Westmoreland category, Page 635
Westmoreland planning department leader shifts to redevelopment authority, land bank
Brian Lawrence won’t move his belongings far when he assumes his new role as executive director of Westmoreland County’s redevelopment authority and land bank. The 37-year-old Greensburg resident, a 10-year veteran of the county’s planning department, will run the agencies that oversee community revitalization, programs to remove blight and improve...
Judge pushes Excela, doctors to resolve pending stent lawsuits
A Westmoreland County judge on Wednesday ordered Excela Health and two of its former cardiac doctors to engage in settlement talks and mediation to resolve 35 outstanding lawsuits filed by patients who contended they received unnecessary stents. Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway during a conference with lawyers for patients, the...
Idlewild to close on Tuesdays, Wednesdays for rest of summer
Idlewild Park and Soak Zone are scaling back their operating hours for the summer. The Ligonier Township amusement park announced Wednesday that the park would close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the rest of the summer, effective next week. As we continue learning about how COVID-19 impacts us, we have...
West Jeannette will get spruced up, thanks to canceled mission trip
When a New York City mission trip for 30 area middle schoolers had to be canceled earlier this year, Cornerstone Ministries Pastor Joel Guinen looked closer to home to make a difference. The group will be embarking on a week-long “Mission Home” cleanup project in West Jeannette, targeting a playground,...
‘Friendly Fire’ rye whiskey on sale this weekend at Fort LigonierVideo
When Fort Ligonier Museum supporters were naming a special-edition rye whiskey to debut at a 2019 fundraiser, they looked no farther than the Ligonier museum’s own Washington Gallery. A painting there depicts a 26-year-old George Washington’s “friendly fire” incident in 1758 that nearly claimed the life of the then-Virginia colonel....
21 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
There are 21 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Wednesday. The new cases come from 527 tests, representing a 3.98% positivity rate for those cases. All of the new cases are confirmed. The county case total now stands at 1,054,...
Greensburg lifts limits on food trucks, hopes more business rolls into city
Speal’s on Wheels was one of the first food trucks to operate in Greensburg, with owner Terry Speal serving late-night grub to college crowds in the city since 2016. High registration fees and limited hours kept most food truck operators out, but that just meant less competition for Speal. “The...
The Westmoreland invites essential workers to reopening preview
Prior to reopening to the public on Aug. 5, The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will welcome members and essential workers to an exclusive reopening weekend Aug. 1-2. The special hours at the Greensburg facility are “a way to say thanks to members for supporting the Museum during the temporary...
Forbes State Forest programs include snakes, hikes and more
These public programs will take place during July and August in Forbes State Forest: • Spruce Flats Bog Tour, 10-11 a.m. Saturday. Learn about the history of this unusual mountain wetland and its interesting plants. Come prepared for an easy, ½-mile, round-trip walk. Registration is limited to 5 participants. •...
New program for young Pennsylvania farmers aims to pump new blood into aging agriculture industry
Adam Mason and his wife, Katie, are in the process of buying a 106-acre farm in Allegheny Township, where they hope to raise chickens, turkeys, pigs and cattle. “It’s a dream come true,” Mason, a 35-year-old California native, said of his plans to own a farm. Mason, who is raising...
Jeannette City planning in-person learning, virtual academy for 2020-21 school year
Parents of Jeannette City School District students will get to decide whether their child has instruction in-person or virtually during the 2020-21 school year. School board members this week approved the district’s reopening plan, which includes daily temperature monitoring of students and staff upon entry to buildings as officials navigate...
Westmoreland community events: July 15
Sale St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Wilpen is holding an ethnic food sale. The event is take-out only and items may be ordered through Aug. 14. Pick-up date is Aug. 30. Items available are: halpuki, $25 for a dozen, $15 for a half dozen; $8 for ethnic platter...
Farmers markets adjusting covid-19 restrictions
In this time of covid-19 restrictions, farmers markets have joined other businesses in modifying their operations. “We’re following the state requirements for keeping social distance and asking everyone to wear masks,” said Randy Morris, a Sewickley Township farmer who organizes the Irwin Farmers Market. About 24 vendors sell fresh produce,...
Apple ‘n Arts plans to scale back fall festival
While a final decision has not been made yet, organizers for the annual Apple ’n Arts Festival are considering paring it back to an apple cider drive-thru this year due to the covid-19 pandemic and the ever-evolving health and safety guidelines associated with it. Festival officials on Tuesday night laid...
Murrysville nature reserve gains 26 acres through land swap
The Westmoreland Conservancy’s King Reserve natural area has gained 26 acres through a land swap with the neighboring Crowfoot Rod and Gun Club in Murrysville. Conservancy President Shelly Tichy said the club added 6 acres near its trap range in exchange for 32 acres, which expands the reserve to 122...
Penn State New Ken instructor the next Women of Alle Kiski Engaging speaker
Communication is important in all aspects of life. It might be even more so during a coronavirus pandemic. “Society has become so focused on the question ‘What’s in it for me?’ that we are almost paralyzed when it comes to interpersonal communication,” said Cathi Gerhard, lecturer at Penn State New...
Rostraver bridge project plans available online through end of July
PennDOT will conduct a virtual display of plans for a bridge rehabilitation project on Vance Dei Cas Highway in Rostraver. The plans will be posted online at the PennDOT District 12 website from Friday through July 31. Work on the bridge is slated to begin in September, with completion expected...
Arnold man in jail for 3 years while awaiting trial seeks release on bond
An Arnold man who has been in jail for more than three years as he awaits his murder trial will appear before a Westmoreland County judge next week to ask for his freedom. Cashaan Williams, 21, has been behind bars since May 2017 after his two $50,000 bonds were revoked...
State police seek whereabouts of woman last seen at Unity airport
State police continue to seek the whereabouts of an intellectually disabled Hempfield woman last seen at the Arnold Palmer Airport in Unity over Memorial Day weekend. Alexandra Cycyk, 26, was last seen at the airport boarding a bus for Pittsburgh on May 25. She is 5-foot-1-inch tall and 125 pounds...
WCCC seeks students to become dealers for soon-to-be Hempfield casino
Blackjack games, roulette wheels and a craps table soon will fill an empty space inside Westmoreland Mall, though not as part of the casino being built in the former Bon-Ton store. Instead, the first-floor space vacated by Barbara Ann’s Country Home Furnishings, which moved upstairs, will become a mock casino...
Salem man pleads guilty to dozens of theft charges, gets probation
A Salem man who police said used bogus checks to purchase electronics, power tools and music equipment in three states and throughout southwestern Pennsylvania pleaded guilty Tuesday to dozens of theft and conspiracy charges. Paul E. Chonko. 42, was sentenced to serve five years on probation and ordered to repay...
Free covid-19 testing available in Greensburg next week
Greensburg residents wanting to be tested for covid-19 will soon have another option available to them. The Community Health Clinic at 218 South Maple Ave. is offering free covid-19 testing beginning the week of July 20. The testing will be available to all community members. People with and without symptoms...
Westmoreland to seek applications for first $5M in virus grants for small businesses, nonprofits
Westmoreland County will soon start the process to award $31.5 million in federal funds earmarked for grants to small businesses and nonprofit agencies impacted by the coronavirus. Commissioners said an initial round of funding will allocate $5 million each to small businesses and nonprofits that have yet to see any...
Nightly turnpike ramp closures to begin in New Stanton
The ramp for motorists heading from southbound Route 119 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange at New Stanton will be subject to nighttime closures for repairs beginning Wednesday. The nightly closures will be from 7 p.m. to about 6 a.m. and are expected to continue through July 25, depending on weather...
Cops: Man tried to hide over 4 bricks of heroin in toilet in North Huntingdon
A Greensburg man accused of selling drugs out of a North Huntingdon home attempted to hide more than four bricks of heroin from police inside a toilet tank by wrapping it in plastic and attaching it to a shoe string, police said. Troy V. Jackson, 53, was arrested on multiple...
