Westmoreland category, Page 235
Norwin board to hold special meeting for those seeking to fill vacancy
The Norwin School Board is seeking candidates who want to fill the remainder of the term of a school director who died last week. The school board Monday authorized an advertisement seeking candidates interested in serving the remainder of Joanna Jordan’s term, which was to end the first Monday of...
Garbage truck worker jumps out of path of speeding pickup before collision, police say
Two people were hospitalized with serious injuries Friday after a crash involving a garbage truck in Hempfield. State police said a Ford Ranger being driven on Arona Road at 9:30 a.m. by Franklin Klavora, 87, of Irwin was speeding as it approached the garbage truck from behind. A worker on...
Hempfield Area to review 1st round of high school renovation bids this week
Hempfield Area School Board members will discuss bids for the first phase of a $132 million high school revitalization project at a public meeting Wednesday. The special session will be at 3 p.m. in the administration board room at 4347 Route 136. In addition to identifying the lowest bidder, the...
Strong winds split massive park oak, topple other tree limbs in Greensburg
The worst of Monday’s windstorms bypassed Westmoreland County, but strong morning gusts brought down limbs and damaged trees at several locations in Greensburg. The winds sheared in half a massive pin oak toward the eastern end of the city’s St. Clair Park, temporarily blocking part of a paved walking path....
Herminie man pleads guilty to finger gun threat
A Herminie man pleaded guilty Monday to allegations he made a gun-pointing gesture with his fingers at potential witnesses during a court hearing last year. Michael Wichelmann, 60, was sentenced to up to 23 months in jail in connection to the July 7, 2022, incident in a Westmoreland County courtroom....
State issues violations against closed Westmoreland juvenile detention center
State investigators issued multiple violations against Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center after two teens suffered injuries while incarcerated, officials confirmed Monday. Controller Jeffrey Balzer, who serves as chairman of the county’s Juvenile Detention Board, said the violations focused on staffing issues at the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. “It’s...
I-70 project in Westmoreland lauded for use of technology in site design
A $93 million project along Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County received a regional America’s Transportation Award for its use of technology. The reconstructed interchanges at the Yukon and Madison exits, and 4 miles of highway in between them, used aerial photography rather than traditional on-the-ground surveying and software that modeled...
Tub overflow damages apartments at Pershing Square in Greensburg
A Greensburg man was charged with causing catastrophe after police said he let the water in his bathtub run “for an extended period of time,” flooding his apartment and damaging three other units, according to court papers. Firefighters were called to Pershing Square on West Third Street at 7 a.m....
Murrysville council continues fine-tuning short-term rental ordinance
There is only one short-term rental unit currently listed in Murrysville on the AirBnB website. But municipal officials want to ensure that if that number grows, they have some local controls in place. Council continued working to hammer out the finer points of the ordinance at its Aug. 2 meeting,...
Westmoreland summit participants share tales of homelessness, ideas for addressing problem
Anthony Taylor was homeless several years ago, which meant sleeping on an older brother’s couch. In addition to stable housing, he lacked medical benefits and a car. Now, the Latrobe man has a driver’s license and works as a facility attendant at the Union Mission, a Derry Township shelter for...
Families gather, enjoy August Fun Fest at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver
Bright and warm summer weather Sunday morning brought crowds of Westmoreland County visitors to Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver for the annual August Fun Fest. The event, part of a summer series of monthly festivals held at Westmoreland County parks, was projected to bring between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors, according...
Steelers players dish on what they eat during training camp
Cam Heyward doesn’t count calories … during camp. “Not right now,” said the 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive tackle after a practice preparation on Tuesday at Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College on his way to lunch. “That is more of an off-season thing. When we get to training camp, I...
Washed away: 1 year after devastating flood, life in Unity village of Dorothy is quiet, still undone
One thing seems out of place in Jean Kirkpatrick’s living room — the plug-in wax warmer, wafting the scent of cinnamon apple pie. A message on it scrawled in script — “Hope” — has quite the loaded meaning. It’s been a year since Kirkpatrick was forced out of her Dorothy...
Irwin officials to seek costs of livestreaming meetings
Irwin residents may soon be able to watch livestreams of borough council meetings. Borough officials agreed to consider a motion at the Wednesday meeting to obtain prices for setting up a computer, with a microphone, camera and the necessary cables to livestream the meetings. Council meetings are held in the...
25-year-old Irwin council member brings ideas, but lacks support
Irwin Councilman Tyler Baum has hopes of bringing to life ideas spawned during an Ivy League education to his hometown. Baum, 25, a Republican, said he’s been inspired by “Hillbilly Elegy” author and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, won a seat on council in 2021 and became the borough’s...
Unity supervisors honor firefighter, Girl Scout, food drive organizer
A 17-year-old Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department member is the latest Distinguished Youth Award recipient. Todd Frye Jr. applied to serve as a junior firefighter two years ago, and received the award and accompanying gift certificate at a recent Unity supervisors meeting. Frye, who said he was inspired by his...
Out & About: The Westmoreland’s Block Party offers summer fun
When researching the phenomenon of block parties for The Westmoreland Museum of American Art’s current exhibit of that name, chief curator Jeremiah William McCarthy learned that they originated in New York City during World War I as people pooled resources to give soldiers a send-off to war. Block parties spread...
Out & About: You Are Here gallery celebrates 5 years of art
Guests waited eagerly for a slice of cake on July 29 at You Are Here in Jeannette. The sweet treat was just one element of a fifth anniversary celebration at the gallery and art space at 406 Clay Ave. Mary Briggs and Jen Costello founded You Are Here in 2018...
Out & About: Karaoke night supports Greensburg Civic Theatre
It seems likely that folks associated with Greensburg Civic Theatre wouldn’t be shy about getting up to sing karaoke. Still, the group provided an opt-out during its July 29 musical fundraiser at Greensburg Garden & Civic Center. There was a $1 donation to sing a song and $3 to nominate...
Five Star Trail mural makes its debut
A colorful, welcoming mural on the Five Star Trail came together far faster than artist Zachary Rutter anticipated. It took a little more than two weeks to complete, progress that Rutter attributed to support from volunteers. “We had about a dozen people that were just passionately excited about this project...
Bushy Run battle reenactment draws crowds for living history education
Over 1,000 visitors were present by 1 p.m. Saturday and between 1,500 and 5,000 people were expected throughout the weekend for the 260th anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run, following a year of deliberations over whether the annual reenactment event would be allowed to continue. Organizers with the Bushy...
Key to Catholic Diocese’s program to attract Ukrainian immigrants to Westmoreland County: a job and welcoming community
A group of Ukrainian families who toured the Greensburg area this week to possibly resettle and work here were generally pleased by what they experienced, said a Ukrainian priest who served as their translator. “They were excited to be here. They need a couple of days to decide about a...
Export dance studio brings home 2nd consecutive World Dance Championship title
Last year, the 8-and-under team from DeStella Dance Centre in Export came home with a Star Dance Alliance World Championship title for its “Disco Fever” routine. In late July, they did it again, earning a Level I World Championship title for their “Mister 305” routine, a medley of songs by...
Steelers embrace hoopla of night practice before 14,000 fans in Latrobe
Steelers players at large were in light and cheerful moods as they boarded buses — in full uniform, carrying helmets — on the Saint Vincent campus. A convoy of eight buses that carried players, coaches, staffers and the media meandered through cramped streets in downtown Latrobe over the latter stages...
Former Greensburg Salem bus driver gets 4-to 8-year prison sentence in sexting sting
A former Greensburg Salem school bus driver will spend four to eight years in prison for engaging in sexual conversations via social media with an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old girl. Garris also attempted to set up a meeting in Cranberry in 2021, according to state Attorney General Michelle...
