Westmoreland category, Page 194

Franklin Regional teacher Christine Klemstine couldn’t have been more surprised when eighth grader J.T. Esposito performed his audition for the middle school’s fall play. “He had half of the script already memorized,” Klemstine said. “I couldn’t believe it.” Memorizing 20 pages of dialogue is a big enough challenge for an...

For the first time in its 136-year history, The Kiski School — an all-boys private boarding school in Saltsburg — will welcome girls in fall 2024. Head of School Christopher Brueningsen said the decision was an emotional one, but he believes it is the right one when looking toward growth...

Three high-level administrators have left Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School since June. Principal Kevin Frye resigned without warning effective immediately Sept. 6, two weeks into the academic year. Director of Admissions Elyse Bogner resigned in the same fashion Sept. 8. The assistant principal, Nicole Marchese, left in June —...

A left-turn lane for traffic entering from the westbound lane of East Pittsburgh Street and elimination of left turns onto the street are among changes Sheetz is planning at its proposed Davis Center plaza store in Greensburg. Project representatives this week presented land development and subdivision plans for the proposed...

PennDOT officials are finalizing plans for improvement of the Arnold City interchange on Interstate 70 in Rostraver and are ready to share project details with the public. The plans will be displayed during an open house session from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the Rostraver Central fire...

It’s a call that can save someone’s life, but the local centers where 911 dispatchers work to answer those pleas for help are seeing more and more empty work spaces. Officials say staffing issues continue to plague emergency dispatch centers as municipalities struggle to fill shifts and force employees to...

An Arnold man who just returned to the Arnold Volunteer Fire Company has been charged with arson in connection with four fires over the weekend in New Kensington and Arnold. Authorities said that in one of the arsons, Andrew J. Bischof, 21, of Arnold set the fire, left the scene...

The injuries Ray A. Shetler Jr. suffered in December 2021 while he was taken into custody on a bench warrant didn’t need to happen, according to police. But, when Shetler, 39, of New Florence, was confronted in a St. Clair Township mobile home, police officers serving that warrant said, he...

The bottle of chloroform was tucked away in William “B.J.” Dankesreiter’s Derry Township basement behind numerous paint cans, according to neighbor Gary Simms. He was helping Laura Dankesreiter clean the basement last year and immediately became suspicious. The paper label was turned in to the face the wall, Simms testified...

A Westmoreland County assistant public defender who is on probation for a 2021 incident at Seven Springs Mountain Resort was arrested Wednesday by Greensburg police. Authorities said David E. Mulock, 38, of Murrysville walked away from a traffic stop after an officer reported seeing Mulock driving a Volkswagen that didn’t...

After investigating the death of Derry police dog Smoke, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday there is “not evidence to support charging a criminal offense at this time.” The DA’s office said it conducted a “thorough and extensive investigation” into the euthanasia of the dog after an incident...

Export council members are taking the first steps to reclaim Italy Road from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Over the years, Export has handled winter maintenance of Italy Road within the borough, for which they receive PennDOT funding of about $1,000 per year. Council authorized the winter maintenance agreement at...

The block of North Pennsylvania Avenue behind the Westmoreland County Courthouse will be blocked off for two days next week to allow for repairs on a water line, according to county public works director Greg McCloskey. It will be closed to vehicle traffic Oct. 10 and 11 between West Otterman...

Diners in Unity are being asked to “Buck Up” this month to support the township’s fire bureau. The new campaign is in partnership with several restaurants in the township. Customers are asked to donate to the local fire departments at the end of their meal — raising their check by...

Arts • Laurelville Retreat Center will offer a fall painting class for all skill levels from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at its lodge, 941 Laurelville Lane, Mt. Pleasant Township. Cost: $25, includes supplies and beverages. No alcohol permitted. Guests may bring snacks to share. Reservations required tinyurl.com/2p9axkmj.. Details:...

Members of Hempfield Area School District’s buildings and grounds and finance committees will discuss the financial situation of the stalled high school renovation project tonight. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the administration building, 4347 Route 136. It will feature presentations from the district’s business manager, bond counsel...

Many salad bars during the pandemic suffered, others closed entirely, as having groups of people taking food from the same containers was a concern because of a possible spread of covid-19. One restaurant that felt the loss was Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, where the salad bar is a core...

The pain in Orland Bethel’s lower back and hips became excruciating. In 2014, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis — a narrowing and squeezing of the nerves and spinal cord. The 87-year-old Greensburg resident consulted with six orthopaedic surgeons. They told him they would need to “cut a chunk of...

(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...

It was a normal Saturday morning until Laura Dankesreiter discovered something odd at her Derry Township home. At first, she thought she had tripped on a ripped piece of carpet after opening the basement door, something she initially attributed to one of her cats. But on further inspection, Dankesreiter noticed...

McCali Manor in Mt. Pleasant is set to be demolished soon after a stove fire caused heavy damage to the building in April. Jane Altman, owner of the historic property located on the diamond in the center of town, said the decision was “a process.” “I had hoped we could...

Terri Miller of Hempfield remembers watching her father, Carl Masciantonio, directing the Jeannette Community Band from his podium. She can remember watching him onstage playing tuba. And she remembers playing under his direction as a Jeannette student. Those memories will come flooding back Sunday, Oct. 15, when the Jeannette Community...

A woman who was walking her dog in Greensburg was hit by an intoxicated driver moments after she threatened to call police because she saw the person stumble out of a bar and get behind the wheel of an SUV, according to court papers. The driver — Shannon Leigh Ryan,...

Trial is expected to begin Wednesday morning in the case of a New Florence man who is accused of assaulting police officers. A jury was empaneled Tuesday and will hear evidence against Ray A. Shetler Jr., 39. He has been in jail awaiting trial since his arrest in December 2021...

A man accused of stabbing his elderly mother multiple times while she slept in their Mt. Pleasant Township home early Tuesday told authorities he thought she was a Nazi war criminal, according to court documents. Kort Noel Eckman, 45, was placed in the Westmoreland County Jail awaiting arraignment Tuesday on...