Westmoreland category, Page 175
Trial set for Monessen teen charged with friend’s killing
The murder trial for a Monessen teen charged with the fatal shooting of a friend as they played video games is set to begin May 6. Terry Newton, 17, is awaiting trial on charges of criminal homicide in connection with the November 2022 shooting death of 16-year-old Amari Altomore. Police...
5 Things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 16-18
This weekend is all about the parties. Decorations, dancing and unveilings make up a full calendar of things to do this weekend in Westmoreland County. Student exhibition Beginning Friday, the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Ligonier, off Boucher Lane in Ligonier Township, will open the Artists of the 21st Century,...
Attorneys for Rostraver murder-for-hire suspect say case details remain elusive
Prosecutors in Westmoreland County must turn over evidence to defense attorneys for a Philadelphia man charged with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger made the ruling Thursday in the case that resulted in the shooting death of Boyke Budiarachman, also of Philadelphia, in the parking lot of...
New Jeannette fire station OK’d for first phase of construction
Jeannette is moving forward with building a new fire station, but the project will have to be completed in phases while officials find more money. Council last week approved the first phase of the project using a $1.2 million grant the city received in 2022. That amount will foot the...
‘A celebration of what we bring to the community’: Westmoreland Cultural Trust hosts annual fundraising gala at Palace Theatre
Suits, ties and evening gowns will grace the stage of the Palace Theatre in Greensburg for the Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s “Party at the Palace” fundraising gala. The theme is “shaken, not stirred,” inspired by the way James Bond takes his martini cocktails. The trust has held the gala for 18...
Hempfield Area Foundation Funds Committee to host ‘Spartan Soiree’
Hempfield Area School District’s Foundation Funds Committee is holding a weekend night of celebration to benefit student scholarships, grants and district projects. Through the upcoming “Spartan Soiree,” slated for 6 p.m. Saturdayat Ferrante’s Lakeview in Hempfield, attendees can support the committee’s efforts and enjoy food, drinks and live music. Basket...
Homebuilder: Waiting list for housing at former Valley Green golf course
Infrastructure work on a housing development proposed at the former Valley Green Golf & Country Club is expected to start in the next couple months, as long as Hempfield supervisors approve the township’s part of the project. Chrissy Shuster, a co-owner of RWS Shuster Homes, said there’s a waiting list...
Drug, weapons possession indictments filed in federal court against 2 Westmoreland men
Two Westmoreland County men with long criminal histories are facing separate indictments in Pittsburgh federal court. Duran Foster, 29, of Jeannette, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of drug possession and single counts each of possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. A grand jury found that...
Hempfield’s High Park fire station suspends service after nearly 2 years on probation
The High Park Volunteer Fire Department will no longer serve Hempfield after nearly two years on probation. The township received an email from High Park on Feb. 8 indicating the station wanted to discontinue its service. Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic suspended operations at the station Tuesday. High Park has...
Franklin Regional to install weapons detection system at senior, middle schoolsVideo
Franklin Regional School District will install a weapons detection system at both its senior high and middle school, according to a letter sent to district families earlier this week. The OpenGate Weapons Detection System, which will be installed based on the recommendation of the district’s safety committee, is a portable,...
Westmoreland happenings: Benjamin Franklin program, pancake and waffle breakfast, super bingo, more
Business workshop • Mt. Pleasant Business District Authority will host a workshop “Online Influence” from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. Feb. 26 at the authority office, 445 W. Main St., for business owners and community members. Topics will include ways to build trust and credibility online and how to use that...
Derry Township man accused of sexual assault
A Derry Township man was jailed Monday on state police accusations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl. Adam L. Boyer, 46, is charged with corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and child pornography. The girl reported to troopers that Boyer gave her alcohol at a township home...
Export man threatened relatives with guns, machete, police say
An Export man is accused of threatening relatives with guns and a machete before brandishing a gun in front of state police troopers responding to the disturbance Sunday. State police filed numerous charges against 63-year-old Robert Deering. According to state police, Deering was arguing with his daughter and son-in-law after...
Seton Hill University lockdown lifted after police search
Seton Hill University was on lockdown for about 90 minutes Wednesday while state police searched in the area for a man who fled when troopers tried to take him into custody on a warrant. Trooper Steve Limani said the incident happened mid-morning on Mount Thor Road at the border of...
Wilmerding man facing drug charges after police sting in North Huntingdon
A Wilmerding man is behind bars after police said he sold an undercover officer five bricks of heroin/fentanyl Tuesday in North Huntingdon. Township police said Quadrikis A. Phillips-Turner, 30, exchanged the drugs for $940 at a Mills Drive location. He is charged with criminal use of a communication facility and...
$22M terminal project at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to take off by summer
A $22 million expansion of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport could begin by summer, the airport’s engineer said Tuesday. Bids were opened in January and contracts for the first phase of the work could be awarded by April, engineer Scott Kunselman told Westmoreland County Airport Authority board members. “The bids are...
Winter games a sporting, social event for Special Olympics athletes at Seven Springs
Athletes from three states are ready for their big moment at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Matt Aaron, president and chief executive officer of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, said the competitors have been training for events in snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding. Opening ceremonies were held...
Westmoreland County judge grants appeal by Rostraver commissioner of harassment citations
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday granted Rostraver Commissioner John Lorenzo’s appeal of two summary harassment citations that Lorenzo said ultimately will have little impact on his political career. Prosecutors agreed to what amounted to a plea bargain to resolve the appeal without a hearing. Senior Common Pleas Court Judge...
Western Pa. candidates line up for spring primary
Republican Rep. Jill Cooper will have a primary challenger this spring for her Murrysville-based seat in the state House. Cooper, the first-term incumbent, appears to be the lone member of Westmoreland County’s state House delegation to face a primary challenge. Nomination petitions to appear on the April 23 primary ballot...
Norwin considers hiring firm for superintendent search
The Norwin School District may end up paying about $20,000 to hire an executive search firm to help find a new superintendent to replace Jeff Taylor, who will leave the post at the end of the school year. School directors this week authorized its personnel committee to hire a search...
Fire companies faced lack of hydrants in South Huntingdon blaze
The 10 fire companies that responded to a destructive house fire in South Huntington Township last week were challenged by a lack of nearby fire hydrants, according to Turkeytown Volunteer Fire Department chief Dan Pergola Jr. “Our crews made every effort to fight the fire, along with the neighboring companies,...
Primanti Bros. seeks liquor license for North Huntingdon restaurant
Pittsburgh-based Primanti Bros. Restaurant & Bar chain wants to use a liquor license from Mt. Pleasant at the restaurant it plans to open in North Huntingdon. The North Huntingdon Township commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for 6:30 p.m,. Feb. 21 to take comments and receive testimony about Primanti’s request...
Greensburg council approves city workers as volunteer firefighters to respond to daytime calls
Greensburg council has made it easier for city workers who are volunteer firefighters to respond to emergency daytime calls. Council approved a resolution Monday to permit volunteer firefighters who work city jobs to answer fire calls during the regular workday. In Greensburg, 10 of the 15 public works employees are...
New Latrobe police captain is retired state trooper, liaison to school district police force
Latrobe has expanded its police force to include a new captain position and has turned to a nine-year veteran of the department to take on the role. Rob Daerr, who has served as the city’s liaison to the Greater Latrobe School District police force, will be promoted to captain effective...
Rock star: Lab-grown diamonds are skyrocketing in popularity, say local jewelers, industry experts
When Sandee Vargo lost one of her diamond earrings two years ago, she turned that sinking feeling into an opportunity to try something new. Her remaining one-third carat stud earring was a natural diamond, mined from the ground. But Vargo of North Huntingdon became interested in another option for her...
