Westmoreland category, Page 675
Westmoreland food bank sees steady supply of volunteers amid pandemic
Sizable unemployment numbers due to the coronavirus shutdown in Western Pennsylvania have meant longer lines at area food banks. Those same numbers, however, also have translated to a larger pool of volunteers to help out, which is welcome news to Westmoreland County Food Bank Executive Director Jennifer Miller, who said...
Man suspected in attempted homicide of S.C. cop wanted for vehicle thefts in Westmoreland
State police are looking for a 39-year-old man described as armed and dangerous in connection with vehicle thefts in Westmoreland County. Troopers in Greensburg said Brian Joseph Stoltie is wanted in South Carolina for the 2019 attempted homicide of a police officer. Stoltie has ties to Westmoreland and Fayette counties,...
Latrobe’s Mister Rogers Family Day canceled due to pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancellation of Latrobe’s Mister Rogers Family Day, but organizers of the summer festival note the health crisis won’t derail the neighborly legacy of the local native who inspired the event. Spokeswoman Lauren Buches said the family-friendly celebration of the late Fred Rogers, iconic host...
Jeannette school teachers, staff plan car parade to see students from afar
Jeannette City School District teachers and staff members will get to see some of their students in person Saturday for the first time in six weeks. A car parade will wind through the city as an opportunity for district employees to see students, albeit from a safe distance. The parade...
Irwin car cruise goes virtual in wake of covid-19 restrictions
If you can’t allow people to crowd streets and peruse classic cars during coronavirus-related restrictions, there is nothing stopping a virtual car cruise. That is exactly what the Irwin Business & Professional Association has planned at noon Saturday, via the Downtown Irwin Facebook page, said Michael Pochan, an IBPA member....
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival still on — at least for now
While so many summer events have been canceled, the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival is still on for July 2-5 in Twin Lakes Park — at least for now. “We’re moving ahead, at least until we hear from the governor on May 8th on what’s allowed for large gatherings,” said...
1 more coronavirus-related death reported in Westmoreland County
The Westmoreland County coronavirus death toll stands at 27, according to the coroner. A woman’s death was added to a total that is being provided by Coroner Ken Bacha, who said the majority of the county’s deaths are tied to nursing and personal care homes. He is being notified of...
Emergency repair at Route 30 sinkhole near Greensburg-Hempfield border wrapping up
Repair work is coming to a close at a huge sinkhole that opened up next to Route 30 at the Greensburg-Hempfield border in July after heavy rains. PennDOT spokesman Jay Ofsanik said the emergency repairs cost about $4 million and should be finished next month. Crews reached depths of 45...
Latrobe student spearheads TikTok video cancer fundraiser
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority chapter at Washington & Jefferson College hosts an annual softball tournament to benefit the Glock Foundation, which raises funds for breast cancer research, clinical trials, patient care and education. It’s a cause that’s close to the hearts of sorority members, since the foundation was created by...
Derry Area sets virtual graduation for June 10
Derry Area has joined other school districts across the state in abandoning the traditional commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 for a virtual one. Superintendent Eric Curry told the school board Thursday that “we are fairly confident” the virtual commencement ceremony on June 10 will be held on the...
Westmoreland to upgrade another 4 miles of freight rail lines
Work could begin soon on a $2.3 million project to replace more than four miles of track on Westmoreland County’s freight rail system that services local business and industry. Commissioners, acting as members of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp., on Thursday hired Frontier Railroad Services of New Stanton to...
Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department mourns longtime assistant chief
Few people knew more about fire safety than Bill Anderson, former assistant chief with the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department. “If I knew what he forgot, I’d be a brilliant man,” said Al Rosatti, another emeritus assistant chief and close friend of Anderson. “He was a highly intelligent individual.” Anderson taught...
Westmoreland officials cautiously optimistic about state reopening plansVideo
Westmoreland leaders are hopeful the county’s slow growth of new coronavirus cases will allow for the easing of restrictions early next month as part of the governor’s plan to reopen parts of the state. “We’re still two weeks away from the May 8 deadline. We will be talking about it,...
Western Pa. farmers markets to open with covid-19 twists, precautionsVideo
There will be no Saturday morning chatter among friends picking up produce and other goodies at the Lynch Field farmers market in Greensburg. Exercisers won’t stream out of the Aerobic Center to get in line with empty reusable bags. Instead, shoppers will stay in their vehicles in the parking lot...
Murrysville council looks at options for slowing Wiestertown Road traffic
With a horse stable down the street, and increasing development at Murrysville Community Park raising the number of cars driving on Wiestertown Road, council members plan to boost the police presence there. Concerns about drivers speeding on the single-lane rural road near the park aren’t new. A previous iteration of...
Latrobe cancels Fourth of July event, citing covid-19 pandemic
Latrobe officials canceled the community’s annual Fourth of July Celebration, citing concerns about holding large gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the largest events in the city, stretching over multiple days, the celebration marked its 50th anniversary last year. In addition to a parade, activities have included a...
Greensburg man charged with choking, beating woman
A Greensburg man is in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond after allegedly beating and choking a woman during an argument and assaulting her adult son. City police arrested Franz Nute Wade, 57, early Thursday outside the victim’s residence on Jefferson Street. He is charged with strangulation and multiple counts...
Fire marshal: Cause of abandoned house fire in Jeannette ruled undetermined
The state police fire marshal in Greensburg was unable to determine an exact cause of a fire Friday night in Jeannette that damaged the second floor of an abandoned house. State police fire marshal Trooper Seth Helman said anyone with information about the blaze at 509 Lavelle St. is asked...
Hempfield school district serves almost 2,000 meals amid pandemic
Almost 2,000 meals have been served to students in the Hempfield Area School District over the past month since schools shuttered in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Just a week after Gov. Tom Wolf ordered schools to temporarily close to help curb the spread of the coronavirus that causes covid-19,...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new coronavirus death, toll rises to 26
A man died of the coronavirus in Westmoreland County, bringing the death toll to 26, officials said Thursday. The death was added to a list that is being provided by Coroner Ken Bacha, who has said the majority of the county’s deaths are tied to nursing and personal care homes....
‘Sassiness,’ ‘true grit’ help 2 elderly patients survive covid-19 at Excela Frick HospitalVideo
Everson’s James Toth and Yvonne Demagall of Mt. Pleasant are survivors. At ages 89 and 92, respectively, each has survived a battle with cancer. And, now, after weeks in Excela Frick Hospital, each is at home with family recovering from coronavirus infections. Dozens of hospital staff gathered Wednesday to celebrate...
Conservancy preserves 27 acres of South Huntingdon farm land on Earth Day
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy members weren’t able to hold the signing ceremony they’d hoped for. Nonetheless, they were able to preserve nearly 30 acres of Westmoreland County farm land on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The farm, in South Huntingdon, will be part of the conservancy’s Farmland Access Initiative, which...
State Sen. Ward says covid-19 induced pain reaches across the state economy
The coronavirus is cutting a swath from hospital executive suites to Westmoreland County residents waiting weeks for unemployment checks, state Sen. Kim Ward told constituents during a teleconference Wednesday. The Westmoreland County lawmaker said she has reservations about the transparency of some of the decisions surrounding the state shutdown and...
Courts continue under emergency rules, making plans to resume hearings, trials as restrictions lift
A Westmoreland County judge leaned close to his web camera and offered timely advice to a jail inmate who was granted an early parole after serving seven months for a burglary conviction. “Wash your hands as frequently as you can and wear that mask,” said Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher...
Cops: Latrobe man accused of throwing rocks at police
A Latrobe man is accused of throwing rocks at city police as they investigated an assault and loitering complaint this month. Police charged Glenn D. Jones Jr., 21, with propulsion of missiles on a roadway, harassment, loitering and prowling, possession of marijuana, public drunkenness and simple assault. The victim, who...
