Westmoreland category, Page 590
Western Pa. police ready for any election-related shenanigans, as report warns of possible militia violence
As law enforcement in the region plan how to respond to any potential Election Day issues or unrest, along with anything that may arise post-election, a global watchdog on armed conflict warns that Pennsylvania is a state at high risk for militia violence. Local authorities — mainly at the county...
Franklin Regional Thespians rehearse for virtual fall play, ‘A Delightful Quarantine’Video
The Franklin Regional Thespians were originally planning to perform “A Christmas Carol” as their fall production. But they certainly weren’t going to risk an asymptomatic Scrooge passing the coronavirus to Bob Cratchit. And, while this season’s virtual fall play has “Quarantine” in the title, it has nothing to do with...
Westmoreland County elections office extends hours, will remain open this weekend
With more than 22,000 mail-in ballots outstanding, Westmoreland County will keep its elections bureau office open until 8 p.m. each day through Nov. 3. The extended hours will start Fridayand continue through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, including Saturday and Sunday. “Our concern is making sure every person who needs...
Excela projects funded with $115M in bonds issued by Westmoreland County authority
Westmoreland County commissioners this week approved issuing up to $115 million in revenue bonds to be used by Excela Health to pay for capital improvement projects and to expand its service into new markets. Acting as the Westmoreland Industrial Development Authority, the commissioners unanimously signed off on the tax-exempt bonds,...
Murrysville Scout troop produces 3 Eagle Scouts in 3 weeksVideo
Scouts from Troop 208 in Murrysville are earning their wings at a brisk pace this fall. Over three weeks in October, three members of Troop 208 earned their Eagle Scout badges following the completion of their Eagle projects, adding function to Murrysville Community Park and the nearby Scouting Knob, and...
Westmoreland County surpasses 100 covid-19 deaths
Westmoreland County has now seen more than 100 deaths attributed to the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic in March. The Pennsylvania Department of Health added two new covid-related deaths to the county’s total Friday, making 101 deaths since the first death was announced April 8. The county has...
Basement democracy: Residents open homes as polling places in Westmoreland County
Democracy happens in Betty Tokarcik’s Wyano basement. Voting rights have been exercised in Kathleen Slomiany’s living room in Van Meter. The two women, who live about 8 miles apart in southwestern Westmoreland County, have opened the doors of their homes twice a year for decades to the voters in their...
Mt. Pleasant Borough girl delivers Halloween ‘survival kits’ to area policeVideo
Mt. Pleasant’s annual Halloween parade went off without a hitch Wednesday night, but the borough police department got their own surprise Friday in the form of a “survival kit” of treats, courtesy of 12-year-old Arianna Cholock. In fact, the Mt. Pleasant Area School District seventh grader made a point to...
Police seek information on woman who likely threw rocks at Trump House
State police were called to the Trump House in Unity on Thursday night after a woman apparently threw objects at a metal sign, according to Trooper Steve Limani. Police said the noises just before 10 p.m. sounded like gunshots, but investigators determined the noise was likely caused by rocks being...
Ex-Marine, double amputee, to speak at SCORE gathering at WCCC
A retired U.S. Marine from Uniontown who is a double amputee and owns a civil engineering firm will speak to a gathering of entrepreneurs during a meeting of SCORE at 9 a.m. Monday at the Westmoreland County Community College’s Commissioners Hall at the Youngwood campus. Brandon Rumbaugh, 31, who is...
Latrobe man charged with terroristic threats after Hempfield search, school delay
A Latrobe man is being held without bond after state police said he made threats Friday with a shotgun and holed up in his mother’s house, prompting the delay of a Hempfield elementary school. Dale Owen Smith Jr., 32, is charged with two counts of terroristic threats. Troopers said in...
County backs grant for Rostraver landfill project over local objections
Editor’s note: This story was updated to amend incorrection information. Westmoreland County officials are moving forward with a proposed expansion of a natural gas distribution plant at a Rostraver landfill over the objection of local officials and residents. “Our residents will live in fear, fear from too many contaminants, for...
Westmoreland County hands out grants to Excela, nonprofitsVideo
Excela Health received a $5 million grant from Westmoreland County Thursday to help the hospital chain recover revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic. County commissioners also awarded 77 nonprofit agencies grants totalling nearly $1.2 million to help pay for expenses related to the pandemic. Commissioners conceded the surprise grant to...
Westmoreland commissioner claims county pay raises result of political threat
Westmoreland Commissioner Gina Cerilli on Thursday accused her Republican colleagues of buckling under a threat from the county controller when they granted a series of raises to his staff of auditors. “They should be ashamed,” Cerilli said about a reorganization of the auditing department that included $130,000 in raises handed...
‘Gone too soon’: West Penn Power lineman remembered for acts of kindness at Madison serviceVideo
Dozens of West Penn Power utility trucks and ambulances on Thursday lined Main Street outside of Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison to honor 27-year-old Dillon W. Walton, a utility lineman killed Oct. 21 in a crash on nearby Interstate 70. The overflow crowd of family, friends and co-workers, who parked...
North Huntingdon nursing home posts highest covid-19 cases among private operators in Westmoreland County
A North Huntingdon nursing home appears to have the highest number of coronavirus cases among privately-owned long-term care facilities in Westmoreland County, according to state data. Transitions Healthcare on Barnes Lake Road has reported 91 covid-19 cases among patients and 47 infected staff members since the pandemic reached the region...
Westmoreland County reports 6 new coronavirus deaths, 74 new cases
Westmoreland County added six new coronavirus deaths, continuing a streak of 14 days with at least one new death in the county because of the virus. The six deaths are the most in a single day since May. The county saw five deaths on Wednesday and four on Tuesday. There...
Westmoreland elections officials: ‘Number of residents’ have not received mail-in, absentee ballots
While nearly 50,000 mail-in ballots from Westmoreland voters have been returned to the county’s Election Bureau, a number of residents have not received the mail-in or absentee ballot they requested. County officials said as of Wednesday, 71,852 of 74,648 ballots had been delivered to the U.S. Postal Service to be...
Hempfield supervisors approve preliminary budget with no tax hike, schedule special meeting
Hempfield supervisors this week approved a preliminary budget that does not increase property taxes for the 31st consecutive year. The proposed $13.4 million budget was unanimously approved by supervisors during a public meeting Monday, said township Manager Jason Winters. Supervisors have been discussing the budget for months after the coronavirus...
Coronavirus surge forces Westmoreland schools to decide on in-person, fully remote learning
Under guidelines from the state departments of education and health, school districts in counties with a “substantial” rate of community coronavirus spread are advised to revert to fully remote classes. The decision, however, rests with school districts. The county on Friday marked a second week of “substantial” coronavirus transmission levels...
Signs installed at Live! Casino PittsburghVideo
Weeks before Live! Casino Pittsburgh is scheduled to open at Westmoreland Mall, crews are working on finishing touches that will wrap up a years worth of construction. Signs featuring the trademark red Live! were installed to the side of the former Bon Ton department store in Hempfield on Wednesday, marking...
Driver injured after car crashes into Delmont chiropractic office
One person was injured after a car exited Route 66, jumped a guardrail and crashed into a Delmont chiropractor’s office on Wednesday afternoon. Delmont VFD Chief Don Cline said a female driver on Route 66 hit a pick-up truck, jumped the guardrail at the Greensburg Street intersection and crashed through...
Former Latrobe wrestling coach to serve probation for hazing incident
The former assistant wrestling coach at Greater Latrobe Area Junior High School was sentenced Wednesday to serve two years on probation in connection with hazing allegations. David F. Galando, 44, of Youngstown was charged in May with misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and failing to report potential child abuse allegations...
Cops: Man jailed after assault and failed robbery attempt in Latrobe
A 36-year-old Latrobe man was arrested this week, charged with assault and attempted robbery by city police for allegedly trying to take a woman’s purse early Tuesday. Brandon S. Baradziej also is charged with harassment, public drunkenness, simple assault, terroristic threats and theft, according to court dockets. Officer Mathew Dechicchis...
Steelers, Pitt broadcaster Bill Hillgrove to serve probation to resolve Murrysville DUI case
Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh football and basketball radio broadcaster William T. “Bill” Hillgrove will serve two years on probation after he was arrested in June for a drunken driving incident in Murrysville. Police said Hillgrove, 79, of Murrysville, was intoxicated when he crashed into the front windows at...
