Westmoreland category, Page 229
Democrats nominate committee stalwart to run for Westmoreland commissioner
Westmoreland Democrats nominated a Mt. Pleasant Township woman to run for a seat on the county board of commissioners. Party officials on Thursday announced that longtime committee member Lisa Gephart will fill a vacancy on the November ballot to run alongside Commissioner Ted Kopas as Democrats seek to reclaim a...
Greensburg Music Fest is back with free lineup of 10 bands
The fifth annual Greensburg Music Fest will rock the city Saturday with bands performing on multiple stages beginning at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free for the all-ages sets by 10 diverse local and touring artists who will play in succession through 9:30 p.m. Presented by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the...
Animals front and center: Dairy cattle, rabbits vie for titles at Westmoreland Fair
Sara Forry had been training her rabbit, Lilly, for five or six years just to complete the lap at the end of her run in Westmoreland Fair’s Rabbit Agility Show on Wednesday night — training that earned her first place. In the competition, six rabbits faced off in a 10-jump...
Spiritwear store takes over former Buckets Boutique location in Harrison City
For Lori Allen, moving her spiritwear business from her home to a Harrison City storefront “just felt right.” Allen of Penn Township started LNJ Spiritwear out of her home 13 years ago to provide local school apparel to the community. Now, she is taking over the former Buckets Boutique space,...
Sportsmen’s groups push for use of semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting
Some sportsmen’s league leaders are pushing for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to allow the use of semi-automatic rifles for big game hunting. Members of the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League, Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania and the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action collaborated to write...
Square dancers of all ages twirl around Westmoreland Fair, learn steps with seasoned caller, musicians
Square dancing has been an integral part of David Lang’s life since he was a boy. “I (was) probably dancing before I was born because my mother was dancing when she was pregnant with me,” said Lang, 62, of New Stanton. “I guess you could say (my life) kinda revolves...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Aug. 25-27
Take a chance on them The SummerSounds season wraps up with music by Dancing Dream at 7 p.m. Friday in St. Clair Park, 132 N. Maple Ave., Greensburg. The ABBA tribute band plays the pop and disco songs of the Swedish vocal quartet known for 1970s hits like “Take a...
Those bananas gotta split: Resident enjoys Latrobe’s festival without the fruit
Latrobe may be buzzing about this weekend’s Great American Banana Split Celebration, but not everyone is enthusiastic about paying homage to the iconic ice cream dish. Linda Brasile, a lifelong resident of Latrobe, is one of those people who won’t be digging in to the treat invented by a drug...
Antique Museum at Westmoreland Fairgrounds tells rich history of local agriculture
When the Antique Museum building opened at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township almost 20 years ago, it was barely half as big as it is today, and now, those involved in the project are hoping to make it even bigger. The idea to house and display farm-oriented antiques...
Mt. Pleasant man to remain on probation under new sentence for armed robbery
A Mt. Pleasant man convicted of armed robbery will remain on supervised release, according to a new sentence imposed Tuesday. Jake Daniel Franklin, 20, was given credit for more than two years he served in jail before he pleaded guilty this year to charges related to his role in the...
Franklin Regional kicks off new school year
Students in the Franklin Regional School District were among the first in the region to begin classes when they arrived at school on Wednesday. Start dates for other schools in the county include: Thursday — Hempfield Area elementary and high school, Jeannette City, Monessen City, Norwin, Penn-Trafford. Friday — Hempfield...
Greensburg’s Rialto to reopen as gastropub
The restaurant and bar in downtown Greensburg that was closed last year after a series of violent incidents is expected to reopen this fall with a new name and new owners. “There’s definitely a deal in place,” said Rich Butcher, who along with his wife, Danielle, are finalizing the purchase...
2 plead guilty to charges in downtown Greensburg shootout
Two men involved in shootout in downtown Greensburg last year pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Wednesday. Police said Evan Curley, 24, of Greensburg and Stevin German, 28, formerly of Uniontown, exchanged gunfire following a confrontation inside the Rialto Bar & Bistro on Jan. 31, 2022. Curley sustained two gunshot...
30 bricks of fentanyl seized, Rankin man charged after bust in Salem
State police seized 30 bricks of suspected fentanyl Tuesday during a bust in a Salem fast food restaurant parking lot, according to court papers. Troopers said they learned the drugs would be delivered by Cerick Seibles, 23, of Rankin, around 2:45 p.m. off Route 22 to a person known by...
Westmoreland happenings: Poker run, book sale, spaghetti dinner, more
Fundraisers • Jeannette Knights of Columbus hosts bingo at 7 p.m. Fridays in Mersinger Hall at Ascension Church, 615 Division St. Doors open at 6 p.m. and early birds begin at 6:30 p.m. Players younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Food will be available. Details: 724-523-9244. •...
Officials look to inventory Greensburg’s past to help plot future development
A $40,000 project launches this week to inventory Greensburg’s historical buildings with an eye toward potential development. The review will include consideration for expansion of the city’s downtown historic district that runs along Main Street, bounded by Tunnel Street to the north, Third Street to the south and Harrison Avenue/McKeon...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Ligonier Township
(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...
Nurse’s aide accused of prying rings from Murrysville dementia patient’s hand
A nurse’s aide accused of stealing a Murrysville dementia patient’s engagement and wedding rings likely pried them from the elderly woman’s hand, police said. Christina L. Ankney, 39, of Braddock is charged with robbery in connection with the incident at Redstone Highlands in Murrysville. A warrant has been issued for...
Jeannette man pleads guilty to strangling woman, smuggling phone into county jail
A Jeannette man was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to charges in five separate cases, including allegations that he strangled a woman and smuggled a cellphone into the Westmoreland County Prison. Leon D. Fair, 24, was sentenced Tuesday to serve at least...
Norwin library to hold book sale
The Friends of the Norwin Public Library will hold a “pop up” book sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, in the library’s lower level at 100 Caruthers Lane, Irwin. A wide selection of gently used books will be available. All proceeds benefit the Norwin Public Library....
Nominations sought for Greensburg’s 2nd annual pet ambassador title
Greensburg is going to the dogs — and cats — this month as the city prepares to select its second annual pet ambassador. Last August, shoppers in downtown Greensburg cast a combined 2,000 votes for 10 finalists in the inaugural competition — with Guaje, a Rottweiler-coon hound mix, claiming the...
Reese Memorial Fund accepting grant applications from youth recreation groups
Following their third successful 5K fundraiser, officials from the Mike Reese Memorial Fund will be accepting grant applications through the end of August. The annual Mike Reese Memorial 5K Roast, Run & Family Fun event began in 2021, in memory of Reese, 42, who served as state representative in the...
LED lighting switch part of Seton Hill University’s sustainability efforts
Students, staff and campus visitors soon will be seeing Greensburg’s Seton Hill University in a new light. The university’s Lighting the Future program will replace all 200 of its large outdoor lighting fixtures over the next three years with new versions that will allow conversion from incandescent lighting to more...
‘It’s a small number of people who are very loud’: Local libraries grapple with book challenges, bans
Over the past few years, Librarian Sharon Coronado has been tested by select patrons who oppose the presence of certain voices in books at Ligonier Valley Library, particularly the voices of people of color and LGBTQ individuals. In one instance, Coronado recalls, a group of parents came into the library...
Whistleblower lawsuit claims Pa. state police bypassed spouse of fellow officer for promotion
A state police trooper is claiming she was passed over for promotions on the force in retaliation for her husband’s role as a whistleblower. Lauren Spallone of Unity, a 14-year veteran with the Pennsylvania State Police and a sergeant since 2019, claims in a lawsuit filed in Westmoreland County court...
