Westmoreland category, Page 699
Preliminary testing shows ‘probable Legionella’ in water at Westmoreland Manor
Preliminary testing indicated a finding of “probable Legionella” bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease, in water at Westmoreland Manor, county officials said Wednesday. Additional testing is under way, the county reported in a statement. Final results are expected by early next week. “Westmoreland Manor was notified by the Pennsylvania Department of...
Excela Health CEO to speak at Economic Growth luncheon
The new Excela Health chief executive officer will discuss the challenges facing Westmoreland County’s hospitals and health care during the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland’s annual membership luncheon on Feb. 20 at Saint Vincent College near Latrobe. John Sphon was appointed CEO in December, after serving as interim CEO since...
Editor to discuss book on women in the Holocaust
The editor of a new book about women and the Holocaust will discuss the publication at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. The program is set for 5 p.m. Feb. 4 in the JoAnne Woodyard Boyle Health Sciences Center, Room 167. Carol Rittner, a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy,...
Derry woman charged with animal neglect receives probation sentence
A Derry Borough woman will serve one-year probation for her role in the mistreatment of dozens of animals found living in poor conditions last year on her sister’s property. Prosecutors said as many as 14 horses, eight dogs, a donkey and dozens of cats and kittens were found emaciated, in...
Hempfield man accused of assaulting children, ages 8 and 10
A Hempfield man is being held without bond in the Westmoreland County Prison for allegedly assaulting two children he was watching last weekend. Treson L. Smith, 25, was arraigned on two counts each of endangering the welfare of children, harassment and simple assault and a single count of strangulation. State...
Westmoreland told to release ‘daily entry and exit time records’ for Register of Wills
Westmoreland County was ordered this week to release “electronic swipe card daily entry and exit time records” for Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton under a decision by the state Office of Open Records. The decision reversed the county’s Dec. 20 denial of a request under the state’s Right-to-Know Law...
Saint Vincent planetarium shows will explore the nighttime sky
Visitors can take a tour of the nighttime sky during four spring shows in the Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit in Saint Vincent College’s Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion. The schedule kicks off Feb. 15, and continues with a Saturday show monthly through May. Shows begin at...
Trout in the Classroom program going swimmingly in HempfieldVideo
Proudly displayed fish artwork isn’t all that students at West Hempfield Elementary School have to show off. First through fifth graders are raising almost 200 rainbow trout through the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom program. The local curriculum was implemented by art teacher Matt Clark as a way to incorporate...
Inspector General charges 45 with welfare fraud
The state caught 45 suspected welfare fraudsters in December, who allegedly scammed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other programs out of more than $240,000, according to the Office of the State Inspector General. The office charged 35 people with felonies, the remaining 10 with misdemeanors. Three residents of Allegheny...
Westmoreland Intermediate Unit seeks donations for backpacks for homeless children
The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit is seeking donations to fill 1,000 backpacks for homeless children in Westmoreland County and across the state. The backpacks will be assembled during the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units statewide conference to be held locally in May. The Westmoreland unit is hosting the conference at Seven...
Greensburg Police Department seeks new officer
The City of Greensburg Police Department is looking for a new officer. The department is accepting applications for candidates to replace patrolman Peter Sandberg, who retired in October after 21 years on the force. It’s getting harder to find qualified candidates, Chief Chad Zucco said. “The problem that we have...
Delmont councilman announces bid for 14th Congressional seat
A Delmont councilman announced his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in the 14th Congressional District. Bill Marx, 43, a Democrat, announced his decision to run during a Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council meeting this week, according to his Facebook page. He confirmed his intention to run for the...
Yukon area landfill owner to hold meeting on permit
The company that treats and stores hazardous waste in landfills is expected to update South Huntingdon residents Thursday on its plans to build another impoundment area. MAX Environmental Technologies Inc. of Greentree plans to hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Yukon Fire Hall, 124 Highway St.,...
PennDOT sets open house for Route 981 improvements north of Mt. Pleasant
PennDOT officials hope to begin improving Route 981 north of Mt. Pleasant in spring 2021. A final design for the project’s first, southernmost section will be unveiled from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday during an open house in the Mt. Pleasant Area High School cafeteria, 271 State St. “We’ve pretty...
Unity zoning board grants variances for proposed Dollar General storeVideo
PennTex Ventures received local zoning variances for building a new Dollar General store in Unity, but plans for motorists to access the proposed discount outlet at eastbound Route 30 and Smith’s Hill Road must pass muster with PennDOT. The Unity Township Zoning Hearing Board this week voted 4-1 in favor...
Westmoreland controller calls for bigger county tax increase
Westmoreland County Controller Jeffrey Balzer on Tuesday called on commissioners to approve an additional property tax increase to ensure there is enough money to pay the bills through the end of the year. Balzer made his plea for higher taxes as he and Commissioner Gina Cerilli traded barbs during a...
Rape charges dismissed against former Hempfield man
A former Hempfield man pleaded guilty Tuesday to lesser offenses after prosecutors agreed to dismiss rape charges in connection with an alleged sexual assault in October 2017. Harold M. Franks, 37, now of Washington Township, was charged after a bloodied and bruised woman appeared at a Greensburg police station, partially...
Unity officials clear way for new Westmoreland Cleanways recycling center
Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling’s plan to relocate its recycling operations to a property near Pleasant Unity received the go-ahead Tuesday. After tabling the matter earlier in January, Unity Township supervisors approved a final site plan for the new recycling center, with a landscaping modification that includes planting a border of...
Greensburg police identify 2nd wanted suspect in strong-arm robbery
Greensburg police identified a second man they say was involved in a strong-arm robbery in the city last week. On Tuesday, police obtained an arrest warrant for Nikolaus A. Beers, 39, of Mercer on charges of conspiracy, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property, robbery, strangulation and theft. Police also released his...
Beating away the day: WCCC uses drum circle to help students handle stressVideo
The sound of drums on Tuesday echoed through the recently renovated Student Achievement Center at Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. Students gathered for the monthly drum circle and worked together to beat away the stress of the semester. “It’s meant to help them learn to work together, to collaborate...
Latrobe police to greet residents at art center
The Latrobe Police Department has established a tradition of inviting area residents to learn more about the work of its officers and other emergency responders during the annual National Night Out event, held the first Tuesday in August. On Feb. 5, the department will try a new morning outreach effort:...
Charges filed in Unity man’s 2015 drug overdose death
A former area woman is accused of providing a fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin that killed a Unity man in 2015, according to court papers. Caitlin Nicole Brown, 27, was charged in October 2017 with drug delivery resulting in death and related offenses. She was extradited to Pennsylvania last week....
Westmoreland Manor water being tested for Legionnaires’ disease
State health officials confirmed Tuesday an investigation is ongoing at Westmoreland Manor for a suspected case of Legionnaires’ disease. Residents and employees at the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield have been using bottled water to drink and to clean with since Friday, when the investigation started. “The department is investigating...
Westmoreland Labor Council backs Democrat Prah in 58th District special election
The Westmoreland County Labor Council endorsed Democrat Robert Prah Jr. in an upcoming special election for the 58th district state House seat. It was a difficult choice between Prah and Republican Eric Davanzo, said WCLC President Walter Geiger. “We are proud of both of these men. They are both union...
412 Food Rescue expands mission in Westmoreland, other Western Pa. counties
A Pittsburgh nonprofit that “rescues” good food from going to landfills is expanding its services to surrounding counties through a smartphone app and a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. 412 Food Rescue, founded in 2015, redirects surplus food from local waste streams to nonprofits that serve people in need. In...
