Westmoreland category, Page 859
Donegal Township sawmill tour highlights changing lumber industry
A complex, noisy network of blades and belts turned logs into dowels before a crowd of excited onlookers Saturday. “I feel like Willy Wonka in the chocolate factory,” sawmill manager Patrick Cannin said as he showed off stacks of thousands of dowels piled high behind him. They will be used...
Norwin faces possible $1 million budget deficit
Norwin school officials are facing a possible $1 million deficit when they tackle the 2019-20 budget this spring, even if taxes are raised about 2.4 mills, the maximum the state will allow. The school board is expected to consider a resolution Monday that will put a cap on any real...
Criminal justice reform advocate will speak at Pitt-Greensburg
Criminal justice reform advocate and author Shaka Senghor will be the featured speaker Jan. 23 at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Senghor is a best-selling author and award recipient for his work in advocating for prison reform and addressing the negative effects of the prison-industrial complex. He is also...
Historic flag moves from Greensburg fire department attic to new home
A massive American flag that was hidden away for decades in a Greensburg fire station has found a new home with the Westmoreland County Historical Society. The history of the flag has been lost to time. All anyone knows about it are the stories passed down by firefighters who have...
Storm shopping: Blame it on meteorologist, tradition and need to control the ‘uncontrollable’
Whenever meteorologists start the drumbeat of a pending snowstorm, and particularly significant snowfall, panic buying at area grocery stores typically sets in. “The more they talk about it (storm), the busier it gets. They panic. People get worried,” said Diana Espey, a manager at Naser Foods in Pleasant Unity. Espey...
Westmoreland happenings: Jan. 21 and beyond
Special events • Southwestern PA Council for the Arts antiques show and sale is planned 6-9 p.m. Friday , 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Saturday with ask the expert 1-4 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 27 in Greensburg Country Club, Route 130, Hempfield. Cost: $7, good for all three days. Details: 412-980-4650,...
Eclipse viewing kicks off Saint Vincent planetarium season
Saint Vincent College’s Angelo J. Taiani Planetarium and Astronaut Exhibit will kick off its spring semester of events Sunday night with a public viewing of the total lunar eclipse. Located in the the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion on the college’s Unity campus, the planetarium will be open for...
Troopers quickly track down Unity bank robbery suspect in Penn Hills
State police arrested a Penn Hills man accused of robbing a Westmoreland County bank on Thursday and making off with more than $4,000. Video surveillance from businesses surrounding the First National Bank in Unity Township led them to arrest Demetryaiss Llamar Holyfield, 25, police said. He was arraigned Friday and...
Police: Derry Township constable used fake arrest warrants to scam money from victims
A Derry Township constable is accused by police of pocketing $3,816 that nine victims paid him last year, believing he would take care of their court matters — some of which didn’t exist, according to court papers. Brian William McDowell, 35, allegedly tried to get money from five more people...
Westmoreland court offices closed Monday
Westmoreland County court offices will be closed Monday. The courthouse and district judge offices will not open in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Regular hours will resume Tuesday. Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@tribweb.com or via Twitter @byrenatta....
Pa. food stamp recipients get early payments amid government shutdown
People who depend on food stamps to feed their families face uncertainty as the federal government’s partial shutdown drags on. About 1.8 million Pennsylvanians on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, commonly known as food stamps, received their February benefits on Friday — about two weeks ahead of schedule — because...
Greensburg police investigating car break-ins
Several reports of car break-ins in Greensburg are being investigated, police said. According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, break-ins have occurred over the past few days in the Academy Hill area of the city. Surveillance footage taken 2 a.m. Thursday shows three people wearing hoods walking up...
Amtrak cancels area trains ahead of weekend storm
Anyone traveling by rail this weekend is encouraged to check Amtrak’s schedule as officials make some of the first cancellations ahead of the expected winter storm. The storm has caused cancellation of several Pittsburgh-area trains on Sunday. The Pennsylvanian Service, from New York to Philadelphia to Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, has...
If Patriots lose, Goodwill customers will win
Don’t be sad, Pittsburgh, that the Steelers never made the playoffs this season. Now you have another reason to root against the hated New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game. If the Patriots lose this Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Goodwill will offer a 30 percent discount...
Saint Vincent library expansion topic of public meeting
The public is invited to Saint Vincent College at 9 a.m. Wednesday to learn about and provide comment on the library renovation and expansion that is under construction. The meeting will be held in Room 2AB on the upper floor of the Fred M. Rogers Center, Unity. Parking will be...
New evidence triggers mistrial in Monessen attempted homicide case
A Westmoreland County judge on Thursday cut short the attempted murder and conspiracy trial of two Monessen men, saying damaging evidence against the defense was turned over too late by prosecutors. Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani said the mistrial in the combined case against Joseph “Jo Jo” Heath III...
Franklin Regional’s Piraino recognized as Pa. superintendent of the yearVideo
It was only fitting for Gennaro Piraino to be sitting at Saint Vincent College as he received recognition as the Pennsylvania School Administrator Association’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year. Originally slated for Harrisburg, poor weather moved the recognition luncheon to the Unity school, just a few miles from Piraino’s hometown...
State: Rostraver Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association needs to increase bond
A recent state audit found the Rostraver Township Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Association needs to increase its bond to cover cash assets. Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said the association was in compliance with all other applicable state laws, contracts, bylaws and administrative procedures as they relate to the receipt of...
North Huntingdon police response team trains at Norwin schools
The North Huntingdon Police Department emergency response team is conducting training and walk-through drills at all seven of Norwin School District’s buildings. Police issued an alert at about 3 p.m. Thursday to inform residents of the training and that there is not a need for alarm when seeing police at...
Tarrs woman accused of forging prescriptions for oxycodone pills
A Tarrs woman is accused of forging two painkiller prescriptions at an East Huntingdon doctor’s office where she worked as a medical assistant, according to court papers. Davina Lee Potoka, 44, allegedly wrote the prescriptions for herself for 120 oxycodone pills each, state police said. Potoka is charged with acquisition...
Unity bank robbed, state police search for suspect
State police at Greensburg are searching for a man who robbed the First National Bank on Route 30, east of the Route 981 intersection, in Unity on Thursday. The man entered the bank just before 11 a.m. and gave a teller a threatening note that demanded money, police said. He...
Droves of shoppers line up for grand opening of Aldi near Mt. PleasantVideo
A festive atmosphere pervaded the grand opening of the newest Aldi grocery store in Westmoreland County, as dozens of eager shoppers lined the sidewalk and braved temperatures in the low 20s early Thursday morning. The Aldi fans were there not only to see the gleaming new store in East Huntingdon...
Westmoreland school officials to form legislative action committee
Westmoreland County public school officials are forming a committee to present a common front when they address legislative issues that affect local education. The planned Westmoreland County Committee On Legislative Action, or COLA, is expected to include representatives from the county’s 17 public school districts, three associated career and technology...
Judge limits evidence allowed in alleged Hempfield rape case
Statements that a Hempfield woman made — and later recanted — to police and medical personnel that she was raped last year cannot be used against the man she initially accused, a judge ruled on Thursday. Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy Krieger also said prosecutors will not be able to...
Irwin OKs lawsuits to enforce rental ordinance
Irwin officials plan to crack down on landlords who are not complying with the borough’s tenant registry and inspection ordinance enacted last year. Borough council has authorized borough solicitor Zachary Kansler to file lawsuits against property owners to enforce the local rule requiring the inspection of rental units for a...
