Westmoreland category, Page 637
Low water brings rare glimpse of old bridge and Pa. Canal at Conemaugh River Lake
Low water levels in the Conemaugh River Lake have exposed some archaeological artifacts: abutments to a railroad bridge and remnants of the Pennsylvania Canal system from the 1800s. The artifacts in the Conemaugh River Lake, straddling Indiana and Westmoreland counties just east of Saltsburg, were visible over the July Fourth...
Norwin forming reopening plan, to present to board later this month
Norwin officials expect to give the school board later this month a final plan for reopening the schools, and distribute that plan to students’ parents the first week of August. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he is “very confident” that students will be able to return to the school buildings in...
23 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County but no new deaths
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 23 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County. The numbers bring the countywide case total to 975. The death total remains at 39. The department had reported 35 new cases Friday, 21 new cases Thursday, 33 on Wednesday, 35...
State police staked out Felipe Vazquez after Pirates game at PNC Park in 2019
In an effort to find where in Pittsburgh the Pirates once-heralded relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez lived, state police staked out PNC Park last year and a trooper followed him as he left the stadium, according to testimony. Vazquez got the final four outs, three by strikeout, in the Pirates’ 9-4...
Powdermill Nature Reserve gets $1M grant toward new avian center, research
A $1 million Richard King Mellon Foundation grant will help Powdermill Nature Reserve construct a new Avian Research Center while expanding related activities and programs. The two-year grant includes $700,000 for the new center, which should cover about a third of the project’s cost, according to John Wenzel, director of...
Beloved clergyman assumes the mantle of leadership at Saint Vincent Archabbey
Although it may have triggered adjustments, even a pandemic couldn’t halt the passing of the baton Friday as the Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel accepted the mantle of leadership at the Saint Vincent Archabbey. The majestic tones of the pipe organ filled the soaring Saint Vincent Basilica in Unity as...
Westmoreland, surrounding counties, will not see new dining, bar restrictions over weekend
Westmoreland and surrounding southwestern Pennsylvania counties received a reprieve — for the weekend, at least — on new restrictions that would have temporarily halted indoor dining and drinking in an attempt to slow increased covid-19 cases. County officials received word that Gov. Tom Wolf would not announce any new restrictions...
Franklin Regional looks to unify online learning with Schoology system
Google Classroom and a patchwork of other educational tools helped Franklin Regional staff and students through the final months of a hectic school year. But district administrators are looking to bring all of those tools into the same shed for students who may be learning from home in the coming...
Irwin business owner perseveres pandemic shutdowns to add Dog spot to her Cat shop
Chrys Sebula knew exactly how she wanted her new store to look. She planned to set up her hand-painted glassware and slate pieces around an empty Irwin storefront that would be connected to Curious Cat, her longtime Main Street country market, gift and craft shop. Sebula aimed for an April...
2nd Westmoreland County worker tests positive for the coronavirus
A second positive case of the new coronavirus was reported in a Westmoreland County employee on Thursday, according to human resources director Amanda Bernard. That employee did not have contact with anyone in the 48 hours prior to developing symptoms, Bernard said. She would not say in what department or...
Parents sue Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild over mask requirements
The parents of four children with medical conditions are suing Kennywood, Sandcastle Waterpark and Idlewild & SoakZone, contending their ownership violated federal law and Pennsylvania Health Department coronavirus orders by requiring all patrons to wear face masks. The federal lawsuit contends that Palace Entertainment, parent company of the parks, has...
Police continue probe of fatal motorcycle crash July 4 in Hempfield
State police are investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist July 4 on Route 66 in Hempfield. Charles L Burkholder Jr., 67, of Acme, died of his injuries Monday at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, where he was taken after the 9:45 p.m. crash, according to the Allegheny County Medical...
New Florence road to close for railroad maintenance
A section of Huff Road in New Florence will be closed for work on a railroad crossing beginning Wednesday. The road will be closed at 8 a.m., between Power Plant Road and Route 711, so Norfolk Southern Railroad crews can do crossing maintenance. PennDOT will detour motorists using Power Plant...
Unity OKs plan for new Adelphoi girls’ housing
Adelphoi will be allowed to add a new housing facility for at-risk girls at its main campus in Unity. Township supervisors this week approved a site plan for Middle Creek IV, a proposed 7,500-square-foot building for housing up to 15 girls on the nonprofit’s campus, which straddles Unity and the...
Murrysville Woman’s Club awards $7,750 in scholarships
The Murrysville Woman’s Club awarded $7,750 in annual scholarships to Westmoreland County women seeking to further their education. The club on July 8 presented scholarships to Heather Lake of New Alexandria, Bobbi McVay of Greensburg and Jenna Maroadi of North Huntingdon. The club, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2020,...
Franklin Regional athletic director: Prepping for fall sports ‘an uphill battle’
A meeting is planned next week between regional and state high school sports officials and athletic directors “to discuss possible alternatives, like moving fall sports to the spring season and thinking outside the box in ways we haven’t before,” Franklin Regional Athletics Director Zach Kessler said. Kessler called the challenges...
35 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday reported 35 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County. The numbers bring the countywide case total to 952 and death total to 39. That includes 26 probable cases. Probable cases are “patients who have a positive serology test and either...
Franklin Regional school board approves reopening, health-and-safety plans
Franklin Regional school board members have a plan for reopening school in the fall with proper health and safety measures in place. “We see this as our starting point,” said Jennifer DiFulvio, special services supervisor. “Now that we have this plan, we need to figure out as an administrative team...
Calls, writings led police to search for guns on property of Unity man linked to Cassandra Gross disappearance
Jailhouse phone calls and writings from Thomas George Stanko, who has been linked to the disappearance of Cassandra Gross, led state police to find 17 guns on his property and in a storage unit, according to search warrants released this week. The warrants detail conversations that troopers believe were in...
Horsing around in Salem
Graystone Equestrian Center in Salem Township hosted a summer camp for youth riders this week. The camp, which ran Monday through Friday, was for advanced riders and included instruction on riding and grooming. The children, ages 10 and up, also got to see demonstrations and participated in arts, crafts and...
The Nest co-owner welcomed diners at Jeannette restaurant with friendly nature, flair for decor
Toni Nestico was a familiar, friendly face at The Nest Restaurant in Jeannette, where she served seafood dishes to customers for close to 30 years and was co-owner of the establishment, with her husband. “People loved her,” said her daughter, Alana, who used to wait tables at the restaurant along...
Prantl’s Bakery adds pina colada to famous burnt almond torte family
If you like pina coladas … getting caught in the torte. Prantl’s is the bakery you’re looking for. The popular bakery has a new burnt almond torte flavor — pina colada. “We are always looking for ways to expand the Prantl’s torte family,” said John Felice, the bakery’s owner. “We’ve...
Investigators widen scope of drug smuggling scheme at Westmoreland prison
Investigators are looking at more potential suspects in a scheme authorities said used legal mail to deliver drugs into the Westmoreland County Prison. County Detective James Williams said Thursday his investigation, which already has resulted in 14 arrests, could expand. He declined to elaborate. “There’s other individuals I’m looking at...
Greensburg man sentenced 22-to-44 months for Walmart robbery
A Greensburg man who held up the Walmart in Hempfield earlier this year pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to serve 22-to-44 months in state prison. Christopher J. Hilty, 31, appeared before Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. Bilik-DeFazio also ordered Hilty to...
Westmoreland County sees 21 new covid-19 cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday reported 21 new covid-19 cases and no new deaths in Westmoreland County, bringing the countywide case total to 917 and death total to 39. That includes 27 probable cases. Probable cases are “patients who have a positive serology test and either covid-19 symptoms...
