Penn Township fires finance director after about 5 months on the job
The Penn Township commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday to fire Finance Director Jaime Peticca after about five months on the job. Peticca was hired by the township Aug. 20 to fill a vacancy left by Colleen Gain, who resigned in June. Township Secretary/Manager Mary Perez declined to comment on the reason...
Irwin OKs plans for Chipotle restaurant
Irwin officials gave the green light to a national Mexican food chain’s plan to build one of its 4,000 restaurants along Route 30 in the borough. Borough council on Wednesday unanimously approved the land development plan from Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. for its eatery at 9174 Route 30, the site...
Derry woman pleads guilty to forged death certificate scam
A Derry Township woman’s widowhood was only to last just long enough for her refund check to be cashed. Lori Shawley, 54, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two felony counts of forgery in connection to allegations she faked her husband’s death. Prosecutors said it was part of a scam designed to...
Probation imposed on massage parlor worker charged in prostitution ring raids
A New York woman was ordered to serve two years on probation for offering to perform illegal sex acts last year at a Hempfield massage parlor. Zhang Peiyun, 61, following a brief court hearing Wednesday was admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for first-time nonviolent offenders. Peiyun was arrested...
Police say Bradenville taxidermist accepted animals, payment but never completed work
John Anthony hooked impressive fish on back-to-back days out of Sandy Lick Creek near Brookville in 2022. He was proud of the pair of catches and wanted to get the 21-inch rainbow trout and 15-inch brook trout mounted, so he sought help from Mike Chesla of Forever Ridge Taxidermy in...
Police: Shooter fired 3 times, beat up man dating his estranged wife outside East Huntingdon fitness center
A man accused in a shooting in an East Huntingdon plaza Tuesday afternoon fired a handgun three times, beat up his target and then walked to his pickup truck before driving 8 miles to Connellsville, according to Trooper Steve Limani. The wounded man has been dating 38-year-old Steven Heald’s estranged...
Attorney: New Florence murder suspect expected to testify for prosecution
One of three people accused in the murder of a New Florence grandmother will be tried separately from his two codefendants, signaling a potential agreement to cooperate with prosecutors, an attorney said Tuesday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio pushed back the first-degree murder case against Robert Patrick...
Greensburg OKs plan for Sheetz at East Pittsburgh Street
A subdivision and land development plan for a long-awaited Sheetz in Greensburg was approved by council Monday and officials said traffic calming measures will be added to allay concerns. Mayor Robb Bell said he felt comfortable approving the plan after having a conference call with Sheetz officials last week. He...
Man hospitalized after being shot at East Huntingdon shopping plaza; suspect in custody, identifiedVideo
State police charged a Connellsville man after a brazen daylight shooting Tuesday in an East Huntingdon shopping plaza that sent a man to the hospital. Charges against Steven Henry Tris Heald, 38, include attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault and stalking, according to court records. The shooting was reported about 1...
Judge sets state prison sentence for man who punched, kicked and choked dog in South Huntingdon
After Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Ranger played graphic videos depicting the abuse of a dog in court Tuesday, she read messages the defendant sent laughing about his actions. “The dog can’t walk lol,” Zachary Hixson, 31, said in one message. “It’s paralyzed lol,” he said in another, as read by...
Rutter’s opens 1st store in Westmoreland CountyVideo
Rutter’s, the convenience chain founded by members of the Rutter farm family in York, opened its first location in Westmoreland County on Tuesday. The convenience store, gas station and truck stop located at the corner of Interstate 70 and Waltz Mill Road in Sewickley Township also includes a small bar...
Greensburg moves another step closer to beginning Northmont flood control work
A $6,000 payment for an easement related to Greensburg’s Northmont flood control project was approved Monday. City council authorized the payment to John and Rebecca Rosebosly for access to 430 New Alexandria Road, the site of McDonald Auto Clinic. Solicitor Zachary Kansler said negotiations are underway with four more property...
Judge considers release for Murrysville man accused in neighbor’s assault
A Westmoreland County judge will decide by Friday whether to grant bail to a Murrysville man accused of breaking into a neighbor’s home to make sexual overtures. During a court hearing Monday, defense attorney Pat Noonan said Gregory P. Schneider, 47, was experiencing the effects of a medication change at...
Norwin school bus company facing driver shortages
Norwin’s bus transportation contractor, First Student, is faced with a driver shortage because of retirements and a rash of illnesses, forcing the district to scramble to get some students to school. “We communicate with First Student throughout each day to make and adjust plans to ensure that the driver shortage...
Defense demands dismissal of murder, arson charges in 1993 Jeannette fire case
Lawyers for a former Jeannette man awaiting retrial for the 1993 death of his wife and two young children claim Westmoreland County prosecutors cannot prove the fire that killed them was intentionally set. In pretrial motions submitted Monday, defense attorneys for James Young, 58, argued that homicide and arson charges...
Judge sentences Latrobe man for rape, tells teen victim ‘this was not your fault’
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday sentenced a former Latrobe man to up to 20 years in prison for the 2024 rape of a child. Randy B. Shipley Jr., 40, appeared via video from a state prison in Forest County, where he is awaiting a hearing for an alleged parole...
Homicide charges filed in March crash that killed Greensburg Salem school van driver
A tractor-trailer driver was arrested Monday on homicide by vehicle charges in connection with a March crash that killed a Greensburg Salem school van driver. Isaac D. Stemple, 23, of Belington, W.Va., is free on $100,000 unsecured bail. Rene Davis, 60, of Hempfield was killed in the March 7 crash...
Delmont officer, police dog recovering after crash
Delmont police Officer Dylan Keffer and police dog Dirk are recovering after being involved in a crash Sunday evening in Murrysville. Police Chief T.J. Klobucar said the pair were helping Murrysville officers with an unrelated crash on Route 22 when Keffer was dispatched elsewhere in Murrysville. As Keffer turned on...
Rolling closures expected for Interstate 70 traffic in Rostraver
Rolling closures on Interstate 70 eastbound are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday as road work continues between the Arnold City and Smithton exits. PennDOT announced there will be single-lane restrictions and 15-minute rolling closures in Rostraver between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days. The work is weather-dependent. Crews will...
Live Casino Pittsburgh to host Derry Area, Mt. Pleasant Area proms
Live Casino Pittsburgh is making its debut in the prom industry as Derry Area and Mt. Pleasant Area high schools plan to host their spring dances at the Hempfield venue. Both proms, scheduled for separate dates, will be held in the casino’s Venue Live event space on the second floor....
Waiting game: More than 5 years after plans OK’d, Menards yet to arrive in Hempfield
Even though Menards didn’t have the decorative wood paneling Karl Doerk was looking for, he didn’t leave empty-handed. He settled on railroad toys instead. Doerk and his wife usually make the drive to the Menards near Morgantown, W.Va., once or twice a month from their home in Cumberland, Md., a...
Delmont neighborhood fundraiser will continue through mid-January
The annual Monticello Lights event in Delmont raised more than $12,000 for local charities. Thousands of vehicles drove through the neighborhood in early December. Onlookers could vote for their favorite decorating scheme by making a donation to one of two local charities. The fundraising efforts are expanding this month as...
From just getting started to final details, Greensburg wedding expo helps couples plan their big day
Lindsay Gozdick of Latrobe says her fiance is fine with her working on all the details of their October wedding. “He’s like, ‘figure it out’ — and he’ll like what I pick,” she said. “He would rather be in the garage with his truck.” Gozdick was among future brides —...
Murrysville area: Presidents portrayed, Turkey Cup winners, comedy night, more
‘Stars, Stripes & Stories’ The Murrysville Recreation Department will host reenactors portraying three former U.S. presidents during “Stars, Stripes & Stories” at 7 p.m. Feb. 16. George Washington (Bill Choby), Abraham Lincoln (Carl Swick) and Ulysses S. Grant (Ken Serfass) will discuss the successes and lessons that ultimately led to...
Latrobe teacher, 18-time marathoner launches coaching business
Rachel Bankaci never considered herself an athlete in her youth. But with 18 marathons under her belt — and a 19th in the works — Bankaci has come a long way from her childhood days of watching track athletes compete in the Olympics. Now, Bankaci is a personal trainer and...
