Westmoreland category, Page 565
Defense attorney says his incarcerated client not getting mental health treatment
An attorney’s attempt Tuesday to get his client released from Westmoreland County Prison highlighted issues with the inaccessibility of mental health treatment for incarcerated defendants. Attorney Brian Aston asked that Susan Barkley, 42, of Unity be released on home electronic monitoring to get mental health treatment while she awaits trial...
Hempfield photographer found innovative way to stay in business during pandemicVideo
Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a series highlighting five people whose lives were reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. Back before the covid pandemic slammed the economy and limited what people could do outside their homes, Dennis Pushkar expected that his Impressions Photography would build on what had been...
Crews quickly extinguish garage fire in Hempfield
Crews quickly extinguished a garage fire that broke out at a Hempfield home early Wednesday morning. Firefighters responded to the incident on Blue Sky Lane shortly before 5 a.m., according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The fire was knocked down around 5:30 a.m. It was not immediately clear if the...
Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area covid cases rise slightly
The Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area saw a 5% jump in confirmed covid cases over the past week, with the addition of 68 cases, based on data from the state Department of Health. The health department counted 1,310 confirmed covid cases in the three communities as of Dec. 29, up from 1,242 as...
Latrobe looks to update police fleet with new SUV
Latrobe council is considering an update of the city’s police fleet with a new SUV modified to meet the needs of law enforcement. Purchase and financing of a 2021 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor are on the agenda for council’s Jan. 4 reorganization and voting meeting. According to City Manager Michael...
Latrobe police hand out gift cards, not tickets, for ChristmasVideo
Some motorists in Latrobe who were pulled over for minor violations last week got a warning — and a gift card, instead of a ticket. In the spirit of Christmas, the city police department used community donations to buy 50 Shop ‘n Save supermarket gift cards and handed them out...
Unity restaurant’s holiday meal distribution continues for 2nd week
Sharky’s Cafe is making sure Latrobe-area families that are in need start out 2021 with a full portion at dinnertime. With the help of donations received from loyal customers, friends and generous community members, the Unity restaurant distributed several hundred free Christmas meals last week to area families. On Wednesday,...
Irwin man accused of stabbing someone outside bar
A 26-year-old Irwin man is in the county jail on $75,000 bond after police say he fought with two brothers late Monday outside a Main Street restaurant-bar and stabbed one man in the neck. Joshua James Robison was arraigned Tuesday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, harassment, possessing...
Artists to discuss Westmoreland billboard project, which drew national attention
Two artists will discuss their involvement in the Diversity Billboard Art Project during a Jan. 14 virtual conversation hosted by The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. Ginger Brooks Takahashi and Susanne Slavick are among 10 artists whose original commissioned work has appeared on billboards across Westmoreland County in a public...
Jeannette police arrest fugitive accused of threatening woman with handgun
A 42-year-old Jeannette man accused of threatening a woman with a gun after she gave him a ride last month boasted to city police after his arrest Sunday that he eluded capture for 46 days, according to police reports. Jamar “Philly” McIntosh, 42, of Jeannette was found hiding in a...
Murrysville officials want more input on proposal to allow senior high-rises
A proposal to update Murrysville’s zoning ordinance to accommodate more senior housing options was voted down this month after council received negative feedback from residents. Council has held recent discussions about updating its zoning ordinance to allow senior high-rises in its business districts and senior planned developments in its residential...
About 50% of Westmoreland County covid cases, deaths have come in December
Westmoreland County reported the most new coronavirus cases in about two weeks Tuesday. There were 466 new cases reported, the most since 542 cases were announced Dec. 15. Tuesday’s new cases bring the county’s total to 18,855. In December, there have been 9,594 cases reported, which account for about 51%...
Hempfield residents to see price hike for garbage services
Hempfield residents will pay higher garbage fees starting in the new year. Township leaders last month voted to contract with County Hauling, raising rates to $55.50 per quarter, or $220 per year. That’s an almost $10 increase per quarter from what residents are paying under the township’s current garbage provider,...
Fort Ligonier offers virtual 12th Night celebration
The band will play on for Fort Ligonier’s Twelfth Night celebration, just not in person. One of the most popular programs at Ligonier’s reconstructed 18th-century fort, the fourth-annual Twelfth Night event will be held virtually on Jan. 9 because of covid-19 pandemic restrictions. “It’s one of our most favorite events,”...
Norwin sees downward trend in new covid cases
The North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin area saw fewer new coronavirus cases on Monday compared to a week ago, continuing a downward trend that has seen the week-to-week percentage increase drop below 10 percent for the first time since Thanksgiving, according to data from the state Department of Health. Since the pandemic...
Latrobe eyes 2% hike in residential garbage rates
Latrobe residents could pay higher garbage fees next year, as officials consider passing on a 2% increase in the city’s contract with hauler Republic Services. City Manager Michael Gray is proposing the rate hikes as part of a revised schedule of various fees being reviewed by council. The new fees...
First day of winter camp held at Graystone Equestrian Center in Salem Township
The first day of Graystone Equestrian Center’s three-day Winter Camp was held Monday at the Salem Township facility. Ten campers spent the day grooming horses, receiving instruction from barn owner Cindy Valenta and participating in games and arts and crafts. The program is open to ages 5 and up....
Man charged with assaulting 2 Derry Township relatives, state trooper
A 40-year-old man accused of assaulting two relatives in their Derry Township home after walking naked through their neighborhood early Saturday was arrested hours later for allegedly kicking a state trooper. James J. Zamerski of Pittsburgh was arrested by troopers twice in a span of three hours Saturday on multiple...
Westmoreland Manor residents, staff start receiving coronavirus vaccine
Westmoreland Manor residents and staff started getting vaccinated against the coronavirus Monday. It was the first day the vaccine was available in long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania. The number of those at the Hempfield facility consenting to get inoculated grew as the day went on, interim director Abby Testa said....
27 new positive inmate coronavirus cases at Westmoreland County Prison
Twenty-seven Westmoreland County Prison inmates tested positive for the coronavirus Monday as three units housing prisoners remained on lockdown, according to interim Warden George Lawther. Inmates on the C, J and D units are able to shower, participate in recreation and make phone calls and video visits, but they are...
Westmoreland County adds 258 new covid cases, 7 deaths
Westmoreland County reported 258 additional coronavirus cases over the past two days, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The state reported 167 cases on Sunday in Westmoreland County and 91 on Monday to bring the county’s total to 18,389. Of the newly reported cases, 242 are confirmed and 16...
North Huntingdon man jailed after 3 township officers hurt during welfare check
A North Huntingdon man is being held in the county jail after police said three township officers were hurt when they performed a welfare check at his house earlier this month, according to court papers. Kevin Michael Shouse, 23, is charged with several counts each of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment,...
Bell Township house fire kills 1 resident, injures 2 othersVideo
A 52-year-old man was killed and two others injured in a fire Monday at a home along Route 286 in Bell Township, a state police fire marshal said. Resident Frank R. Zanavich died in the blaze, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth A. Bacha. Bacha has not ruled on the...
North Huntingdon pastor relied on faith as covid claimed his motherVideo
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series highlighting five people whose lives were reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. By the time Glenn Meyers entered his mother’s hospital room at UPMC East in October, he knew it would likely be the last time he saw her. A covid-19 diagnosis...
GoFundMe account established for family of teen killed in Unity crash
A 17-year-old Westmoreland County teenager who was critically injured Wednesday in a one-vehicle crash in Unity died of his injuries at a Pittsburgh hospital, family members said. Joshua Ryan Nearanzio of Loyalhanna in Derry Township died at 3:45 p.m. Saturday afternoon at UPMC Presbyterian hospital, where he was transported after...
