Westmoreland category, Page 766
Pennsylvania distributes wildfire funds on Smokey Bear anniversary
Seven volunteer fire departments in Westmoreland County are among recipients of state grants for wildfire equipment and training. The funding is from the latest round of grants announced by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for departments in rural areas that regularly fight wildland and brush fires. “Too...
Westmoreland schools getting new turf in final weeks before classesVideo
Blame it on the rain. Crews for artificial turf companies have been scrambling the past few weeks to install the rubber-based green carpet at stadiums across the area — including Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Jeannette and Norwin — before school starts. While retired Pittsburgh Steelers running back Dick Hoak and...
Lincoln Highway Experience plans night of friendly competition
A night of friendly competition is planned for Aug. 23 at the Lincoln Highway Experience in Unity. Starting at 6 p.m., the “Thinkin’ Lincoln Summer Classic” will feature fun individual and team competitions both outside and in the museum’s new addition. Individual games will include basketball, fold a pie box...
Murrysville officials budgeting funds to address storm water damage
As Murrysville officials look at potential capital improvements over the next five years, one issue is starting to consume a larger percentage of the capital budget — damage from storm water. “We lost half of Beighley Road with the storm that came through Plum a couple weeks ago, and we...
Jeannette family honored after saving 5-year-old from drowning
Nicole Hall pumped the chest of her 5-year-old cousin after his body was pulled from the family’s Jeannette swimming pool this summer. After a minute and a half of compressions, the boy again started to breathe. “He was lifeless,” said family member Patty Hall, 55, who provided oxygen while Nicole...
Census officials prepare for low number of applications ahead of 2020 survey
The Census Bureau is hiring — and officials plan to employ more than 500,000 part-time and temporary workers across the country. Between Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, officials expect to field about 12,000 applications, census spokeswoman Susan Licate said. “The hiring needs within each county vary and are ongoing,” she said....
‘God’s blessing’: Murrysville family farm predates AmericaVideo
The Murrysville land farmed by Herb Gearhard and his family is older than America. The Gearhard farm, the oldest continuously worked farm in Westmoreland County, dates to the late 1760s, and marks its 250th anniversary this year. On April 3, 1769, Robert Hays paid 45 pounds, two shillings and sixpence...
Westmoreland Cleanways adds glass to drop-off recycling service
Residents searching for a place to recycle glass can go to the Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling facility in Unity. Cleanways is accepting glass because many community recycling programs and waste haulers no longer accept the material for curbside collection or drop-off in public bins, Executive Director Ellen Keefe announced this...
Township officials: Unity race track to take steps to curb late-night noise
Residents who live near Latrobe Speedway in Unity say late-night stock car races kept them up into the early hours last Sunday. They hope there’s no repeat performance this weekend. Township officials this week said the race track operator has agreed to take steps to curb noise and restrict races...
6 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 9-11Video
The dog days of summer are upon us. We have a few ways to celebrate here in Westmoreland County … one more literal than the others. Rock on This ain’t your father’s Celtic band! No, this is Seven Nations. And these hard-drivin’ rockers will take over Greensburg’s St. Clair Park...
Popular Irwin restaurant property up for sale for back taxes
The building that houses a popular Irwin restaurant is on Westmoreland County’s delinquent tax sale list — again. This time, the owners reportedly owe more than $22,000 in back taxes. Kris and Sheri Aley, of North Huntingdon, own the parcel containing Brandy’s restaurant at 200 Main St. and two parking...
Jeannette man guilty of selling drugs that killed his brother
A Jeannette man was found guilty Thursday of selling the drugs his younger brother used just prior to his overdose death in Greensburg in late 2016. Westmoreland County jurors deliberated nearly five hours before they found Markus McGowan, 31, guilty of one felony count of drug delivery resulting in death....
Driller, public health consultant debate correlation-versus-causation at fracking hearing
Laura Dagley, a medical advocacy coordinator with Physicians for Social Responsibility’s Pennsylvania branch, could not say hydraulic fracturing operations directly cause negative health effects on nearby residents. But she said it is difficult to ignore the strong correlation that many studies have shown between a fracking operation’s arrival and an...
Families clash outside Greensburg courthouse as Arnold child rape trial starts
Greensburg police Thursday responded to a melee that erupted in front of the Westmoreland County Courthouse to separate families involved in an ongoing rape trial. Officials said no arrests were made and testimony in the case against Delonte Haynes continued after Common Pleas Judge Rita Hathaway questioned each juror about...
New leaders seek to build on Salvation Army programs in Greensburg
Growing up in Tiffin, Ohio, Ashley Luzader remembers attending the local Salvation Army with her great-grandmother. “I would spend the night at her house on Saturday night … and go to church with her the next day,” she said. “I tried other churches, but I never felt at home.” Today,...
Murrysville concert to revive spirit of late ’60s with a celebration of Woodstock
Fifty years ago, a half-million people gathered on a farm in Bethel, N.Y., for an event billed as “3 Days of Peace & Music.” The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, held Aug. 15-17, 1969, holds a special place among the cultural events that shaped America. University of Pittsburgh senior lecturer...
Irwin promotes assistant manager to top spot
After interviewing several candidates over the past month to be Irwin Borough’s manager, council opted to remain in-house when selecting the town’s top administrator. Shari Martino, who has been the acting manager since Valerie Morton left the position June 25, was hired as manager Wednesday by a unanimous vote. Martino...
Game Commission proposal to ban feeding deer, turkeys draws interest
A Pennsylvania Game Commission proposal to ban feeding big game animals in the state is generating plenty of interest among hunters, if Wednesday night’s open house in Delmont is any indication. Nearly 40 people, many of them hunters, attended the open house at the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department to inquire...
Free photo workshop planned for high school students at Hanna’s Town
Area high school students can brush up on photography skills during a two-day workshop later this month at Historic Hanna’s Town. Led by Westmoreland Photographers Society President Brian Kloock, the workshop will provide a hands-on learning experience focused on creating, processing and exhibiting photographs. The Westmoreland Photographers Society, will present...
Route 31 shift will allow eastbound traffic to bypass intersection at Donegal
PennDOT plans Monday to shift motorists onto a new Route 31 alignment at Donegal that features an improved intersection at Route 711, with a new traffic signal and turning lanes. The new continuous “T” intersection will allow those driving east on Route 31 to continue unimpeded, using a through lane...
Police: Mother, 2 daughters made $250K in personal purchases on Washington County company’s credit card
A Scottdale woman and her two daughters are accused of making $250,000 worth of unapproved purchases with a Washington County-based company’s credit cards, according to court papers. Laurie Renee Christ, 52, and her daughters, Amanda Renae Christ, 30, of Jeannette, and Lyndsey Nicole Christ, 31, of Armstrong Township, Indiana County,...
Jeannette man testifies he ‘would never give anything to my brother,’ who died of overdose
Markus McGowan insisted Wednesday he did not sell the drugs that his younger brother used in fatal overdose in late 2016. McGowan testified during the second day of his trial on a charge that he sold a fatal dose of fentanyl to his brother. He said he discovered what he...
Bikers provide support to girl at Westmoreland court hearing
A girl facing the man she claims sexually assaulted her had a few unlikely friends in a Westmoreland County courtroom Wednesday — four motorcyclists. The group, wearing vests with Bikers Against Child Abuse patches, sat in district court with the girl and her family awaiting a preliminary hearing that never...
Assumption celebration to include Mass, procession, rosary prayers
Catholics from the Diocese of Greensburg will gather on Aug. 15 for the annual Mass and candlelight procession for the feast of the Assumption. Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic will celebrate the Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Chapel, Christ Our Shepherd Center. The candlelight procession will follow. Participants...
Judge clears Scottdale woman accused of endangering Vietnam vet
A reckless endangerment charge was dismissed Wednesday against the owner of a Scottdale personal care home who had been accused of letting a Vietnam veteran walk from her facility to the New Stanton area. District Judge Charles Moore ruled that Leah C. Ilgenfritz, 80, shouldn’t be held criminally responsible because...
