Westmoreland category, Page 758
Jeannette girl wins age division in 2019 Little Miss Italy pageant
Sophia Lawry, 7, performed her heart out when she took the stage to compete in the 2019 Miss Little Italy pageant during Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days, said her mom, Gina. And her performance won her the title Miss Little Italy, Princess division. “It’s based on confidence, and she walked out...
Delmont man accused of assaulting woman
A 39-year-old Delmont man was arrested Thursday on charges of assaulting a woman inside his home and obstructing officers attempting to investigate the incident, police said. Ian T. Morelli was arraigned before District Judge Helen Kistler on charges of obstruction of law enforcement, simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct and possession...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 30-Sept. 2Video
TGIF! It’s the kickoff to Labor Day weekend, the last official hurrah of summer. Though it’s usually a time to pack in a picnic, backyard barbecue, road trip or other outdoor fun, that’s not all there is to do around these parts. SHEL game Indie-folk band SHEL will wrap up...
Pittsburgh man accused of DUI, impersonating police officer in Trafford
A Pittsburgh man is charged with driving while drunk, resisting arrest and impersonating a police officer during a traffic stop this week in Trafford. Christopher N. Lenkiewicz, 36, was spotted driving erratically in a Nissan sedan before 4:15 p.m. Wednesday along Forbes Road and later pulled alongside Trafford Patrolman Richard...
Teen charged in Export shooting will be released from jail
A teenager charged with four adults in connection with a shooting last weekend in Export will be released from jail to await trial. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger set a $50,000 bond on Thursday for 16-year-old Connor J. Yakoweloff of New Alexandria and ordered that he remain...
Swissvale woman jailed on heroin charge in North Huntingdon traffic stop
A Swissvale woman is charged with intent to deliver 10 bricks of heroin following a traffic stop Wednesday in North Huntingdon. According to township police, 500 stamp bags of suspected heroin were discovered in a bag under the rear seat of a Dodge Avenger — where Radajah Lynn Muhammad, 22,...
Former skinhead warns of resurgent hatred in Westmoreland County visitVideo
More than five decades after the Civil Rights Act changed U.S. law, former skinhead Arno Michaelis says, racial hatred is translating into violence in America and around the globe. “White nationalist attacks have escalated all over the world, and the death toll is growing,” Michaelis said Thursday at Saint Vincent...
3 injured in collision on Route 30 in Hempfield
Three people were injured and at least one motorist was taken to Excela Westmoreland Hospital after a two-vehicle wreck Thursday morning on Route 30 in Hempfield. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes just before 7:15 a.m. near DeLallo Italian Marketplace, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. One lane...
Greensburg synagogue welcomes new rabbi
Rabbi Leonard Sarko believes in making faith approachable. He often brings his guitar or keyboard to services to provide some musical accompaniment. He reads excerpts from the Torah in English as well as the traditional Hebrew. He will bring those skills to Greensburg as the new rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El...
Freight trains, costs are hurdles for increasing Western Pa. Amtrak serviceVideo
If Amtrak added a commuter train into Pittsburgh on the route between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, more than one-half of the passengers would board at the Greensburg Train Station, according to a state official overseeing multimodal transportation. But whether Amtrak is in a position to add another westbound Pennsylvanian train to...
Overdose awareness event in Greensburg can provide ‘spark of hope’ for addicts, families
A decade ago, Katrin Schall of Youngstown would have had little interest in an event like the Overdose Awareness Day scheduled this weekend in Greensburg. But on Saturday, Schall — who overcame her own drug addiction — will be at St. Clair Park in her capacity as supervisor for Southwestern...
Rostraver helipad, Arnold Palmer hangar prep get grant assist
A helipad at Rostraver Airport and hangar and apron projects at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport received a boost this week through state aviation grants. Gov. Tom Wolf announced approval of a $375,000 grant for improvements at Rostraver Airport, including development of a helipad. According to Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive...
Participant will be resentenced for role in fatal Greensburg torture case
The youngest member of a group of six Greensburg roommates convicted in the torture and murder of a mentally disabled woman nearly a decade ago will be sentenced for the third time in December. Angela Marinucci, 27, has twice before been sentenced to serve life in prison without the possibility...
Monessen bus driver charged with having child porn faced similar charges 2 decades ago
A Monessen school bus driver charged this week by federal authorities for possession of child pornography had previously been barred from driving children after he was arrested on similar charges in 2001. This week’s indictment of Jack Brian Laforte, 54, came nearly two decades after he was charged in Westmoreland...
‘Everyone’s Friend’ Terry Ranieri, Hempfield’s most-beloved fan, laid to restVideo
Terry Ranieri will be remembered as a man with no malice in his heart. “I never met anyone as kind as Terry was. I don’t think there was anything you could do to make Terry dislike you,” said the Rev. Kenneth Bossart, who gave the eulogy at Ranieri’s memorial service...
Westmoreland Historical Society plans house tour, cocktail party
The Westmoreland Historical Society is offering a first-ever inside view of the restored Hon. John B. Steel House (circa 1910-12), now part of the Westmoreland History Center at Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield. Two period rooms on the first floor and second-floor staff offices will be the setting for the...
Police: Ruffs Dale man accused in sex crimes used fire department’s credit card to fuel up
A Ruffs Dale man awaiting trial on charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl over several months last year was accused by state police this week of using an area fire department’s credit card to buy $2,627 in gas for his personal vehicle. Derek A. Ruth, 27, who was arrested...
Sister sharpshooters look to improve upon trophy take at Westmoreland FairVideo
Sisters Autumn and Summer Pavlik are used to aiming high. And they rarely miss. The Unity siblings combined for an impressive showing in youth shooting sports at last week’s Westmoreland Fair. Autumn, 15, placed first in her age group in the 4-H archery, air rifle and .22-caliber rifle shooting competitions....
Pennsylvania Turnpike drug suspects claim illegal search
Two Philadelphia men arrested last year on the Pennsylvania Turnpike after police found 27 pounds of marijuana in their car trunk contend the vehicle search was illegal and the criminal charges against them should be dismissed. Lawyers for Joseph Ricardo Wright, 33, and and Dwayne Dwight Augustus, 36, contend police...
Latrobe man, fiancee sue Nemacolin, seek return of $30K wedding reception deposit
A Latrobe man and his fiancee said a Fayette County resort wasn’t as advertised and are seeking the return of their deposit after canceling their wedding reception set for next month. In a three-count lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas, Greg Cammarata and Christina Varrasso say Nemacolin...
Johnson & Johnson opioid ruling spreads optimism around Western Pa.-based lawsuits
Westmoreland County is one of about 2,000 municipalities across the country with pending lawsuits against various drug manufacturers accused of promoting the opioid addiction epidemic that has devastated communities in recent years. This week’s court ruling in Oklahoma, in which the state was awarded a $572 million judgment from drugmaker...
Greensburg event to feature LGBTQIA speakers to talk about Western Pa. experiences
Hoping to increase awareness and strengthen alliances with local leaders, the Keystone Pride and Equality Coalition is hosting a listening session next month. The session, which is planned for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, will feature a panel of speakers who will...
Ranieri family raising money for scholarship fundVideo
Terry Ranieri’s legacy is living on through a scholarship fund for Hempfield Area Marching Band students. Ranieri, who passed away last week, graduated from Hempfield Area School District in 1975, attended home football games regularly in the decades since supporting the marching band and spent time hanging out with friends...
Former Monessen School District bus driver accused of possessing child porn
A former Monessen School District bus driver was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of possessing child pornography, federal prosecutors said. Jack Brian Laforte, 54, of Monessen is accused of possessiong videos and images in computer graphic files that showed minors, some younger than 12, engaged...
Johnstown man killed in Murrysville crash over weekend
A 30-year-old Johnstown man died over the weekend in a one-vehicle crash along Route 22 in Murrysville, police said. The victim, Eduardo Luis Palmar, was traveling at a high rate of speed in the westbound lanes around midnight Saturday near Rick’s Sports Bar when his 2018 Chevrolet sedan crashed into...
