Westmoreland category, Page 672
Unity lawyer is new Westmoreland Bar Association president
Unity lawyer Scott Avolio is the new president of the Westmoreland Bar Association. More than 70 lawyers convened via a virtual gathering earlier this week as part of the association’s annual meeting to select its new leadership. The bar association includes about 500 practicing lawyers in the county, many of...
Westmoreland coroner says county has 11 coronavirus deaths
Westmoreland County has 11 deaths related to coronavirus, according to Coroner Ken Bacha. Pennsylvania’s Department of Health reported one death in the county through Thursday, with that number rising to five in its Friday update. But Bacha said Friday morning that 10 additional fatalities are attributed to covid-19, all of...
Excela ER doctor takes precautions; donations sought for protective equipment
After 15 years of practicing in Excela Health emergency rooms, Dr. Greg Harbaugh has added a new twist to his daily routine. Every day when he arrives home, Harbaugh strips down in the garage, places his clothing in a plastic bag, dumps the contents in the washing machine and heads...
About 1,000 Duquesne Light customers still without power, Westmoreland power restored
About 1,000 Duquesne Light customers remained without power Friday morning as crews continue to restore service disrupted by Wednesday’s storms. Nearly all West Penn Power customers in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties have had their power restored, with about 100 scattered outages as of 6:30 a.m. Friday, according to West Penn...
Pa. Department of Health to provide county EMS agencies more details on covid-19 cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health will release additional information about the location of covid-19 patients to county emergency management agencies beginning Friday. Citing the privacy provisions of the 1955 Disease Prevention and Control Act, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which holds daily briefings on the statewide case count, previously refused...
Westmoreland County government offices closed on Good Friday
The Westmoreland County Courthouse, district courts and other government offices will be closed in observance of the Good Friday holiday. Friday’s closing was previously scheduled and not part of the county’s coronavirus response plan. Government offices are expected to reopen 8:30 a.m. Monday....
No hotheads allowed: All who enter Westmoreland County Courthouse have temperature taken
Steve and Sarah Zolock knew they were healthy but a quick check as they entered the Westmoreland County Courthouse confirmed their unofficial diagnosis. The Zolocks, who traveled from their Rostraver home on Thursday to renew permits to carry concealed guns, were required to complete a cursory screening before they were...
Cleanup underway at Rostraver’s Cedar Creek Park after storm topples 65 trees
Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver is expected to remain closed until at least Saturday as work crews clean up more than 65 trees felled during Wednesday morning’s storm. “Many of them were 60-to-80-foot pine trees and it will take a couple of days to clear,” said Greg McCloskey, director of...
Westmoreland County reports 7 additional coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County reported seven new cases of coronavirus on Thursday as the statewide total grew by nearly 2,000 new cases. The new cases bring the county’s running total to 190 since the first two cases were reported on March 19. The county saw its first death on Wednesday. The 1,989...
Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry distribution scheduled April 21
The Mt. Pleasant Food Pantry will distribute food beginning at 9:30 a.m. April 21 at the Mt. Pleasant Church of God, located at 936 West Main St. Pantry coordinator Marie Ochaba reminds participants that, per Westmoreland County Food Bank directive, the food box distribution will be drive-thru only. She said...
Police: Rostraver man shot while assaulting his elderly mother
A Rostraver man was hospitalized early Thursday after being shot while assaulting his elderly mother, township police said. Christopher N. Visnich, 37, was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. His leg wound was not believed to be life-threatening, police said. Officers were called at 2 a.m. Thursday to an...
‘Happy’ 90-year-old dances down Hempfield Manor hallwaysVideo
A walker now might help Sarah “Dolly” Ponchak with her balance, but she still doesn’t miss a beat. To prove it, staff at Hempfield Manor — where Ponchak lives — recently danced down the nursing home hallways with the 90-year-old. Her family and others posted a video posted on the...
3 Jeannette dwellings damaged in early-morning fireVideo
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that damaged three homes in Jeannette early Thursday. A fire at 824-½ Gaskill Ave. spread to homes on either side of it shortly after 4 a.m., according to fire Chief Bill Frye. No injuries were reported. The fire...
Greater Latrobe cancels prom, plans summertime event for seniors
Greater Latrobe students will have to make do without a high school prom this year. But district officials hope a proposed summertime “Senior Spectacular” will give members of the Class of 2020 a similar celebratory experience. “We hope it’s going to be a very memorable event,” said district Superintendent Georgia...
Westmoreland struggles to get a handle on covid-19 infections as county logs first death
Westmoreland County officials struggled to get a handle on the local impact of covid-19 infections Wednesday, even as the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the county’s first death related to the disease caused by the coronavirus. County officials learned of the death when local media reported on the state’s daily...
Cops: Teen suspect arrested in robbery, shooting in Derry Township
State police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the shooting Sunday of a Derry Township man during a bungled drug deal and robbery. Brandon E. “Lil-Drizzy” Thomas, 17, of Scottdale, was arraigned Tuesday in county night court on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, assault with a deadly...
Easter Bunny delights South Greensburg children with delivery of basketsVideo
Jaymie Roman waited excitedly on her South Greensburg front porch — she knew the Easter bunny was coming. The 3-year-old girl watched with her mother Ali Roman as a caravan carrying the bunny moved slowly Wednesday morning down Ashland Street, lights flashing and sirens blaring. “I think it’s really nice...
Westmoreland flying club members lament loss of plane, hangar in strong storms
The Cessna four-seater airplane Chestnut Ridge Flying Club bought eight months ago was totaled early Wednesday as strong storms swept across the region, said group secretary Rick Indovina. He and a few other club members took photos of their damaged 1976 Cessna 172 that was stored inside their hangar at...
No injuries reported in South Huntingdon fire that extensively damaged homeVideo
No injuries were reported in a fire that extensively damaged a South Huntingdon Township home Wednesday. The blaze was reported at 11 a.m. along the 200 block of Fitz Henry Road. Multiple fire department units from Westmoreland and Fayette counties responded. No further information was available from Turkeytown Volunteer Fire...
A tip at Jamison Farm leads Pittsburgh writer to book on organic agriculture pioneer Louis Bromfield
For a man who wrote so many books — 34 in 33 years — not many books have been written about Louis Bromfield. Pittsburgh author Stephen Heyman is remedying that oversight with his new book, “The Planter of Modern Life: Louis Bromfield and the Seeds of a Food Revolution” (W.W....
Westmoreland County reports 1st coronavirus death
Westmoreland County has reported its first coronavirus death, state health officials said Wednesday. No information was given on the deceased. The county recorded its first two positive covid-19 cases on March 19. The running case count now stands at 183, an increase of six cases from Tuesday to Wednesday. The...
Family friends from Murrysville, Greensburg now share a liver despite pandemic
Julia Bolkovac has known Jimmy Singer her whole life. When the Murrysville native learned Singer of Greensburg was in desperate need of a liver transplant, Bolkovac couldn’t act fast enough to serve as his donor. But, when Bolkovac’s job as a cardiac nurse at UPMC Shadyside in Pittsburgh put her...
Westmoreland County worries about dwindling cache of protective gear
Shortages of personal protective equipment such as gowns and masks have become dire in Westmoreland County. The county’s supply is dwindling as the number of coronavirus cases rises, infecting staff and residents at two or more local nursing homes, where supplies are desperately being sought, Public Safety Director Roland Mertz...
20 new coronavirus cases in Westmoreland as statewide death count spikes
Westmoreland County reported 20 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as deaths statewide soared to more than 200, according to state health officials. The new cases bring the county’s total count to 177 since the first cases of covid-19 were identified there March 19. Statewide, the 1,579 new cases — recorded...
Police seeking information in theft of 2 ATVs from Unity dealer
State police are seeking information about the theft of two ATVs from Hillview Motorsports in Unity last month. Two 2020 Suzuki King Quad 750 ATVs were taken from the Route 30 dealership on March 29 just before 2 a.m., according to troopers. The thieves then headed west on Route 30...
