Westmoreland category, Page 681
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...
Communities plan Easter activities while keeping social distance
Easter egg hunts are out this year in local parks, neighbors’ yards and church grounds, but communities are finding ways to share the joy of the season while maintaining social distance. Here’s what’s happening around the area: Carbon-area Easter Bunny visit The Easter Bunny will hitch a ride on a...
Hempfield high school students rally to create positive messageVideo
Hempfield Area High School students turned to the magic of Disney and the strength of superheroes to spread joy to elementary school students amid the coronavirus pandemic. In an almost six-minute video, more than 120 students recited popular quotes from “The Little Mermaid,” “Toy Story” and “The Lion King,” along...
Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg passenger rail service out until May
The suspension of the Amtrak train between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with stops in Greensburg, Latrobe and Johnstown, has been extended until May 4, a PennDOT spokeswoman said. Amtrak suspended passenger rail service between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on March 19 because of low ticket sales as the spread of the coronavirus...
Franklin Regional free meal service open to all students
Franklin Regional students do not need to be signed up for the school district’s free and reduced lunch program to receive free meals, officials said. As of Monday, the district has waiver approvals from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide free meals to all children. In cooperation with its...
Irwin, Trafford cancel council meetings
Trafford has canceled its April 7 meeting because of the shutdown restrictions and Irwin has canceled its council meeting on April 8, opting for a virtual meeting on May 13, if Gov. Wolf’s order against public gatherings remains in place. Council members will meet via a social media platform that...
Winners of Pa. House special elections sworn into office
State Rep. Eric Davanzo and two other victors from last month’s special election were sworn in to office Monday in Harrisburg. Davanzo, R-South Huntingdon, will complete the remaining nine months in the seat previously held by state Rep. Justin Walsh, who resigned in January after he was elected to be...
New child porn charges added against North Huntingdon man accused of child rape
A North Huntingdon man arrested last October on multiple charges of raping and sexually abusing a girl was arrested again Monday on 26 new child pornography-related charges. John W. Wilbanks, 39, was arraigned before District Judge Joseph DeMarchis on multiple counts of child pornography, criminal use of a communication facility,...
‘Pandemic’ overtime pay cost Westmoreland County nearly $700K in 1st 2 weeks
Westmoreland County paid $678,000 in overtime wages to more than 1,200 employees for nearly two weeks of work in late March during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioners instituted “pandemic” pay for staff required to report in person for work at the courthouse and in other county offices...
Cops: Derry Township man charged with indecent exposure, scuffling with troopers
A Derry Township man accused of exposing himself to a girl in an apartment complex was arrested Saturday after, police say, he scuffled with state troopers. Police were called to the Scott Court apartment complex about 8:30 p.m. after receiving complaints that Brian A. Hoffman, 33, was exposing himself to...
10 new coronavirus cases reported in Westmoreland County as total tops 150
Westmoreland County reported 10 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 157, state health officials said Monday. Statewide, the death toll stands at 162, and the 1,470 new cases reported between 12 a.m. Sunday and 12 a.m. Monday brings the statewide total to 12,980. The 10 new cases...
Westmoreland court reductions extended through April 30
Most Westmoreland County courts will remain shuttered through April 30. Common Pleas Court President Judge Rita Hathaway on Monday extended the current reductions of court functions as part of the state’s coronavirus response plan. The order cancels all trials in April, as well as other basic court functions such as...
Police: 2 arrested, teen wanted in Derry Township shooting during bungled drug deal
A 20-year-old man was shot and seriously injured Sunday in a bungled drug deal and robbery outside a Derry Township home, state police said. State police at Kiski arrested Michael E. Sawyer, 28, of Salem and Lorraine Painter, 22, of Greensburg in connection with the shooting and robbery that occurred...
Westmoreland Night of the Stars musical showcase postponed
Westmoreland Night of the Stars, the annual showcase of area school musicals, has been postponed. The 24th annual performances were originally scheduled to take place May 6-7 in The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Organizers have yet to decide whether the showcase can be held at a later date or if...
Adapting: Alone in The Westmoreland, collections manager tends to the art in the age of coronavirusVideo
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways the global coronavirus pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. Being alone in a shuttered museum didn’t work so well for Ben Stiller’s character in the 2006 movie “Night at the Museum.” It is an experience...
