Westmoreland category, Page 828
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,...
Trump derails cuts to Special Olympics funding as Westmoreland County branch to mark 50th anniversary
Milton Claney remembers standing in the University of Pittsburgh’s stadium in 1968 when a boy ran past holding his bronze medal yelling, “I won! I won! I won!” At that moment, he realized what Special Olympics was all about. “I can’t say in 35 years I saw one Special Olympics...
Monroeville man linked to massage parlor human trafficking, prostitution case gets lower bond
A Monroeville man accused of helping run a human trafficking and prostitution ring out of five massage parlors in Monroeville and Murrysville returned to court Friday asking a judge to lower his $100,000 bond. Chang Yu Chen, 51, of Monroeville, who was described by the state Attorney General’s Office and...
Ex-Franklin Regional student working on plea deal in connection with cyber attack
The lawyer for a former Franklin Regional High School student charged with initiating cyber attacks that disrupted school and government computer systems throughout Westmoreland County in 2016 said in court Friday that plea bargain negotiations are progressing. Michaela Gabriella King, 21, of Murrysville, is awaiting trial on felony charges of...
Humane agents: 2 dogs left in 27-degree temperature in Derry Township
Two Avonmore people are accused of animal cruelty in connection with two dogs found in a “deplorable” recreational vehicle parked in Derry Township during below-freezing temperatures, according to court papers. David Gailbreath, 39, and Lori Gailbreath, no age available, are both charged with animal cruelty and neglect. Humane agents from...
Penn Law professor Amy Wax among Saint Vincent conference participants
University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax will be among the speakers at a Saint Vincent College conference on “Science, Human Nature and Public Policy” April 5-6. The 2019 Culture and Public Policy Conference, sponsored by the college’s Center for Political and Economic Thought, will focus on themes of human...
Dismissal begins at Norwin Schools after temporary lockdown
Norwin School District began dismissing students about 3:30 p.m. Friday after an hour-long delay due to an ongoing police investigation. Tim Kotch, assistant superintendent of secondary education with the school district, said that North Huntingdon Police requested the delay due to an ongoing, active criminal investigation. However, parents were notified...
Munhall man found dead in Pittsburgh after being sought for kidnapping ex-girlfriend, burning her Irwin house
A Munhall man has been found dead in Pittsburgh of an apparent suicide after police spent Thursday and Friday searching for him in connection with a kidnapping in Butler County and a fire in Westmoreland County, emergency dispatch officials reported. John Thomas O’Leary, 52, was being sought for starting a...
Veteran Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels retires
The Pennsylvania Crime Codes manual, vehicle law handbook, all of the legal newsletter updates, criminal and civil complaints had been cleared Friday morning from atop the desk of longtime Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels. Hanging in front of the desk was a banner reading “Happy Retirement.” An unopened bottle...
Latrobe businesses promote monthly shopping night
Downtown Latrobe’s latest Shop Hop Night, set for 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, will feature an Easter theme. Introduced in February, the evening of shopping, promotions and refreshments is held the first Wednesday of each month at participating downtown merchants. “I thought it would be something that would be fun...
1 hurt, 3 arrested after home invasion in Jeannette
Three teenagers were jailed Friday afternoon in connection with a Jeannette home invasion that left a man injured. Police Chief Shannon Binda said investigators believe the trio targeted the South Fifth Street row home earlier in the day. Larenzo Dayshawn Peddicord, 18, of Jeannette is charged with robbery, aggravated assault...
Police say Trafford man choked 13-year-old girl
Trafford police arrested a man Thursday night they say strangled and threatened to kill a 13-year-old girl. Daniel Edward Magill, 43, is charged with strangulation, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and terroristic threats. Police said the girl called 911 for help around 11:30 p.m. Thursday from inside...
Irwin plans to pave 15 streets
Irwin has approved paving 15 borough streets this summer. J.M. Paving Inc. of North Huntingdon, the lowest of 10 bidders, was awarded the $245,616 paving contract. The streets slated for paving are: parts of Cedar, Center, Green, Oak, Sixth and Walnut streets; Penglyn and Short streets; parts of Melrose and...
Tech center tenant partners with Westmoreland County Community College for 3-D printing programVideo
The first private entrepreneur to move into Westmoreland County Community College’s Advanced Technology Center has multiple ties to the college. Tronix3D President Buck Helfferich and business partner Kyle Metsger, Tronix3D’s director of technology and innovation, are alumni of the college and are partnering with WCCC to offer internships and potential...
Youngwood man claims he was on drugs when he confessed in 2017 robbery, murder case
A Youngwood man testified Thursday he was under the influence of drugs when he confessed to police about his role in the 2017 robbery and murder of an acquaintance. Jason Sullenberger, 41, claimed he consumed cocaine and 50 stamp bags of heroin in the hours just before he was brought...
Westmoreland County to again serve as its own workers compensation insurer
A controversial program initiated two years ago to have a private insurance company oversee Westmoreland County’s workers compensation cases will end this year. County commissioners on Thursday said they will not give a new contract to the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange. Instead, the county will return to serving as...
Westmoreland commissioners focus on eliminating political activities inside courthouse
As election season in Westmoreland County swings into full gear, commissioners on Thursday approved a revised policy they said will ensure there is no politicking by county employees while on the job. The revised policy specifically prohibits workers from performing any political activity while on duty or coercing any employee...
ESAL group to display pieces at Latrobe Art Center through April
A newly renovated art center in Latrobe will showcase East Suburban Artists League pieces through April. From April 3-27, the Latrobe Art Center will welcome around 80 pieces of art, including oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel paintings, photography, drawings in ink and pencil and crafts. The 44 ESAL artists hail...
Charley Family Shop’n Save owner will bike 3,000 miles in 48 days for charityVideo
Ray Charley is going to bike a mile for nearly every year of his life. Every day. For 48 days. Charley, 67, owner of the Charley Family Shop ’n Save stores in Greensburg and Murrysville, sets out Monday from San Diego and heads to St. Augustine, Fla., cycling across the...
Belle Vernon superintendent stays in position after resigning in February
A little over a month after she submitted her resignation, Belle Vernon Area Superintendent Michele Dowell has decided to remain at the district. At the end of February, Dowell told the school board that she would be leaving to work as director of curriculum with the Ringgold School District in...
Outdoor Expo and Sportsman’s Flea Market in Norvelt memorializes outdoorsman
The second annual Outdoor Expo and Sportsman’s Flea Market honoring the late Andy “Chico” Crise promises to be bigger and better than the first. The Sunday event memorializes Crise, who died unexpectedly last year, collapsing in a stairwell at work. He was 28. The inaugural gathering attracted 26 vendors and...
Man accused of choking, pulling knife on ex-girlfriend in Latrobe store parking lot
A 25-year-old man is accused by Latrobe Police with choking a former girlfriend and threatening her with a knife during an argument Tuesday in the parking lot of a city convenience store. Police arrested Cody G. Riggin, who lists his address as Republic in Fayette County, Wednesday on charges of...
Feds: Two area women accused of tax evasion in theft scheme
A federal grand jury this week indicted two Southwestern Pennsylvania women on two counts each of tax evasion in connection with a theft scheme at a Connellsville glass recycling company. Tammy Lee Keefer, 45, also is known as Tammy Coffman, of Latrobe was indicted in connection with the theft of...
Seton Hill students plan Equal Pay Day rally
Seton Hill University students will demonstrate in Greensburg next week to mark Equal Pay Day. The university’s Feminist Collective and Griffins for Human Rights are sponsoring a rally at Courthouse Square from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. The annual event is held to draw attention to pay disparities between...
