Westmoreland category, Page 849
Westmoreland prosecutors appeal judge’s evidence rulings in alleged rape case
Westmoreland County prosecutors have appealed a judge’s ruling that limited the evidence they can present in the trial of a Hempfield man accused of raping a woman who has since recanted the allegations. Assistant District Attorney Barbara Jollie contends Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger made five errors that substantially...
Report of ‘suspicious bicyclist’ in Hempfield leads to arrest by troopers
A man riding a bicycle through a Hempfield neighborhood before dawn Friday allegedly entered unlocked vehicles and took items, including a handgun, state police at Greensburg reported. Troopers arrested Douglas A. Bartrug, 32, of Pittsburgh, at 3:50 a.m. in the Farmbrook Drive area of Fort Allen after he was discovered...
Police: Worker failed to deposit $10,000 from Donegal McDonald’s
State police on Friday arrested a Cambria County woman on accusations she took $10,844 from a Westmoreland County McDonald’s restaurant where she worked, according to court papers. Cheryl Anne Dahmen, 33, is charged with two counts of theft. Troopers said the Donegal Township restaurant owner reported Jan. 24 that three...
Disabilities awareness event at Westmoreland Mall to focus on wellness
Health and wellness will be the focus of Westmoreland County’s annual Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness event March 2 at Westmoreland Mall. Part of IDD Awareness Month, the free event will bring together more than 20 organizations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the mall’s center court — to...
Clay target shooting club proposed at Norwin
Norwin High School students who want to shoot clay targets could get the chance to compete against other schools this spring. About 20 students are interested in competing for Norwin in the Pennsylvania Clay Target League, said Lt. Col. David Sandala, high school senior aerospace science instructor. The co-curricular club...
Smithton man accused of assaulting Westmoreland prison guard
An 18-year-old Smithton man was charged Thursday for allegedly assaulting a Westmoreland County Prison guard as he was being strip-searched following his arrest Oct. 7. Timothy D. Ingram was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and simple assault filed by county detectives. He was remanded to the county prison after...
Westmoreland Transit cancels more bus routes due to driver shortage
More route cancellations and changes to Westmoreland County Transit Authority bus service were instituted Friday as the driver shortages continued to plague the public transportation system. The authority announced the 4:15 p.m. bus — one of eight outbound trips from Pittsburgh on the 1F Route that operates through North Huntingdon...
Summer food truck events planned in Jeannette
The 500 block of Clay Avenue in Jeannette is going to see some action this summer. Construction of an amphitheater was approved by city council Thursday as were plans for a biweekly food truck event, both of which are in the same block where a microbrewery is relocating. “We’re really...
Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association seeking nominees for annual awards
The Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association is accepting nominations through July 8 for the three awards is presents each year. The awards, Alumnus of Distinction, Volunteer Excellence, and Young Alumni Leadership, recognize Pitt-Greensburg alumni for their professional accomplishments, service to their communities, and commitment to the Pitt-Greensburg. The Alumnus of Distinction Award,...
6th person accused in Fayette-Westmoreland drug acquisition scheme
State police in Greensburg have arrested a sixth person in connection with an illegal drug-acquisition operation which operated from 2015-16 in Fayette and Westmoreland counties. Brooke N. Cross, 27, of Largo, Fla, formerly of South Huntingdon, was arraigned Thursday on charges of illegal acquisition of a controlled substance, participating in...
Gifts support safety nets for Westmoreland children, familiesVideo
Bob and Kaylene Musser didn’t have to think long about where they’d like to see money go when grant funding became available from the Wireless Zone Foundation. The Harrison City couple, who own eight Wireless Zone franchises, immediately nominated the Welcome Home Shelter and Westmoreland County’s CASA (Court Appointed Special...
Crews demolish Rostraver house to extinguish fire
Firefighters used heavy equipment to demolish a burning house in Rostraver Township Friday morning, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department. The fire on Tyrol Boulevard started just before 3 a.m. Nobody was living at the house, which was used as a storage facility for nearby business Equipment Connection. Nobody...
Turnpike to close between Irwin and Pittsburgh for bridge removal
The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be closed for about five hours early Sunday between the Pittsburgh and Irwin interchanges as crews remove a bridge. The closure is planned from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m., depending on the weather. Crews have been working to replace the bridge that previously carried Trafford-Murrysville Road...
Kyle Baxter announces bid to become Westmoreland County judge
North Huntingdon lawyer Kyle Baxter said Friday she will be a candidate for judge this spring to fill one of two vacancies on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. Baxter, 51, is a Republican but plans to cross-file to run in both the GOP and Democratic primaries in May....
Norwin considers refinancing debt
Norwin can save about $360,000 if it refinances $6 million of its debt to take advantage of low interest rates, a financial adviser told school officials this week. The Norwin School Board on Monday is expected to vote on authorizing the refinancing of its debt from a 2011 bond issue....
Unity OKs tax break for volunteer firefighters
Qualifying members of volunteer fire departments in Unity and Youngstown will be eligible for a break on township taxes beginning next year, through a volunteer service credit program approved by Unity Township supervisors. “We want to help them with recruitment,” Supervisor Ed Poponick said of the fire departments. “Hopefully, this...
Ligonier mother sues N.J. home health care provider, nurse over son’s death
The mother of a disabled 5-year-old Ligonier boy who died last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a New Jersey-based home health care provider and a nurse who the family claimed did not properly care for the child. According to the lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County, Gabrielle Bronson,...
Sick days force Westmoreland Transit to cancel some Pittsburgh routes due to driver shortage
Driver shortages that caused Westmoreland County Transit Authority bus routes to be canceled this week are expected to continue for some time and could further disrupt daily schedules, officials said. One outgoing route from Pittsburgh was canceled Thursday, a day after the authority was forced to cut two bus runs...
Search fails to find body in Brush Creek
Following another search for several hours on Thursday, dive teams found no signs of a reported body in a section of swollen Brush Creek in North Huntingdon, an EMS official said. Shane Spielvogle, executive director of North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue, said he intends to meet with North Huntingdon Police Chief Robert...
Ligonier Valley students share Valentine’s Day party with schoolmatesVideo
Valentine’s Day came early Tuesday at Ligonier Valley High School, where life skills students and their guests from the school’s student council enjoyed a 40-minute party packed with fun, fellowship and treats both savory and sweet. Life skills class member Dakota Ansell, 19, of Seward mingled with many friends from...
Patients get preview of new Excela family medicine office in Mt. PleasantVideo
Excela Health’s “medical mall” approach to providing ambulatory care will see its newest expression Monday when patients begin arriving for appointments at Excela Square at Frick Family Medicine in Mt. Pleasant. The blended practice incorporates staff from two existing Excela primary care locations that will wrap up operations Friday —...
Police: 13 more victims say Derry Township constable took money for fake warrants, sponsorships
Thirteen more victims have reported that a Derry Township constable took nearly $8,000 from them last year after he claimed some had warrants for their arrest, according to court papers. A few victims told county detectives they believed they were sponsoring Brian William McDowell, 35, in a shooting competition that...
Police looking for $500k in cryptocurrency missing from New Stanton man
State police are looking for $524,594 worth of cryptocurrency that appears to have vanished from a New Stanton man’s online account. The 54-year-old man said he discovered the missing money this week, but it could have disappeared anytime since early December, according to state police. Cryptocurrencies are a form of...
Saint Vincent senior gets Iowa writers scholarship
A Saint Vincent College senior from Belle Vernon, whose professors challenged her to be a “curious learner” and take risks, is extending her education at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop in Iowa City. Mallory Truckenmiller, a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School, is receiving a no-teaching fellowship and...
One hurt in Rostraver school bus crash
One person was hurt in a crash involving a school bus in Rostraver Thursday morning, according to Westmoreland County 911. The crash between a car and the Belle Vernon Area School District bus on Fayette Street happened around 8:20 a.m. None of the 11 students on the bus was injured,...
