Westmoreland category, Page 2
Auto pioneer Gary Bowser dies at 81
Family members recalled Gary Bowser as an automotive titan who never forgot his humble beginnings. Bowser of Murrysville died peacefully surrounded by family March 28 after a brief illness. He was 81. “He was originally from Kittanning, and he never forgot where he came from,” said Bowser’s son, Gary. “He...
State trooper found not guilty of domestic violence back on duty
A state trooper who was acquitted last year of domestic violence allegations has returned to work, according to a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson. Trooper Nicholas E. Hood, 33, had been suspended without pay in early 2024 as charges of simple assault and harassment were filed against him by the state...
Police: North Huntingdon man used handgun to threaten municipal authority worker
A North Huntingdon man was arraigned Thursday morning on police accusations that he threatened a Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County worker with a handgun. Township police said the worker was turning off the water at Mykola Prut’s home Wednesday when Prut chased him with the weapon, according to court papers....
Tax clinic set on IRS audits, denied claims and penalties
A federal tax clinic is being planned for April 10 to help low-income individuals and families navigate legal issues with the Internal Revenue Service. Summit Legal Aid’s Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic will be held at the Laurel Highlands Workforce and Opportunity Center at 310 Donohoe Road in Hempfield. Attorneys and legal...
Westmoreland County’s housing director named to state housing finance board
Westmoreland County Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Washowich has been appointed to serve as a board member for the state agency that has been a key to financing a construction boom for low-income seniors over the last decade. Washowich, 62, of North Huntingdon was named in March to the 14-member...
Westmoreland happenings: Worship services, Art on the Vine fundraiser, more
Church news • Christ Lutheran Church, 5300 Old Logans Ferry Road, Murrysville, will have a Maundy Thursday worship service at 7 p.m. April 2 and a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. April 3. Easter services will be at 6 p.m. April 4 and 10 a.m. April 5. Details: 412-795-1212....
Band Together Pittsburgh open mic night holds its signature event in Murrysville
Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville hosted the third annual Band Together Pittsburgh open mic night on Wednesday evening. The nonprofit focuses on providing musical education and experience to people with disabilities. “This is what it’s all about,” said Band Together Pittsburgh spokesperson Lisa Hnath. “Open mics are our...
Mt. Pleasant man pleads guilty to paying for videos of monkey torture
A Mt. Pleasant man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to paying people overseas to torture monkeys and record the acts on video. Joseph Garrett Buckland, 44, was charged with conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos in February. The videos, which are illegal to sell or exchange,...
Death row inmate Kevin Murphy appeals to Pa. Supreme Court in Westmoreland triple murder case
A Loyalhanna businessman on death row for 16 years is asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear an appeal for a new trial. Lawyers for Kevin Murphy are challenging a ruling last month by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio that upheld his triple homicide convictions. Bilik-DeFazio previously...
How Hempfield Area’s $119M high school renovation will impact students
Hempfield Area students will not have to attend classes in temporary trailers during the upcoming $119 million high school renovation. Instead, a 2023 decision to move freshmen to the former Harrold Middle School has provided enough available space to keep all students in permanent classrooms after work begins June 1....
Mutual Aid designates 4 leaders as assistant chiefs
Mutual Aid Ambulance has restructured its day-to-day operation to follow a leadership model set by the region’s police and fire departments. Four new assistant chiefs will cover 12-hour shifts each day for the service that covers 34 communities and almost 1,000 square miles in Westmoreland County, according to Michael Wystepek,...
Straight-line winds damage properties in North Huntingdon
When Frank Kingerski peeked out of his North Huntingdon home Wednesday after an overnight tornado warning, he noticed something was missing. All four of his sheds had disappeared, mangled into pieces and scattered through a grassy field behind his house. “It was devastating,” he said while surveying the damage to...
Mt. Pleasant house party shooting suspects denied bail reduction
Two of the four men charged in connection with a drive-by shooting at a Mt. Pleasant Township house will remain in jail after a judge on Tuesday refused to reduce their $250,000 bonds. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani rejected requests from Nino S. Manno, 21, of Adamsburg and...
Westmoreland County Housing Authority to implement new ‘house rules’ for visitors
Visitors to Westmoreland County Housing Authority properties will soon face new “house rules” as officials look to crack down on bad behavior and improve safety. The agency’s board on Tuesday authorized Executive Director Michael Washowich and management to draft and implement standardized guidelines for guests. The move will codify what...
Penn State adds course to support students at closing branch campuses
Penn State has launched a new course to help guide students at its seven commonwealth campuses that will close in a year. The Degree Completion and Transition Support course will automatically appear on eligible students’ online dashboards, Penn State officials announced this week. According to Penn State, the course will...
IUP, Franklin Regional to assess video game English curriculum to improve students’ decision-making skills
Today’s teenagers and characters in classic literary texts have practically nothing in common — other than that they face a litany of decisions. “When Hamlet says ‘to be or not to be,’ that’s a choice,” said Mike Sell, an English professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “Having students think about...
Hempfield man charged with DUI in fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 70
A Hempfield man was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of a fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that involved three tractor-trailers, according to state police. Daniel W. Oliver, 80, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of risking a catastrophe, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and...
Penn-Trafford High School to perform ‘Mamma Mia’
Audiences for Penn-Trafford High School’s spring musical, “Mamma Mia!,” should warm up their vocals and wear their dancing shoes before coming to see the show April 10 to 19, director Tom Bekavac said. It is a show that viewers of all ages can appreciate, Bekavac said. “There’s a familiarity of...
Penn Middle slated to perform ‘Frozen Jr.’
Penn Middle School drama club director Maddie Nick has never heard children scream as loud as when she announced the group would perform “Frozen Jr.” as its spring musical. “It was in the middle of the school day, too. We probably disrupted some classes with that,” Nick said with a...
Penn-Trafford area: Living wax museum, chicken barbecue, painting classes, more
Kids’ Living Wax Museum Bushy Run Battlefield will host a Kids’ Living Wax Museum from 1 to 3 p.m. April 12 at the museum, 1253 Route 993, Penn Township. Children in first through sixth grades can sign up to give a one- to three-minute presentation on a historical figure. Participants...
Hempfield Area School Board approves bids for long-awaited renovation at $119 millionVideo
Hempfield Area will move forward with its long-awaited high school renovation after bids were approved by the school board Monday night. Bids proposed last week — for general contracting, electrical, HVAC and plumbing work — came in just under $119 million, about $30 million lower than an estimate pitched about...
Penn Township man remains jailed as defense claims horseplay in injury case
A Penn Township man remains in jail as his attorney claims a neighbor’s brain trauma and fractured skull resulted from a wrestling match and horseplay. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani rejected a request Monday from Jake G. Stepansky to be released on nominal bond. Stepansky was charged...
Westmoreland names acting public defender after office leader suffers medical emergency
Westmoreland County commissioners have moved quickly to fill a leadership vacancy in the Public Defender’s Office. The move comes after the man hired in February suffered a serious medical emergency that is expected to keep him off the job for a prolonged period. James Spriestersbach, 41, was tapped in mid-February...
Ligonier Valley High School students to compete for $6K prize in statewide PennDOT challenge
Ligonier Valley juniors Matthew Sutton and Callen McPherson will compete for a $6,000 prize against high schoolers statewide through PennDOT’s annual innovation challenge. The challenge, held for the past nine years, invites high school students to address a current transportation issue. Participants present potential solutions to the problem before a...
Annual electric car show coming to Murrysville
The Three Rivers Electric Vehicle Association is hosting its annual “Drive Electric Earth Month” car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 18 in Murrysville. The group is made up of electric vehicle owners, educators, hobbyists and enthusiasts. This year they will be celebrating the life of former club...
