. It also is making sure those efforts are inclusive, working with its nonprofit foundation on a fundraiser to create a sensory pathway along one of its park trails....
Ligonier Valley police officer seeks GOP nod for House 59th District seat
Ligonier Valley police officer Shawn Knepper is seeking the Republican nomination to fill Pennsylvania’s 59th District House seat, which was left vacant by the unexpected death of Mike Reese. A special election is set for May 18 to select a successor to Reese, 42, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant. Reese...
Amendment to limit governor’s disaster powers passes Pa. Senate a 2nd time
A constitutional amendment designed to limit the governor’s powers to extend emergency disaster declarations could make its way to a voter referendum as early as this spring. State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, a Hempfield Republican and one of Gov. Tom Wolf’s harshest critics, sponsored the proposed amendment that would...
Pittsburgh man accused of threats against New Kensington police to serve probation for trashing jail cell
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced Wednesday to serve a year on probation after he pleaded guilty to charges of escape and that he vandalized a holding cell following his arrest last summer in New Kensington. Daevar Lamont Stevens, 21, will remain behind bars, though, to answer a new set of...
Pleasant Unity man charged with threatening Gov. Wolf pleads guilty to reduced charge
A 29-year-old Pleasant Unity man accused of threatening Gov. Tom Wolf over business closures because of the coronavirus pandemic pleaded guilty to a reduced summary charge of harassment in York County, according to court officials. Rocco Anthony Naples was facing a third-degree felony charge of threats and other improper influence...
Western Pa. schools receive grants to improve cafeterias
Eight local school districts are among those awarded more than $875,000 in grant money to help upgrade food service equipment in their cafeterias. In all, 59 elementary, middle and high schools will benefit from the funds, awarded to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal...
Penn-Trafford’s Warrior Stadium reopens following closure
Almost a week after Penn-Trafford closed its stadium to the public, the facility has reopened. According to a release from the district, Warrior Stadium reopened Wednesday after being shuttered due to recent incidents in which visitors took snow shovels to the field, which can potentially damage the turf by ripping...
Penn Township man sentenced to probation for role in fatal North Huntingdon crash
A Penn Township man will serve two years on probation for his role in a fatal crash last year on Route 30. Chad Gregorini, 45, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment and two summary traffic citations in connection with the Jan. 21, 2020, crash that resulted...
Westmoreland pension fund hits record value of more than $500M
Westmoreland County’s pension fund exceeded $500 million for the first time, officials announced Wednesday. The fund, which pays benefits to more than 1,300 retired county workers, was valued at $521 million at the end of December, finishing a roller coaster year that saw the account lose about $68 million through...
Mt. Lebanon native Mark Cuban gives business advice to Penn-Trafford students
Students at Penn-Trafford High School got a little celebrity business advice this week thanks to a video chat visit with Mark Cuban. The Mt. Lebanon native, Dallas Mavericks owner and “Shark Tank” investor met virtually with students Tuesday in the school’s administration and management class. “It’s the chatter of the...
Richard King Mellon Foundation to award $1.2B in Pittsburgh region over 10 years, seeks public input
The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the region’s largest philanthropic organization, plans to give away $1.2 billion over the next decade, its director announced Wednesday. And it will continue a new practice in doling out the old money by soliciting public input on where it will do the most good. The...
Excela planning for vaccine distribution when supplies become available
Excela Health plans to open coronavirus vaccination appointments to community members meeting the state’s guidelines when the health system has enough vaccine to go around. But not just yet. Dr. Carol Fox, the system’s chief medical officer, said health care workers at Excela’s three hospitals and other independent community providers...
Westmoreland County covid cases continue downward climb
Westmoreland County has added triple-digit new coronavirus cases for all but four days this month, but cases are on an overall downward trend. The county had 141 coronavirus cases and three deaths added to its totals Wednesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county has averaged 106 cases...
Hempfield schools preparing for possible staff vaccinations
Staff at Hempfield Area School District could be next in line to receive the covid-19 vaccine. According to a letter by Superintendent Tammy Wolicki, district leaders are working with Hayden’s Pharmacy in Youngwood to provide an opportunity for staff to receive the vaccine early next month. “We are supporting this...
Hempfield supervisors remove Jeannette EMS from service; area to be covered by Mutual Aid
Jeannette EMS will no longer cover parts of Hempfield after township supervisors chose to stop using the ambulance service. The area covered by Jeannette EMS, which includes parts of North Hempfield, High Park and Grapeville, now will be serviced by Greensburg-based Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. Mutual Aid already services parts...
Greensburg pavilion rentals open Feb. 1
Pavilion rental season has returned in Greensburg. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting Feb. 1. The city saw its income from pavilion rentals dip a bit in 2020 due to the pandemic, but many renters chose to hold their events anyway, particularly in late summer when case...
Annual Westmoreland prayer breakfast planned via FacebookLive
Prayer breakfast • The Westmoreland County Prayer Breakfast … for Dinner will be at 6:46 p.m. Jan. 28 online on FacebookLive. Phil Koch from the Pittsburgh Foundation/Community Foundation of Westmoreland County will be the speaker. For reservations, visit facebook.com/events/431696631344807. Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to...
Westmoreland creates website for vaccine info
Westmoreland County has created a page on its website with a list of vaccine providers, how to contact them and a link to the state health department’s interactive map of vaccine providers. Information on how to register for the covid vaccine and a quiz to determine when a person is...
Norwin High School to close Wednesday
Norwin High School will be closed Wednesday, as required by the state when a school has six confirmed covid cases within a 14-day period, the district said. Under the district’s hybrid education model, no students were scheduled to be in the building on Wednesday. From Jan. 18-26, Norwin reported that...
