Westmoreland category, Page 779
Westmoreland approves storm water management plan
A new stormwater management plan could soon be in place to hopefully help alleviate flooding in Westmoreland County. The Integrated Water Resources Plan, a 217-page document, identifies areas that are at risk for floods and outlines potential efforts to keep water from overflowing waterways and encroaching on roads and homes....
Westmoreland commissioners award $1 million paving contract over objection
Westmoreland County commissioners awarded a $1 million contract to pave nearly 5 miles of roads amid a potential legal challenge of a policy that critics say freezes out non-union companies from seeking government work. The contract awarded Thursday to Derry Construction Inc. was approved by all three commissioners, including Republican...
Westmoreland County takes over $91K salary, benefits for drug task force head
Westmoreland County will begin paying the salary for the executive director of a nonprofit group aiming to reduce the number of local overdose deaths. Commissioners on Thursday approved an agreement with Westmoreland Community Action to pay the salary and other associated costs of the Drug Overdose Task Force, which operates...
Kecksburg UFO fest returns as interest in aliens rises
Interest in extraterrestrials is at its highest point in decades as Kecksburg prepares for its 14th annual UFO festival this weekend, according to organizers. “I think there will probably be a very good crowd coming out this weekend,” said Greensburg paranormal investigator Stan Gordon, who will speak at the festival....
Judge asked to allow Penn Township officials to clean up blighted Frye Road property
Penn Township officials want a judge to grant them permission to clean up a property that has been blighted for years after a 2014 lawsuit against the owners failed to remedy the situation. In an amended civil complaint filed Wednesday, township officials said a Frye Road property owned by members...
FBI agent warns of cyber crimes at Hempfield event
Companies and private people should never pay ransoms demanded by computer hackers who use malware to disable a computer or entire system, an FBI agent in charge of cyber security at the Pittsburgh bureau said Thursday. “If you pay ransom, you may open up your industry to paying more ransom,”...
Steelers roll into Saint Vincent College in style for training camp
Steelers cornerback Joe Haden has three Rolls Royces — but just one Penguins jersey. He rolled up in style Thursday at Saint Vincent College behind the wheel of his white Rolls Royce coupe, wearing a gold Sidney Crosby sweater. But he said it’s not about the show he or any...
Western Pa. schools promote ‘instant decision’ for admission
Some colleges and universities are offering students the opportunity to gain admission in a single day. The so-called “instant decision” is being offered at California University of Pennsylvania Monday through Friday next week. At Cal U’s Instant Decision Day, potential undergraduate and graduate students considering enrolling can complete an application,...
West Newton mayor signs clean energy pledge
West Newton’s mayor has endorsed an environmental organization’s goal of getting her community 100 percent powered by clean and renewable energy for heating, lighting and transportation. Mary Popovich recently signed a pledge from the Sierra Club to get the Youghiogheny River town powered by clean and renewable energy — solar,...
At least 1 injured in Mt. Pleasant Twp. head-on collision between vehicle, tanker truck
At least one person was injured in a head-on collision between a vehicle and a tanker truck in Mt. Pleasant Township Thursday morning, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The crash on Route 31 near the corner of Freeman Road happened around 10:30 a.m., dispatchers said. The Mt. Pleasant...
Police: Property dispute preceded Sewickley Township garage arson
A Sewickley Township man is behind bars after state police said he set his neighbor’s garage on fire following an ongoing property dispute, according to court papers. George Allen Stepinsky, 60, was arrested Wednesday on charges of arson, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, risking a catastrophe and related...
Historical society presents slide show depicting Latrobe scenes from the 1950s
The Latrobe Area Historical Society will offer two screenings of its newly revised slide show, “Latrobe: The Fabulous 50s,” on Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 9 a.m. each day at the society headquarters, 416 Weldon St., Latrobe, and the show starts at 9:30 a.m. Ice cream sundaes will be...
United Way needs 500 volunteers for regional Day of Caring
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Westmoreland Region office in Greensburg is looking to recruit 500 volunteers for its 17th annual Day of Caring. Slated for Sept. 13, the event connects volunteers with projects benefiting communities and nonprofit and civic groups in Westmoreland and Fayette counties and southern Armstrong County. Volunteers...
Westmoreland churches plan Night of Worship at Palace Theatre
Leaders and musicians from several area churches are combining efforts for an inaugural Westmoreland Night of Worship Sept. 27 at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. The event, scheduled from 7 to about 8:30 p.m., will feature modern Christian music and worship in the theater at 21 W. Otterman St. “The...
Mt. Pleasant Glass Centre at full capacity
Westmoreland County has filled its eighth industrial park. Officials this week leased the last available lot in the Mt. Pleasant Glass Centre, which houses seven tenants and 116 employees. “We are thrilled to see Mt. Pleasant Glass Centre at full occupancy. It has proven to be a great area to...
Disabled Pirates fan gets trip to game courtesy of Twilight Wish
Samuel Nania has two hopes for his Thursday trip to PNC Park. “To have a day of something different than my usual days, and to see the Pirates win,” he said. Nania, 58, has been confined to a wheelchair since suffering two strokes about eight years ago. He lives at...
Franklin Regional will break ground on Sloan school project
Franklin Regional officials will hold a groundbreaking for the new Franklin Regional Intermediate Elementary School on Wednesday, July 31. The $49 million project, which has generated debate, controversy and a legal appeal, includes the renovation of the existing Sloan Elementary — which will be converted into a school for children...
Judge denies Hempfield man’s claim of ineffective counsel
A Westmoreland County judge has denied the appeal of a Hempfield man who claimed he received an inadequate defense during his 2012 trial in which he was accused of the attempted murder of his girlfriend. Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani issued a 10-page opinion in which said there was no...
Trafford zoning board OKs medical marijuana testing lab site
A Michigan company has moved one step closer to opening a medical marijuana testing laboratory in Trafford after borough officials approved the firm’s request to operate out of a building used by the town’s ambulance service. The Trafford Zoning Board this week granted Lansing-based ACT Laboratories Inc. a variance to...
Man gets prison term for assault in Penn Township
An Allegheny County man was sentenced to serve up to two years in prison for the assault of his girlfriend earlier this year in Penn Township. Eric Damien Thomas, 41, formerly of North Versailles and Aspinwall, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and summary harassment. As part...
Jeannette company becomes leader in recycling biopharmaceutical waste
Triumvirate Environmental has a new way to help the pharmaceutical industry recycle plastic waste. The Jeannette waste-management company serves clients in the life sciences, health care, education and industrial markets. Biopharmaceutical waste — estimated to be about 30,000 tons per year and either incinerated or sent to landfills — is...
Nabbed Mt. Pleasant fugitive tells sheriff’s deputies he was ‘tired of running’
A Mt. Pleasant fugitive on the run since May told Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies who caught up with him this week at a South Huntingdon truck stop that he was glad to finally get caught. Joseph R. Taylor, 36, was arrested about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday by members of the sheriff’s...
Reenactors to portray 256th Battle of Bushy Run in Penn Township
The Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society is taking guests back in time next weekend to commemorate the 256th anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run. The re-enactment of the two-day battle between the British and the confederation of Native Americans on the Penn Township battlefield that took place Aug. 5-6,...
More details released ahead of start of Steelers training camp
Ground crews worked Wednesday to put final touches on the practice fields at Saint Vincent College, just ahead of the annual invasion of the Pittsburgh Steelers and fans for training camp on the Unity campus. Steelers fans this year will have the opportunity to meet legends prior to public practices,...
Westmoreland bar association executive director plans to retire
The longtime executive director of the Westmoreland County Bar Association has announced plans to retire. Diane Krivoniak, 62, of Latrobe, has since 1989 served as head of the Greensburg-based organization that serves as the professional association for 500 county lawyers. “For an unprecedented stretch of 30 years, Diane’s enthusiasm and...
