Westmoreland category, Page 194
‘New with the old:’ Greensburg Community Days returns with new format
The unofficial kickoff of the summer season in Greensburg is back on schedule. Greensburg Community Days, a popular gathering over Memorial Day weekend since the 1990s, will be returning this year for the first time since before the start of the pandemic. The event will take on a new form...
Morning Roundup: Fire destroys Penn Township garage; McKnight Road restrictions begin
Here are a few morning news items for Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. Penn Township garage destroyed by fire An explosion and subsequent fire destroyed a garage in Penn Township late Saturday night. TribLive news partner WTAE reports that dozens of firefighters worked late into the night battling a fire which...
In-demand apprentice machinists compete for regional awards as industry looks fill vacant jobs
Travis Bayne of New Kensington was focused on cutting a cylinder-shaped piece of aluminum on a manual lathe Friday as part of a competition for apprentice machinists determined to produce a precise, quality machined part as quickly as possible. “You’re trying to get the job done as fast as you...
Mark Smail, leader of Smail Auto Group in Hempfield, dies unexpectedly
Mark Smail, a prominent Westmoreland County automotive sales executive whose family has been associated for half a century with selling cars, died Saturday after falling ill during a ride home from Seven Springs Mountain Resort. He was 62. Smail of Greensburg was a passenger in the car. He was transported...
Mainline Pharmacy to close 9 stores, including Harrison City site
Mainline Pharmacy has announced nine of its 11 locations will close in March, including stores in Harrison City and Blairsville. Mainline is among area independent pharmacies that contend payments they receive for many prescription drugs, as determined by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), are far less than the cost of the...
Greater Latrobe grad takes surgical skills to underserved areas overseas
There was a time, before Dr. Marla Sacks received her 2009 high school diploma from Greater Latrobe, when she was considering a career as a veterinarian. Patients in several countries are grateful that she instead earned a medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine, in the island nation...
Export native recognized by borough for contributions to development, conservation
Larry Larese recognized the value of the former school building in Export when its use was discontinued by the Franklin Regional School District. “My sister was part of the last class to graduate from there in the early 1960s,” said Larese, 76, of Murrysville. “I know how much that building...
‘Rock of Ages’ musical a throwback to big guitar solos, bigger hair
Westmoreland Performing Arts Professional Theatre Company will transport theater fans back to a time of big guitar solos and even bigger hair as they present the musical “Rock of Ages” on Feb. 23-24. “It’s a party!” said director Tony Marino. “You’re going to sing along with pretty much every song,...
Homestead native will tell ‘The Story of Whiskey’ at West Overton Village
Robin Robinson began his entertainment career as a comedian in the 1970s. He convinced a band at the old Portfolio bar in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood to let him use their microphone for a little stand-up comedy during the set break. But while he’ll crack plenty of jokes during a March...
Students in Hempfield support programs sell handmade items through boutique
Jack Wonderling carefully lifted the lid of the heat press machine and placed a fresh tote bag inside. He pressed down on the handle of the press and held it for about a minute until the design — a glittery blue Spartan logo — was transferred onto the outside of...
Delmont claims local American Legion improperly sold former post
Delmont Borough officials say their local American Legion improperly sold its former post to the next-door neighbor, and suggested the man should retain an attorney. Matthew Cunningham, 33, received a letter from borough Solicitor Dan Hewitt after agreeing to purchase the post’s property at 64 Freeport St. in November 2023....
Murrysville-based car club charged up about switch to electric cars
Jonathan Belak estimates it costs him about $3 per week to get around in his Tesla Model S. That’s based on the small fraction of his utility bill that results when the retiree plugs in the 2013 model electric vehicle to recharge at his Murrysville home. Belak is president of...
Westmoreland Transit sees increased ridership as plans for revised service loom
Ridership on commuter and local bus service continues to rebound, according to the Westmoreland County Transit Authority The bus service saw the number of passengers increase by nearly 6% in January and over the last year its performance has been on an upward trajectory following declines caused by the coronavirus...
Stipends help improve fire protection in Rostraver, Southwest Greensburg
Two Westmoreland County volunteer fire departments are looking at how they can continue offering a stipend to firefighters who staff the respective stations after grant funding runs out. Officials at both stations — Rostraver Central and Southwest Greensburg — said their response time has improved by a minute or more...
Prosecution alleges conspiracy to kill Murrysville businessman who was found dead at Clarion County camp
A Butler County man testified in court Friday that he fatally shot a Murrysville man at the urging of his uncle because the uncle promised to get him a work truck. Braden N. Elliott, 20, of Chicora testified that his uncle, Jeremy T. Fisher asked Elliott on Dec. 26 to...
‘It’s not black or white’ judge says of circumstances in case against Stanko
A Unity man claimed Friday he cannot be prosecuted for the homicide of a former girlfriend because there is no proof she is dead. The lawyer for Thomas G. Stanko said proposed evidence recently disclosed by prosecutors that his client targeted, stalked and harassed Cassandra Gross before she went missing...
3 sentenced for roles in slaying outside New Ken apartment; Judge: ‘maybe the saddest case I’ve ever dealt with’
A Westmoreland County judge said he struggled with how to strike a balance between the rough upbringings that impacted three young defendants and their convictions last year related to their roles in July 3, 2022, fatal shooting in front of a New Kensington apartment building. Amir Kennedy, 16, DaMontae Brooks,...
Irwin to seek funding for police body cameras
Irwin’s police chief is seeking money to purchase six body cameras for the department’s police officers. “We want to make sure that our officers and the borough are protected,” Irwin police Chief Dan Wensel told borough council at a recent meeting. Wensel told borough council that Axon Enterprise Inc. could...
Hempfield Area out $2.4M in payments to architectural firm for high school project
Hempfield Area School District paid more than $2.4 million to departing firm Core Architects for work on its now-stalled $150 million high school renovation project, according to district business manager Paul Schott. Core Architects resigned from the ambitious project last week by sending the district a letter, according to Ryan...
Greensburg man jailed on rape charges
A Greensburg man was arrested Thursday on rape charges. Shamon M. Jackson, 23, was being held on $100,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. Jeannette police spoke with the accuser early Jan. 27 at Westmoreland Hospital, according to court papers. She told authorities she was visiting a friend in Jeannette...
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...
