Westmoreland category, Page 571
Residents, officials air mud, odor, health concerns about Rostraver landfill
Residents, environmental activists and local officials say they’re fed up with mud and odors emanating from the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill in Rostraver. They’re also concerned about radioactive materials they say are present in leachate resulting from waste material the landfill accepts from fracking sites. Rostraver Commissioner John Lorenzo, speaking Thursday...
Virus cases continue to spread at Westmoreland prison
As the coronavirus continues to spread among inmates at the Westmoreland County Prison, officials said Thursday there are signs that infections have started to slow at the Hempfield facility. Interim Warden George Lowther said there are 77 inmates infected, with new cases almost daily. But the overall number of new...
Salem man jailed in connection with $16K trailer theft
A Salem man on the lam from state police since New Year’s Eve was apprehended Wednesday and arraigned on theft and receiving stolen property charges. William Elvin Cochran, 33, of Hawk Drive, is in the county jail on $250,000 bond after state police charged him with receiving stolen property and...
Rick Saccone resigns from Saint Vincent faculty in wake of Capitol tripVideo
Former state Rep. Rick Saccone has resigned from his teaching position at Saint Vincent College. Saccone, 62, of Elizabeth said he tendered his resignation as an adjunct instructor Thursday because of flak triggered by his social media posts a day earlier about participating in the pro-Trump demonstration in Washington, D.C.,...
Greensburg man charged with domestic assault, fighting city police
A Greensburg man is accused of fighting with city police, spitting on three officers and making threats as he was taken into custody early Thursday after he was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Malik M. Crosby, 22, was arraigned on four counts each of harassment and simple assault by a...
Westmoreland first responders flocking to Latrobe pharmacy for coronavirus vaccine
First responders around Westmoreland County have started getting inoculated against the coronavirus with help from The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Latrobe. Owner and pharmacist Sue Schropp said the response in the last couple weeks has been overwhelming, but she’s happy to contribute to the health of the community’s front lines....
Excela Health prepares to administer 2nd dose of vaccine to its workers, Mutual Aid medics and EMTs
Excela Health employees who have gotten the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine will get a second and final shot starting Friday, according to chief medical officer Carol Fox. More inoculations for employees who have yet to get the first dose and independent providers will get underway in the coming...
Jim Brewster waits, works as 45th Senate race remains unresolved
Jim Brewster, the McKeesport Democrat who was a Pennsylvania senator until Tuesday, was working as usual for people who live in the 45th Senate District. “My staff is functioning with constituent issues,” Brewster said Thursday. But, he said, “I can’t do anything official.” On Tuesday, Republican leadership took control of...
Westmoreland County reports similar number of covid deaths in 1st weeks of January, December
Westmoreland County on Thursday reported 279 additional covid-19 cases, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. There were six coronavirus-related deaths reported as well. The number of total cases in the county is now at 21,003 and total deaths at 465. Westmoreland County coronavirus by dayInfogram Through the first seven...
Hempfield man accused of shooting woman in left ring finger
A Hempfield man is accused by police of shooting a woman in her left ring finger Wednesday then dropping her off at a hospital, according to court papers. Timothy John Luchon, who turned 39 Wednesday, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault, child endangerment and tampering with evidence....
Animal Friends executive director Kelli Brisbane getting hands dirty in new post
Kelli Brisbane is getting her hands dirty in her new job. There’s nothing nefarious about it — it’s just part of being the new executive director at Animal Friends of Westmoreland. Since taking over the role on Dec. 14, Brisbane already has fostered a dog and pitched in at the...
Amerisafe will bring ‘hugging station’ to Redstone Highlands in Murrysville
Last week, Amerisafe Vice President of Consultations Del Kubeldis was at a “hugging station” event at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg — where the company sets up a plastic doorway barrier through which senior residents and their family members can safely interact — when he saw something that truly touched him....
Suspect arrested in connection with North Huntingdon woman’s fatal shooting
Allegheny County sheriffs apprehended an Arlington Heights man on Tuesday who is suspected in the fatal shooting of a North Huntingdon woman in early December. Jerrel Ingram, 32, was wanted on an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a Dec. 5 shoot-out outside the True Diamonds Night Club, which...
Norwin to return to hybrid learning
Norwin’s 5,300 students will return a hybrid form of learning — two days in-school and three days of remote instruction — on Monday for the first time in close to a month. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said Wednesday the district will offer the three days of remote instruction in a synchronous...
Memorial yard sign fundraiser benefits family of state Rep. Mike Reese
A steady stream of cars passed through the Westmoreland Fairgrounds on Wednesday evening to buy memorial yard signs honoring the late state Rep. Mike Reese. Reese of Mt. Pleasant Township died Saturday following an apparent brain aneurysm. He was 42. He had represented the 59th District in the Pennsylvania House...
$1 million scratch-off ticket sold in Monessen
A lucky gas station customer in Monessen bought a scratch-off ticket worth $1 million, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. Eastgate Exxon & Convenience Store on Eastgate Avenue sold the winning Magnificent Millions ticket, which cost $20. The odds of winning the $1 million to prize in Magnificent Millions are 1...
Atria’s, Juniper Grill remain closed despite lift on state restrictions
Two local restaurant chains have chosen to remain temporarily closed despite the state lifting its most recent covid-19 restrictions. Management at Atria’s and Juniper Grill said they cannot be profitable at half-capacity, as mandated by Gov. Tom Wolf’s virus-related guidelines. “We cannot and will not make it as a business...
Suspect in Southwest Greensburg hit-and-run arrested in Armstrong County
A former Greensburg man was taken into custody Wednesday in Armstrong County on charges he was driving during a hit-and-run in Southwest Greensburg 13 months ago. North Buffalo Police Chief Jason Hufhand said Justin Lamont Hudspath, 38, was arrested with help of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force at a home...
Family objections delay guilty plea in North Huntingdon vehicular homicide case
A Westmoreland County prosecutor told a judge Wednesday he could not recommend withdrawing a felony vehicular homicide charge against a Penn Township man. Assistant District Attorney Allen Powanda said he learned minutes before Chad Gregorini was to plead guilty to lesser charges that the victim’s three adult children objected to...
Irwin reverts to in-person meeting on Jan. 13; councilman calls state orders ‘crap’
After debating the merits of the state’s controversial orders on restricting indoor gatherings, Irwin Borough council members decided to meet in-person when they gather on Jan. 13, a reversal of the public advertisement last month that the meeting would be held in a virtual manner. Council on Tuesday decided in...
Irwin fire department proposes $1 million building
The Irwin fire department want to build a $1 million hall to house trucks, ambulances, a meeting room and possibly borough offices and police department at the site of the former Sixth Street School. Leaders of the volunteer group told borough officials this week that they hope to build a...
Westmoreland County adds 16 covid deaths, 331 new cases
Westmoreland County saw its highest single-day coronavirus death report Wednesday, adding 16 to its total. Those newly reported deaths bring the county’s total to 459, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Deaths have been climbing rapidly in the county after a slow climb to 100 at the end of...
Greensburg artists’ work is Christmas gift to Puerto Rican church
A mosaic made by two Greensburg Art Center members has found a home in a small Puerto Rican church. It’s the last thing artists Rosemary Sovyak of Hempfield and Tom Niggel of Greensburg expected when they put their hands and heads together to create something for last winter’s “Collaborations” show...
Latrobe police hand out more gift cards after 2nd holiday donation
Latrobe officials were able to double up on the city’s holiday season gift-giving, thanks to a corporate donation. During the week of Christmas, city police surprised community members in need, as well as some motorists who were pulled over for minor vehicle violations. Officers handed out $2,500 in Shop ‘n...
New Stanton woman accused of making 18 unnecessary 911 calls over 2 months
A New Stanton woman already awaiting a Feb. 24 preliminary hearing for allegedly making 17 hang-up calls to 911 on multiple occasions in November is facing new charges for doing the same thing Dec. 14. State police Trooper Jacob Shearer this week filed an additional complaint of making improper calls...
