Westmoreland category, Page 658
Greater Latrobe eyes worst-case 2.7-mill tax hike
Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District could see a 2.7-mill increase in real estate taxes under a tentative 2020-2021 budget of nearly $57.2 million approved this week by the school board. District business administrator Dan Watson said the potential hike to 84.95 mills would add $73 to the...
As Pa. fairs are canceled, communities miss out on tradition, social engagement
Rural communities across Pennsylvania are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic as local fairs, often social epicenters during the summer, are canceled in accordance with state regulations. So far, 16 of the 108 fairs across the state have been called off, said Sally Nolt, president of the Pennsylvania State...
Belle Vernon Area School District, teachers’ union ratify new five-year deal
Belle Vernon Area School District and its teachers’ union have ratified a new five-year contract after more than a year of negotiations, including two eight-hour sessions mere days before schools statewide were shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new contract is retroactive to July 1, 2019, and runs through...
Penn-Trafford video students snag awards, adjust to producing amid pandemicVideo
The students who create Penn-Trafford TV, the school district’s in-house television broadcasts, brought home 16 nominations and six awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic Region High School Production Awards. Both are school records. But there was barely any time to enjoy their success before schools...
Westmoreland County aims for safe in-person voting June 2Video
Westmoreland County Elections Bureau Deputy Director Scott Sistek said additional measures will be implemented at each of the county’s 307 voting precincts to ensure a safe environment for poll workers and voters during the June 2 primary. Poll workers will wear masks in the precincts and, while voters will not...
Robert Levin makes 2nd bid to revive family furniture business
Robert Levin is back in the furniture business. Almost two months to the day after his deal fell through to repurchase the family-owned furniture chain he sold to Art Van Furniture in 2017, Levin has negotiated a deal in bankruptcy court to buy back the Levin brand. His $25.7 million...
Hempfield Area to extend cyber program to elementary grades
The Hempfield Area School District is making its cyber program available to all elementary grades. In a letter dated May 15, Superintendent Tammy Wolicki said the program will be available to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program currently is open to grades six through 12. She noted some...
Westmoreland County Prison guard charged with assaulting inmate
The alleged assault on an inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison at the hands of a guard last month was reported by Manor Police, who had just delivered the handcuffed prisoner to the jail, according to court records. Borough officers told county detectives they watched as James Mapp “was repeatedly...
Registered sex offender accused of assaulting girl in New Florence
A Cambria County man is accused of inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at a New Florence home in November, according to court papers. David Alan Heming, 57, of Johnstown, was arrested by Westmoreland County detectives Monday on charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors. The girl told investigators that,...
Coronavirus count in Westmoreland County falls by 1 as state refines data
The coronavirus case count dropped by one in Westmoreland County on Tuesday as the state continues to refine its numbers. The subtraction of one case brings the county total to 431, according to data from the Department of Health. Case and death counts by county have continued to fluctuate as...
Greensburg YMCA to host drive for Westmoreland County Food Bank
Greensburg YMCA will host a Trunk to Truck Food Drive to benefit the Westmoreland County Food Bank on Saturday. Employees of the Y will be present from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to handle donations at the gym doors at 101 S. Maple Ave. This event will follow non-contact protocols....
Cops: Man jailed after being cited for drug possession, later breaking into Hempfield car wash
A Philadelphia man found in Westmoreland County passed out inside a vehicle reeking of marijuana and subsequently charged with drug possession over the weekend was arrested about 12 hours later following an alleged burglary at a local business, state police reported. Troopers first encountered Naasir N. Boyd, 19, around 9...
Construction manager: Franklin Regional elementary project keeping pace despite delay
The general manager for Franklin Regional’s Sloan elementary campus construction and renovation is confident that contractors will be able to keep pace with the project’s original timeline, despite a roughly month-long setback at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. “The only areas we’re trying to keep a close eye on,...
Hempfield school district approves preliminary budget with no tax hike
Hempfield Area School District property owners will not see a tax hike this year after board officials unanimously passed a $97.67 million preliminary budget this week. This is the second budget in a row that has not raised taxes, following five years of gradual increases, setting taxes at 83.46 mills....
Western Pa. task force intent on training dogs to sniff out covid-19Video
More than 100 dogs and handlers from throughout the region were put through their paces this month as they vied for the opportunity to join in the battle against the covid-19 pandemic. During sessions in Youngwood and Imperial, a panel of trainers evaluated the dogs’ ability to sniff out hidden...
Greensburg diocese to begin in-person Mass on June 1
The seating and the passing of peace may look a little different but, beginning June 1, Catholic churches in the Diocese of Greensburg will celebrate Mass — in person. Diocesan officials announced Monday that parishes can once again begin public Mass. Parishioners will be required to wear masks and remain...
Westmoreland prison guard fired amid inmate assault investigation
A Westmoreland County Prison guard was fired Monday, less than a month after the launch of an investigation into allegations that an inmate was assaulted by staff at the jail. Warden John Walton declined to reveal details that led to the firing. Sheriff James Albert, who serves as a member...
Fireworks over New Stanton planned to ‘boost community morale’
New Stanton residents will be treated to a fireworks show this weekend in an effort to “boost community morale,” borough council President Ray Strosko said. The event, scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 p.m., will be hosted by Schaefer Fireworks, which is staging the display from a “good vantage point” so...
Derry Area to bid seniors farewell with lunch, 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 are invited to a drive-through farewell luncheon on Friday. It will be followed by a parade through the...
Bipartisan request to loosen restrictions in Westmoreland County sent to Gov. Wolf
Westmoreland County’s top elected officials are pleased with having been moved into the yellow phase of coronavirus reopening. They would just prefer a more robust shade. In a letter sent to Gov. Tom Wolf, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers and county commissioners asked for an enhanced designation that would...
Westmoreland jail benefits financially through pandemic slowdown
Although the coronavirus has not impacted the Westmoreland County Prison like some other jails, the pandemic has improved the facility’s bottom line, officials said. The virus considerably lowered the inmate count at the Hempfield lockup, which in turn has led to savings of more than $18,000 in medical expenses this...
Latrobe church schedules free meal take-out
Holy Family Catholic Church in Latrobe will offer free take-out meals on Thursday. Dinners will be available from 5 p.m. until about 100 have been distributed at 1200 Ligonier St. The menu includes ham barbecue sandwiches, hobo beans, cole slaw and cake. Church volunteers wearing masks and practicing social distancing...
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival announces new opening date
The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival has announced the postponement of opening day for this year’s festivities. Originally scheduled to start its six-weekend run on Aug. 22, the festival now will open on Oct. 3, according to its Facebook page. “Due to the current health concerns and taking into consideration the safety...
Kecksburg’s UFO Festival shelved, but firefighters hope ‘Old-Fashioned Day’ is a hit
Summer celebration cancellations have now gone intergalactic, with the annual Kecksburg UFO Festival becoming the latest to shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. “There was a lot of discussion about it, but there is too much uncertainty right now regarding what is going to be allowed come the end...
6 more coronavirus deaths reported in Westmoreland County
State health officials on Monday reported six more people in Westmoreland County died from the coronavirus. The Department of Health, in its daily update, reported a total of 38 deaths in the county. The county coroner’s office has been reporting 32 virus-related deaths since May 7. There are also five...
