Westmoreland category, Page 733
Ligonier Salvation Army accepts kids’ wish lists, seeks bell-ringers
The Salvation Army last year provided holiday gifts to 180 Ligonier Valley children in financial need. The need continues this year, and eligible area families who want to make sure their kids ages 13 or younger have something special in their stockings are encouraged to submit wish lists at the...
Cops: New York City man arrested in Hempfield after returning to crime scene
Returning to the scene of a crime was not a good idea for a New York City man charged with trying to use a man’s stolen identity to buy computers. Vaughn L. Lawhorn, 46, of Brooklyn, was arrested at Best Buy in Hempfield Wednesday as he attempted to purchase two...
Incumbents face newcomers for Hempfield supervisor seats
Issues within Hempfield will come to a head next week at the ballot box when a pair of challengers face two incumbents for seats on the township’s board of supervisors. Democrats Scott Graham, 51, and Daniel Kremer, 67, are vying for seats held by Tom Logan, 63, and Doug Weimer,...
Latrobe Art Center plans ‘Polka Dots & Plaid’ auction fundraiser
Attendees have the opportunity to don artful outfits for Latrobe Art Center’s annual signature fundraiser, “An Evening in The Neighborhood XII: Silent & Live Auction.” “Polka Dots & Plaid” is the theme for the semi-formal event, scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Latrobe Country Club. “This fundraiser helps us...
Penn-Trafford business class raises nearly $100,000 for charity
Students in a business class at Penn-Trafford High School raised almost $100,000 for charity since the class started 14 years ago, and they expect to pass the six-figure mark this year. Students in the “Introduction to Administration and Management” class sell T-shirts of their own design, with the profits going...
Westmoreland County Transit will bring bus and paratransit services in-house next yearVideo
Westmoreland County Transit Authority board members on Wednesday approved the takeover of all agency operations in a move that officials said will improve bus and paratransit services at a reduced cost. Board members during a specially scheduled meeting unanimously voted to operate the authority’s fixed-route bus service and operation of...
Route 31 ramps reopen amid I-70 interchange update
Motorists traveling east on Interstate 70 once more can exit and enter at Route 31, with the opening of ramps that were closed for construction. The ramps opened to traffic on Tuesday as work progressed on revamping the interchange in South Huntingdon from a cloverleaf to a diamond configuration. “If...
Former Hempfield student sues teacher over battery, emotional distress
Parents of a former Hempfield Area High School student filed a lawsuit this week, claiming their son was assaulted, intimidated and harassed by a teacher and, ultimately, forced to move to another school. According to the Westmoreland County court filing, the family contends John Testa Jr., a technology education teacher,...
Groundbreaking set for Westmoreland Mall casino
More than a year since a new mini casino at Westmoreland Mall was proposed, construction crews will start work in Hempfield next month. Work on the the 100,000-square-foot casino dubbed “Live! Casino Pittsburgh” will begin Nov. 13, making room for 750 slot machines and 30 table games, a sportsbook area,...
Police: Man fired gun into the air in Southwest Greensburg after argument
A male pedestrian who was stopped by Southwest Greensburg police in a neighborhood where multiple gunshots were heard early Wednesday told officers he fired two shots in the air after an argument with his girlfriend. Edwardo Romero-Gross, 18, of Greensburg, was charged by police with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, carrying...
Re-enactor, shoemaker plans Fort Ligonier presentation
Shoemaker and historian Brett Walker will return to Fort Ligonier, where he sometimes appears as a re-enactor and where he is working on a project to examine and catalog a large cache of mid-18th-century archaeological shoes. This time, at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8, Walker will present “St. Crispin’s Lance...
Wicked weather proves tricky, postpones Halloween treats in Westmoreland
While most local municipalities are not spooked by the possibility of rain and wind on Halloween, others are taking a more cautious route and postponing trick-or-treating this year. The National Weather Service is predicting an almost 100% chance of rain and wind gusts over 30 mph Thursday night. Lee Hendricks,...
Cops: 3 arrested in Jeannette after search finds cocaine, prescription pills
Three members of a Jeannette family were arrested Wednesday after a search of their home by police and state narcotics agents turned up a large amount of suspected cocaine, prescription pills and drug packaging materials, according to court documents. James W. Smith and Takeitha Smith, both 42, and Ronell L....
Delmont firefighters say criticism from council hurts fundraising, recruitmentVideo
Delmont firefighters say an ongoing rift between the department and borough council has stymied fundraising and recruitment efforts. “It’s completely unnecessary, but they keep bashing our fire department,” said Rich Balik, Delmont fire chief. “We’ve been trying to build this department back up for two years after the past problems...
Trafford taxpayers could be on the hook for cost of razing former Mellon Bank buildingVideo
Trafford taxpayers may have to pay for demolition of the dilapidated and condemned former Mellon Bank building, which could cost between $135,000 to $165,000, officials said. The borough is hoping to come to an agreement with the building’s owner, Lanalex Cloyd Inc. of Export, to share the costs of razing...
Westmoreland commissioner hopefuls tout their goals but offer few specifics at forum
The four candidates for Westmoreland County commissioner looked to the future Tuesday night during one of the last campaign events leading up to next week’s general election. Each candidate said the county needs to attract new residents and to promote jobs and tourism but offered few specific programs or policy...
Franklin Regional youth football teams will play for two championships this weekend
When Big East Youth Football League teams get together for four championship games this weekend in Vandergrift, squads from Franklin Regional will have a chance to win half of them. The Franklin Area Midget Football Association’s 7/8 and 11/12 teams will go up against Gateway and McKeesport, respectively, on Saturday...
Abuse survivor calls on Greensburg Diocese to support window of opportunity for clergy abuse claims
A clergy sexual abuse survivor whose testimony sent a Greensburg diocesan priest to prison stepped forward Tuesday to blast the church for opposing a law that would allow adults with old claims to sue the church. Josh Kiley, the 37 year-old man whose tale of sexual abuse as a 10-year-old...
Westmoreland Register of Wills race pits office holder against longtime office worker
The race for Westmoreland County register of wills pits the incumbent against one of the office’s longtime staff members. Democrat Katie Pecarchik, 51, is challenging Sherry Magretti Hamilton, 42, a Republican who is in her first four-year term. Pecarchik, a Hempfield resident, questions how much time Magretti Hamilton spends at...
Judge allows defense to get expert for appeal in Loyalhanna murder case
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday authorized defense attorneys for an Indiana man on death row for the shooting deaths of his mother, sister and aunt to use up to $2,500 of taxpayer money to help formulate another appeal of his murder convictions. Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio approved...
Westmoreland among 8 counties in $100K study of broadband internet service
Westmoreland County will participate in a study expected to clarify the status of local broadband internet service and what might be needed to improve coverage in the region. The Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission was awarded a $50,000 grant to map out broadband needs in Westmoreland along with Bedford,...
North Huntingdon man accused of rape being held in county jail on $150K bail
North Huntingdon police on Tuesday arrested a 38-year-old township man on multiple charges of raping and sexually abusing a girl. In addition to rape, John M. Wilbanks was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on charges including rape, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children....
School director, restaurant owner vie for Unity supervisor post
Michael O’Barto has spent two years on the Greater Latrobe School Board, but he hopes Unity voters will return him to his previous longtime role of township supervisor. Doug Murphy, who fell short in a 2017 bid to join the three-member board of supervisors, is vying again for the position....
Westmoreland County cold weather shelter program begins on Friday
Westmoreland County cold weather shelters will open on Friday, offering emergency lodging to residents who are homeless or without heat on cold winter nights. They will remain in service through March 31. Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg and Union Mission in Latrobe will be open from 8 p.m. to 8...
State legislation would expand first-responder tax credit to the county level
This April, state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, donated $16,000 of his state salary to fire departments in his 54th District. Brooks wants to continue helping first responders with House Bill 1839, which would authorize counties to issue a property tax credit to active firefighters or emergency medical responders. The bill...
