Westmoreland category, Page 670
New Jeannette city clerk has an eventful first month on the job
Nathan Bish didn’t get to ease into his first day as Jeannette’s new city clerk. Instead, he and Mayor Curtis Antoniak declared a public health state of emergency in the city because of the coronavirus pandemic and shut down city hall and other facilities. The proclamation was the “first thing...
Greensburg girl’s quarantine routine couldn’t be any cuter
By now, we’ve all pretty much found our homebound routines. For some, it’s work. For others, it’s school. And still others have become Amazon’s best customer. And then there’s 7-month-old Abigail Smeltzer of Greensburg. Her routine is being adorable. Her parents, Katie and Andrew Smeltzer of Greensburg, captured Abigail recently...
Greensburg Community Days canceled due to coronavirus concerns
The upcoming Greensburg Community Days festival has been canceled. Uncertainties surrounding coronavirus-related shutdowns led to the decision, said Trudy Ivory, Greensburg Recreation Department facilities manager. The 26th annual event was scheduled for May 21-23 at Lynch Field. The long-running kickoff to summer features a midway, games for all ages, crafts...
Crews battle fire at abandoned Fairfield house; fire marshal investigating
A state police fire marshal was called to investigate late Thursday as firefighters battled flames that engulfed an abandoned house in the West Bolivar section of Fairfield, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Crews from Bolivar, Fairfield and New Florence fire departments were dispatched just before 11 p.m. to...
Penn-Trafford sets new dates, plans for graduation, prom
Penn-Trafford officials have set two alternative dates this summer to hold the commencement ceremonies that were canceled for May 26 because of Gov. Wolf’s order banning large gatherings and the closing of schools in the state. Commencement is now scheduled for June 26. But if that date must be postponed,...
Hospitals looking for more help; lawmakers say Pennsylvania shorted on CARES Act relief
Hospitals across the region that are looking to recover revenue they lost while preparing to meet a surge in covid-19 cases say they need more help and are seeking a more equitable piece of the pie as the federal government rolls out the remaining $70 billion of a $100 billion...
Latrobe Elementary contractor seeks damages for construction delays
The general contractor that completed construction of Latrobe Elementary School in December 2018 has filed suit against the building architect, seeking $1.3 million in damages related to a four-month project delay. Nello Construction of Carnegie filed the civil complaint this week in Westmoreland County Court, claiming that Axis Architecture breached...
Mt. Pleasant Area ratifies 5-year teachers contract
The Mt. Pleasant Area School Board and teachers ratified a new five-year contract Wednesday, even as students and teachers — separated by the coronavirus shutdown — worked from their homes. The board approved the contract retroactive to Sept. 1, 2018, and extending through Aug. 31, 2023, by an 8-1 vote....
Excela retiree answers the call for personal protective equipment
When covid-19 began spreading across the United States, Excela Health officials looked to someone who had helped in the past to plan for the future. “Our Quality and Safety Departments asked Dave Byers, who retired last year as Excela Health’s director of safety, if he would be willing to join...
Judge denies Crystal Belle’s murder appeal for Jeannette killing
The third-degree murder conviction of a Jeannette woman serving up to 30 years in prison for the beating death of her live-in boyfriend nearly four years ago will stand. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani this week denied the appeal of Crystal Belle, who contended evidence presented against...
Broadband internet survey deadline extended for Westmoreland, other regional counties
Westmoreland County planners have extended the deadline for residents to participate in a study of local broadband internet needs until the end of April. The online survey is part of an eight-county assessment of infrastructure needs for the service that has become increasingly relevant as more residents have been routed...
Cause of Jeannette fire believed to be accidental
Jeannette Fire Chief Bill Frye believes a fire that damaged three homes this month was accidental. Frye said Thursday that he believes the April 9 blaze was electrical and started in the space behind a wall on the first floor of the Gaskill Avenue home. No one was there at...
Cops: Man charged with assault for intentionally coughing on workers in Unity medical office
A man accused of intentionally coughing on two medical staffers at an outpatient care center in Unity this month was charged with reckless endangerment and simple assault , state police said. Robert M. Williams, 53, of Cherry Tree, Indiana County, was also charged with disorderly conduct, harassment and reckless endangerment...
Murrysville to reduce number of monthly planning meetings
Murrysville officials are hoping that reducing planning commission meetings from two to one per month will make it easier for the commission to achieve a consistent quorum to conduct business. The seven-member commission was only able to hold one monthly meeting during at least six months of 2019, according to...
Murrysville will likely delay construction of park amphitheater
With live concerts an unlikely scenario in the near future, and a group of consultant proposals that missed the mark, Murrysville officials are likely to hold off on plans to build an amphitheater at Murrysville Community Park. “We received five (consultant) proposals, and to say the least, I think we’re...
Westmoreland Transit bus driver tests positive for coronavirus
A Westmoreland County Transit Authority bus driver has tested positive for the coronavirus. Transit officials learned about the positive test result on Wednesday. They said the driver last worked Saturday and determined the worker had little in-person interaction with other authority employees or riders that day. The bus operated by...
19th coronavirus death reported in Westmoreland
Officials said Thursday that a man died from the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, bringing the death toll to 19. Ten men and nine women in the county have died as a result of the virus, according to Coroner Ken Bacha. His office is being notified of the deaths sooner than...
Irwin restaurant delivering meals to seniorsVideo
Caroline Leppert got lunch delivered this week to the North Huntingdon residence where she has been living with her friend for the past month under a self-imposed quarantine to avoid getting sick with covid-19. Leppert and her friend were getting a meal of ready-to-heat pasta with a meatball, courtesy of...
Youngwood boy gets his own personal parade thanks to borough’s volunteer firefighters
On a cold and gray afternoon in Youngwood, one little boy’s birthday turned out to be a heartwarming, bright-blue celebration. On a day normally highlighted with a school celebration and then dinner at Hoss’s, Garrett Hamilton’s seventh birthday was looking to be a little less than thrilling this year, thanks...
1 person transported after motorcycle crash in Ligonier
One person was transported to the hospital after a motorcycle crash in Ligonier Township, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash, which happened shortly before 6:50 p.m., closed Route 711 between Peters Street and Route 30 until around 9 p.m. Further information on the driver’s condition or number of...
Westmoreland jail inmates asking court for release over coronavirus fears; Allegheny has released nearly 1,000
The population at the Westmoreland County Prison has dropped 22% since March 1 as inmates seek release to protect themselves should the coronavirus get inside the jail. Warden John Walton said officials there have identified 67 inmates between ages 22 and 80 who have chronic medical conditions that could make...
Online map provides zoning info for Greensburg developers
A new online map provides at-a-glance zoning information for developers and property owners in Greensburg. The tool is the latest effort in the city’s ongoing campaign to reduce confusion and red tape in development. It allows people to search for specific properties and see zoning districts at a glance. It...
Franklin Regional board opts not to add ‘sunset clause’ for Sloan bond payments
Franklin Regional school board director Ed Mittereder compares the district’s construction-related bond debt to a series of car payments. “We all look forward to the day when we pull that last coupon and make that last payment,” Mittereder said. “That sigh of relief comes the following month, when the money...
Greensburg Diocese to broadcast, stream Divine Mercy service
Bishop Edward C. Malesic of the Greensburg Diocese will lead a Divine Mercy service that will be broadcast and streamed Sunday in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “Faith During Crisis: Lord, Have Mercy!” will be aired at 2 p.m. on WTAE-TV and will be available immediately afterward on the diocese’s...
‘Unwritten billboards’: Mt. Pleasant Township residents remember past messages on rock
Down the winding Kecksburg Road in Mt. Pleasant Township sits a rock that for years has been a point of encouraging — and sometimes profane — messages. Protruding next to the road, the gray rock is stained blue, with white letters reading “Stay healthy,” referencing the coronavirus pandemic. Other colors...
