Westmoreland category, Page 683
Irwin drops Greensburg law firm, hires attorney from firm
Irwin council dropped its Greensburg law firm this week, but hired one of the firm’s attorneys as its solicitor. The borough no longer will retain Tremba, Kinney, Greiner & Kerr LLC to provide solicitor services. Instead, attorney Zachary Kansler, a former member of the firm, will be a part-time borough...
Greensburg Salem School Board appoints former athletic director as new member
Greensburg Salem School District welcomed a familiar face as its newest board member. Lynn Jobe, the district’s former athletic director, was appointed to fill the remainder of former board member Rachel Shaw’s term. Shaw announced her resignation in January, after accepting a government job that prevented her from holding elected...
Sisters of Charity, Chuck Cooper, George Romero to get state historic markers in Western Pa.
The Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, a standout Duquesne University basketball player, a renowned horror filmmaker, an influential archaeologist and an Indian trader who once owned thousands of acres in Western Pennsylvania will be recognized for their importance with historical markers, the state announced. Six of the 24 people,...
Westmoreland County prepares for high volume of mail-in votes
Westmoreland County will be ready if large numbers of voters decide to stay home on Election Day. Officials will spend about $100,000 for new equipment to help count mail-in votes in next month’s primary and in the November general election. County commissioners approved buying two high-speed scanners from Election Systems...
Sage’s Army welcomes those in need to its new Hempfield location; open house set
Editor’s note: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Sage’s army announced that the open house has been postponed. Megan Riley first came into contact with Carmen Capozzi in August 2016. He was the catalyst that helped her find sobriety. Now, he’s her boss at her first job as a certified recovery...
Former Westmoreland congressman, state Auditor General Donald Bailey’s life was driven by competition
Whether it was on a wrestling mat, football field, battlefield or in politics, friends of former Westmoreland County Congressman and Pennsylvania Auditor General Donald A. Bailey say he relished competition. “Don was one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met, and he was certainly driven in everything he did....
Murrysville resident examines 1920s Johnstown racial incident in new book
Editor’s note: The author’s scheduled March 18 presentation at CCAC was canceled after this story was first published online. What began as a search for a story about local black history led Cody McDevitt to a project that has gone from a newspaper series to a magazine to a book...
Small fire extinguished at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital
A small fire was extinguished Wednesday afternoon at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Fire Chief Tom Bell said a 2-foot-by-2-foot section of insulation caught fire while a crew was using a heating device to install a rubber roof on part of the hospital. That sent smoke into an area...
Banners to honor veterans prove popular in Westmoreland
Delmont officials want to gauge residents’ interest in purchasing banners for local veterans to be displayed throughout town. If the response next door in Export is any indication, they’re likely to prove popular. “We’ve gotten about 70 orders and anticipate at least another 10 that are in the works,” said...
Westmoreland Airport Authority eyes marketing study as coronavirus looms, runway upgrade nears
The Westmoreland Airport Authority plans to conduct the first marketing study of its two airports, hiring a separate consultant for each. Authority officials cited the impact of coronavirus concerns on the air travel industry and planned runway widening at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as changing conditions that could affect...
Missing Hempfield woman found safe
A Hempfield woman reported missing on Wednesday morning was found safe later in the day, according to state police. Troopers issued the alert for Kathleen Savasta, 33. Her mother Barbara Savasta had last seen her nearly two months ago after Kathleen borrowed her pickup truck on Jan. 19, saying she...
Harrison City woman serves as ‘Miss Smiling Irish Eyes’ as Pittsburgh cancels annual paradeVideo
A Penn-Trafford graduate was looking forward to walking in the annual Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, but officials canceled Saturday’s event as a precaution for the spreading coronavirus. “I am disappointed, but I know that the city and the (St. Patrick’s Day Parade) committee is...
Delmont may raise sewage rates to keep pace with consent ordersVideo
Delmont officials will advertise for a $6.50-per-month sewage rate hike to keep pace with changes required in the borough’s consent order agreement with state environmental regulators. Council voted unanimously to advertise for the rate hike, and likely will vote on it at next month’s meeting. The borough is a party...
The college that almost wasn’t: WCCC marks 50 yearsVideo
Fierce opposition took aim at its approval and controversy dogged its first years, but the college that almost wasn’t marked its 50th anniversary on Tuesday. From its start as a night school in rented classrooms at Jeannette High School, Westmoreland County Community College has expanded to serve nearly 5,000 students...
Municipal authority laborer sues power companies after cutting into unmarked power line
A Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County laborer in a lawsuit filed against West Penn Power and First Energy claims he was injured when he cut an unmarked electrical line during water line repairs last year in Delmont. Michael Obney, 39, of Hempfield contends he sustained electrical burns on his hands...
Cops: Unity man charged with locking 9-year-old in closet now accused of hitting child
A Unity man awaiting trial with his wife for allegedly locking their 9-year-old son in a closet and nailing it shut was charged Tuesday with simple assault for allegedly striking the child in a separate incident. Shawn Waulk, 32, was charged by state police with simple assault after the youth...
Westmoreland 911 quizzes callers about coronavirus as county prepares outbreak plan
Callers to Westmoreland County 911 are being asked if they have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus or are experiencing any symptoms of the illness. Operators on Tuesday started questioning callers seeking assistance for breathing issues or other respiratory symptoms if they’ve been to the countries hit hardest by the...
Arnold Palmer airport to introduce paid ‘premium’ parking option
Travelers driving to the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport soon will be able to park closer to the terminal — for a fee. Airport officials plan to offer “preferred overnight parking” in the day parking lot directly in front of the terminal, charging $10 per day for the prime spots. They’re...
Harvard Glee Club cancels Saint Vincent College concert due to coronavirus
The Harvard Glee Club’s free March 16 performance at Saint Vincent College has been canceled, due to travel restrictions for Harvard University students and faculty. The Saint Vincent communications and public relations office shared this announcement from the club: “Regretfully, the Harvard Glee Club announces that it will not be...
Cops: Man charged with Greensburg burglary is suspect in 20 others
Greensburg Police canvassed pawn shops and precious metal stores between Unity and Monroeville, leading to the arrest Monday of a 30-year-old man who may be responsible for 20 daylight burglaries since last fall, according to court records. James E. Dickant Jr. of Greensburg was arrested at the Rodeway Inn in...
Westmoreland prison stepping up actions to prevent coronavirus
Would-be visitors to the Westmoreland County Prison are being asked to stay home if they’re not feeling well amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus, according to Warden John Walton. Anyone trying to visit an inmate at the Hempfield jail who is coughing or sneezing in the lobby will be...
1 freed after 2-vehicle crash in Murrysville
One person was freed Tuesday morning from the wreckage of a two-vehicle crash on Route 380 in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Traffic was affected on the highway near Greensburg Road after the 7:48 a.m. crash. The two vehicles were traveling in opposite directions, a dispatcher said. Firefighters...
Amphitheater construction in Jeannette nearing completion
An amphitheater under construction in Jeannette is nearing completion. Mandy Zalich, director of Westmoreland Community Action, said the project should be done in the next couple of months. The amphitheater will be managed by Jeannette officials. “Hopefully, it’ll be a way for the city to generate funds to support” the...
Hempfield and Greensburg Salem students win 1st place at culinary competitionVideo
Students from Hempfield and Greensburg Salem high schools brought home the top prize after participating in a ProStart competition, which focuses on restaurant management and culinary skills. Kassie Miller of Hempfield, who studies culinary arts at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, along with Kelly Gillis, a Greensburg Salem student,...
Parents urge tighter security checks for volunteers at NorwinVideo
Parents say Norwin School District should tighten its policies and procedures for volunteers undergoing background checks after it was discovered that a man who worked with the middle school musical pleaded guilty to corruption of minors in Fayette County. “My concern is that this person was brought in (to the...
