Westmoreland category, Page 283
Man dead in Salem crash
A Ligonier man died at a hospital after a crash in Salem Tuesday evening, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. James W. Graham Sr., 56, was pronounced dead at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. The crash was reported after 6 p.m. on Route 119, just north of Crabtree....
Morning Roundup: Person injured in crash in North Huntington
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, March 15, 2023: Person injured in crash in North Huntington An overnight car crash in North Huntington injured one person and caused a power outage in the area. The crash occurred around 11:45 p.m. at Turner Valley Road...
Greensburg bloodhound team loses 9-year-old canine to cancer
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department bloodhound team saw its ranks dwindle to five dogs Tuesday with the death of 9-year-old Sadie. Sadie was pulled from field duties nearly a year ago, when she became lame, and then she developed an aggressive form of cancer that spread, according to Lou Battistella,...
Greensburg enlists state association to help select new police chief, hires 2 patrolmen
Greensburg officials are enlisting outside help as the city looks for a new police chief. Its former chief, Shawn Denning, 41, of Delmont, resigned Jan. 24 when he was arrested on drug charges. “We were all blindsided by this,” Mayor Robb Bell said of Denning’s arrest on federal charges of...
Westmoreland to bank another $26 million from 2nd opioid lawsuit settlement
Westmoreland County is expected to receive another $26 million as part of a national settlement of opioid lawsuits, officials said Tuesday. Pennsylvania so far has secured about $2.2 billion in payments that resolved litigation against drug manufacturers and distributors accused of spreading opioid abuse throughout the United States. The county,...
St. Clair man facing new sexual assault charges involving a child
A St. Clair man was serving probation on a child endangerment charge when state police said he sexually assaulted a child, according to court papers. Shawn L. Waulk, 35, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail. He was arrested last week on charges of aggravated indecent assault,...
Familiar Westmoreland Air Show announcer dies at 71
Westmoreland Airshow guests and staff will miss a familiar voice this year. Howard “Howdy” Jackson McCann, Jr., 71, died March 9, 2023 at his home in Fallston, Md. As an internationally recognized airshow announcer, he played host to more 500 airshows through nearly 40 years. McCann worked with David Schultz...
Ligonier Valley Writers’ Student Poetry Contest extends deadline
Ligonier Valley Writers’ 32nd annual Student Poetry Contest has extended its deadline to Friday. Students in fourth through 12th grade throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania are able to enter their best poems for a chance to win cash prizes. In each of nine categories, first prize earns $25, second prize $20 and...
2nd round of interviews coming up as Latrobe continues search for new police chief
Latrobe City officials are closing in on a new police chief. Mayor Eric Bartles told city council this week that city officials have interviewed seven candidates for the available police chief position. The candidates were all “extremely qualified” and city officials will soon be hosting a second round of interviews,...
Westmoreland County judge withdraws from hearing election lawsuits
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Harry Smail Jr. has recused himself from presiding over election challenges this spring. Smail, in a court order signed Monday, said his candidacy for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court created an appearance of potential impropriety and withdrew from hearing a lawsuit...
Three Rivers Community Band Festival relocates to MurrysvilleVideo
Members of the East Winds Symphonic Band should be preparing for the 20th annual Three Rivers Community Band Festival. But, the covid-19 pandemic forced the festival to skip the past three years. So while it has been around for two decades, it technically will be the 17th year for the...
Woman wanted in North Huntingdon fortune-telling scheme arrested in Florida
A woman accused by North Huntingdon police in a fortune-telling scheme was taken into custody late Monday in Florida. Alexis Candy Mitchell, 29, is being held at a Palm Beach County detention center awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania, according to jail records. Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies said they contacted authorities in...
Norwin board rejects ban on book, despite board member’s objections
Norwin’s fifth grade students can read “Al Capone Does My Shirts” after the school board Monday deadlocked on an attempt to ban the book from the students’ supplemental reading curriculum. The board’s minority faction — Christine Baverso, Alex Detschelt, Shawna Ilagan and Robert Wayman — voted to remove it from...
Lack of workers, funding jeopardize day programs for people with autism, intellectual disabilities
Marjorie Bungard is one of the lucky ones. Her days at Community Living Care’s New Florence program mean regular socialization, an exercise routine and stops at the grocery store. Last week, she made a St. Patrick’s Day craft. “This is where most of my friends are,” she said. There are...
Former Pirates closer convicted of sex assault loses appeal in Superior Court
The state Superior Court on Monday affirmed the conviction of former Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, who was found guilty nearly two years ago of sexually assaulting a minor. Vazquez, 31, is serving a 2- to 4-year prison term at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill after a jury...
Jeannette city council rejects appeals to stop property demolition
Three Jeannette properties are once again slated for demolition after city council last week rejected appeals to halt removal of the blight. Council members unanimously denied the appeals of: Charles Schade for 313 S. Fifth St., Sherran N. Herring for 420 Division St. and Lyle Milner for 12 S. 12th...
Police say Unity couple threatened by man wielding shotgun
A Unity man was denied bail over the weekend after state police said he pointed a shotgun at his ex-girlfriend and her new beau, according to court papers. Skylar B. Musnug, 18, is charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses. The woman told troopers that she and her...
Hempfield man jailed after police find child pornography on computer
A Hempfield man arrested last month in connection with a social media sex sting is facing new charges after state police said they found more than 1,100 images and videos of child pornography on his computer. Thomas J. Hibbard, 60, is now being held without bail on 900 child pornography...
Minn. man arrested after incident at Hempfield Walmart
A Minnesota man was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison after state police said he used portable speakers and a microphone to talk about covid, the internet, the Black Lives Matter movement and his spiritual awakening inside the Hempfield Walmart. Spencer Tomasek, 25, was arrested Saturday on charges of...
Murrysville woman’s book sales will benefit cat rescue organization
When Nina Damato was searching for a way to raise money for local animal rescue efforts, she didn’t have to look much further than the two cats in her living room. The feline siblings are both blind. Damato, 71, of Murrysville, cheekily named them Louis Braille and Andrea Bocelli. Her...
Westmoreland GOP head seeks to remove 2 commissioner challengers from ballot
Attempts to remove two Republican challengers for Westmoreland Commissioner from the May ballot will be heard this week. Two lawsuits were filed late last week by the chairman of Westmoreland County’s Republican Committee alleging John Ventre and Paul Kosko, both making their second attempt to run for commissioner, did not...
Police to continue providing security at Irwin Manor
Borough police will continue to provide security services at Irwin Manor under an arrangement with the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, which will pay the officers for that . Irwin Council this week approved the agreement with the county housing authority, which operates the building along First Street that provides housing...
Greensburg Salem grads honored for work at Export plant; student firefighter praised for rescue effort
Two recent Greensburg Salem High School graduates have been recognized for their work at a local manufacturing company, prompting additional plaudits from the school board. The board also praised a high school senior who, as a member of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department, helped rescue a victim of a Jan....
Spring garden prep: What to do before growing season gets underway
It’s been a pretty poor excuse for a winter in Western Pennsylvania, but Mother Nature still could have a few frosts and snowflakes up her sleeve. That means gardeners eager to get out there and get planting need to exercise a little patience. “The biggest thing I can tell people...
‘Rhythm of the Dance’ brings Celtic history, culture to The Palace TheatreVideo
Fresh from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, audiences are promised a whirlwind tour of Ireland when “Rhythm of the Dance” hits the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg at 3 p.m. March 19. After the two-hour extravaganza of dance and music, “they will leave the theater feeling that they have...
