Westmoreland category, Page 855
10 escape mobile home fire in Sewickley Township
A family of 10 escaped a fire early Thursday that destroyed their Sewickley Township mobile home. The structure on Finch Lane was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at Sewickley Pines Manor after the call at 3:42 a.m., Hutchinson Fire Capt. Frank Sever Jr. said. It took about 90 minutes...
Judge denies Thomas Stanko’s appeal from Unity cemetery assault case
A Unity man who has been identified as a potential suspect in the disappearance of his former girlfriend — whom a judge legally declared dead last week — was questioned in court Wednesday amid warnings that his testimony could eventually be used against him. Thomas Stanko, 48, was in court...
Seton Hill student battling cancer finds fame on YouTubeVideo
Singing was the last thing on her mind. Erin McElhenny, a junior at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, was at the Cleveland Clinic last week for three days of chemotherapy treatment when an impromptu concert gave her some much-needed music therapy. “It has brought my mood up a lot to do...
Norwin basketball games to honor vets
Norwin High School’s boys and girls basketball teams will play special games on Friday at the Knights gymnasium, and not just because the boys will face Greater Latrobe, one of the best teams in WPIAL Class 6A this season. Both contests — the girls against Butler and the boys against...
Westmoreland County firefighters draw on past experiences to deal with subzero cold
As Westmoreland County firefighters prepared to potentially respond to emergencies in subzero temperatures late Wednesday into Thursday, Delmont Volunteer Fire Department Chief Rich Balik said lessons learned at a fatal fire last year in Salem Township assisted in its planning. On Jan. 5, 2018, multiple departments battled subzero windchill as...
Westmoreland organizations seek to provide shelter for homeless during cold snap
It can be difficult to get an accurate picture of homelessness in Westmoreland County, but local officials and service organizations want to make sure those who found themselves in such a situation had a place to go amid this week’s frigid weather. “A lot of times they’re elusive and don’t...
Delmont fire officials: State audit recommendations met
Delmont volunteer firefighters report their department is continuing to “move forward” after a recent report by the state auditor general disclosed not all of its recommendations from prior financial audits had been followed. “For audited period Jan. 1, 2016, to Dec. 31, 2017, the relief association took appropriate corrective action...
Police: Derry Township men stole ATVs, dirt bikes
Two Derry Township men were arrested Tuesday by state police in connection with a rash of all-terrain vehicle and dirt bike thefts since mid-December. Seth A. McIntire, 20, and Cody E. Stiffey, 24, are charged before District Judge Mark Bilik with counts of theft, receiving stolen property, altering vehicle identification...
Police: Greensburg man fought with agents while they investigated his son for child porn
A Greensburg father and son were arrested Tuesday during a child pornography investigation by agents from the state Attorney General’s Office. Joshua Walker Bittner, 20, is accused of contacting young girls through Instagram and requesting nude photographs of them. Authorities found at least 14 images of child pornography on a...
Jeannette seeking donations for new holidays light fixtures for Clay Avenue
Jeannette is accepting donations for the purchase of new holiday light fixtures to decorate Clay Avenue. Two types of light bulbs will be purchased — warm white and red, white and blue — so the fixtures can be used for Christmas and patriotic holidays. The larger fixture is about 7...
Grant for homeless placement comes at the right time for Feeding the Spirit in Greensburg
A $10,000 grant from Dominion Energy could not have come at a better time for Greensburg nonprofit Feeding the Spirit. With subzero temperatures on the way Wednesday and Thursday, President Debbie Thackrah said group members had already spoken with eight people about finding them a place for relief from the...
Greensburg Beverage acquired by Johnstown-based beer distributor
Greensburg Beverage is now known as Inco-Greensburg, after it was acquired by a Johnstown-based beer distributor. On Monday, Inco Beverage began delivering products to Greensburg Beverage’s customers in Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington and Fayette counties, according to a news release. “We kept the majority of the employees, and that was one...
Excela to preview new Frick family practice office in Mt. Pleasant
Excela Health will hold an open house 11-4 Feb. 13, allowing community members to preview the new, consolidated Excela Square Frick Family Medicine practice in Mt. Pleasant. Slated to open to patients Feb. 18 on the first floor of the Excela Square at Frick building, the practice will bring together...
Property debate sparks spat between Latrobe mayor, manager
The changing of locks on an office door at the municipal building and the sale of a blighted property by the Westmoreland County Land Bank brought a rift between Latrobe’s mayor and its city manager public. “You don’t report to anybody,” Mayor Rosie Wolford told Wayne Jones. “None of us...
Westmoreland assistant public defender announces candidacy for Monessen district judge
Assistant Westmoreland County Public Defender Jack Manderino on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the open district judge seat in Monessen. Manderino, 55, son of the late state House speaker Jim Manderino, has served as a lawyer in Westmoreland County and in Pittsburgh for the last 30 years. “I want to...
Youngwood woman charged with assaulting mother rejects plea deal
A Youngwood woman awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting her elderly mother over the television volume during a Steelers preseason football game rejected a plea bargain deal Tuesday that would have required her to serve up to four years in prison. Defense attorney Tim Dawson said his client, Delores Amorino, has...
Derry man gets probation after guilty pleas in 3 cases
A Derry man will serve six years on probation after pleading guilty Tuesday to a series of charges involving three different cases, including allegations he made threats to employees at a magisterial district judge’s office in 2017. Police said all three cases against Paul Barsoum, 54, occurred during a one-week...
New Kensington man to serve up to 50 years in jail on child pornography charges
A New Kensington man was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 50 years in prison for the possession of more than 20,000 images of child pornography. Joshua Pottle, 37, was convicted of 40 felony counts in October following a three-day jury trial in which he was accused of having pictures...
Cops: Man inappropriately touched 2 Greensburg girls, had child pornography
A Jeannette man remained jailed in Westmoreland County on Tuesday on allegations he had inappropriate contact with two girls while he temporarily stayed at a Greensburg apartment last year, city police reported. Police arrested Gerald A. Helzel, 24, last week following a report made to the state child abuse hotline....
Hempfield proposes public safety committee; police coverage could be examined
Almost a year after Hempfield’s fire bureau came into fruition, township supervisors are looking to establish a public safety commission — with police coverage being one area of potential focus. While the seven-person commission is far from being formed, Township Manager Jason Winters presented a conceptual plan that focuses on...
Westmoreland happenings: Feb. 2 and beyond
Fundraisers • Have A Heart Buffet Pasta Palooza is planned 1-4 p.m. Feb. 10 host by the Humane Society of Westmoreland County at Lakeview, Route 30 Greensburg. Cost: $25. Tickets: 724-837-3779. • 80’s party band Velveeta will perform 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in Harrison City VFD, 1010 Mill St. Cost:...
Murrysville activating shelter plans for Wednesday, Thursday
With wind chills plunging below zero on Wednesday and Thursday, Murrysville is making a warming center available both days on an as-needed basis. Anyone in need of emergency shelter should contact police Capt. Chuck Tappe at 724-309-2369 or ctappe@murrysvillegov.org and request assistance. “If I receive a call, I will notify...
Police: Trafford man intimidated victim by calling her 157 times after assault arrest
A Trafford man is being held without bail after police said he made 157 phone calls to a woman who he previously was arrested for assaulting. Authorities said Nigel Christopher Hogan, 29, threatened the woman on Sunday to not testify against him at a hearing today or “she would regret...
Cops: Women tried to steal $3K worth of merchandise at Hempfield Walmart
Two 20-year-old women were arrested early Tuesday by state police trying to flee the Walmart store in Hempfield without paying for $3,276 worth of items. Megan M. Bender of Connellsville and Julie L. Thomas of New Stanton were arraigned on charges of robbery, retail theft and harassment following the incident...
Pittsburgh area jobless rate remains at 4.2 percent
The Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent in December, a drop of .7 percent from a year ago as the region added 9,600 nonfarm jobs compared to December 2017. Among the seven counties in the Pittsburgh region, Allegheny County’s jobless rate held steady at 4.2 percent, while Westmoreland...
