Westmoreland category, Page 827
Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Musuem adds new hours
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department Museum has been located behind city hall since 1998, but those wanting a look at its extensive collection of firefighting memorabilia have always needed to make an appointment. Otherwise, the building has been closed to the public — until now. The museum now is open...
Greensburg swears in solicitor, plans other hires
The City of Greensburg will welcome several new hires this month. The city swore in its new solicitor, Zachary J. Kansler, at its agenda meeting Monday. Kansler replaces the city’s previous solicitor, Bernard McArdle, who announced last month he would step down. Kansler is a lawyer with Tremba, Kinney, Greiner...
Jury seated in Youngwood man’s sexual assault trial
A jury was seated Monday for the rape and sexual assault trial of a Youngwood man who police say harbored a 13-year-old runaway who was one of his alleged victims. Darell Deisean Walker, 23, was charged in four separate cases in which he was accused of sex crimes against three...
Stalking, burglary trial delayed for Unity man
A Unity man told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday he wants to serve as his own lawyer during his upcoming trial on stalking and burglary charges. Terry Marincic Jr., 50, is facing trial in three separate cases in which he was accused last year of making as many as...
Democrats pass on endorsements for Westmoreland primary election; GOP likely to follow suit
Westmoreland County Democrats will not endorse candidates in next month’s primary election. About 150 committee members met over the weekend at Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield and unanimously voted to hold an open primary and forego endorsing candidates seeking countywide offices. “There are some excellent Democratic candidates running across Westmoreland County,...
Voices of Westmoreland seeks views of county candidates
Voice of Westmoreland, a nonprofit organization that promotes racial, economic and educational equity in the county, is asking candidates seeking office this year answer a series of questions leading up the May 21 primary election. On Monday, questionnaires were sent to county candidates asking views about issues that impact working...
West Newton couple continue battling legal hurdles to regain custody of infant daughterVideo
A West Newton couple was back in court Monday taking another legal step they hope will reunite them with their infant daughter, Cali, who was removed from their custody almost two months ago. Tiffany Aquilina, 37, and her husband, Robert, 38, waived their scheduled preliminary hearing on charges of endangering...
Multiple fire departments responding to house fire in Rostraver Twp.
Multiple fire departments in Rostraver Township were responding to a house fire Monday that had spread to an adjoining garage, a Westmoreland County dispatcher said. The dispatcher said the fire was reported on the 400 block of Rankin Road at 3:53 p.m. Reports said the garage had a mobile home...
7-year-old opera singer from Latrobe sings anthem at Pirates home openerVideo
The performer of “The Star Spangled Banner” for the 133rd Pittsburgh Pirates home opener didn’t retreat to a star’s dressing room after walking off the PNC Park grass. She didn’t make any big-timer demands, either. It might surprise you what Latrobe native Victory Brinker most wanted after singing the national...
Stove dropped on Route 30 results in theft arrest in North Huntingdon
A stove that fell out of the bed of a pickup truck leaving a new North Huntingdon housing plan resulted in the arrest of a Hazelwood man on burglary and theft charges, police said. Gary W. Cawley, 40, was arrested Friday along Route 30 as he attempted to flee after...
Cook Township center’s new enclosure allows year-round equine therapyVideo
Catherine Markosky’s stable of nine therapy horses have important work to do. On any given day, they might help a child with special needs improve his motor or communication skills — or they could serve as a calming influence on a youth with behavioral problems. Thanks to a new round...
Police seeking 4th suspect accused in Jeannette home invasion
Jeannette police are looking for a fourth suspect in connection with a home invasion Friday that left a man injured. Authorities have an arrest warrant for Isaiah Morton, 16, of Jeannette, who is charged as an adult with conspiracy, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and related offenses. Police arrested three suspects...
Police urging Penn Borough residents to lock doors after burglary
No one was hurt during a home invasion in Penn Borough Saturday, but police said the home was ransacked. Someone broke into a Victor Street home through the windows at about 8 p.m. after cutting wires to the home’s security cameras, according to Sgt. Eric Colamarino. Electronics, including an Xbox,...
Westmoreland County’s longest-serving public defender keeps giving clients his all
Greg Cecchetti knew from an early age he wanted to be a defense attorney. More than three decades later, he’s still at work defending low-income residents charged with crimes. “I always wanted to be a lawyer, since the sixth grade,” Cecchetti said. “In high school, I knew I wanted to...
North Huntingdon zoning board faced with issue of ‘what is a family’
Detra Pivirotto lives in Lindale Court, a housing plan in North Huntingdon zoned for single family homes. So when a group of about 10 men moved into a nearby house this year, she had questions. “This was not a familial relationship. It was pretty obvious. It was a commercial relationship,”...
Walmart looks for expansion into Pa. alcohol sales in Fayette
Walmart is looking to begin selling alcoholic beverages in Fayette County, a first for the retail giant in Pennsylvania. The chain submitted a winning bid of $65,000 for an expired restaurant liquor license in Redstone Township — one of 62 offers received from various bidders for 22 such licenses in...
Hempfield officials look to improve fire department ratings ahead of insurance assessment
Hempfield officials want to solve issues at several township fire stations after a national assessment company changed requirements for its rating system. The assessment has a direct correlation with homeowner’s insurance rates. Grapeville, Luxor and West Point — a quarter of Hempfield’s dozen volunteer fire departments — had a low...
Watercolor class at Latrobe Art CenterVideo
Each week aspiring artists gather at the Latrobe Art Center for instruction and friendship. On Thursday, the watercolor class led by instructor Elmer Knizner, 86, of Youngwood, worked on painting a scenic road leading to a farm. According to Knizner, the class typically works on one painting per week, but...
March for Parks in Westmoreland County passes $1 million markVideo
The speakers were blasting “Eye of the Tiger” as hundreds of marchers set off Saturday along the walking path at Twin Lakes Park. They had reason to celebrate. It was the 17th annual March for Parks fundraiser, and this year the total collected since the first march passed $1 million....
Former Green Bay Packer delivers keynote at 1st Greensburg Catholic Diocese conference
Mike McCoy called up a volunteer Saturday from an audience of about 600 Catholic men. The former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle asked the volunteer to shove him in the chest. After a firm shove, McCoy staggered backward a few steps. Then he planted his feet, lowered his center of...
Greensburg family band prepares for album-release show at Mr. Smalls in Millvale
If you listen to the early recordings of Greensburg indie-rock band Essential Machine, and then listen to songs from its new record, “Wildfires,” you might not think it’s the same band. Karen and R.J. Dietrich’s sound has evolved quite a bit over the past decade. But not only is it...
Truck driver pleads guilty in Route 22 crash in Salem Township
A Georgia truck driver pleaded guilty Friday to charges he caused a multi-vehicle collision nearly four years ago in Salem that left one motorist injured and traffic stalled for more than eight hours on a busy section of Route 22. Andrew M. Parkes, 32, was sentenced by Westmoreland County Common...
West Newton man pleads no contest to indecent assault
A West Newton man will serve up two seven years on probation for having improper sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl last year. Michael J. Rozzo Jr., 32, pleaded no contest this week to misdemeanor charges of corruption of a minor and indecent assault in connection with an incident Feb....
Salem man sent to prison for high-speed police chase while under the influence
A Salem man will serve up to six years in prison after he was sentenced Friday for being under the influence of controlled substances when he led police on a 20-mile, high-speed chase last year that started in Greensburg and ended with a crash in Loyalhanna. David Negich Sr., 52,...
Hempfield Area High School students to compete in BotsIQ finals
Together with their robot, 25 Hempfield Area High School students are preparing for their final battles at the BotsIQ Finals Competition, which features student-made robots battling for the top spot. “Take NASCAR, boxing and MMA and put it together,” said Hempfield’s teacher advisor Craig Siniawski. “These kids have a small,...
