Westmoreland category, Page 654
Hempfield students perform virtual chorus, art showsVideo
Students at Harrold Middle School in Hempfield weren’t going to let the coronavirus pandemic cancel their chorus concert. The show much go on, as they say. But rather than packing into an auditorium and risking exposure to parents, staff and students, chorus teacher Dan Lauritzen had students record themselves singing...
Laurelville announces day camp launch on June 22
Laurelville Retreat Center will offer week-long day camps for children ages 5-12 beginning June 22 as the region moves into green status. Although sleep-away camp sessions have been canceled for the summer, a camp spokeswoman said day camp events — which have been fashioned to meet CDC guidelines — will...
Western Pennsylvania restaurants team to benefit Westmoreland County Food Bank
Order to-go items from some Pittsburgh restaurants next week and you will help feed others at the same time. Takeout Tuesday is June 2 and area eateries will be donating 15% to 25% of proceeds from sales that day to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The promotion is being organized...
Cops: Southwest Greensburg man accused in stabbing
A Southwest Greensburg man was arraigned this week on charges of aggravated and simple assault for allegedly stabbing a man earlier this year. Jason M. Walters, 37, spent Thursday night in the county prison, but was released Friday after posting $100,000 obtained from a bail bondsman. Police were called to...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new coronavirus case, no new deaths
One new covid-19 case was reported in Westmoreland County on Friday, bringing the countywide total to 444. No new deaths were reported. That leaves the countywide total at 38, according to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Allegheny County reported 19 additional cases of the coronavirus Friday, bringing...
Community, fire departments turn out to honor late Delmont Chief Rich Balik
The funeral service for Rich Balik, Delmont’s fire chief, was held Friday at P. David Newhouse Funeral Home in New Alexandria. Balik, 47, a longtime firefighter with several departments in Westmoreland County, died unexpectedly Saturday. He was found unresponsive at his home and apparently died of cardiac arrest on the...
Southbound Route 119 reopened in East Huntingdon following 2-vehicle crash
Route 119 is partially closed in East Huntingdon Township following a crash involving a PennDOT truck, Westmoreland County emergency officials said. The southbound lanes of Route 119 are closed near its intersection with Routes 981 and 31 following a crash reported shortly before 11 a.m. The crash involved a PennDOT...
Paint a rainbow to benefit Irwin Rotary food program
Artists of all ages and experience levels are invited to create rainbow paintings to be displayed at Feathers Artist Market and Gifts in Irwin. Pieces submitted for “Project Rainbow” then will be auctioned to benefit Irwin Rotary’s Care & Share Pantry, which provides food to community members in need. Paintings...
Westmoreland leaders pleased to move to green phase next week
County leaders expressed relief Friday to learn Westmoreland soon will move into the green phase of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that Westmoreland is one of 16 additional counties in the region, including Allegheny, that will move from the yellow to green phase June 5....
Hempfield waives temporary tent permit fee to help businesses during pandemic
Hempfield businesses can receive a temporary tent permit from the township without paying a fee. The offer is an attempt to help businesses move products outdoors to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Township supervisors this week unanimously agreed to waive the $350 fee until Dec. 31. Supervisor Tom...
Ligonier Country Market plans crafters’ return, new night event
Craft vendors will set up shop again at the weekly Ligonier Country Market beginning June 6. “(Their return) signals the next step in us returning the market to full operation in light of the pandemic,” said LCM executive director Cari Frei. “Offering everything from handmade jewelry and wood crafts to...
1 hurt in Unity crash
One person was hurt in a crash in Unity Thursday night, the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety said. A person was was ejected from a vehicle involved in the crash at 8:50 p.m. and a landing zone for a medical helicopter was being set up near the scene of...
200-year-old log house gets new life at Hanna’s Town
Log by giant log, painstakingly lifted by a crane and laid in place, the ends notched with a chainsaw to make them fit snugly, about a dozen craftsmen and volunteers are rebuilding a roughly 200-year-old log house that will fit right in with the other log houses at Historic Hanna’s...
Sewickley Township man accused of sexual abuse is denied bail
A Sewickley Township man will remain in jail as he awaits trial on charges that he repeatedly molested a young girl. David Lee Hresko, 33, was charged last year with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of...
Westmoreland County still needs poll workers for Tuesday’s primary election
With five days left before the June 2 presidential primary, Westmoreland County still needs to fill poll worker jobs at dozens of precincts. County officials last week announced it needed to fill as many as 100 jobs at the polls. While many of those positions have since been filled, vacancies...
Suspended Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez also faces child porn charges in St. Louis
St. Louis authorities on Thursday confirmed that suspended Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez is charged with sending pornographic pictures of himself to a minor last summer. Documents provided by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said Vazquez was charged in February with one count of furnishing pornographic materials to a...
Virginia State Police pursuing leads in killing of Herminie man
Virginia State Police are pursuing multiple leads in the weekend stabbing death of a Westmoreland County man whose body was found in a rural ditch near an I-77 exit ramp, authorities said Thursday. “We’ve received a number of telephone tips we’re still continuing to follow up on,” said First Sgt....
100 free spaghetti dinners to be handed out in Grapeville
Debbie Huey is following in her parents’ footsteps by making her mark in the local community. Owner of Angelo’s Cucina & Catering in Hempfield’s Grapeville neighborhood, Huey is offering 100 free spaghetti dinners next week thanks to donations from Candy’s Corner Deli in Jeannette and Ken Tomajko, owner of Tomajko...
Westmoreland County reports 1 new coronavirus case, no new deaths
One new covid-19 case was reported in Westmoreland County on Thursday, bringing the countywide total to 443. No new deaths were reported. The countywide total was unchanged at 38. The number of confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus in Allegheny County increased by 23 to 1,851. No new deaths...
Hempfield revenues behind about $400,000 for year because of pandemic
Hempfield is behind in revenues by more than $400,000 compared with this time last year, township officials said. The coronavirus pandemic has hit global and local economies, forcing businesses to temporarily shutter to help curb the spread of the virus and leaving people out of work. In Hempfield, the revenue...
Hempfield man dies of injuries suffered in apartment fire
A Hempfield man died this week from burns suffered in a fire inside his apartment, state police said. Michael J. Serafin, 66, died Tuesday in UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he was flown after the blaze around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, said fire marshal Trooper Keith J. Sobecki. Serafin lived alone in...
Pennsylvania pools are allowed to open, but some may choose to stay closed
The water is being filled. Come next week, splashing and fun — socially distanced, of course — should return to Youngwood Park N Pool. “Once the chemicals are balanced, we’ll be ready to open,” said Ed Christofano, president of the Westmoreland County pool. “We’re excited.” The Youngwood pool will be...
Police say Latrobe man fled after car chase without clothes on
State police are seeking a Latrobe man they say led them on a chase and then fled the scene without his clothes on. State policein at Greensburg are seeking John Mekic, 34, of Latrobe in connection with a report of a man undressing in his car on Andrew Lane in...
Proposed Greensburg Salem budget cuts staff instead of raising taxes
The Greensburg Salem School District would lose two teachers and eliminate several positions through attrition if a proposed budget is adopted to hold the line on taxes while making up for projected revenue losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The school board held a virtual special meeting this week to...
9 Westmoreland locations will provide free meals through summer food program
Nine sites in Westmoreland County will serve free meals to children this summer through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program. Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Pennsylvania children received more than 4.5 million meals in 2019 from approximately 2,400 food program sites, with $13.5 million in...
