Westmoreland category, Page 632
Hempfield cancels summer concert series, movies in the park
Hempfield’s new amphitheater will sit empty this summer after township officials canceled their annual concert and movie series. “We do not feel we could adequately meet the social distancing requirements and large group gatherings that are currently in play and we do not want any additional expenses on us at...
Ligonier Country Market, Bloomfield Saturday Market vie for top national spots
Ligonier Country Market is in the running for two top spots in a poll of America’s most essential farmers markets. The poll is being conducted by the American Farmland Trust, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and conservation of farmland and ranchland. Currently, the Ligonier market tops...
Storm causes flooding in Derry basementsVideo
Jerris Weller stood in the storm water and sewer water that had flooded the finished basement of his Derry Borough home Thursday night, a sump pump pushing the water outside almost as fast as a shower drain and floor drain was filling it up again. “This is a repeated problem...
Franklin Regional plans 2-phase graduation ceremony for Friday
Franklin Regional seniors will get an opportunity to walk onto the Panther Stadium field as part of a two-phase graduation ceremony set for Friday evening in Murrysville. The first ceremony, scheduled to start at 5 p.m., will be for students whose last name begins with A through K. A second...
Officals: Pending closure of Penn Township district judge’s office is unwarranted
A proposal to close district justice offices in Penn Township and Mt. Pleasant remains unchanged as part of a revamped consolidation plan expected to be released in the coming weeks, officials said. Westmoreland County Court Administrator Amy DeMatt said officials reviewed about two dozen comments filed in the last month,...
$12.25M in state loans paying for wastewater, stormwater projects in Westmoreland County
About $12.25 million will be coming to Westmoreland County for wastewater and stormwater projects, the state announced Wednesday. The Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority and the City of Arnold got loans for wastewater projects, while Penn Township received a loan for a stormwater project. The money was part of $66 million...
Westmoreland water officials hope goats are solution to invasive weedsVideo
Goats could be a key factor in ridding Beaver Run Reservoir property of an invasive weed that is hindering tree growth around the drinking water source. Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials, with the help of a Saint Vincent College student and professor, are studying how goats react to the...
High-speed police chase ends in Ligonier Township when suspect crashesVideo
A high-speed police chase spanning two counties ended Tuesday when a stolen vehicle the suspect was driving slammed into cars parked at a Ligonier Township restaurant, according to authorities. Gary Austin Blough, 18, of Johnstown nearly hit two vehicles head-on during the westbound pursuit on Route 30, according to court...
Mt. Lebanon, Greater Latrobe ranked top school districts in Pittsburgh area, Westmoreland
Greater Latrobe is tops in Westmoreland County and among the best school districts across the state, according to the latest rankings in several categories on Niche.com. The Pittsburgh-based site calculates its rankings based on reviews by students and parents and data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with factors...
Loyalhanna Watershed’s Harvest Dinner adopts outdoor dining, taps market vendors
The annual Farm-to-Table Harvest Dinner at the Loyalhanna Watershed Farm is changing its format this summer, offering an al fresco and a la carte experience. Past dinners have been served family-style at the farm’s Nimick Family Education Center. Executive Director Susan Huba said covid-19 social distancing guidelines prompted the Loyalhanna...
Westmoreland County sees 21 new coronavirus cases, 1 new death
Westmoreland County saw 21 new coronavirus cases and one new death, according to data released Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The death toll attributed to covid-19 in Westmoreland County grew to 41. The county has seen 1,214 cases overall, with 1,180 confirmed and 34 probable. It’s the 22nd...
Former Jeannette man killed during S.C. robbery attempt
A Jeannette native was killed during an attempted robbery this month in Charleston, S.C. Thomas DiLorenzo, 63, was fatally shot Friday by two teenagers, ages 15 and 16, who demanded money as he and his wife walked downtown, the Post and Courier reported. Police called the shooting an “anomaly” that...
Westmoreland Ballet Company plans ‘The Nutcracker’ film based in Greensburg
Westmoreland Ballet Company is seeking dancers and other community partners for a film version of the beloved holiday classic, “The Nutcracker.” “Incorporating area artists, musicians, performers, community members and business owners, the film will highlight Greensburg and surrounding towns,” according to the recently established company. Filming will begin in September....
Pennsylvania hopes to encourage 10,000 landowners to create stream-side buffersVideo
The riparian buffer at the headwaters of Steele’s Run in Murrysville mostly offers aesthetic benefits. But, each year, its physical value will continue to grow as it protects the cold-water fishery stream from erosion, provides shade, cools the stream and offers a habitat for native wildlife. Officials with the state’s...
$10K reward offered for information in shooting death of Derry Township woman
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information about who fired a gun outside a Derry Township home Monday, killing a woman inside. Anyone with information about the death of Tracy Marie Squib, 52, can contact the nonprofit organization anonymously by phone at 800-4PA-TIPS or through an online...
State police seize about 500 pounds of suspected marijuana during New Stanton traffic stop
Two central Pennsylvania men were arrested Tuesday in New Stanton after state police said they found about 500 pounds of suspected marijuana inside a pickup truck, according to court papers. Chad Ryan Stephens, 31, of Cumberland County, and Sean Michael McCaleb, 32, of Perry County, are being held in the...
Police: Bricks thrown at vehicles from North Belle Vernon I-70 overpass
State police are investigating after bricks were thrown at two vehicles from an overpass on Interstate 70 in North Belle Vernon earlier this month. Troopers said two eastbound tractor-trailer drivers reported the incidents on July 7 at 1:45 and 1:50 a.m. One man had minor injuries from the shattered glass...
Norwin to unveil reopening plan July 30
With 5,300 Norwin students scheduled to return in about a month, district administrators will inform the school board next week about how they plan to do that safely. Norwin will have “a number of contingencies and we will discuss them in detail,” said Superintendent Jeff Taylor. Those contingencies will depend,...
Greater Latrobe proposes return to classrooms in green or yellow pandemic phasesVideo
Greater Latrobe School District reaffirmed its preference for returning to in-person instruction for all students and clarified mask-wearing requirements in an updated plan for reopening its schools this fall. The school board approved the plan Tuesday. It will be submitted to state officials and posted on the district’s website. Under...
Westmoreland offering signing bonuses to beef up Manor nursing staff
Westmoreland Manor will again offer bonuses to attract new nurses to the county-owned nursing home. Officials said there are 23 nursing vacancies at the home — and with hospitals, independent care facilities and other health care institutions looking to hire — officials said the additional cash is needed to attract...
Westmoreland County jail reports 2nd covid-19 case, tests 17 more inmates
A second inmate at Westmoreland County Prison has tested positive for coronavirus. Warden John Walton said Tuesday that routine testing of newly booked quarantined inmates confirmed the positive result on July 17, a week after that person entered the Hempfield facility. “This person was asymptomatic,” Walton said. Prison officials confirmed...
Irwin man charged with assaulting girl
A 37-year-old Irwin man is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2019, according to court documents. Justin M. Hartung of Ninth Street allegedly inappropriately touched the girl, who was younger than age 13 at the time, and exposed himself to her at an Irwin residence during the winter...
19 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
There were 19 new coronavirus cases reported in Westmoreland County on Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The new reported covid-19 cases follow a recent trend for the county, where cases have ranged from 18 to 21 reported per day over the last four days. No new deaths were...
South Greensburg councilman pleads guilty to citation after fireworks incident
A South Greensburg councilman pleaded guilty Monday to a disorderly conduct citation filed by state police regarding a fireworks complaint, according to court records. George Cole, 53, paid $262.25 in fines and costs on the summary offense. Troopers were called to Oak Street July 11 after neighbors reported fireworks were...
Jeannette City Hall closed after employee tests positive for the coronavirus
A Jeannette city employee tested positive for the coronavirus, according to solicitor Tim Witt. City hall will be closed to the public until further notice for cleaning and disinfecting, he said. Officials learned of the positive test Monday. Witt said the employee is being treated and doing well. “Unfortunately, municipal...
