Westmoreland category, Page 743
Mt. Pleasant Township woman, 102, joined the first WAVES of Navy veteransVideo
Melva Simon met some initial resistance from her parents, John and Sadie Dolan, when she decided to sign up for military service. “My mother wasn’t too anxious for me to go,” she said. But, at age 25, “she couldn’t keep me at home forever.” Simon was quick to join the...
Steelers honor Hempfield’s late Terry Ranieri; Spartan band performs at Heinz Field
The family of Terry Ranieri, a beloved member of the Hempfield community, was honored before the Steelers game Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. They received a Steelers jersey in Ranieri’s honor, and the Hempfield Area marching band played during pregame festivities. The recognition was part of the National Football...
Police find $14K worth of marijuana in New Stanton stop
State police working in support of an Indiana University of Pennsylvania Homecoming detail stopped a Pittsburgh man with a “significant” amount of drugs on Friday. Police believe the 25-year-old man, who was not named, was on his way to Indiana County with a suitcase full of drugs, although it is...
Eagle found shot in Derry Township euthanized
A bald eagle found shot Friday on the West Penn Trail had to be euthanized, state Game Warden Bill Brehun said Monday. The investigation is very active with a number of individuals who have been interviewed, Brehun said late Monday. The eagle was still alive when it was found Friday...
Author, veteran to discuss ‘Women in the Marines’ at Westmoreland libraries
Retired Marine Corps Col. Nancy Anderson will discuss her recently published book, “The Very Few, The Proud: Women in the Marines,” during programs at several Westmoreland County libraries. Anderson, who earlier this year served as interim CEO of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday in The...
Latrobe-area writer focuses on Fred Rogers’ kindness, hometown impactVideo
Beloved children’s television host Fred Rogers achieved his greatest effect on others by being “defiantly kind,” Latrobe-area writer Chris Rodell asserts. Rodell offers an example — a 1995 encounter with Latrobe native Rogers that lifted the spirits of a younger man — in his new book released this month, “Growing...
`Violent intruder drill’ slated for Greensburg
The Greensburg police and fire departments, Mutual Aid Ambulance and Westmoreland County’s public safety department will conduct a violent intruder drill Monday inside an office at the Davis Center along East Pittsburgh Street. Greensburg police are expected to fire blank rounds in the air during the drill at Westmoreland Casemanagement...
Game days are long for Norwin athletic directorVideo
On a high school football Friday, Brandon Rapp is at the Norwin Knights Stadium. It’s 6:30 a.m. Kickoff is more than 12 hours away. Rapp, Norwin’s athletic director, is at the North Huntingdon stadium about 20 minutes before the sunrise, checking on the status of preparations for a game that...
Delmont attracts visitors in droves for Apple ‘n Arts FestivalVideo
The first-time visitor to the Delmont Apple ’n Arts Festival would be excused for being a little overwhelmed. Festival organizers pack a lot into a relatively small space. For two days in October, this borough of 2,500 people probably triples or quadruples in size. Most visitors come for the apples...
Wheeling man identified in fatal Washington County crash
A West Virginia man was identified Friday as the victim of a fatal two-vehicle crash Thursday morning along Route 22 in Washington County. Jerry Saragas, 38, of Wheeling, was killed in a head-on collision on Route 22 in Hanover Township at about 10:15 a.m., Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said....
Ligonier Valley students help plant arboretum at Forbes State Forest officeVideo
Students from Ligonier Valley Middle School got in some field work this past week — literally. The 25 students enrolled in horticulture and marketing classes in grades 6-8 helped plant several trees that will transform a Laughlintown field just west of the Forbes State Forest district office into a showcase...
Cops: Rostraver police K9 Duvall helps nab two burglary suspects
Rostraver police K9 officer Duvall was credited Friday with helping township police locate and arrest two suspects during a daylight residential burglary. Todd Houseman, 43, of Monongahela, and Mack Simms, 47, of Monessen, were awaiting arraignment in night court on multiple charges of burglary, criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass,...
Former GOP challengers support Doug Chew for Westmoreland commissioner
Republican Doug Chew, one of four candidates seeking three positions on the Westmoreland County board of commissioners, was endorsed Thursday by three former challengers. Republicans John Ventre, Heather Cordial and Paul Kosko threw their support to Chew in the general election. Chew and Republican Sean Kertes finished atop the six-candidate...
Shards of bloody snow shovel introduced in Jeannette murder trial
Seven pieces of a shattered and blood-covered snow shovel were discovered in the basement of the Jeannette home where police claim a 19-year-old Allegheny County man was bludgeoned to death in 2016. Retired Westmoreland County Detective Hugh Shearer testified a larger, hard plastic handle portion of the same shovel was...
Greensburg diocesan priest absolved of abuse, takes leave of absence
The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg said its investigation into child sex abuse allegations lodged against a priest who served churches in West Newton and Herminie found the claims to be unsubstantiated, but the priest has resigned his pastorates and taken a leave of absence. Bishop Edward C. Malesic announced Friday...
PennDOT to display plans for Route 906 reconstruction in Rostraver, Monessen
PennDOT this month will unveil its plan for reconstructing a large section of Route 906 paralleling the Monongahela River in Monessen. A display of plans for the project is set for 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Monessen City Hall, 557 Donner Ave. The meeting will begin with...
Fall weather finally coming to Western Pa. as high temps dissipateVideo
Southwestern Pennsylvania’s seemingly endless summer is finally over, and true fall temperatures are finally on the way. The region had been under a warm weather system that came from the south for weeks. “It was very strong, it’s something we don’t really see,” said Shannon Hefferan, meteorologist with the National...
Seton Hill awarded $2.16 million federal grant to expand STEM-related fields
Seton Hill University says a $2.16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will increase its undergraduate research capabilities, build a research fund to support students and increase competitiveness in its science programs and graduate schools. The competitive grant will expand the university’s ability to prepare graduates for careers...
Kanczes family sues YMCA over son’s death during outing in Somerset County
The family of the 15-year-old North Huntingdon boy who fell to his death in July while rappelling in Somerset County are suing the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and its affiliate in Beaver County for unspecified damages in Allegheny County court. The suit alleges the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and Camp...
‘Cool’ artist John Van Hamersveld meets with Greensburg Salem art studentsVideo
One day before The Westmoreland Museum of American Art’s annual Big Art Party, the featured artist spent Friday conducting workshops for art students at Greensburg Salem High School. The Westmoreland’s current exhibit, “Era of Cool: The Art of John Van Hamersveld,” continues through Oct. 20. Van Hamersveld is perhaps best...
Bridgeport store owner gets prison time in stolen grocery scheme
The owner of a mom-and-pop grocery store near Mt. Pleasant will serve up to 23 months in jail after he pleaded guilty Friday to selling merchandise stolen from other retail outlets and improperly cashing checks for customers. Melvin “Beanie” McCloy, 67, was arrested in January following a three-year investigation into...
Greater Latrobe kindergarteners learn about aviation, first responders during field tripVideo
Whether it was climbing through the cockpit of vintage 1942 Stinson Reliant airplane, watching demonstrations by Latrobe Police Officer Robert Derk and K9 Zeus or getting faux medical treatment from staffers of Excela Health and Mutual Aid Ambulance, kindergartners in Greater Latrobe School District got an up close look at...
Volunteer canoers needed for Yough River tire cleanup day
Hundreds of tires polluting the Youghiogheny River are about to find a new home. With a little help from volunteers on canoes, that is. “This particular type of event is a lot of fun, relatively speaking, when you’re cleaning up a dump site,” said Ellen Keefe, director of Westmoreland Cleanways....
Officials: No one injured in Hempfield fireVideo
Nobody was injured in a Hempfield house fire early Friday morning. The fire was reported after 6 a.m. along Everglade Road, south of Route 30, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. A huge plume of smoke rose from the two-story structure as firefighters battled flames that kept rekindling throughout the...
Coroner called to scene of shooting in West DerryVideo
Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth Bacha confirmed his office was called to the scene of a shooting Thursday night in the West Derry section of Derry Township. A Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said state police were called to an incident on West Fourth Avenue (Route 217) just before 8 p.m. Additional...
