Westmoreland category, Page 294
Greensburg Salem School Board recognizes sophomore handler for dog show achievements
A 7-year-old dog and his devoted young handler grabbed the lion’s share of the attention at this week’s Greensburg Salem School Board meeting. Superintendent Ken Bissell presented the winning team of sophomore Natalia Backos and her Parson Russell terrier, Boozer, with a certificate of commendation for their accomplishments in the...
Local lawmakers join ‘battle’ to bring back Bushy Run reenactments
Local lawmakers are pressing the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for more transparency and a possible reversal of its decision to end Bushy Run’s annual battle reenactment. As a result of her and other lawmakers’ actions, state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, is hopeful that PHMC’s “no force-on-force” policy will at...
Greensburg Salem biology teacher in running for STEM award; online voting ends soon
Today is the final day to vote online for Greensburg Salem High School biology teacher Andrea Redinger, who is in the running for Women in STEM Mentor of the Year honors at Thiel College. Redinger, a 20-year veteran of the Greensburg Salem faculty, is competing against two other instructors from...
Seton Hill University names new financial chief
Seton Hill University has a new chief financial officer. Brent Jackson begins his duties effective immediately, according to Seton Hill President Mary Finger. In addition to CFO, Jackson also will be the university’s vice president for finance and administration. Jackson has held the job on an interim basis since April...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Scottish Fantasy’ promises romantic date nightVideo
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s “Scottish Fantasy” would make for a great date night, promises artistic director Daniel Meyer. Meyer will conduct as the orchestra takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. “I conceived this program as a preamble to Valentine’s Day,” Meyer said. “It’s all...
Identity of suspect in fatal Rostraver shopping center shooting is revealed
A Philadelphia man is charged with homicide and tampering with evidence in a November fatal shooting at a Rostraver shopping complex, according to public docket information unsealed Thursday. Keven Van Lam, 55, is being held without bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. Details surrounding the arrest have been kept under...
Jeannette students work on Black History Month projects
The colors red, yellow and green — symbolizing pride and unity during Black History Month — are taking over Jeannette City School District as officials have a slate of unique learning opportunities planned. “We have a lot of multicultural kids here,” said Kiaira Jackson, school liaison. “It’s important for them...
Norwin Jr. ROTC Bataan Memorial March proceeds to help Wreaths Across America group
Those who walk, run or bicycle the 14-mile Bataan Memorial March along the Westmoreland Heritage Trail on April 29 will be helping the North Huntingdon organization that has placed wreaths on the graves of veterans buried in four cemeteries in the area. The Norwin Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training...
‘Predator Poachers’ sting leads to Hempfield man’s arrest
A Hempfield man is free on $25,000 unsecured bail after state police said he sent a picture of his genitals through social media to a girl he believed was 9 or 10 years old. Thomas J. Hibbard, 60, is charged with unlawful contact with a minor. Troopers said they were...
Man killed in Fayette County shooting
A man was fatally shot Wednesday near Point Marion in southern Fayette County, the coroner and Fayette County 911 said. Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip Reilly said a deputy coroner and the state police were at the scene of the shooting in Springhill Township. The man was reported shot at...
Delmont police, Westmoreland detectives investigating child’s death
Delmont police and Westmoreland County detectives are investigating the death of a child. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said in a statement that her office is aware of the death and that no further information was available. The child died Tuesday evening. Their identity was not released. No...
Ohio motorist charged with DUI, fleeing, accused of swerving toward Latrobe police car
An Ohio motorist is charged with fleeing from police and resisting arrest after police said his car swerved into a Latrobe patrol car’s lane. Jovaughn Emmanuel Lathern, 44, of Youngstown, was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware and was released on $20,000 unsecured bond following a chase along Lincoln Avenue...
Fayette County man charged after high-speed chase from Scottdale
A Fayette County man who was issued a citation Tuesday during a traffic stop in Scottdale is facing a felony charge after police said he led them on a chase to his home just over the county line. After Matthew N. Black, 22, of Upper Tyrone, was cleared to depart...
Lives of pregnant Penn-Trafford teacher, baby boy saved by school nurse, staff
Until two months ago, Penn-Trafford School District nurse Rhaeann Shepler had never performed CPR on a real person. Her first shot at it saved not one life but two. A little before 9 a.m. on a chilly Dec. 12 morning, Shepler sprang into action along with six of her co-workers...
Export officials want to better coordinate utility and paving work
Export officials would like their freshly-paved streets to stay in that condition. So, in addition to efforts to coordinate local utility construction with street work, they are also considering an ordinance that strengthens the requirements for restoring streets following utility work. During a discussion about the use of federal grant...
Westmoreland happenings: Valentine’s Day parties, soup sale, turkey dinner, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Former Greensburg police detective announces run for mayor
A former Greensburg police detective is seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor. Jerry Vernail, 60, said he was motivated to run for the office after the recent arrest of the force’s police chief by federal investigators, which makes the third city officer charged with a crime since 2016. One of...
Former Export man sentenced for role in bogus tax-collection scheme
A former Export man was sentenced to one year in federal prison Monday for his role in a bogus tax-collection scheme, according to prosecutors. Michael Galanis, 34, was ordered to spend two years on supervised release after the prison term and pay $7,500 in restitution. He pleaded guilty in April...
Site prep work begins on senior housing project in Irwin
More than $1 million of site preparation work has started on a 50-unit senior citizen housing project in Irwin. Workers are removing a large swath of trees for the building to be constructed across from the Norwin Public Library and an access road for the Westmoreland County Housing Authority’s Grand...
Excess additive in gas lines causes large volume of 911 calls in Murrysville, Export, Delmont
An excess of the additive that gives natural gas its “rotten-egg” smell caused more than 300 calls to Westmoreland County 911 since Tuesday night, reporting an odor of natural gas, according to Peoples Natural Gas officials. Calls began coming in to Westmoreland County 911 around 9 p.m., according to a...
Jeannette woman accused of trying to steal her own dog found not guilty of most charges
A Jeannette woman accused of robbery, theft and assault after she attempted to take back her own dog was found not guilty of most charges against her. Cynthia Finch, a 30-year-old mother and college student, described herself as the “victim” of the situation, in which her dog watcher apparently took...
Greensburg Civic Theatre’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ plumbs depths of human psyche
Greensburg Civic Theatre will present the macabre tale of the demon barber of Fleet Street this weekend at the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center, 951 Old Salem Road. Curtain times for “Sweeney Todd” will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The Stephen Sondheim musical is...
Police seek driver of stolen SUV who led them on chase in Hempfield, Jeannette
State police are seeking help to identify the driver of a stolen vehicle who led them on a chase Sunday afternoon in Hempfield and Jeannette. While troopers were patrolling on Toll Route 66 northbound in Hempfield near mile marker 3 around 4:45 p.m., they attempted a traffic stop on a...
Former Westmoreland commissioner Kopas seeks return to office
Former Westmoreland County commissioner Ted Kopas is vying yet again to have a seat at the table. Kopas announced Monday he will campaign for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner on the May primary ballot. Kopas previously served as a commissioner between 2010 and 2020, but was ousted from the...
Greensburg remains mum on city probe of police following chief’s arrest, resignation
Greensburg officials aren’t yet ready to comment on their plan for moving the police department forward nearly two weeks after the force’s former chief, Shawn Denning, was arrested on federal drug charges. The city launched its own internal probe after an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration resulted in Denning’s...
