Westmoreland category, Page 857
Mt. Pleasant man convicted in cousin’s fatal overdose seeks new trial
The first man convicted in Westmoreland County of violating a 2011 law allowing prosecution of drug dealers in connection with fatal overdoses was in court Thursday to ask for a new trial. Michael Ulysses Peterson, 45, of Mt. Pleasant, is seeking to overturn a verdict against him following a 2016...
Judge refuses to dismiss murder charge in crash that killed East Huntingdon pedestrian
A Westmoreland County judge on Thursday rejected a request from a New Stanton man to dismiss a charge of third-degree murder in connection with the death of a pedestrian killed when he was hit by a car on Christmas Eve 2016. Prosecutors contend Matthew Ramsay, 31, was under the influence...
Rivertowne liquor licenses sold at bankruptcy auction
A Monroeville real estate owner bought the closed Rivertowne Pub & Grille’s restaurant liquor license in North Huntingdon and the tavern’s inventory of equipment and supplies for $107,500 in a bankruptcy court auction in Pittsburgh Thursday. Sheldon Klasfeld of Monroeville Properties LLC, which rents houses, purchased the license and inventory...
Historic Westmoreland County covered bridge damaged in hit-and-run
Part of Bells Mills Road was closed this week after a portion of Westmoreland County’s last covered bridge was damaged in a hit-and-run. County engineer Vaughn Neill said a state trooper reported the damage on Bells Mills Bridge. “Somebody struck this, we don’t know who, we don’t know when,” Neill...
Retired teacher’s book aims to preserve a snapshot of Westmoreland’s natural areas
Dick Byers of Stahlstown loves nature. The 81-year-old retired biology teacher has enjoyed the natural areas of Westmoreland County and the surrounding region for decades. While there are plenty of publications exploring the trails that crisscross the area, Byers was more interested in preserving a snapshot of what nature looks...
PennDOT crews respond to large crack in Penn Township road
Drivers headed through Penn Township should avoid Paintertown Road between Route 130 and Simpson Road, until PennDOT crews are able to address a slide that took place on Thursday morning. Police chief John Otto said police were notified about the road by a motorist shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday morning....
2 cold weather shelters open in Westmoreland County
Two cold weather shelters are open in Westmoreland County when the temperatures dip below 25 degrees at night. The shelters — in Greensburg and Latrobe — will be open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through March 31 for those who are homeless or others whose homes aren’t adequately heated...
$15,000 allegedly stolen from Hempfield man, sweepstakes company warning against fraud
A sweepstakes company is warning people to watch out for a scam that caused a local man to have $15,000 taken from his bank account, police said. Scammers claiming to be from the United States Sweepstakes and Fulfillment Co. allegedly sent a mailer to a Hempfield Township man saying he...
Unloaded school bus involved in Murrysville crash
An unloaded school bus was involved in a crash Thursday morning in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The crash between the bus and a passenger vehicle on School Road North happened at 7:15 a.m. Traffic was being affected in the area while emergency responders worked to clear the...
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Laurel Region CEO announces resignation
The CEO and executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region announced her resignation Wednesday. Kelli Belanger, who served as CEO of the Greensburg-based organization for 14 years, said she has decided it’s time to move on from her position. “While I will always dearly treasure my...
Ligonier bead class helps people see their valueVideo
Making jewelry from beads is a hobby for some. For Nettie Wray, 47, of Ligonier, it has helped her heal. Wray began crafting with beads after an accident left her unable to continue her job as a truck driver. She found the craft gave her a renewed sense of value...
North Huntingdon store top Sheetz site for fundraiser for needy children
The Sheetz Inc. convenience store at Ronda Court in North Huntingdon will offer free coffee and fountain drinks Thursday as a reward for customers and employees raising more money for a charitable fundraising initiative in December than any of its 583 other stores in Pennsylvania and five other states. The...
Ruffsdale man pleads guilty to drunk driving, causing crash
A Ruffsdale man will serve up to five years in prison for causing a vehicle crash along the railroad tracks in East Huntingdon that severely injured his two passengers. John Woodward, 39, pleaded guilty this week to drunk driving and two counts of causing a crash resulting in injuries. Police...
Greensburg state trooper suspended after allegedly threatening wife with handgun
A state trooper working out of the Greensburg station has been suspended without pay after he was arrested for allegedly threatening his wife with a handgun at their Plum home. Scott Mang, 32, broke down two doors in the house and threatened to kill his wife and himself with her...
Threats, image of Monessen trial witness posted on social media
A Westmoreland County prosecutor Wednesday said an investigation is underway to learn who took a courtroom photograph of a witness during an attempted murder trial last week, an image that was posted online with an apparent threat. Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said it appeared the photo of the alleged...
Delmont food bank gains food windfall after winter storm fails to materialize
The fact that Winter Storm Harper was a bust turned out to be a boon for the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The Delmont food bank got a sizeable donation from West Penn Power over the weekend when the storm failed to materialize and the utility was stuck with 16,000 pounds...
Norwin seeks nominees for distinguished alum honors
The Norwin Alumni & Friends Association is seeking nominations by Feb. 1 for the Distinguished Alumni Award to be presented at the third annual Knight of Distinguished Alumni Recognition Dinner on May 23 at the Stratigos Banquet Center, North Huntingdon. To be eligible for the award a person must have...
Hempfield man charged for exposing himself to convenience store clerk
State police on Wednesday charged a Hempfield man with exposing himself to a clerk at a nearby convenience store in August. Troopers said Paul Aaron Montella, 33, recognized himself on surveillance images released to the media in December and turned himself in. He is charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness...
Hempfield man accused of DUI twice in less than an hour
A Hempfield man was arrested twice in less than an hour Sunday for drunken driving, according to state police. The first time troopers pulled over William Brandon Bartley, 31, was at 1:22 a.m. on Route 130 in Hempfield near North Greengate Road. Police said in court papers that Bartley was...
Greensburg-based government workers file suit to leave union
Three Pennsylvania state employees based in Greensburg are suing their union after trying unsuccessfully to resign their membership last year. The employees, all three of whom work for the state Department of Labor & Industry, say they have U.S. Supreme Court precedent on their side, including last year’s controversial 5-4...
Structural engineer to evaluate Derry Township home hit by pickup truck
A pickup truck has been lodged in the side of Jesse Noel’s Derry Township home for the last two days. Noel and his wife, Sandy, were waiting Wednesday morning for a structural engineer to assess the damage while coping with the fallout after the truck slammed into their living room...
Penn Township seeks volunteers for planning commission, library board
Penn Township needs a few residents who are willing to serve on local boards. The township is looking for alternate members for its planning commission and the Penn Area Library board of trustees, with two vacancies on each board. The planning commission meets on the first Tuesday of every month...
Greensburg’s Aerobic Center pool to reopen Thursday after closure for repairs
The swimming pool at the Aerobic Center at Lynch Field in Greensburg will open as scheduled at 5 a.m. Thursday after a temporary closure cancelled swim lessons Wednesday night, according to posts on the center’s Facebook page. “We had a mechanical malfunction with our filter. We’re repairing it,” said Rachel...
New hotline could help Hempfield schools investigate potential threats
A new communications platform could help make the Hempfield Area School District safer. Safe 2 Say Something, a hotline where students and adults can submit anonymous tips about something suspicious online or from a person who proposes a threat to themselves or others, is set to start next week. The...
Car hits Derry Township house
A car hit a house on Smith Street in Derry Township Tuesday night, the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety said. Firefighters from Bradenville responded to the report of the crash at 10:55 p.m. There was no information available on whether there were any injuries. An ambulance was dispatched to...
