Westmoreland category, Page 600
Witness in trial of New Kensington man admits to buying drugs that killed his friend
A former Oklahoma Borough man told a Westmoreland County jury he knew he couldn’t stick around after he and another man left their unconscious friend across the front seats of his pickup parked in the New Kensington Taco Bell parking lot two years ago. Keith Klingensmith testified he didn’t know...
Belle Vernon man jailed on $50K bond for allegedly possessing child pornography
A tip to the state Attorney General’s child predator unit from Twitter resulted in the arrest Thursday of a Belle Vernon man on child pornography charges. Benjamin D. Powell, 37, was arraigned on three counts of possessing child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility filed...
‘Pearl Jam’ hackers take over Greensburg Aerobics Center Facebook page
A Facebook page belonging to The Aerobic Center at Lynch Field in Greensburg has been hacked, apparently by a company hawking shirts featuring the rock band Pearl Jam. “We’re trying to get it straightened out,” said center general manager Marianne Anzovino. “I’m furious.” Anzovino’s personal page also was hacked, she...
Unity man accused of bilking wedding vendor out of $14K also charged with illegally possessing gunsVideo
While some parents rack up debt paying for weddings, police allege a Unity man pocketed $4,000 on his daughter’s nuptials last month — an alleged scheme that landed him in the county jail. Joseph A. Malago, 48, was arraigned last week on multiple charges of forgery, theft and writing worthless...
Westmoreland County sees highest single-day jump in new coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County saw its highest single-day spike in cases on Thursday, adding 69 new cases, as well as two new deaths, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The county’s total cases are now 2,608 with 2,446 confirmed and 162 probable since the first cases were reported in March. There have...
State police still investigating Route 22 crash in Salem that killed man
A three-vehicle crash last month on Route 22 in Salem that killed an 81-year-old man remains under investigation, according to state police. John H. Meyer of Plum, who was a passenger in a Honda sport utility vehicle driven by his wife, Elinor, 79, was killed in the 10:29 a.m. Sept....
Penn-Trafford High School forms esports team
Penn-Trafford High School is getting into the burgeoning esports scene with the creation of one of the area’s first high school teams. “We understand esports is over a billion-dollar business right now, and is projected to go up to $2 billion,” said Dennis Kosoglow, who oversees the team with fellow...
Murrysville Council explores special tax levy for fire company equipment, repairs
Over the summer and at previous Murrysville Council meetings, Chief Administrator Jim Morrison noted that the municipality will need to identify new revenue sources to provide the same level of services residents now enjoy. That extends to emergency services as well, and council on Wednesday discussed a proposed ordinance to...
Mt. Pleasant gazebo decked out for breast cancer awareness fundraiserVideo
Not long after Val Tressler was diagnosed with breast cancer, she decided she needed to get to work not only helping herself but others as well. “I was diagnosed at 43, and I have a mother I lost to breast cancer and an aunt who is also a survivor,” Tressler...
Hempfield residents asked to give input on 2 proposed township parks
Hempfield residents have an opportunity to give their input on two proposed parks for the township. A survey, posted on the township’s website and Facebook page, allows residents to give their opinion on conceptual plans for parks slated for Walden Court Drive and at a property along Route 136 near...
Allegheny, Westmoreland surpass 2010 census response rates
Despite months of uncertainty surrounding the end date for the census, self-response rates in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties have surpassed 2010 rates. According to a census map, about 72% of people have responded in Allegheny County compared to 71.3% of people a decade ago, while 73.1% of people in Westmoreland...
Hempfield Area kindergarten students return to full-day classes next week
Full-day kindergarten will resume next week as Hempfield Area School District leaders ease into the second phase of their reopening plans. During a committee of the whole meeting this week, Superintendent Tammy Wolicki announced kindergarten students will attend full-day sessions starting Oct. 13. Kindergarten students have been attending half days...
State awards $42K for Ligonier Beach redo; accessibility improvements proposed
Ligonier Township was awarded a $42,500 state grant toward the cost of renovating the former Ligonier Beach swimming pool and restaurant as a recreational site. “It’s nice that we got this funding, but it wasn’t the total amount we wanted,” said Terry Carcella, township manager. While township supervisors have yet...
Mt. Pleasant set to increase weekly in-person instruction from 2 days to 4
Mt. Pleasant Area students next month will be able to double the number of days they receive in-person instruction from district teachers. The school board voted at a special Wednesday meeting to modify the district’s hybrid instructional model, allowing students to report to classrooms four days per week instead of...
Greensburg Salem eyes $230,000 savings with bond refund
The Greensburg Salem School District is hoping to take advantage of rock-bottom interest rates to refund some of its debt, a move that is expected to save about $230,000 over six years. The school board Wednesday unanimously approved borrowing up to $13.25 million and using that money to pay off...
Westmoreland Prison on lockdown as two guards test positive for coronavirus
Two guards at the Westmoreland County Prison tested positive for coronavirus and the Hempfield jail was placed on lockdown status Wednesday. “The prison continues to follow all appropriate and currently recommended protocols to mitigate the spread of covid-19 to keep the employees and prison population safe,” according to a statement...
Norwin closes 5 schools because of coronavirus outbreak
Norwin will close its high school, middle school, intermediate school and Hahntown and Sunset Valley elementary schools because of an outbreak of coronavirus among students, the district said Wednesday afternoon. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said the state Department of Health notified the district Wednesday about five new cases, in addition to...
2 Westmoreland Manor residents dead as coronavirus cases surge, 1 victim identified
Two residents at Westmoreland Manor have died after contracting the coronavirus. County officials reported Wednesday the two deaths as well as another significant increase in the number of infections at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield. Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha confirmed a report that one of the residents who...
Westmoreland County adds 39 more coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County added 39 more coronavirus cases for the second day in a row. The 39 new cases bring the county’s total to 2,539, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. There were no new deaths reported, leaving the county’s total at 57 for the third day. The county added...
Republican fundraiser sparks criticism from candidate in 39th District state Senate race
The Democratic challenger seeking to oust incumbent state Sen. Kim Ward in the 39th District issued a strong rebuke on Wednesday of Ward’s decision to hold a campaign fundraiser last week in which one elected county leader who attended has since tested positive for the coronavirus. Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug...
Westmoreland, Monroeville mall daily hours to increase by an hourVideo
Westmoreland and Monroeville malls soon will extend their hours, which were reduced over the summer to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Shoppers will have an extra hour Monday through Saturday starting Oct. 16, said Stacey Keating, spokeswoman for Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL Properties, which owns both malls. Hours...
Hempfield Manor to be site of Halloween pooches parade this weekend
Costumed dogs are invited to pay a special visit this weekend to the residents of Hempfield Manor. Rodney Little, owner of Youngwood Top Dog Services, decided this year to hold his annual Halloween Doggy Costume Walk outside the personal care facility, rather than at Twin Lakes Park, to brighten the...
Free carbon monoxide detectors available for Jeannette residentsVideo
Jeannette’s career firefighters are using weekly fundraisers to get carbon monoxide detectors into city homes. The Jeannette Firefighter’s Association Local 78 has purchased 50 detectors with $1,000 in donations and a new program connecting them with homes in need is underway. Such detectors are required in rental properties subsidized by...
Murrysville FlexScreen owner enters equity partnership with ‘Shark Tank’ investorVideo
When Joe Altieri was in his Plum garage working on a prototype for a flexible window screen, his vision was to build a successful business. Getting that business, FlexScreen, to the point where he could garner rapid interest from multiple investors on ABC’s “Shark Tank” turned out to be icing...
Level Green, Sunrise elementaries closed as Penn-Trafford coronavirus cases grow
Level Green and Sunrise elementary schools in the Penn-Trafford School District are closed as the number of district students and staff who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased on Wednesday. Superintendent Matt Harris notified parents and staff on Wednesday that five additional coronavirus cases had been reported at Penn-Trafford....
