Westmoreland category, Page 704
Greensburg police ask for help identifying burglary suspect
Greensburg police are asking the public’s help identifying a suspect in a burglary Saturday in the city’s Northmont area. An unknown suspect reportedly burglarized a residence during the morning hours and fled in a Subaru SUV. Police described the burglar as a white male about 5 feet 5 inches tall...
Dollar General considers new store in Unity
A new Dollar General store could be coming to Route 30 in Unity. Next week, the township zoning hearing board is scheduled to hear from developers of the store proposed along the eastbound lanes of the highway at Smith’s Hill Road, just east of Beatty Crossroads. At 6 p.m. Jan....
3 injured in tanker truck explosion inside garage near New Stanton
Three people were reportedly burned Friday in a tanker truck explosion inside an East Huntingdon garage, Westmoreland County 911 said. The explosion occurred about 4:25 p.m. at 1528 New Stanton-Ruffsdale Road near New Stanton. Evening commuters headed south on Interstate 70 around 5 p.m. could see the smoke plume from...
Westmoreland tourism grants top $300KVideo
From an indoor ax throwing business to art museums, and everything in between, Westmoreland County tourist destinations were seeing dollar signs on Friday. Festival organizers, hotels, parks and theaters all benefited from the latest round of tourism grants announced by the Westmoreland County commissioners and the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau....
State police seek missing Ruffsdale girl
State police are seeking a 13-year-girl who has been missing since 9 p.m. Thursday. Lainey Ucman was last known to be in the area of Story Frye Road off Route 981 in South Huntingdon, police said. She may be driving a white hatchback-style 2017 Ford Focus. The car has a...
Youngwood tattoo artist arrested after sheriff’s deputies find suspected LSD in shop
When Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies went looking last month for the subject of an arrest warrant, they found suspected LSD instead at a Youngwood tattoo parlor, according to court papers. Deputies on Friday arrested the tattoo artist Ulises F. Osorio, 30, of Hempfield, on drug and related offenses. Investigators said...
Jury in Jeannette slaying rejects twin defense, finds Penn Hills man guilty of murderVideo
A Westmoreland County jury wasted little time in rejecting a man’s claim that his identical twin was the shooter in a brazen daylight murder in downtown Jeannette. Jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee of Penn Hills guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Michael Wilson, a...
Police: Pair dumped mother cat, 4 kittens at Hempfield shopping plaza
A Southwest Greensburg man and woman are accused by police of dumping a mother cat and four kittens behind a shopping plaza in Hempfield. Samantha Talley Smith and Corey William Seabol, both 26, are charged with cruelty to animals and neglect of animals. Seabol faces additional citations of driving while...
Police: Youngwood pair left behind 3 cats, turtle, bearded dragon at apartment
Two former Youngwood residents are accused of leaving behind three cats, a bearded dragon and a turtle when they abandoned a borough apartment, according to police. Emily Elizabeth Cisar and Jeffrey Andrew Houston, both 26, are charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and related offenses. Houston faces an additional charge...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Jan. 17-19Video
Depending on your holiday/travel plans, this week may have been the first full work week since sometime last year. It’s not easy getting back into that full-time production mode. Luckily, the weekend looms for most of us. Get out and hear some music, get some culture, maybe even dare your...
Birthday buddies: Teacher, student celebrate 75-year friendshipVideo
As a young child, Garnet Overly recalls, she always looked forward to school. “Schooling was something I always enjoyed. I enjoyed going to school and I enjoyed my teachers I had in the lower grades. Right now don’t ask me their names,” says Overly, 94, of Donegal Township. “I remember...
Judge won’t dismiss charges against ex-Derry mayor accused in gun incident
A judge on Thursday rejected a request from Derry Borough’s former mayor to dismiss assault charges related to accusations he threatened children with a loaded gun. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani ruled testimony presented during a preliminary hearing last year established enough evidence that Kevin Gross’ actions...
Grandmother of man accused in fatal Jeannette shooting offers alibi
A grandmother took the witness stand Thursday and said her grandson — a man on trial for a brazen daylight murder in downtown Jeannette — was in Florida at the time of the fatal shooting. Shirley Muhammad testified her paternal grandson, Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee, 30, of Penn Hills, was in Orlando...
Tenaska offering scholarships to students from Belle Vernon, Yough
Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners LLC, owner of the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station near Smithton, is offering $6,000 in scholarships for college-bound students in Westmoreland County this year. Tenaska manages scholarship programs in communities where its power plants are located and has given out approximately $760,000 in scholarships to date. This is...
Southwest Greensburg searches for new manager
Southwest Greensburg is looking for a new manager. “My wife and friends were all retired, and it’s time for me to join the fun,” said Corry Sheffler, 64, who has been the borough manager since 2011. He’ll be stepping down at the end of February. Sheffler wears a lot of...
Police: Hempfield man was drunk in head-on crash that seriously injured driver
A Hempfield man was drunk when he crossed into oncoming traffic, slamming head-on into another vehicle and seriously injuring its driver, according to state police. Troopers said 65-year-old Joseph J. Forbes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.216%. The legal limit to drive in Pennsylvania is 0.08%. He is charged with...
Firefighters called to blaze in Rostraver
Firefighters were called to a reported house fire in Rostraver on Thursday, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The fire was reported at 10:45 a.m. on Rostraver Road near the Route 51 overpass. Traffic on Rostraver Road and Route 51 was affected. No injuries were reported....
Cathy Sarraf joins Greater Latrobe School Board as appointee
Unity resident Cathy Sarraf finished just out of the running in November’s election of five Greater Latrobe school directors, but she joined the board this week as an appointed member. With Eric Hauser absent, the school board voted 6-1 Tuesday to appoint Sarraf to serve the two years remaining in...
North Huntingdon garbage complaints shrink, township officials sayVideo
North Huntingdon residents are filing fewer complaints about the township’s new trash hauler failing to pick up their garbage on time, township officials said this week. The township administrative staff “is not spending nine hours (a day),” fielding phone calls from residents upset that County Hauling of Rostraver failed to...
Westmoreland judge: Case against Greensburg man accused of threatening woman can proceed
Assault charges against a Greensburg man accused of threatening to shoot his live-in girlfriend last year can be prosecuted, a Westmoreland County judge has ruled. Chad Neil Snyder, 33, was charged with two counts each of simple assault and making terrorist threats after police said that on Nov. 8, 2018,...
Latrobe day care owner’s appeal rejected
A judge has rejected an appeal from the former owner of a Latrobe day care who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for endangering the welfare of children by allowing a convicted sex offender access to the minors at her business. Lisa Knecht, 59, of Derry, was convicted in 2015...
West Newton man pleads guilty to heroin, gun charges
A West Newton man accused of being part of a Western Pennsylvania drug trafficking operation pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing heroin. William Kalna, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a person addicted to...
Witness in Jeannette murder trial says she can recognize defendant from twin brother
A woman whose former boyfriend was fatally shot nearly three years ago in Jeannette told a Westmoreland County jury Wednesday that she can identify the alleged killer by a tiny mole on his left cheek and by his stride. Sharnell Jackson testified she was in Jeannette on April 13, 2017,...
Penn Township man charged with new stalking count after ex finds tracking device on her car
A Penn Township man was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on accusations he stalked his ex-girlfriend for months after their breakup and damaged her new boyfriend’s truck. Instead, the hearing was postponed after the woman discovered a tracking device hidden inside her car. Charged in October with retaliation against...
Excela granted Magnet status for nursing care
Nurses at Excela Health System facilities now can count themselves among a small percentage nationwide who work at institutions that have earned the Magnet Recognition for nursing care. Excela officials announced the new designation Wednesday. Only 505 of the nation’s 6,300 hospitals have achieved the designation from the American Nurses...
