Westmoreland category, Page 108
6 adults, 2 children displaced by Hempfield house fire
The Red Cross is assisting six adults and two children who were displaced by a fire Thursday evening at their home in Hempfield. The fire victims were being provided temporary housing and other needs, according to fire officials. More than a half dozen fire companies responded to the fire Thursday...
Nonprofit theater group will host ‘An Evening of One Acts’ in Latrobe
Anastasia Jaeger believes in living a well-rounded life. For her, part of that involves a return to the acting she did in her younger days. “I think it can push you out of your comfort zone a little bit, which is something I believe people should do,” said Jaeger, 28,...
Firefighters use foam to snuff out persistent smoke from hay bales in Hempfield
Greensburg and Hempfield fire crews Thursday put an end to smoldering from a fire that destroyed a storage barn Saturday afternoon at a Hempfield equestrian center. The fire briefly closed a section of Business Route 66 Saturday and ravaged a storage barn after a stubborn fire broke out, burning about...
Unity Cemetery to host Revolutionary War reenactor, is subject of art exhibit
Unity Cemetery’s 250th anniversary is being celebrated this month through artistic impressions and a historical program. There are 32 Revolutionary War veterans buried at the cemetery in Unity. On Saturday, an historical reenactor will be on hand to bring to life the experiences of such local soldiers. Tom Klingensmith, who...
Greater Latrobe moves ahead with $2.6M stadium project as teachers contract talks continue
Greater Latrobe School Board is moving forward with an estimated $2.6 million upgrade to the running track and other features at Memorial Stadium, but one board member and at least one parent think the district should delay that investment. Parent Josh Cunningham, who also is a teacher at the nearby...
Palace Theatre hosts free trunk-or-treat, haunted history tour for the first time
The “trunk-or-treat” event has exploded in popularity over the past decade, with shopping centers, nonprofits and even car dealerships getting in on the action. The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will host its first trunk-or-treat on Halloween, but it will take place alongside a heaping helping of haunted local history. “This...
Westmoreland happenings: Dollhouse show, art exhibit, Polish platter dinner, more
Art • A collection of paintings created by local artists to celebrate the 250th nniversary of Unity Cemetery and Chapel will be on display through Oct. 28 at the Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St. Admission is free. A reception will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at...
Jeannette man charged after incident at Westmoreland County prison
A Westmoreland County Prison guard had a concussion and shoulder injury after police said he was attacked by an inmate, according to court papers. Westmoreland County detectives reported watching a video of the Aug. 28 incident in which Jericho M. Dechicchis, 23, of Jeannette, was seen in a processing room...
Escalating medication errors pose grave risks for Pennsylvania patients
A Pittsburgh-area woman died after having an allergic reaction to an antibiotic she was given not once, but twice, during surgery to repair a hernia. During the first surgery, the procedure was halted because of the allergic reaction. The second time, the surgeon insisted she get the antibiotic because he...
Window manufacturer’s student exchange program emphasizes the importance of skilled trade jobsVideo
High schools have made a concerted effort in recent years to introduce students to the skilled trades and make them aware of well-paying career opportunities that do not require a college degree. A Penn Township company is taking that concept international. Ventana USA, a custom window manufacturer, is working with...
Ligonier inmate dies in Westmoreland County jail
Westmoreland County officials report that a Westmoreland County Prison inmate from Ligonier who was found unresponsive in his cell Oct. 11 had committed suicide. Coroner Tim Carson said appears the death of Charles Madden Jr., 53, was a suicide. No foul play is suspected. A final autopsy report is pending....
MAWC recovers over $826K in stolen funds, upgrades cybersecurity efforts
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said the water and sewer utility has recovered more than $826,000 that was stolen in what it called a “vendor impersonator scheme.” The authority was targeted in June by scammers who posed as a vendor awaiting payment for work as part of the agency’s...
Antique wooden bar stolen from vandalized Donegal Township B&B
A business agreement for the takeover of a Donegal Township bed and breakfast went south when police said the prospective owners ransacked the interior, shot up glassware and disappeared, taking the establishment’s antique bar with them. State police are looking for a Kentucky woman who they believe scammed the co-owners...
Rallies, fries and Steelers game? Here are 5 things to know about Trump’s next visit
Former President Donald Trump is coming to Westmoreland County for a rally, and he is reportedly adding a few new twists to his typical campaign schedule. Trump is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m. Saturday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. Rallies at airport hangars have been a frequent...
New Kensington Democrat seeks to unseat Murrysville’s Jill Cooper in 55th State House race
In a divisive political atmosphere both locally and nationally, Democrat Davon Magwood is proud to be running a race against incumbent state Rep. Jill Cooper that puts negativity aside. “I love that we’re running campaigns where we’re not attacking one another,” said Magwood, 38, of New Kensington, who has worked...
Trafford man accused of numerous drug deals with undercover officer
The amount of money and drugs being exchanged by an undercover North Huntingdon officer and a Trafford man increased over seven controlled buys between August and Tuesday, according to court papers. At their first meeting Aug. 19, Vondae Duane Freeman, 38, is accused of giving the undercover officer a few...
Veterans court offers redemption chance for former service members
John Novotnak knew he needed help. The U.S. Army serviceman whose eight-year career included a tour of duty in Iraq, struggled after he was discharged from the military in 2008. Novotnak, 43, of North Huntingdon was charged in 2022 for the second time with drunken driving when he finally concluded...
Greensburg names Baltzer Meyer the city’s official historical society
Greensburg named Hempfield-based Baltzer Meyer the city’s official historical society Monday. The Baltzer Meyer Historical Society has collected records and artifacts from communities across Westmoreland County for more than three decades, said Vice President Franny Petras — including Greensburg. “We have military records. We have family trees. We have research...
Hempfield reviews visions for high school renovation project after construction stalled last year
More than a year after halting a high school renovation that came in over budget, Hempfield Area School District is getting back on track with the project. Architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates laid out visions for the project during a school board meeting this week, touching on improvement priorities and...
Couple, pet rescued from house fire in Unity
A couple and their pet dog were rescued by a neighbor when fire broke out in their Unity home Tuesday night. A smoke alarm awakened the pair as they were sleeping on the first floor of their Dos Drive home, according to Tom Schultheis, township emergency management coordinator. Blocked by...
Lane restrictions set for I-70, Route 51 as interchange revamp proceeds, old bridge is razed
Overnight single-lane restrictions will be in place for several days on a section of Interstate 70 as crews demolish the bridge that used to carry Route 51 over the interstate in Rostraver. The bridge is being replaced by a more complex crossing as part of a $120.7 million project to...
Hay smolders days after Hempfield barn fire, sparks concern for residents
A fire that destroyed a storage barn Saturday afternoon at Westmoreland Equestrian Center in Hempfield left behind a field of hay that is continuing to smolder and smoke, sparking concerns from nearby respiratory-challenged residents. As of Tuesday, it wasn’t clear how much longer the smoldering may continue at the site...
Judge rejects prosecutor’s request for lengthy sentence for Delmont man
A Westmoreland County prosecutor said rehabilitation was not a viable option for a Delmont man convicted this year of the attempted sexual assault of a woman. Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek, during a sentencing hearing Tuesday for Brandon J. Pyle, 28, argued that his lengthy history of inappropriate and criminal...
Seward man pleads guilty to attempted child rape
A Seward man pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges relating to attempted sex with an underage girl. Anthony Ronald Laughard, 43, was charged last year following an undercover sting operation conducted by the state police. According to court records, Laughard made contact with a person through online communication he believed to...
Bolivar man ordered to serve 10- to 20-year prison sentence for sexual assaults of child
A Bolivar man was sentenced Tuesday to serve 10 to 20 years in prison for the repeated sexual assaults of a young girl. Jerry Boring, 60, was convicted by a Westmoreland County jury in April of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault in connection with accusations...
