Westmoreland category, Page 698
Laughlintown workshop to outline remedies for storm-damaged driveways
The past two water-logged years, when the Pittsburgh region experienced up to 20 inches more precipitation than the annual average of 37.66 inches, have left many unpaved driveways and lanes washed out and filled with ruts. The Westmoreland Conservation District and Brandywine Conservancy are joining forces to offer some solutions...
Murrysville marketing firm earns national award for podcast production
A Murrysville marketing agency specializing in engaging the Christian community will receive a National Religious Broadcasters award for producing the weekly “Health, Hope & Inspiration” podcast. Sponsored by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America and produced by Murrysville-based Infinity Concepts, “Health, Hope & Inspiration” was developed to provide information and...
Heavy snow, 40 below zero temps stop Latrobe man’s Alaskan journey
Tim Hewitt’s hopes of trekking some 1,300 miles through the Alaskan wilderness were smashed last week by deep snow that slowed his progress, making every step in his snowshoes difficult and deep snow that obliterated any traces of a trail. Hewitt, a Latrobe attorney, said on Feb. 24 from his...
Unity supervisors retain former state senator Regola to lobby for grants
Unity officials are turning to a former Pennsylvania senator for help in landing state funding for proposed improvement projects. Supervisors this week hired Robert Regola of Hempfield to lobby on behalf of township grant requests in Harrisburg. Regola, who offers additional services in government affairs and business development through his...
Norwin to restrict public access to school facilities to improve student safety
Norwin will close public access to its campuses on school days to improve student safety, the district announced. Only people with legitimate school business will be admitted to buildings and recreational facilities. The public will be prohibited from using the track or other recreation facilities from 7 a.m. to 4:30...
Mt. Pleasant Township woman accused of causing injury to 2-year-old boy
A Mt. Pleasant Township woman is accused by state police of causing a deep cut on a 2-year-old boy’s cheek, according to court papers. Ashley Marie Myers, 31, is charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment. Troopers were notified in a ChildLine report that the boy was taken to UPMC...
Scottdale street closed after bricks fall from former Mennonite Publishing Co. building
Falling bricks from the former Mennonite Publishing Co. building forced Scottdale officials this week to close a section of Walnut Avenue. Yellow police tape, wooden barriers and traffic cones were set up to keep passersby off the block after bricks started flying around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, some bouncing into the...
Route 30 reopened following 3-vehicle crash in North Huntingdon
All four lanes of Route 30 at Skellytown Road in North Huntingdon were closed Friday morning because of a vehicle crash, according to a township dispatcher. Crews responded shortly before 7 a.m. for the crash that involved three vehicles. One person was trapped following the incident, but was extricated around...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Feb. 21-23
Hang in there — Punxsutawney Phil failed to see his shadow, so spring is hot on our heels, right? Meanwhile, another weekend has arrived, with enough music, theater, art and other entertainment on tap to make us venture out, cold and dark or not. A toast to our first president...
RSVP gift shop celebrates new ownership, plans Greensburg locationVideo
RSVP, the gift shop that’s been on Route 30 in Hempfield since 2010, celebrated new beginnings this week as its new owners eye a second location in downtown Greensburg. The store held a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon to mark the change in ownership and the store’s recent membership in the...
Hockey fundraiser in Greensburg to raise money for family of man lost to heart attack
James Pacek loved playing hockey, so it’s only appropriate his friends will strap on skates to honor his memory. They’ve organized a “Pucks for Pacek” charity hockey game to be held Saturday at Kirk S. Nevin arena in Greensburg, and the event is shaping up to be bigger than any...
Judge rejects request from convicted Fayette Co. drug kingpin wanting years shaved off sentence
A Fayette County drug kingpin will not receive a shortened prison sentence for ordering the 1993 killing of a man whose heart and liver were later transplanted into a dying Gov. Robert Casey. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger this week rejected a request from Ronald Whethers to count...
4 more grads make it through Westmoreland drug court
Westmoreland County’s drug court on Thursday graduated four more participants, bringing the number of former addicts who obtained sobriety under judicial supervision to 39 during the six years of the program. Thursday marked the eighth graduation ceremony since the court was unveiled in 2014. “This is a very intensive program...
Excela Health challenged by ‘disrupters’ in health care market, CEO saysVideo
Excela Health not only faces competition from larger Pittsburgh-based health systems but also national tech companies “invading” the local market in an effort to change how people receive health care, the Westmoreland County-based system’s top official said. “The biggest disruption in our health care space is technology,” Excela Health CEO...
Westmoreland deputy sheriff honored for helping save man in courtroom incidentVideo
Westmoreland County Deputy Sheriff Sean McKown knew he had to act fast and rushed over to the courtroom gallery to help an ill spectator. McKown, 52, of Lower Burrell, was honored in a surprise ceremony Thursday by Sheriff James Albert for his quick action that officials said may have saved...
Man accused of assaulting, threatening Mt. Pleasant man
A man accused of assaulting a 41-year-old man in his Mt. Pleasant home Monday was jailed Wednesday after he was accused of calling and threatening to harm him. Roger C. Strautmann, 30, of Greensburg. was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of intimidating a witness and single counts of simple assault,...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild launches prom shoe drive as students rehearse for ‘Footloose’
Cinderella would approve. The Penn-Trafford Drama Guild isn’t searching for her glass slipper, but members are soliciting donations of gently used prom, homecoming or other special occasion shoes for a shoe drive at the high school’s spring musical “Footloose.” Penn-Trafford’s high school thespians will present the beloved story of youthful...
Murrysville will hire consultant to help plan for community-park amphitheater
Murrysville will seek a consultant to help plan for an amphitheater at Murrysville Community Park, and addressing traffic will likely be a high priority. “I know you’re trying to build it up more, but there’s problems with the traffic out there,” said Marlene Campas of Murrysville at a recent council...
Cops: Man who allegedly claimed to be firefighter during burglary arrested again
A man awaiting trial for burglary and impersonating a firefighter was arrested again Wednesday in Salem Township after a break-in at a senior citizen recreation center. Charles J. Beiter, 33, was arraigned Thursday on charges of disorderly conduct, illegally trespassing, loitering, theft and possession of marijuana filed by state police...
Man accused in attack on workers, resident at Unity facility
Two Adelphoi Village workers and a resident were hurt last month when a man living at a secure facility there attacked them, according to state police. Kevin Otero, 19, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment. Troopers said the assaults were reported at the Unity...
Lamp Theatre to show locally produced film by P-T gradsVideo
When Brandon Keenan was a teenager growing up in Harrison City, he would take a date to The Lamp Theatre, where the price of admission was cheap and so was the popcorn. Now 36 and living in Monroeville, Keenan will return to the Irwin theater on Saturday with fellow filmmaker...
Educators invited to join Latrobe discussion of problems faced by children born into addiction
Latrobe-based Angel Arms, a program that offers support for children born into addiction and their families, is inviting area educators to take part in a roundtable discussion about the learning issues such children can face, and possible solutions. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the offices...
Penn Township considers flood relief plan
Penn Township has taken flood relief plans for Hyland Road back to the drawing board. Engineers this week presented an early proposal for several new culverts along the flood-prone road, which would cost about $1.1 million. Engineers with Gibson-Thomas Engineering said their new proposal would do more to protect the...
Latrobe elementary students get a kick out of Russian dance programVideo
Students at Latrobe Elementary School enjoyed the strains of the balalaika and high-kicking booted dancers as the Russian ensemble Barynya visited for two performances Wednesday afternoon. Founder and Moscow native Mikhail Smirnov brought along three other members of his New York City-based troupe to introduce the children to a sampling...
Westmoreland Manor receives clean bill of (water) health after Legionnaires’ discovery
The spigots are back on at Westmoreland Manor. County officials said the latest test results found no traces of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease in the water at the Hempfield nursing home. “Effective Feb. 17, 2020, all water precautions in place at Westmoreland Manor were lifted due to the...
