Westmoreland category, Page 576
Western Pa. congressmen join rebuke of U.S. Attorney General William Barr
A bloc of 39 congressmen — including five Pennsylvania Republicans who were reelected Nov. 3 — lashed out at Attorney General William Barr in a letter expressing dismay at “the shocking lack of action” stemming from the Justice Department’s investigation of allegations of fraud in the election. The letter was...
Penn-Trafford to return to in-person learning next week
After a week of remote learning following the Thanksgiving break, students in the Penn-Trafford School District will return to in-person classes next week. School officials on Wednesday announced students will return to in-person classes beginning Monday. However, the school day will be shortened on Wednesdays, where the district will operate...
Former Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez again seeks dismissal of charges in teen sex case
The lawyer for former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez said 11 criminal charges related to allegations that he and a teenage girl exchanged sexually explicit text messages should be dismissed over jurisdictional issues. In court documents filed this week, defense attorney Gary Gerson said those charges related to alleged crimes...
Virus cases found at 5 Westmoreland County public housing properties
Coronavirus cases among residents in five public housing properties throughout Westmoreland County were reported over the past week. Residents in communities in Greensburg, Hempfield, Latrobe and Monessen have reported contracting the virus, confirmed Michael Washowich, executive director of the Westmoreland County Housing Authority. “It’s a trend that mirrors what has...
Derry church is target of repeated vandalismVideo
Two break-ins and vandalism this week at a Derry Borough church have left the Rev. Sam Lamendola and his parishioners questioning why the house of worship seems to be a target. “It’s been traumatic particularly to the parish staff who love and take care of the church day by day,”...
Trump supporters plan rally from Unity to Greensburg Saturday
President Trump’s supporters are gathering again Saturday outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg to protest the results of the election. The rally, which will feature speakers, starts at 2 p.m., said co-organizer Tony Naples. But the day will begin at the Trump House in Unity at 1 p.m. with...
Westmoreland jury trials halted as virus cases mount in county
All trials scheduled for December in Westmoreland County will be postponed amid the rising number of coronavirus cases already diagnosed and the potential for a continued surge in the coming weeks. Common Pleas Court President Judge Rita Hathaway said Wednesday that criminal trials slated to start next week will be...
Mt. Pleasant Area children get free books through Imagination Library
Children who live in the Mt. Pleasant Area School District can get free books mailed to them monthly through a new partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The Mt. Pleasant Public Library is working with the singer’s book gifting organization to provide books for children through age five who live...
Sweet, salty treats give shape to Latrobe gingerbread housesVideo
You could try to eat it when the holiday season is over, but it’s really intended solely as eye candy. Making a gingerbread house with all the trimmings has been a decades-long, year-end tradition for Lori Vaglia and her two daughters. This year, the Derry Township resident brushed up her...
TV Talk: Westmoreland County native Joe Kenda’s new series will help launch discovery+ streaming service
Investigation Discovery star Joe Kenda, who hosted “Homicide Hunter” on ID for nine seasons, will be the face and voice of a new series that will be available exclusively on discovery+, a new streaming service Discovery Networks will launch on Jan. 4. Kenda, who grew up in Herminie near Irwin...
Westmoreland County sets record for new covid-19 deaths
A day after Westmoreland County reached 200 covid-19 deaths, a new daily record was set. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Wednesday the county has 15 new coronavirus-related deaths, a single-day record. It brings the total deaths to 219. The seven-day death total (Nov. 26 through Wednesday) reached 47 deaths,...
Ace Hardware in Greensburg closes for good, citing pandemic
The Ace Hardware in Greensburg has closed after a decade on East Pittsburgh Street. Sales plummeted when the coronavirus pandemic hit and lockdowns were put in place, said owner John McCullough, owner of New Kensington-based Thrift Supply. “We’ve just seen our customer base drop, and our business drop, and we...
London calling: Hempfield band submits video for U.K. New Year’s Day ParadeVideo
The Hempfield Area Marching Band has once again answered the call from across the pond. Last week, band members donned their uniforms and set out to the high school football field where they performed their rendition of “The Horse” by Cliff Nobles & Co. A video of the performance will...
Westmoreland events include tree sale, light up night, live Nativity
Fundraiser • Boy Scout Troop 284 will sell Fraser fir Christmas trees Friday-Sunday and again Dec. 12-14 at the Norwin Busy Beaver, 8800 Norwin Ave., North Huntingdon. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Maximum price will be $65. Live Nativity • Union...
Olives & Peppers opening at historic Greensburg train station
It’s been more than three years, but the long-awaited Olives & Peppers restaurant finally is set to open Thursday in the historic Greensburg train station. “It did take us a little longer than we had hoped, but we are really excited to open,” said Emily Williams, part of the family...
Greater Latrobe switches to remote instruction, cites county’s rising covid cases
Greater Latrobe School Board has voted to switch to full-time remote instruction for all students from Friday through Jan. 18, as covid-19 cases in Westmoreland County continue to rise. The district had most recently been offering students the options of either in-person instruction five days per week or full-time remote...
Beloved Jeannette football coach Joe Mucci dies of coronavirus at age 86
Joseph G. Mucci was a legendary football coach in Westmoreland County. But he was much more than that, according to his former assistant coaches, players and people in the community. The beloved coach and administrator at Jeannette and Greensburg Central Catholic influenced a lot of people whose lives he touched....
Norwin reports 12 more cases of coronavirus; closing in on 100
Twelve more students and staff members at Norwin have tested positive for coronavirus, the school district said Tuesday, which raises the total number of cases since school began to 93. The spike in numbers reported since the holiday weekend occurs as the district is instructing all 5,300 students remotely this...
Westmoreland courthouse offices limit visitors amid covid surge
As covid-19 cases continue to surge, Westmoreland officials said Tuesday that courthouse offices will scale back some public-facing services in an effort to mitigate the spread of infections. County Commissioner Sean Kertes said that unlike the spring, when commissioners furloughed hundreds of workers and limited most courthouse functions, there will...
Community Foundation of Westmoreland County director moving to Pittsburgh Foundation
Officials at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County are launching a search for a new executive director, following the announcement Tuesday that Phil Koch is moving into a new post at The Pittsburgh Foundation. Koch will maintain his post with the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, where he served for...
O’Barto makes second run for Westmoreland prothonotary office
Republican Gina O’Barto announced this week her candidacy for what is expected to be an open seat as prothonotary in Westmoreland County. O’Barto, 57, of Unity finished second in the 2017 Republican primary for the office that has for the last 11 years been held by Christina O’Brien, a Democrat....
Intoxicated man accused of leading police on 100 mph chase in Westmoreland, Fayette counties
An Allegheny County man is accused of leading state police on a 100 mph chase in Westmoreland and Fayette counties Sunday night before crashing, according to court papers. Troopers said Nicholas Haluschak, 40, of Dravosburg, was under the influence of drugs at the time and had $1,500 and a loaded...
Greensburg Garden Center crafts unique items for annual greens sale
There are a lot of good reasons to shop Greensburg Garden Center’s annual Christmas greens and decor sale. Offering everything from trees, wreaths and roping to kissing balls, table arrangements and hanging baskets, along with other handcrafted decorative items, it’s one-stop shopping, said center president Carla Rusnica. It’s also one-of-a-kind...
Westmoreland County eclipses 200 total deaths attributed to covid-19
Westmoreland County on Tuesday surpassed 200 deaths attributed to the coronavirus — more than half of which were reported since Nov. 1. The county reported five new deaths and 199 additional cases of covid-19, according to the state Health Department. Since Nov. 1, Westmoreland County has reported 101 covid-19 deaths,...
New Stanton wants to sell old borough building
A piece of New Stanton’s history — the old borough building on North Center Avenue — is for sale. The borough wants to get a fair price from the property at 451 N. Center Ave. and see it put back in use, said Raymond Strosko, council president. New Stanton Council...
