Westmoreland category, Page 3
Democrats Lisa Gephart, Jordan Omlor compete in 59th House District
In the state House’s 59th District, Democrats Lisa Gephart and Jordan Omlor will compete Tuesday for a spot on the fall ballot. The winner will go up against incumbent Republican Leslie Rossi, who is unopposed and has been in office since her election in 2021. Gephart, 59, of Mt. Pleasant...
2 receive life sentence for role in shooting death of St. Clair woman
Two people sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2023 shooting death of Alice Robson in St. Clair didn’t have much to say to a judge Tuesday. Melissa Fox-Beacom, 52, shook her head no when Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio gave her an opportunity to speak during a...
Hempfield elementary school PTO treasurer’s attorney says accusation of stealing funds is ‘completely wrong’Video
The defense attorney representing a woman accused of stealing $46,000 from a Hempfield Area parent-teacher organization denied the allegations Tuesday. Attorney Tim Andrews said Darshanna Truss, 35, of Hempfield waived her right to a preliminary hearing on two felony theft counts and will examine the prosecution’s evidence against her. “She...
Jeannette school preliminary budget OK’d
The proposed 2026-27 budget for Jeannette City School District does not carry a property tax hike. “I am pleased to share we are not looking at a millage increase so there will be no impact on local taxpayers as far as an increase this year,” said Superintendent Matt Jones. School...
Murrysville woman once came face-to-face with ‘Little Joe’ the gorilla
When Krystal Vangura of Murrysville heard that Little Joe the gorilla would be coming to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, she had to laugh a little. “I thought maybe he was following me,” she said. That’s because in the summer of 2003, when Vangura was working a summer job at...
Ligonier Country Market finds home in Downtown LatrobeVideo
The Ligonier Country Market is coming to Latrobe — for one season, at least. Latrobe City Council voted 5-1 Monday night to approve an agreement with the market, which has been in search of home since the beginning of the year. “I’m just very grateful to the city for giving...
Unity man appeals murder conviction in Cassandra Gross case
A Unity man is appealing his conviction for the first-degree murder of his girlfriend, claiming Westmoreland County prosecutors failed to adequately prove that a homicide was committed. According to recently filed court documents, the lawyer for Thomas G. Stanko contends the guilty verdict imposed in February following a weeklong trial...
Greensburg state police seek more victims of charged retired priest
Investigators in Greensburg are seeking additional alleged victims of a retired Catholic priest charged late last week with sexual crimes. During a Monday news conference at the barracks in Greensburg, state police spokesman Trooper Steve Limani said authorities found an unspecified number of photographs of a sexual nature related to...
Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage celebrated at The Westmoreland
The creativity and colors of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage were celebrated Sunday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. The Greensburg museum’s event, part of its ongoing Sunday Fun Day series, showcased Asian American and Pacific Islander culture through live performances and hands-on activities for all ages. [gps-image...
Latrobe woman dies in collision in Unity
A 59-year-old woman from Latrobe died after a two-vehicle, head-on crash in Unity Saturday night, authorities said. Authorities identified the woman as Kimberly M. Ohler. The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. on Route 981. According to state police, Ohler was driving a Volkswagen SUV south on Route 981 when she...
Greater Latrobe grad born to 2 deaf parents finds passion as sign language interpreter amid shortage
Greater Latrobe graduate Daisy Wishard began picking up American Sign Language when she was 9 months old — before she learned spoken English. Born to two deaf parents, Wishard became proficient in sign language by age 5, helping her mother and father order food at restaurants, navigate grocery stores and...
Patrick Stefano faces Harry Young Cochran in Tuesday’s 32nd District Republican primary
In the 32nd Senatorial District, which encompasses part of Westmoreland County and all of Bedford, Fayette, and Somerset counties, incumbent Patrick Stefano will go up against former state representative Harry Young Cochran in Tuesday’s Republican primary. “I was asked by a lot of people to run for our district, which...
License plate tracking system OK’d for Jeannette police patrol cars
Jeannette police are getting a new tool in patrol units that can track the license plates of vehicles on the road around them. Council on Thursday unanimously approved a $2,100 annual contract that will enable the license plate reader capabilities on the existing dashboard cameras in the seven police cars....
2 state police troopers hurt in multi-county chase with erratic driver who crashed into 3 police cars
Two state police troopers were hurt at the end of a multi-county chase that began after state police responded to a report of an erratic driver on Interstate 79 in North Strabane, Washington County early Saturday morning. State police filed numerous charges against the driver, identified as Frank Cope Jr.,...
Hempfield Founders Festival shows off new park’s amenities
Four-year-old Ellie Moltz excitedly answered when asked her favorite part of Hempfield’s new Founders Park: “Everything.” To be fair, though, there’s quite a few options to pick from. Founders Park — Hempfield’s newest park — boasts a children’s playground area, splash pad, workout equipment, a multipurpose building, obstacle course and...
Greensburg Diocese says retired priest charged in sex crimes case has been inactive since 2018
Robert Byrnes, a retired Catholic priest and former state police chaplain charged with sexual assault, has not been in active ministry in any parish or entity of the Diocese of Greensburg for the past eight years, the Diocese announced Saturday. Pennsylvania State Police on Friday charged Byrnes, 84, with aggravated...
Biological parents grieve murdered son Landon Maloberti, say foster system failed Delmont child
Luke Ellenberger comforted his partner, Samantha Buchinsky, late Thursday afternoon as she wept on a courtroom bench. Just moments earlier, a jury had convicted their son’s adoptive mother of third-degree murder. The couple sat apart from other family members, mourning the final chapter of a tragedy that began when the...
New Liberty Wrestling Club in Murrysville offers dedicated space for girls
Even a Pacific typhoon couldn’t keep Quinn Bauer from indulging her passion for wrestling. The 10-year-old was back in southwestern Pennsylvania in May after her family, who live in Saipan in the western Pacific Ocean, was evacuated during a damaging storm. On Tuesday evening, she was among a large group...
IUP to offer classes for Indiana County high schoolers interested in future education careers
High school students pursuing a career in education at the Indiana County Technology Center can earn up to 12 college credits through a new partnership with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. IUP officials announced Friday the launch of the “IUP Rising Educators Advancing through Dual Enrollment and Yearly College Credits”...
Westmoreland happenings: Food drive, meetings, concert, more
Fundraisers • Manor Lions Club food drive, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 19 at the Manor Borough building, 44 Main St. The collection will be donated to the Manor Food Pantry. Nonperishable food and checks made out to the food pantry will also be accepted. • Flash tattoo sale...
Pa. Environmental Hearing Board reviews dispute over 11,000-acre Westmoreland County mine expansion
The battle among an environmental organization, a coal mining company and the state over whether 11,000 acres in Donegal and Mt. Pleasant townships are unsuitable for surface mining remains undecided. The Mountain Watershed Association, a Melcroft-based environmental group, the state Department of Environmental Protection and Rustic Ridge Mine owner LCT...
Retired Greensburg-area priest charged with sex crimes, official oppression
A retired Catholic priest and former Pennsylvania State Police chaplain is facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a person at a home for priests in Unity Township and having an inappropriate relationship with another person. State police on Friday charged Robert Byrnes, 84, of Christ Our Shepherd Center, Unity, with...
Country music superstar Luke Bryan bringing his farm tour to Westmoreland County
County music superstar Luke Bryan is bringing his farm tour to the Latrobe area this fall. On Friday, the artist announced three new tour stops, including one at 1846 Farms in Unity Township on Sept. 17. The other new dates are Sept. 18 at Miller Family Farm in Millersport, Ohio,...
Teen sentenced to state prison for Westmoreland youth facility riot
A teenager will serve up to five years in state prison for his role in a riot at a Fairfield youth detention facility last year. Rockey Magar, 16, pleaded guilty in January to charges of causing a catastrophe, rioting, institutional vandalism and making terroristic threats in connection with what authorities...
Township considers new features at Ligonier Beach site to draw visitors
Ligonier Township supervisors want to see small improvements at the former Ligonier Beach site so the community can enjoy the space while officials decide its long-term future. Supervisor Wade Stoner last week proposed a list of amenities — electrical service, temporary bathrooms, trees, a post-and-rail fence and picnic tables —...
