Westmoreland category, Page 630
East Vandergrift man ordered to trial in assault of girl at Westmoreland Mall
A Greensburg-area teenager tearfully testified Tuesday how a stranger grabbed her by the throat, picked her “off the floor” and threw her to the floor at Westmoreland Mall on Dec. 27 after she replied to an offhand comment he made about her appearance. “After he made the comment to me...
Donegal Township man accused of photographing sex acts with underage girl
A 22-year-old Donegal Township man is jailed on $50,000 bond, charged with multiple counts of photographing sex acts with an underage girl last year. Zachary D. Kastner was arrested by state troopers in Greensburg on two counts of knowingly permitting and photographing sex acts with a juvenile and single counts...
Hempfield moves forward with creation of 2 nonprofit organizationsVideo
Two nonprofit organizations are being created to benefit Hempfield parks and the township’s fire department. Supervisors began the process of creating Friends of Hempfield Parks and the Hempfield Township Fire Relief Organization by voting this week to draw up organizational documents. Friends of Hempfield Parks originally was proposed in January...
State, Westmoreland see drop in OD deaths; Allegheny sees increase
Pennsylvania saw a slight decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2019 for what could be the second consecutive year the number has dropped. The state health department on Tuesday released preliminary data that shows 4,348 people died in Pennsylvania from a drug overdose last year, a 1.7% decrease from 2018...
Latrobe armed robbery suspect being sought by police
Latrobe Police are looking for a man who robbed a gas station at gunpoint Sunday afternoon. The man went inside the BP on Lloyd Avenue at about 3:45 p.m. “He pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money and cigarettes,” said Beth Straka, community service officer. “He forced a...
Hempfield moves forward with proposed zoning changes
Marijuana manufacturing and processing facilities wanting to open up shop in Hempfield are restricted to specific areas of the township. During Monday’s public meeting, supervisors voted to limit where the facilities can open to agricultural, light industrial and heavy industrial zones by special exception. It was one of several changes...
Westmoreland probation office closed in wake of positive coronavirus test
The adult probation office at the Westmoreland County Courthouse was closed Tuesday after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus. Commissioner Doug Chew confirmed the positive test and said the employee had not been at the courthouse since July 21. “It will take 48 hours to sanitize the office and...
Franklin Regional team selected as one of top 18 in country for NASA’s WEAR Challenge
A team of five Franklin Regional Middle School students, led by husband and wife teachers Arthur and Sarah Danny, were selected for phase two of NASA’s WEAR Challenge, in which students must design either a garment or helmet as radiation protection for astronauts on deep space missions. If the team...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new covid-19 death, 14 new cases
Westmoreland County has 14 new coronavirus cases and one new death Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. New reported cases all are confirmed, bringing the county’s covid-19 case total to 1,327. The county started the month with 38 deaths from coronavirus and has not seen more than one...
Westmoreland Symphony musicians plan ‘Live on the Lawn’ concert
A quartet of Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra string musicians will be “Live on the Lawn” Friday on the grounds of the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. The concert, beginning at 7 p.m., features the WSO String Quartet — violinists Dena Miller and Samantha Nelson, Sarah Ferrell on cello and Sasha Shapiro...
Loitering definition debated as Latrobe considers amending rules governing parks
Latrobe Council is considering changing the city’s parks ordinance to prohibit feeding of wildlife in recreational areas. But city officials aren’t so sure about language for addressing loitering. At the city’s agenda meeting Monday , councilman Jim Kelley questioned whether a prohibition against loitering might be interpreted to prevent a...
Sustainability grant helps Derry Area students revive Giving Garden
Recycled scraps from student meals will help grow fresh produce for local food bank recipients in a garden project at Derry Area High School. Spearheaded by members of the school’s Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, the project received a $10,000 sustainability innovation grant sponsored by Coca-Cola. Among close to 2,000 Chick-fil-A academies...
Latrobe eyes plaza update, fee reduction at parking garage
Officials in Latrobe are hoping for a funding assist so they can update aging, patched infrastructure in a small business plaza tucked away next to the municipal parking garage. City manager Michael Gray mentioned the need for renovation at the Courtyard Plaza more than a year ago. Now, he’s recommending...
Westmoreland County allows furloughed workers to pay into pension accounts
Westmoreland County workers furloughed this spring in response to the coronavirus pandemic will have an opportunity to restore their pension benefits. The county’s retirement board on Monday unanimously voted to allow employees who since have returned to their jobs to buy back time lost while off the payroll because of...
Mt. Pleasant woman charged with DUI in Rt. 31 crash that injured 2 pedestrians
State police say a Mt. Pleasant woman was nearly three times over the legal limit of alcohol when she veered off Route 31 early July 3 and struck two pedestrians in Mt. Pleasant Township, seriously injuring one. Elizabeth M. Sirianni, 30, was arraigned Monday on charges of driving under the...
Westmoreland controller does about-face on mask wearing
After more than a week of public shame and praise, Westmoreland County Controller Jeffrey Balzer masked up — and all it took was a text from his daughter. Balzer, the three-term Republican, was both criticized and supported after he was confronted by a citizen just before a public meeting this...
Greensburg prepares for Thursday vice presidential visit
Before he was sworn as Greensburg’s new police chief two weeks ago, Robert Stafford said he hoped the city would remain peaceful. Westmoreland’s county seat has been the site of a few relatively small Black Lives Matters protests against police brutality, in contrast to large and violent protests in Pittsburgh,...
Man accused of sexually assaulting teen at Keystone State Park
A 41-year-old Honduran man is being held without bond in the Westmoreland County Prison after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl while swimming at Keystone State Park in Derry Township. Noe Ivan Soto Alvarez, who lists a local address in Braddock, Allegheny County, was arrested by state police...
Westmoreland officials fear growing jail population could lead to virus outbreak
Westmoreland County Prison officials said Monday they are preparing for the worst as the lockup’s inmate population continues to rise and, with it, the risk for additional coronavirus cases at the jail. Warden John Walton said nearly 160 new inmates have been booked into the county jail during the past...
Mt. Pleasant man accused of operating meth lab in car, resisting arrest jailed on $50K bond
A 34-year-old Mt. Pleasant man allegedly threatened his mother and police as multiple officers arrested him last week after an almost two month-long drug investigation. Joe P. Biller is accused of operating a mobile meth lab out of his car, according to borough police. He’s being held in the county...
Steelers camp cancellation hits Latrobe-area businesses in bottom lineVideo
Saint Vincent College’s Chuck Noll Field looks green and healthy, unlike many other grassy areas in a region still recovering from recent dry weather. One reason for such a prime condition is that no Bearcats athletes have been on the field since the college campus in Unity closed a few...
2 arrested after crystal meth, THC oil found during North Huntingdon traffic stop
More than two ounces of crystal methamphetamine and THC oil were seized from two men during a traffic stop in North Huntingdon last week, according to court papers. Michael B. Keenan, 41, of Youngwood, and Victor A. Gullatta, 29, of Aurora, Ohio, are being held at the Westmoreland County Prison...
Cops: Sewickley Township man strips naked after domestic, standoff with officers
A Sewickley Township man is being held without bail after state police said he stripped naked on his porch Saturday after threatening and attacking family members, according to court papers. Joseph Patrick Gracan, 53, is facing numerous charges including strangulation, aggravated assault and terroristic threats. Police were called to Lowber...
Westmoreland County adds 11 new covid-19 cases
A day after Westmoreland County saw its 10th highest day of new covid-19 cases, just 11 new cases were added Monday. In the same report, the Pennsylvania Department of Health added no new covid-19 deaths to the county’s total of 43. Of the latest batch of individuals testing positive, all...
Antiques on the Avenue sale returning to downtown Greensburg
Antiques on the Avenue returns to downtown Greensburg on Saturday, featuring antiques dealers from Westmoreland, Allegheny and Cambria counties. Dealers will set up from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. along South Pennsylvania Avenue, offering an eclectic mix of items, including stoneware, vintage jewelry, advertising, primitives, vintage linens, vintage holiday decorations...
