Westmoreland category, Page 656
Motorcyclist injured in Loyalhanna crash
A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a one vehicle-crash Sunday in Loyalhanna Township, according to state police. Randy P. Yachere, 56, of Garrett, Somerset County, lost control of a Harley-Davidson on Route 981 at 3 p.m. and hit a guiderail and tree, troopers said. He was thrown from the motorcycle....
Allegheny, Westmoreland courts prepping for safe return to more normal schedules
The ornate courtroom occupied by Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani has for decades been a frequent tour stop for visitors at the century-old courthouse building in Greensburg. Ornate plaster, colorful paintings on the ceiling and dark wood moldings now have new company in the age of the coronavirus pandemic —...
In person and on the web, local Memorial Day services honor fallen warriors’ sacrificesVideo
Social distancing held in-person attendance at Monday morning’s Sutersville Memorial Day service to little more than 20. But others were able to pay their respects to the town’s service members, past and present, from afar by viewing a livestream of the annual ceremony at the honor roll next to the...
1 new coronavirus case reported in Westmoreland
Westmoreland County on Monday reported one new covid-19 case, but no new deaths. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said 441 people had tested positive for the virus as of Monday, up from the 440 reported on Sunday. More than 8,400 people have tested negative. Neither the coroner nor state officials...
Friends, colleagues mourn Delmont fire Chief Rich Balik
Rick Miller remembers former classmate Rich Balik being taken with the fire service when they were sixth graders at Nicely Elementary in Greensburg. Decades later, Balik asked Miller to join Delmont Fire Department. “He was my friend,” Miller said. “He’s just always there helping the younger firefighters out.” Balik, 47,...
3 more covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County; no new deaths
Westmoreland County on Sunday reported an increase in positive covid-19 cases, but continued to report no new deaths. State officials said 440 people have tested positive for the virus as of Sunday, an increase of three from the 437 reported on Saturday. More than 8,200 people have tested negative. Neither...
3 Western Pa. nursing care facilities fined by state
Three area nursing care facilities were fined by the state health department recently, including one in Westmoreland County that now is operating under a provisional license. Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Unity was fined $8,750, and its license status was downgraded after it was found in violation of...
Briefly Speaking
Reunions The 1965 Hurst High School class reunion scheduled Aug. 8 in Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township has been canceled. Organizers of the 55th reunion said the event will be rescheduled sometime in 2021....
Vendors scramble to replace income from canceled festivals
For Tim Roth of Hempfield, selling his artwork at area fairs and festivals is a hobby. The cancellation of this summer’s events won’t break his budget. But things are different for Grace McCracken of Carnegie, who left her day job in 2016 to produce and market her charcoal drawings full-time....
1 new covid-19 case reported in Westmoreland County; death toll remains at 38
One new covid-19 case was reported Saturday in Westmoreland County, bringing the county’s total coronavirus case count to 437, state health data show. The county’s death toll remains at 38. Most of those who have died from covid-19 have been in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. The oldest...
Greensburg YMCA pitches in to help the Westmoreland County Food Bank fill greater need
Drivers lined up along South Maple Avenue in Greensburg on Saturday to donate items to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The Greensburg YMCA’s Trunk to Truck Food Drive benefitted the food bank. “Y” employees removed bags of donated items from donor vehicles that pulled up at the gym. The food...
A summer unlike any other: Events canceled across Western Pa., but options remain for warm-weather fun
The unofficial start of summertime has arrived. The season of warm weather, sunglasses and shorts stretches out in front of us, an annual rite as the days grow longer and porch furniture reappears. But the days of filling up calendars with festivals and concerts are in the past, at least...
Salem man accused in sexual assault at birthday party
A Salem Township man is accused by state police of raping a female at a birthday party this week, according to court papers. Zachary John Saflin, 22, allegedly took alcohol to the Ligonier Township party and provided it to several people under 21, police said. He was arrested Friday on...
Hempfield man on mission to document war memorials in Pennsylvania
Rob Domenick has become a magnet for war honor rolls. He knows all the right places to look, scouring Pennsylvania communities for memorials small and large to help with a national American Legion project. “You have to look for the right kind of community,” said Domenick of Hempfield. “Little places,...
Sewickley Township pool closed for summer
Sewickley Township’s Crabapple Pool outside Herminie will be closed this summer because of the fear of covid-19, one of several municipal pools that will not be available for swimmers to beat the heat on a hot summer afternoon. The Sewickley Township Supervisors made the decision this week not to open...
Derry Area School District’s senior pride was on parade
Derry Area School District’s traditional breakfast for graduating high school seniors couldn’t be held this year because of social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, members of the Class of 2020 were invited to a drive-through farewell luncheon on Friday, followed by a parade through the community, to celebrate...
Unity American Legion to host outdoor Memorial Day ceremony
The Unity American Legion post’s Memorial Day ceremony will look a little different from usual — but it will go on despite coronavirus restrictions. “We’ve been kind of stewing here for the last week or so, and said, ‘That’s it, we have to do something,” said Jerry Dean, commander of...
Retired Jeannette police captain was devoted to community
Paul Hartung wore a Jeannette Jayhawks watch that he never took off. “I think he loved serving his community, he had such pride in Jeannette,” said his daughter, Paula Jesiolkiewic. In the 1950s, Mr. Hartung applied for a job with the city fire department. He instead was offered a job...
Pitt-Greensburg’s SITREP program helps veterans transition to collegeVideo
You wouldn’t expect a veteran to be intimidated by the prospect of attending college, given the rigors of military life and the stress of active-duty service. But it happened to Jacob Snyder of Murrysville, and he sees it frequently when talking with incoming student-veterans at the University of Pittsburgh at...
Derry Area students pen notes of support for residents, staff at care centers
Seventh-graders at Derry Area Middle School missed out on a trip to Cleveland’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame because of covid-19 pandemic restrictions. But, as they completed an inter-disciplinary, music-related lesson unit at their homes, they found time between the musical notes to pen written notes to residents and...
2 new cases, no additional coronavirus deaths reported in Westmoreland County
State health officials reported two more coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County on Friday, though deaths remained at 38. The two cases bring the county’s running case count to 436. Across the county, 8,001 people have tested negative for the virus. As of Friday, Westmoreland County had been in the yellow...
3 arrested in cocaine bust on the Pa. Turnpike in New Stanton
Three men are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after state police pulled over a vehicle speeding westbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and found about 223 grams of suspected cocaine inside, according to court papers. Dwayne H. Crawford, 29, of New York City, was driving a Cadillac at 68...
Court denies appeal of Murrysville’s fracking ordinance
A local citizen group’s challenge of Murrysville’s unconventional drilling ordinance has been struck down in court. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry F. Smail denied an appeal by the Murrysville Watch Committee, which challenged an earlier decision by the Murrysville Zoning Hearing Board. Smail pointed to a November 2019...
2 accused of drug possession in Greensburg
Two Allegheny County men are accused of drug possession after, Greensburg police say, one of them had five bricks of heroin at Autumn Brook Apartments last week. Denzell Lavelle Snead, 22, of Elizabeth Township, and Isaiah Johnson, 22, of Swissvale are charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal use...
Hempfield administrator to serve as Mars superintendent
An administrator at the Hempfield Area School District has been hired to become the superintendent at a Butler County district. Mark Gross, the assistant superintendent for secondary education at Hempfield, will begin his new position with the Mars Area School District on July 1, according to a notice on the...
