Westmoreland category, Page 237
Former police chief takes on new public-service role as Rotary district governor
John Hartman is no stranger to public service, having spent a career in law enforcement including a stint as chief of the Southwest Regional Police. But outside of his police uniform, Hartman has also lived a life of volunteering the past eight years with the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club, where he...
Westmoreland 250: 10 unique things in Irwin
(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...
Comedian Whatule brothers bring the funny to their native Jeannette
Rocky and Michael Whatule are sure people in Westmoreland County have a sense of humor. They’re just lacking places to exercise it. The brothers are aiming to remedy that with the weekend opening of their Pagliacci’s Comedy Club at Cafe Italiano in their native Jeannette. Pagliacci’s takes its name from...
Irwin author to sign book on serial killer
An Irwin man who once was a police officer in Ocean City, Md., has written a psychological thriller about a serial killer who is a sexual predator. Daniel Rose, 70, the owner of World Class Pool Pros, a pool builder in North Huntingdon, wrote “Little Boy Blue,” a 360-page realistic...
Donors to GoFundMe account created by parents of Delmont boy can request refund
Donors to an online fundraiser started by a Delmont couple arrested last week in the death of their 5-year-old adopted son can request refunds, according to a GoFundMe spokesperson. The online fundraiser started by Lauren E. Maloberti, 34, and Jacob N. Maloberti, 33, has been removed from the GoFundMe platform....
Export VFD chief says cost of new fire truck could rise to $1M
The good news is that the Export Volunteer Fire Department recently was awarded a $545,000 grant to put toward a new fire truck. The bad news is that, even with the Federal Emergency Management Agency grant in hand, they’re still hundreds of thousands of dollars away from their goal. “In...
Westmoreland happenings: Burger bash, art exhibits, high school reunion, more
Art • Greensburg Art Center and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will host a free art exhibit of the works of Stephanie Oplinger through Sept. 7 at the library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. An opening reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Details: Rose Sovyak, 412-558-0810. • The...
‘We’re just the helpers’: Nonprofit donates 7 strollers to children with disabilities
Rachel Losier loves shopping at the mall and going to amusement parks. But, for the past few years, a knee injury has prevented her from keeping up with her family and appreciating these outings. Losier, 18, of New Alexandria has Down syndrome, which is known for causing recurring knee injuries....
Fire guts North Huntingdon house
A house in North Huntingdon’s Shafton neighborhood was gutted by fire early Tuesday night when a blaze broke out on the back porch, a fire official said. The back porch of the house on Broadway Avenue was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Shafton Fire Chief Ken Fennell. No...
Ted Kopas returns to work as Westmoreland commissioner
Ted Kopas didn’t need directions to get to work Tuesday morning. Kopas, a Democrat who lives in Hempfield, was sworn in to office as a Westmoreland County commissioner. He takes over the minority role on the county’s board of commissioners from Democrat Gina Cerilli Thrasher, who left office a day...
Meteor shower viewing to be hosted at Flight 93 National Memorial
Friends of Flight 93 will partner with the National Park Service to host the dark sky program Friends Under the Stars on Aug. 11 at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Astronomy clubs from Cumberland and Hollidaysburg will be there for a viewing of the Perseid meteor shower. The event will...
Murrysville Rep. Cooper proposes pay suspension for Pa. legislators if they don’t pass budget on time
The longer the Legislature goes without passage of a budget for Pennsylvania, the more likely it is that services which depend on its annual funding appropriations will be disrupted. State Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, is of the mind that legislators should be feeling that same disruption. “By law, we’re supposed...
Downtown Latrobe gets tropical with Flamingo Bingo
Downtown Latrobe will be pretty in pink Wednesday for Flamingo Bingo Shop Hop Night. Festivities will start at 4 p.m. in the Latrobe Parklet located at the corner of Main and Ligonier Streets. Emily Pasqualino, founder of Latrobe Shop Hop Nights, will be DJing, leaning on Caribbean and reggae music...
Ex-Greensburg police chief waives hearing on theft of evidence charges
Former Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday, two days before he was scheduled to appear in district court for the proceeding on accusations that he took items from the department’s evidence room. Court records showed Denning, 42, of Delmont waived all five misdemeanor...
Unity man accused of taking $380,000 from relative
A Unity man is accused of stealing $380,000 from a relative for whom he shared power of attorney duties, according to state police. Christopher H. Treasure, 50, is free on $50,000 unsecured bail on a theft charge. He was arraigned last week. He became power of attorney for the Hempfield...
Truck fire affects traffic in Murrysville, Washington Township
Traffic was restricted Tuesday in the area of the Route 366 (Greensburg Road) and Route 380 interchange at the border of Murrysville and Washington Townships after a triaxle truck fire and fuel spill, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The triaxle apparently caught fire and a saddle tank ruptured...
Fort Ligonier, West Overton join forces for whiskey tasting, sales honoring Arthur St. Clair
Visitors to Westmoreland County’s historic Fort Ligonier soon will be able to toast one of the county’s founding officials with a limited-edition whiskey issued in collaboration with West Overton Distilling. In celebration of the county’s 250th anniversary and in homage to early political and military leader Arthur St. Clair, the...
Independence Health hospital presidents focus on future plans
After reported losses of $62 million and hundreds of staff cuts, Independence Health System’s two new hospital presidents confirmed Monday that all five of the system’s hospitals — Westmoreland, Frick, Latrobe, Butler Memorial and Clarion — are part of the system’s future. “Our leadership team right now strongly believes that...
Hempfield Area parents, board members debate book policies ahead of upcoming vote
Occasional cheering and applause rose on Monday as Hempfield Area School District residents and parents reviewed book challenges and bans. A policy governing the process awaits a final vote by the school board in two weeks. During Monday’s school board meeting, several residents talked about the proposed policies, and some...
North Huntingdon man sentenced to probation for 2020 armed robbery
A North Huntingdon man was ordered Monday to serve seven years on probation for his role in an armed robbery nearly three years ago in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery, conspiracy and weapons offense related to a Dec. 19, 2020 incident...
Thrasher ends tenure as Westmoreland commissioner
Gina Cerilli Thrasher’s title will remain the same. In her next role, Thrasher will serve as a commissioner on the state’s Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board when she starts her new job Tuesday. Her more than seven years as a member of Westmoreland County’s Board of Commissioners ended Monday. “It’s bittersweet...
Westmoreland coroner turns tragedies into prevention program
After two infants in Westmoreland County died this year following unsafe sleep practices at home, Coroner Tim Carson started searching for a way to prevent more parents from suffering that loss. He landed on Cribs for Kids, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that connects families with free cribs and education classes. “Two...
Bushy Run prepares for 260th anniversary of Penn Township battle
About 90 reenactors are registered for this year’s Bushy Run Battlefield reenactment, which was in jeopardy earlier this year after a change in state policy. The reenactment traditionally held the first weekend in August portrays a 1763 clash between the British and Native Americans during Pontiac’s War. It will take...
Attempted homicide charge filed against Monessen man after stabbing at Valley Manor apartments
A Monessen man is facing attempted homicide charges after city police said he stabbed another man Friday evening during an argument at Valley Manor apartments, according to court papers. A witness told police that she and her brother asked Robert W. Varner, 60, to be quiet a few times around...
Westinghouse retirees’ group donates to more than 20 food pantries, food banks, Meals on Wheels programs
Lynn Staab was plenty familiar with serving the community before retiring from Westinghouse and getting involved with its Service Uniting Retired Employees (SURE) program. Staab had been involved with Murrysville Meals on Wheels, providing a hot lunch and cold dinner to more than 50 clients in the area. Former SURE...
