Westmoreland category, Page 621
Trees blamed for record power outages across Pennsylvania in 2019, state commission says
The 52 power outages reported across Pennsylvania in 2019 marked a record high since the state Public Utility Commission began collecting reliability data 27 years ago, the agency reported. The “reportable outage events,” mainly caused by severe thunderstorms that downed trees, interrupted service to about 2 million customers statewide, according...
Judge again denies bail for jailed Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez
The offered sale of a $5 million Florida home as collateral to ensure future court appearances of suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez was not enough to convince a judge to release him from jail. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears on Thursday rejected a second request for...
Greensburg Restaurant Week strives to provide ‘sense of normalcy’
Necessity is the mother of invention — or reinvention, in the case of this summer’s Greensburg Restaurant Week, running Monday through Aug. 30. “This Restaurant Week is less about an exclusive dining experience and more about driving business back to restaurants,” said Ashley Kertes, executive director of the Greensburg Community...
Westmoreland County posts 2nd largest covid-19 case increase of August
Westmoreland County added 20 new coronavirus cases Thursday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The new covid-19 cases, 18 confirmed and two probable, represent the second largest case increase in August. The largest increase this month came Aug. 8, when 23 cases were reported. As of Thursday, 96% of...
Black Lives Matter protest, march in Greensburg planned for Thursday evening
A protest planned for Thursday evening in Greensburg sent local police into short-notice preparation mode in the morning after learning about it through social media. The event is billed as a Black Lives Matter protest that will start at 6 p.m. at the Westmoreland County courthouse, followed by a three-block...
After 6 decades, Laurel Ballet founder closes school doors
After more than six decades of training ballet students, Eleanor Tornblom, owner and artistic director of Laurel Ballet in Greensburg, is calling it a career and closing her studio doors. “I’m 83, and I’ve done this all my life,” Tornblom said from her Greensburg home. “It’s over, and that’s a...
Music and food return to The Palace for Greensburg Restaurant Week
The courtyard of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg has been quiet this summer, with the move of the Thursday TGIS concerts to the grounds of the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. But live music — and food — will return during Greensburg Restaurant Week. The Westmoreland Cultural Trust, which operates...
En plein air: Crabtree sunflower field inspires outdoor painting session for local artists
Crabtree, part of Westmoreland County’s rural landscape, is a long way from Italy and its country vistas of vineyards and olive groves. But it didn’t seem that way for some area artists on Wednesday. “It’s beautiful; it looks like Tuscany out here,” said art instructor Doreen Currie of Unity while...
Greensburg introduces new rec programs after fall sports are canceled
The Greensburg Recreation Department is rolling out new fall programs following the cancellation of football, cheerleading and baseball. Soccer will continue as normal, while kickball, Wiffle ball, an after-school program and a hiking program will be added to the schedule. The remaining recreation programs all comply with the state’s coronavirus...
Annual fire prevention night at Westmoreland Mall canceled due to covid-19
The 25th annual Fire Prevention Night hosted by Hempfield has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event typically draws more than 500 people, and about 80 area fire departments are represented. The event is presented by the Hempfield Township Fire Department’s 12 stations and firefighters from Greensburg, South...
Murrysville scales back capital project plans amid pandemic’s financial effects
The effects of the covid-19 pandemic have thrown budgets of all types into upheaval, and Murrysville is no exception. On Wednesday night, Finance Director Diane Heming detailed how the municipality’s five-year capital-improvement plan was scaled back in light of pandemic-related financial projections, including a sharp decline in state money raised...
Grant adds water tank, litter carrier to Bradenville firefighters’ all-terrain vehicleVideo
Bradenville firefighters respond to an average of at least 20 brush fires per year on Derry Ridge. Recent improvements to their utility task vehicle mean they’ll have more water and other resources at hand when they’re called to the next emergency on the Derry Township ridge. A $12,500 grant from...
Norwin schools estimated repair tab: $15M – $17M
Norwin officials were told this week that — based on a master facilities study — between $15.4 million and $17 million is needed in the immediate future for repairs to the district’s buildings, stadium and pavement. All of Norwin’s four elementary schools, along with the intermediate, middle and high schools,...
Woman accused of choking prospective witness inside Westmoreland County Courthouse
A 47-year-old woman was arrested at the Westmoreland County Courthouse Wednesday on charges of assaulting and choking a woman who was to testify against her in a custody dispute, according to court documents. Rhonda L. Cathers, 47, of Daisytown, Washington County, was arrested by county park police in the courthouse...
Volunteers give Trafford fence a makeover
A handful of volunteers answered the Trafford Business Association’s call for helping hands Saturday morning at 427 Cavitt Ave. In a little more than four hours, they brightened up the block by improving a fence on the property of Klassy Bar and Grill. The ad hoc work crew cut and...
Principals in alleged drug smuggling at Westmoreland County Prison ordered to trial
When investigators listened in on inmates’ telephone calls during an 18-month probe into alleged drug smuggling at the Westmoreland County Prison, they often heard inmates referring to “spicy chicken,” “deuce” or “papers.” But the conversations weren’t referring to food, card games or legal paperwork. It was code that a delivery...
Pa. Supreme Court delays considering appeal of former Westmoreland Sheriff Jonathan Held
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court put on hold the appeal of Westmoreland County’s former sheriff, who is seeking the dismissal of two criminal offenses related to allegations of public corruption. The court this week said it will delay a decision on whether it will consider the appeal in the pending case...
Community groups can now mail naloxone under new Pa. standing order
Naloxone can now be mailed by community groups to anyone who wants the opioid overdose antidote under an updated standing order. State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine signed the updated order Tuesday that makes the change to allow for easier access while restrictions are in place related to the...
Pennsylvania troopers take on roles helping communities, police with racially charged crimes
Two Pennsylvania state troopers with a penchant for connecting communities with police officers are taking on full-time roles that will entrench them in the local area. Greensburg native Cpl. Aaron Allen and Trooper Ismail El-Guemra of the Carlisle area will work with community groups, police agencies and local residents in...
Westmoreland County adds 18 new coronavirus cases, 1 new death
Westmoreland County added 18 new coronavirus cases and one death, according to data from the Pennsylvania Health Department. The new positive cases bring the county’s total to 1,658, with 1,608 confirmed and 50 probable. There have been 49 deaths in the county, with three in August. State data shows that...
Westmoreland community happenings include meals, movies and more
Church news These activities are planned at Community Church of Hecla, 537 Hecla Road, Southwest:Vera Bradley bingo, 2 p.m. Aug. 30. Doors open at 1 p.m. Light lunch will be available.Turkey dinner, 4-7 p.m. Sept. 12. Takeout available. Information: 724-396-8065 or 724-244-2586 Classes These classes and programs start during September...
Educators hope to attract more adult students to free machining coursesVideo
When Ken Pedder was in high school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do as a career. “I really had no direction or plans,” Pedder said. Eventually, he applied to Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center. He was looking to follow somewhat in the footsteps of his father, a...
Greensburg Salem administrator to take on principal role at Mountain View Elementary
Greater Latrobe School Board looked to neighboring Greensburg Salem School District to fill a vacant elementary principal slot. The board on Tuesday agreed to hire Lindsay Scarpo, associate principal at Greensburg Salem’s Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary, to serve as the new principal of Greater Latrobe’s Mountain View Elementary. Scarpo, who...
Greater Latrobe secondary students to begin fall with partial online instruction in revised plan
Greater Latrobe’s latest fall instructional plan calls for elementary students to return to their classrooms five days per week while secondary students will begin the academic year under a hybrid model that will provide just two days per week of in-person learning. The school board approved the plan Tuesday. Originally,...
Mt. Pleasant school officials turn down PTO offer to buy, install air conditioning at elementaries
Mt. Pleasant school officials appreciate an offer from the parent-teacher organization to buy air-conditioning units for its three elementary schools, but according to the school board president, it’s one project too many right now. “Any new work done in these classrooms could delay the work already being done in the...
