Westmoreland category, Page 214
Mt. Pleasant farmer’s ‘cow-proofing’ conservation work earns recognition
The stream at the corner of Mt. Pleasant Township area cattle farmer John D. Kitz’s property is surrounded by lush greenery. Native wildflowers and leafy trees stick up from the stream bank, and a long, sturdy fence borders the clear water. The plants, trees, fences and flowers make the stream...
Man charged in Blairsville carjacking also accused in Derry Township burglary
A man being held on charges related to a July 12 Blairsville carjacking also is accused of burglarizing a Derry Township food trailer the same day. Michael Aaron Whitfield, 36, was extradited from Georgia, where he was picked up by troopers on July 13, spotted driving a pickup reported stolen...
At 16%, Westmoreland County tops local population loss estimates
With deaths outpacing births in Southwestern Pennsylvania, counties will continue to lose people through 2050, with Westmoreland’s 16% projected drop the second largest of any county in the Keystone State, according to a new report on population projections. “This is not surprising at all. We’ve been losing population for a...
Derry Township man not guilty of attempted murder of wife
A Derry Township man accused of installing a trip wire to cause the fatal fall of his wife three years ago was found not guilty Friday of attempted murder. Westmoreland County prosecutors claimed William “B.J.” Dankesreiter, 63, spent months plotting his now former wife’s death to end a bad marriage...
Acquitted of killing St. Clair cop in 2015, Ray Shetler found guilty of assault in case involving deputy sheriff
A New Florence man acquitted in the 2015 killing of a police officer was found guilty of assaulting a deputy sheriff during a violent confrontation with law enforcement officials who attempted to serve an arrest warrant nearly two years ago. Following two days of testimony and more than three hours...
Greensburg conference to highlight development opportunities in the city
Opportunities for developing properties in Greensburg will be highlighted during the city’s second development conference, set for Tuesday at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center. Organized by the nonprofit Greensburg Community Development Corp., the conference is free and open to the public and will cover a range of programs and...
Murrysville moves ahead with acid mine drainage project in Lyon Run
Murrysville officials will hire a company to clean 2 to 4 miles of Lyons Run, a tributary of nearby Turtle Creek, that is being polluted with acid mine drainage. “It’s a pretty large and exciting project,” said Murrysville Chief Administrator Michael Nestico. The project will clean the heavy metals present...
Greensburg councilman suggests 2024 budget with no tax hike, delay in capital spending decision
Greensburg Council’s accounts and finance director is recommending the city consider a bare-bones 2024 budget that would hold taxes steady, while waiting until spring to decide what capital projects to pursue. Councilman Randy Finfrock, in an early budget discussion this week, said Greensburg could be looking at a reduction next...
5 things to do this weekend in Westmoreland County: Oct. 6-8
The fall weather is upon us this weekend. Here are some ways to experience it. Antiques & Collectibles Sales at Historic Hanna’s Town On Sunday, Oct. 8, Historic Hanna’s Town, 809 Forbes Trail Road in Hempfield, will host its final Antiques & Collectibles Sale of the 2023 season. The event...
Penn-Trafford approves purchase of new administration building, security cameras
Penn-Trafford school administrators will get new offices in Bushy Run Corporate Park after the board agreed this week to spend $1.7 million on a new building there. The current administration building is located on Harrison City-Export Road less than a mile away from the high school. The building — which...
Police trooper testifies Derry husband researched ways to kill wife, defense says wife’s story not plausible
A Derry Township husband spent weeks researching potential methods to kill his wife, a state police detective testified on Thursday. State Police Tpr. John Beynon told a Westmoreland County jury William “BJ” Dankesreiter Jr., 63, conducted multiple internet searches about chloroform, other forms of anesthesia, and uses for fishing wire...
New Florence man claims he was targeted for retribution by police over officer’s killing
A New Florence man told jurors he was he severely beaten and blinded in his left eye with a targeted shot from a Taser as retribution for his role in the the 2015 death of a police officer. Ray A. Shetler Jr., 39, testified that a group of masked police...
Federal judge won’t stop Comprehensive Healthcare’s $56 million sale of seven nursing homes
A federal judge on Thursday denied the request of the U.S. Department of Labor to halt the potential $56 million sale of seven nursing homes belonging to an embattled company about to go on trial for violating wage and hour laws. U.S. District Judge William V. Stickman IV said in...
Injuries reported in East Huntingdon motorcycle crash
A motorcycle-vehicle accident along the New Stanton-Ruffs Dale Road in East Huntingdon Thursday afternoon resulted in injuries, according to reports from the scene. Fire departments from Mt. Pleasant, East Huntingdon, New Stanton and Yukon responded to the accident, which was reported at 4 p.m., a Westmoreland County Public Safety supervisor...
Murrysville middle school’s fall play is a lost-and-found story about learning to love
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...
The Kiski School will welcome girls after 136 years of all-boys boarding school education
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...
Greensburg Central Catholic principal and director of admissions resigned last month, search is ongoing
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 —...
Changes eyed for Pittsburgh Street entrance to proposed new Greensburg Sheetz
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 to reveal updated plans for interchange upgrade along I-70 in Rostraver
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...
911 dispatch centers struggle with staff shortages
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...
Arnold firefighter charged in connection with 4 arson fires in New Kensington, Arnold
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...
Officers describe intense struggle to arrest New Florence man wanted on bench warrant; defense questions police motives
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...
Testimony about chloroform presented at trial of man accused of trying to make wife fall down basement stairs
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...
Greensburg police charge attorney with resisting arrest after traffic stop
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...
No evidence to support criminal charges in Derry police dog death, DA says
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...
