Westmoreland category, Page 685
Deceased man found along trail in Youngwood
State police are investigating the discovery of a man’s body along the Five Star Trail behind the Shop ‘n Save supermarket in Youngwood Thursday afternoon. The man was discovered at about 3 p.m., and the Westmoreland County Coroner’s office was called to the scene, according to a Westmoreland County Department...
Greensburg to ratify coronavirus state of emergency already in effect
Greensburg council will meet Friday to make the city’s coronavirus emergency declaration official. Mayor Robert Bell declared a state of emergency last week, but council is required by law to vote to ratify the declaration. Bell said Friday’s 10 a.m. meeting is expected to be brief. The emergency declaration is...
Westmoreland County to further reduce bus service during coronavirus crisis
Westmoreland County transit officials will further reduce commuter and local bus service starting March 30. Ridership has dropped about 80% over the last two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic, Transit Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said Thursday. All non-life sustaining businesses in the state have been ordered closed, resulting in...
Westmoreland prepares to lay off hundreds of county workers
About 500 nonessential Westmoreland County government employees will be furloughed on April 3, county commissioners said Thursday. The layoffs come as county officials deal with balancing vital government functions during the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing budgetary concerns complicated by large overtime payments doled out to essential employees who were required...
Paving, sidewalk reconstruction contracts awarded in Jeannette
Jeannette city council approved street paving and sidewalk replacement projects, but officials aren’t sure when the winning bidders might start construction amid the coronavirus pandemic. A. Folino Construction of Oakmont was awarded the $124,533 paving project contract this month. “We were ready to go with that and the sidewalk project...
8 new coronavirus cases reported in Westmoreland County, bringing total to 24
Coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County jumped to 24 on Thursday, according to state health officials, continuing a steady increase that began at the start of the week. The eight new cases are part of a statewide increase of 560 case in one day. The statewide total now stands at 1,687,...
Arnold Palmer airport eyes coronavirus stimulus package for assist with taxiway project
Westmoreland County’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport soon could be a landing strip for federal cash freed up through coronavirus recovery funding. A $2 trillion federal stimulus package includes $10 billion designated for airports, according to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s office. Officials at the Unity airport hope that new pool of...
Sheriff: Westmoreland gun permits will be issued starting next week
Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said his office will resume issuing permits to carry concealed guns next week. “We were getting a lot of blow back,” Albert said about his decision earlier this month to suspend the service as part of the county’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. The permitting...
Murrysville political committees look to iron out new-precinct wrinkles
It’s probably a good thing that Pennsylvania lawmakers delayed the state’s primary election until June 2, because it may take that long for Murrysville voters in the newly split Sardis and Newlonsburg precincts to figure out where they’re supposed to cast their ballots. “It’s been a real bear,” Murrysville Export...
Entrepreneurs fill shopping void in wake of pandemic
Eric Fulton’s plans of opening a deli in Scottdale were quickly dashed when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now he’s the unexpected proprietor of a small Pittsburgh Street store selling toilet paper, bread, cleaning supplies and produce. Members of borough council and Mayor Chuck King recently helped Fulton clear out tools...
Inquest unlikely for fatal New Kensington shooting
Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha said Wednesday it is unlikely he will convene an inquest into a police-involved shooting this month in New Kensington that left a Lower Burrell man dead. “It looks like it is rather justified at this point,” Bacha said. Marc N. Morgan, 62, was killed March...
Davanzo victory pre-certified in 58th state House race
Westmoreland County’s Elections Board on Wednesday pre-certified Republican Eric Davanzo’s victory in last week’s special election to fill the vacant state House seat in the 58th District. Davanzo, a union carpenter from South Huntingdon, defeated Democrat Robert Prah Jr. and Libertarian Ken Bach and will be seated next month to...
Driver cited after crash into state police cruiser in Hempfield
A state trooper assisting a disabled motorist along Route 30 in Hempfield escaped serious injury Wednesday when a Jeannette motorist swerved to miss one police cruiser before slamming into a second cruiser. State police identified the driver as Brian DeFelice, 52. DeFelice suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance...
5 more cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County; total up to 16
Five more confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported in Westmoreland County on Wednesday, bringing the total to 16. The Pennsylvania Department of Health released updated figures about noon. Statewide, cases exceeded 1,000, with eastern counties reporting the highest totals. Four more patients died, according to the state’s figures. Philadelphia County...
Pandemic financial pressures build for Pittsburgh region’s nonprofit sector
A brewing economic storm, fueled by a pandemic whipping up gale-force financial headwinds, is threatening to batter more than 1 million nonprofit organizations across the nation already struggling with increased demands for services. A plummeting stock market — down some 10,000 points, or about a third, in a month —...
Police seek suspect in Salem pizzeria burglary
State police are looking for information about a burglary at a Salem pizzeria in which about $1,000 was taken from an ATM. Someone broke into Kelley’s Pizzeria on Route 22 Sunday between 1:30 and 3 a.m. A pry bar and grinder were used to damage the ATM and steal the...
Resident of Loyalhanna Care Center tests positive for coronavirus
A woman who is a long-term resident of the Loyalhanna Care Center in Derry Township is among the Westmoreland County residents who have tested positive for covid-19. Kelly Pynos, administrator of the skilled nursing facility, said the woman exhibited symptoms on Monday and was transferred to a local hospital. Pynos...
For nursing home resident, a visit still counts, even if it’s through the glassVideo
Jean Blice has been confined to her room at Redstone Highlands in Greensburg for more than a week, as the nursing home staff tries to prevent the spread of coronavirus among the elderly residents. Tuesday was a bright spot in a difficult time. “She has been struggling. She has not...
Briefly Speaking: Events happening around Westmoreland County
Blood drives • American Red Cross will host these blood drives: — 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday , New Life Tabernacle, 851 South Cener Ave., Hunker — 1-5:30 p.m. April 3, North Huntingdon Town House, 11279 Cener Highway, Irwin Appointments: 800-733-2767 or redcrossblood.org; walk-ins welcome Special events • The Bullskin Opry...
Franklin Regional preps to start online instruction on Monday
Franklin Regional officials are preparing for students to resume class as much as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Throughout the shutdown, teams of Franklin Regional administrators, teachers, and support staff have been meeting remotely to create a Continuity of Education Plan that involves online learning for all students,” Superintendent Gennaro...
Coronavirus restrictions set back plans for Ligonier Beach reopening
Ligonier Township’s wish to reopen at least a portion of the shuttered Ligonier Beach likely won’t come true before next year , as coronavirus precautions have curtailed township operations. Township Manager Terry Carcella previously expressed hope that pavilions could be offered for rent this summer while supervisors consider additional options...
Derry Township man charged with child abuse after call to tip line
A 29-year-old Derry Township man was arrested by state police Monday on multiple criminal charges of physically assaulting an 18-month-old toddler earlier this month. Jordan Lee Ripingill was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault of a child under 6-years-old, harassment and simple assault filed by state police. Trooper Shauntai Hall...
Westmoreland County controller’s office bustles to open contract bids, pay billsVideo
Jim Roach, owner of Wexford Contracting in Zelienople, said he needed a reason to leave the house. So Roach made the long drive in to Greensburg on Tuesday to attend a public bid opening at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. He was one of two bidders who attended. “I had to...
Westmoreland coronavirus cases increase to 11
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Westmoreland County rose to 11 on Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That’s an increase from eight confirmed cases on Monday that were reported by Westmoreland County officials. The three additional cases come as Pennsylvania recorded 207 new cases in...
Yukon woman charged with making false reports, misusing 911
A Yukon woman who allegedly telephoned state police 20 times Friday to report unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse against a South Huntingdon man and then attempted to break into the man’s home was arrested on criminal charges, according to court dockets. Laura L. Fronczak, 37, was charged with criminal attempt,...
