Westmoreland category, Page 793
Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania to gather in Hempfield
A group of 200-to-250 members of the Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania are expected to descend upon the Greensburg area next week for the organization’s 74th annual convention. Major John Urban, who has served eight years in the Marines, will be the keynote speaker in the convention that runs from...
Greensburg cuts food truck license fees
It just got cheaper to operate a food truck in Greensburg. City council Monday unanimously voted to slash the cost of a food truck health license, and add new license categories for special events. The original ordinance, created in 2016, offered two types of annual licenses. One cost $800, the...
Southwest Greensburg man ordered to jail after allegedly threatening witnesses
District Judge Anthony Bompiani on Tuesday revoked the bond of a Southwest Greensburg man accused of threatening a couple who may be called as witnesses against him in a pending heroin possession case. Robert L. Friend, 57, was arraigned on charges of intimidating a witness and retaliation against a witness...
Latrobe council considers proposal for alcohol sales at banana split fest
Organizers of Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration want to sell alcoholic beverages at the annual festival — a proposal city council could vote on by early July. Isaac McDaniel, director of the Aug. 23-25 event for the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, told council members the idea...
Westmoreland court offices to close in observance of Flag Day
Some Westmoreland County workers will get a three-day weekend as court offices will close Friday in observance of Flag Day. The closure will affect the courthouse and adjacent offices as well as district court buildings. The American flag was officially adopted in 1777 and Flag Day was deemed an official...
Police make quick arrest in suspicious Southwest Greensburg fire
Authorities made a quick arrest Tuesday in connection with an arson at a Southwest Greensburg apartment. They were assisted by the suspect — Anthony E. Smoody, 44 — who reported to state police in Belle Vernon at 5 a.m. he started a fire at his apartment from which he was...
State needs to create stable funding for mass transit; turnpike CEO to speak at chamber luncheon
A report by the Southwest Partnership for Mobility, chaired by state and local officials, calls for stable statewide public transportation funding without relying on the Turnpike Commission giving PennDOT $450 million a year. Providing a sustainable funding source would ease the Turnpike Commission’s debt burden, as well as the need...
Police: Tractor-trailer hauling paper catches fire at Pa. Turnpike service plaza
A tractor-trailer hauling paper caught fire at a fuel pump island along the Pennsylvania Turnpike early Tuesday morning, according to state police, shutting down a service plaza for several hours. The incident was reported shortly after 3 a.m. at the New Stanton plaza, located at milepost 77.6 westbound. According to...
Norwin board members at odds over school budget
Norwin School Board will meet Monday to vote on a 2019-20 budget that would include raising taxes by 3% for most of the district’s property owners and transfer $1.1 million from the fund balance to cover a shortfall. Five votes are needed to approve the budget. But during a meeting...
Latrobe parking garage to get summer repairs
It’s been seven years since Latrobe’s municipal parking garage received any major attention, but that’s set to change this summer under a contract council approved Monday for repairs to the structure. Pullman-Services submitted a low bid of $68,692 to address deteriorating items in the garage situated between Weldon and Spring...
Latrobe, Derry Township pursue study of flooding along Sulphur Run
Latrobe and Derry Township are jointly pursuing a federally-funded hydraulic study that could help identify the best methods for controlling flooding in the Sulphur Run watershed that crosses through the neighboring municipalities. Heavy rainfall last June 20 triggered flooding of the stream that damaged businesses at the Lincoln Road Plaza...
Latrobe looks for new finance director, promotes veteran mechanic
Holly Peton attended her last Latrobe Council meeting Monday in the roles of city secretary and director of finance and administration. Peton, who joined the office staff in December 2017, ends her work for the city on Tuesday as she moves on to other employment. “I’m moving on to another...
Driver sentenced up to 40 years in prison for fatal Christmas Eve crash in East Huntingdon
Jolene Cummins said Christmas was always a joyful day for her family. That changed on Christmas Eve 2016, when her husband of 25 years was killed as he ran that afternoon with his dog near the family’s home in East Huntingdon. Police say the man driving the car that hit...
Third man convicted of 2016 Latrobe murder gets 10 to 20 years in prison
The third of three men convicted in the January 2016 murder of Daniel McNerny was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said she would not overrule a jury verdict that found Colin Gearhart guilty of third-degree murder. Prosecutors sought a...
Forbes State Forest tour will focus on management of Fayette division
Tuesday is the deadline to register for a free tour Saturday in the Braddock Division of Forbes State Forest. Organized by the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association, the ninth annual field trip to the state forest is set for 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and is open to the public....
Here are the Belle Vernon Area Class of 2019 graduates
Here is a list of Belle Vernon Area members of the Class of 2019, provided by the school district: Rebecca Danielle Anderson Markello Apodiakos Logan James Armstrong Maura Paige Askin Bryan Joseph Bader Kevin Brian Baeza Hannah M. Baker Benjamin Henry Bamford Sean Robert Bane Caleb Matthew Beichner Hayley Jo...
Sewage expansion, trail project on hold in Derry Township
A project to extend sewage service to Keystone State Park and 33 nearby residences is temporarily on hold as the Derry Township Municipal Authority looks for a way to make it affordable for customers. In January, the municipal authority received a $1.8 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment...
Ligonier Township, Ligonier Valley join Westmoreland County Land Bank
Ligonier Township and Ligonier Valley School District recently joined the Westmoreland County Land Bank, according to an announcement. They join dozens of other municipalities and school districts in the county that have each paid $5,000 to enter the land bank since its inception in 2014 with a $50,000 grant from...
Man gets early parole in fatal Derry crash
A New Alexandria man convicted late last year of causing a fatal car crash in Derry that killed a 71-year-old woman will be paroled nearly five months early. Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani on Monday ruled Samuel Grace III, 22, will be released from custody July 10 after serving seven...
Cops: West Newton man awaiting trial accused of assaulting woman
A 38-year-old man awaiting trial for allegedly endangering his infant daughter by withholding medical treatment was arrested Saturday and charged with assaulting a woman and threatening her with a knife inside his West Newton home, according to court documents. Robert J. Aquilina is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment...
1 rescued by firefighters from Sewickley Township house
Two Herminie firefighters scrambled Monday morning to rescue a woman from her Sewickley Township home and extinguish a small fire inside. The pair was first to arrive on Greensburg Pike after the 7:45 a.m. call and saw some light smoke around the home, which is connected to Pam’s Antiques, said...
Police seek suspect who allegedly choked female during Salem road rage incident
State police are looking for a man they say choked a female motorist Saturday in Salem Township. Troopers said the suspect got out of his tan GMC Envoy at 6:10 p.m. on Trees Mills Road near Athena Drive and choked a 21-year-old Greensburg woman. The suspect was described in a...
Q&A: Charley Shop’n Save owner bikes across U.S. for veterans’ charityVideo
Ray Charley biked 2,000 miles to prepare for his 3,048-mile, 48-day trek across the United States. “The training was a feat unto itself, really,” said Charley, 68, of Unity, whose family owns Shop’n Save locations in Murrysville, Greensburg and Hempfield. Charley left San Diego, Calif., on April 1. He reached...
Former Ligonier female veteran honored for long military serviceVideo
Growing up in rural Elk County, Deborah L. Wilkins saw joining the military as an opportunity to serve the nation and explore the world, which would open doors to a great career. “I was just a small town girl who got to get out and see the world,” said Wilkins,...
Smithton Volunteer Fire Department hosts camp for kids with special needs
A fire is always scary, but for some special needs children it can be even worse. The unfamiliar sight of firefighters in their gear and the sound of sirens can be frightening. “Some of this stuff we have here can be overwhelming for them,” said firefighter Lindsey Dawson, of the...
