Westmoreland category, Page 824
Greensburg Beverage sues Pittsburgh competitor
Owners of a Greensburg beverage company are suing a Pittsburgh competitor, claiming it attempted to sabotage the business through the use of confidential information received as part of a potential purchase of the firm. Greensburg Beverage Inc., in an eight-count lawsuit filed last week in Westmoreland County, said it sustained...
Man accused of exposure, stalking woman on Ligonier track
A Cook Township man was charged with exposing himself and stalking a woman who was running on the track at Weller Field in Ligonier. Joseph T. Puschnigg, 24, was identified after the alleged victim obtained the license number on the red Jeep he was driving. The woman told police she...
West Newton woman accused of setting pickup on fire during argument
A 19-year-old West Newton woman was charged with arson, terroristic threats and simple assault after police said she admitted to throwing a can of gasoline in the bed of a man’s pickup and setting it on fire. Borough police officer Michael Stefko reported he found Marian L. Warman sitting in...
Police investigating report of suspicious vehicle at Mammoth Park
Westmoreland County Park Police are investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township on Saturday, according to Chief Henry Fontana. A couple of men in a van at the park made some park-goers feel uncomfortable, but by the time officers arrived the van had...
Clothing donations to be accepted at ‘Fill a Truck’ event in Hempfield
Unwanted clothing can find a new home at a event in Hempfield this weekend through Greensburg nonprofit Feeding the Spirit. The group’s “Fill a Truck” event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Z&M Harley Davidson parking lot along Route 30. Donations of gently used clothing, shoes, purses and...
Supreme Court mulls rule change over malpractice suits, Pa. counties where filed
More than 100 malpractice lawsuits were filed in Westmoreland County courts since 2011 that claimed improper cardiac procedures were performed at Excela Health facilities a decade ago. Many of those cases might have been filed in other counties had a proposed change to court rules being weighed by the state...
8 Westmoreland County towns to benefit from new blight demolition fund
The first structures to be torn down in Westmoreland County using money from a newly created demolition fund will include four dilapidated homes and four former commercial buildings. “This is needed to remove blight and create economic impact,” said Jason Rigone, director of Westmoreland County’s planning department. Structures in Avonmore,...
Faith-based Celebration of Life prepares party-goers for Very Special Prom
Debbie Miller hadn’t even seen herself yet in her new prom dress, but she knew she looked good. The Unity woman added a string of pearls around her neck and a ring on her right hand. As soon as she looked in the mirror, she knew the purple, strapless dress...
Penn-Trafford grad pursues book on former West View Park
Mike Funyak, a 2011 Penn-Trafford High School alumnus who works in the amusement park industry, is looking for material for his proposed book about Allegheny County’s long-gone West View Park. Located in the North Hills from 1906-77, the park made an impression on Funyak through his mother, Rosanne, and her...
Mt. Pleasant Councilman John Rogacki dies, remembered as community asset
John Rogacki was the type of elected official that every municipal government should have in its ranks, said Mt. Pleasant Council President Jack Caruso Jr. The lifelong Mt. Pleasant resident didn’t shy away from sharing his opinion, whether his fellow council members liked it or not. “That was one of...
Latrobe man killed in Unity motorcycle crash
A Latrobe man died in motorcycle crash Saturday in Unity, according to state police. Troopers said Mark Gerard Gruss, 60, was driving a 1998 Harley Davidson Ultra at 4:40 p.m. on Saint Vincent Drive near Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve when he apparently lost control. The motorcycle crossed into the opposite...
Cassandra Gross family grapples with one-year mark of her disappearance
There is little joy left at Kathe Gross’ home. She’s gotten rid of most of her Christmas decorations. Mother’s and Father’s Day aren’t the same. “I refuse to do holidays,” she said. “There’s no holidays left in this house.” But there are still anniversaries — of the worst kind. Kathe...
Saint Vincent College Swing Dance Club has public hoppingVideo
Three seasoned ballroom dancers picked up a new step Saturday. The Lindy Hop was no match for “ballroom buddies” Lisa Pope of Latrobe, Bruce Meyer of Hempfield and Keith Munshower of Brackenridge. Rock step, triple step, step, step, triple step. And in no time, they had it, rotating around with...
Alzheimer’s community forum set at Greensburg Hempfield Area Library
A community forum about Alzheimer’s disease is set for Thursday at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. The two-hour forum, hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association, is open to the public and will provide information about the disease, dementia and memory loss as well as a conversation about how to help the...
2 health care leaders receive Greensburg Salem alumni honorsVideo
Several members of the Greensburg Salem High School Class of 1977 gathered for an impromptu reunion Friday to help honor two of their classmates. Albert J. Novak Jr. of Hempfield and Dr. Susan Manzi of Wexford were honored as the school’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni at a dinner presented by the...
Wild for flowers: Spring blooming season finally arrives in Pittsburgh region
Wildflower season is arriving in Southwestern Pennsylvania. With warmer temperatures comes nature’s wonders springing from the earth in a variety of colors and shapes. Some wildflowers have already started blooming in lower elevations, and this week would be a good time to check out the early types, said Rachael Mahony,...
Southmoreland contracts with agency for classroom aides working with special needs students
A decision to outsource classroom aides who work with students with special needs has stirred emotions in the Southmoreland School District. The school board last month voted 6-3 to hire an outside agency — Education Solutions Services — in a move that will save the district approximately $489,000 over two...
Turnpike crash in Mt. Pleasant area clogs road
A two-mile backlog was reported on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Friday evening as a result of a tractor-trailer truck that hit a barrier and overturned in the westbound lanes at milepost 85 in Mt. Pleasant Township, a Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety supervisor said. The accident was reported at...
Westmoreland dog license checks begin next week
State dog wardens will begin checking for unlicensed and unvaccinated dogs beginning Monday, Westmoreland County Treasurer Jared Squires said . Inspectors with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Office will randomly canvass neighborhoods next week as part of its annual effort to ensure the animals are properly...
Greensburg sewage authority warns customers of proposed sale
The Greater Greensburg Sewage Authority is urging its customers to speak out against a potential sale of the sewer system to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. Property owners in Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg received a message on their water bill this month telling them to attend their...
Man ordered to stand trial for alleged rape of Ligonier Township woman
A 26-year-old Derry Township man was ordered to stand trial Friday for the alleged rape of a Ligonier Township woman last September. Ligonier District Judge Denise Thiel ruled there was sufficient evidence presented during a preliminary hearing for Khachek Alexan Hamerski to stand trial on charges of rape, sexual assault,...
Franklin Regional robotics team qualifies for FIRST World Championships in DetroitVideo
In the FIRST Robotics Greater Pittsburgh Regional competition, some high-school robotics teams are sponsored by technology titans such as Carnegie Mellon University, or have access to state-of-the-art facilities to create their robots. The FRobotics team members do their work in their mentor’s garage in Murrysville, and this year that work...
Excela’s top 2 executives are out, effective immediately
Excela Health System’s two top executives, CEO Robert Rogalski and COO Mike Busch, will step down immediately as the Westmoreland County hospital system seeks “fresh perspectives,” board chair Teresa Petrick said Friday. Petrick announced the unexpected personnel changes in an email. “We have been privileged to have Bob and Mike...
North Belle Vernon park to host fundraiser at Topgolf
A new event will help raise money for the North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park — an area for kids, people with special needs and those looking for a place to play soccer or dek hockey. On June 2, park founder Robert J. Sokol will host a Topgolf fundraiser with...
Hempfield grads-to-be to participate in senior walk
With about two months until seniors at Hempfield Area High School leave the district and move on to the next steps of their lives, they have one more chance to go back to where it all began. The Senior Walk gives graduating seniors the opportunity to walk the halls of...
