Westmoreland category, Page 787
Bolivar man wanted for Indiana hotel shooting in custody; mom also arrested
While a Bolivar man was surrendering Wednesday in Indiana County in connection with a July 1 shooting at a hotel, state troopers 22 miles away in his hometown were arresting his mother for allegedly assisting in his purported drug-selling operation. State police in Indiana announced David Lee McGinnis, 26, of...
Woman dies of injuries after being struck by train in Sutersville
A 28-year-old woman who was struck by a CSX train in Westmoreland County Tuesday has died of her injuries, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office. Crystal Dahlstrom of Aliquippa died Tuesday of her injuries at Jefferson Hospital in Jefferson Hills after being hit by a train in Sutersville,...
Repairs begin on crumbling section of Westmoreland courthouse parking garage
Emergency work to repair crumbling ceiling concrete above the upper parking level of the Westmoreland County Courthouse started this week. County commissioners are expected to approve a nearly $70,000 contract later this week to pay for the construction work to install and fortify support beams needed to fix damage in...
Cops: $32K, cocaine, marijuana seized from speeder in Keystone State Park
A Latrobe man who attempted to flee after being stopped for speeding in Keystone State Park had nearly $32,000 cash, 7 ounces of cocaine and 4 ounces of marijuana in a backpack, according to court documents. Latrobe Police Detective Michael Wigand, a member of Westmoreland County’s drug task force, was...
Woman struck, killed by truck in LigonierVideo
A 54-year-old woman was killed when she was hit and trapped underneath a FedEx truck in Ligonier on Wednesday morning, despite attempts from bystanders to free her, Ligonier Valley police Chief John Berger said. It appears to be an “unfortunate accident,” Berger said, adding that the driver of the truck...
Turnpike Route 66 in Westmoreland, plaza at Ohio border to go cashless
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is converting two more toll plazas — Gateway at the Ohio border and the Route 66 bypass in Westmoreland County — into cashless collection sites. According to the Turnpike’s cashless tolling website, the plazas will be converted by Oct. 27. The change is part of an...
Record rains cause concern for Westmoreland conservation group
Westmoreland County received 72 inches of precipitation in 2018 — nearly double the 40 inches the area normally receives. What happens to all that water? Some of it gets absorbed into the ground. Some of it evaporates with the help of plants and trees. And some of it just runs...
Police say Latrobe man left 2 dogs in hot car at movie theater
State police plan to charge a Latrobe man after he allegedly left two dogs inside a car in hot weather on Sunday. Police said the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the AMC movie theater at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield, where the man left two medium-size, mixed-breed dogs...
North Huntingdon to hold hearing on liquor license transfer
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed transfer of a liquor license into North Huntingdon during a hearing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Town House, 11279 Center Highway. Isano II Inc., is asking the commissioners to approve the transfer a liquor license to a site...
Latrobe hires finance director, OKs second school resource officer
Ligonier Township’s loss is Latrobe’s gain, as Roxanne Shadron is set to join the city staff Wednesday as the new director of finance and administration and city council secretary. Shadron resigned as finance director for Ligonier Township to accept the job in nearby Latrobe. City Council approved her appointment by...
Wolf secures voting machine funding; Westmoreland won’t use new system until 2020
Westmoreland County officials said Tuesday’s announcement from Gov. Tom Wolf about securing state funding for the purchase of new voting systems throughout Pennsylvania will not impact a revised timeline here. “The only thing that may change is they (county commissioners) may pick a machine to purchase this year but it...
No injuries in Delmont garage fireVideo
A fire destroyed a detached garage in Delmont Tuesday afternoon, along with two cars and a truck inside. Nobody was hurt. The garage, located on Berry Lane behind West Pittsburgh Street, is near several homes. Police evacuated nearby residences in case the fire spread but firefighters managed to prevent the...
Westmoreland commissioners expected to approve settlement with county jail visitor
Westmoreland County commissioners are expected to approve a $7,500 payment to settle a complaint from a woman who said she was injured last year while visiting an inmate at the county jail. Solicitor Melissa Guiddy said Tuesday the county received a notice of an intent to file a lawsuit earlier...
Bridge project triggers Route 981 detour in Loyalhanna Township
A section of Route 981 in Loyalhanna Township will be closed for a bridge replacement project beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday. That section of road, also known as Avonmore Road, will be closed between Fourth Avenue and Washington Street (Route 286). A marked detour will be posted directing motorists along...
Ross Perot’s ties to Western Pa. began with marriage to Greensburg native
A young Naval officer from Texas who came to Greensburg in 1956 to marry a local girl and went on to become a billionaire and two-time presidential candidate, is being remembered as a kind and thoughtful man who used some of his wealth to help make the region better. Lt....
Arnold Palmer airport passenger bridge nearing completion
Westmoreland County Airport Authority members Tuesday toured the new passenger boarding bridge that is expected to be ready for use at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport by the end of July. Authority engineer Scott Kunselman said electrical work has yet to be completed on the bridge, which arrived at the Unity...
Woman struck by train in Sutersville
A woman was transported by ambulance to an area hospital after being struck by a CSX train in Sutersville on Tuesday afternoon. The incident was reported around 3:20 p.m., according to Sutersville VFD Chief Mark Ghion. A Westmoreland County dispatcher said the incident occurred along the 600 block of Second...
Bovard residents frustrated proposed gas hookups fizzle
Several Bovard residents in Hempfield are frustrated because gas hookups suggested in 2017 have yet to come to fruition. As part of the Peoples Gas initiative Go With Gas, gas lines were to be extended into three Westmoreland County communities — including Bradenville in Derry Township and Claridge — giving...
Police: Record fentanyl bust on Pa. Turnpike saved countless lives
Investigators believe Monday’s fentanyl bust on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the latest operation in a network connected to the Dominican Republic that is funneling drugs into Southwestern Pennsylvania. “We feel strongly that it is a part of the same group,” Trooper Stephen Limani said. Two New York City men remained...
Cops: Unity man accused of firing gun, assaulting man in neighborhood speeding dispute
A Unity Township man was so angry over a man he accused of speeding on a residential street that he allegedly fired a .38 caliber handgun at the victim’s passing car Monday and later injured him during a physical confrontation, state police said. Terry E. Simms Jr., 32, was arrested...
Police: N.Y. woman tried to use fraudulent ID to buy iPhones in Hempfield
A New York woman is behind bars after state police said she tried to use a fraudulent driver’s license and credit card Monday to purchase two iPhones at a Hempfield store. Raquel M. Martinez, 27, of New York City is charged with access device fraud, identity theft and related offenses....
Greensburg overwhelmed with brush pickup requests
An overwhelmed Greensburg Department of Public Works is asking residents to stop leaving large trees, loose grass and other unwieldy brush for city workers to clean up. “The call volume has increased dramatically, and some have taken advantage of the service, which is not fair to the people that have...
Greensburg dissolves Historic and Architectural Review Board
Greensburg Council on Monday unanimously voted to dissolve the city’s Historic and Architectural Review Board, an advisory body that supervised construction and renovation projects in the city. The city has been laying the groundwork for HARB’s dissolution since May. Monday’s vote passed without discussion or fanfare. HARB will remain active...
Greensburg hires planning director
Greensburg has a new planning director after a five-month search. Jeffrey Raykes will take over the city’s planning department July 29. “We’re extremely excited to have him,” said Greensburg Mayor Robert Bell. “He comes with impeccable credentials.” Raykes will leave his position as deputy director of the Indiana County Office...
Latrobe looks to add penalties to fire pit ordinance
Latrobe’s ordinance permitting residents to operate approved outdoor fire pits is going to undergo some tweaking. City council on Monday authorized the solicitor to amend the 2 1/2-year-old law as officials noted it’s lacking language setting forth penalties for violations and a process that would allow the city to revoke...
