Westmoreland category, Page 284
United Methodist congregations contend with process of disaffiliating
For more than 100 years, two churches affiliated with the United Methodist Church have held Sunday services in the middle of Scottdale. If each stays on its current path, by the end of this summer, Christ United Methodist Church and Trinity United Methodist Church will no longer exist in their...
Out & About: Young artists display talent in SAMA-Ligonier Valley show
Madeleine Cooper started with 20 dots placed randomly on a piece of paper and ended up with artwork fit for a museum exhibit. A second grader at R.K. Mellon Elementary School in Ligonier, Cooper is among more than 150 young artists chosen by their teachers to participate in “Artists of...
Out & About: NAACP prayer luncheon seeks peace amidst storms
After high winds and heavy rains on March 3 left damage and power outages across Westmoreland County, members of the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP and guests gathered the next day to find “Peace in the Midst of the Storm.” The theme was chosen prior to the forecast, but it turned out to...
Tales of olde: 1478 Chaucer classic is jewel at St. Vincent rare book room
The well-worn pages inside the marbled cover of a first-edition “Canterbury Tales” book is carefully stored in a special slipcover at Saint Vincent College in Unity. The book is dated 1478. In the climate-controlled rare book room at the Verostko Center for the Arts and Latimer Family Library, the pages...
Hempfield senior will be sole Southwestern Pa. singer in 2023 state jazz ensemble
Since she was 2 years old, Cecilia Henderson loved to sing. The Hempfield senior has brought her musical talents to church choirs, school ensembles and musical productions. Now, she’ll travel to the Pocono Mountains as one of 23 students in the state selected to sing in the vocal jazz ensemble...
Police investigating Hempfield, Salem road rage incident
State police are investigating an alleged road rage incident Thursday night in Hempfield and Salem townships. Police said two vehicles traveling northbound along Business Route 66 and west on Route 22 at 8:30 p.m. were spotted weaving in and out of traffic. A grey Mercedes sedan and a white Ford...
Sewickley library adapts to building closure as preparations made for move across town
Even a building closure can’t keep the Sewickley Township Public Library from its role as a community gathering place. Structural concerns last month shuttered the library and the township’s recreation center, which for decades, operated out of the former Sewickley Township High School building on Highland Avenue in Herminie. But...
Inspection report recommends repairs to Greensburg alley bridge over Jack’s Run
Greensburg officials are looking to repair and resurface a small bridge over Jack’s Run, based on recommendations in a recent inspection report. Public works director Tom Bell told city council this week that the report by Gibson-Thomas Engineering suggests repairs be made within one year — before the next inspection...
Irwin church gets OK to raze former manse, build office-social hall
A downtown Irwin church was given the green light this week to demolish its former manse — once a home to its pastors — and replace it with an office building and social hall. Borough council this week approved the land development plans to tear down the house and build...
Bell seeks third term as Greensburg mayor, cites improvements, work ahead
Democrat Robert “Robb” L. Bell is seeking a third term as mayor of Greensburg. Bell, 66, is a Greensburg native. He said the city has maintained services and made improvements without raising taxes since he took office in 2016. He said no tax increase is planned. “Even though we’ve made...
Seton Hill study will explore potential health care-education corridor in Greensburg
Officials at Seton Hill University believe the school’s growing programs in health-related fields, in combination with nearby Westmoreland Hospital and surrounding medical practices, could provide the basis for a potential health care-education corridor in Greensburg. The university calls the project “Growing Greensburg’s Economy: Healthcare/Education.” “What will be interesting is how...
‘Westmoreland Has Talent’ fundraiser to feature ex-Steelers QB Charlie Batch
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch will be the special guest at Westmoreland Diversity Coalition’s annual karaoke fundraiser. Just don’t expect him to pick up the microphone. Batch will be signing autographs and taking photos with guests at Westmoreland Has Talent, set for 6 p.m. March 25 in the event...
Westmoreland historian, Trafford American Legion officer continue to preserve, honor local history
On the 100th anniversary of World War I’s end, Andrew Capets of North Huntingdon published “Good War, Great Men,” which followed the wartime exploits of the 313th Machine Gun Battalion, in which his grandfather served. Over the years, Capets has learned more and more about the men of the 313th,...
Winter weather approaching Friday night in parts of Westmoreland County
Drivers are advised to use caution tonight as an increase in snowfall is expected overnight in the higher elevation of Westmoreland, Fayette, and Indiana counties, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. A winter weather advisory is in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday on the...
Mt. Pleasant Township man pleads guilty to starving dogs
A Mt. Pleasant Township man was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail for starving three dogs at a rental home in 2020. Howard Wayne McCloy, 36, pleaded guilty this week to three felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Police say one adult dog and two puppies were...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: March 10-12
Through the wardrobe Journey to the land of Narnia as Keystone Contemporary Ballet presents a full-length ballet version of the C.S. Lewis classic, “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” Performances will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Science Hall Theater at Westmoreland County Community College, 145 Pavilion...
Greensburg Salem School Board member O’Brien seeks Greensburg mayoral post
Jonathan O’Brien said he’s running for mayor of Greensburg to support business growth in the city while paying attention to the concerns of taxpayers. O’Brien, 52, who is completing the final year of his single term on the Greensburg Salem School Board, is a mayoral candidate on the Republican ticket....
Hamilton to run for Ligonier district judge seat
Cook Township attorney Mark Hamilton announced he will be a candidate for the district judge seat in Ligonier. Hamilton, 68, has worked as a lawyer for more than four decades and serves a partner with Summers, McDonnell, Hudock, Guthrie and Rauch in Pittsburgh. He also has served as solicitor for...
Lawyers seek Jeannette fire records to bolster defense in fatal arson case
A history of arson and unsolved fires in Jeannette over the last six years could be key in the defense of a man charged with setting a fatal row house blaze in 2018, resulting in the death of an 87-year-old woman. Lawyers for Brian Rendon, 38, of Jeannette said statistical...
Export council to consider shifting some borough accounts to investment trust
In order to help their money make a little more money, Export officials are considering moving some borough accounts to the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust. PLGIT “is similar to a bank but not a bank,” according to the group’s Western Pennsylvania marketing director, Tamara Kemmler. “We don’t do anything...
Police say ‘rogue’ ex-employee made bomb threat that forced Rostraver Walmart evacuation
The Belle Vernon Walmart in Rostraver was open for business Thursday evening after the store was evacuated that afternoon following a bomb threat. Walmart employees heard a male voice give the proper code for a bomb threat over the store’s internal radio communications twice in a short period of time,...
1 flown from South Huntingdon after car crashes into tree
One person was airlifted by medical helicopter for treatment following a wreck Thursday afternoon in South Huntingdon, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. A car crashed into a tree at about 2:45 p.m. on Hodges Road, between Route 981 and Rolling Hills Road. Additional details weren’t immediately available....
Balzer seeks 4th term as Westmoreland controller
Jeffrey Balzer is looking to secure his fourth term at Westmoreland County controller. Balzer, 57, of Salem, announced his intent to run for reelection to the office he has held since 2012. He is a Republican. The controller serves as the watchdog over county government and audits the financial performance...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Grand Piano’ features world-renowned soloistVideo
“Grand Piano” is the title of Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concert — but it arguably could be called “Welcome to the Machine.” The program begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in The Palace Theatre in Greensburg with a piece by contemporary American composer Jennifer Higdon called simply, “Machine.” “Her music in...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre gala returning after 3-year hiatus
After a three-year hiatus, the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Gala is returning as a forerunner of the theater’s 53rd season. The event will begin at 6 p.m. March 31 in the Fred M. Rogers Center on the Saint Vincent College campus in Unity. The theater hosted a shortened season of...
