Westmoreland category, Page 30
Westmoreland DA accused of history of misconduct during murder appeal
A former Pittsburgh man twice convicted of a 1999 murder outside a New Kensington bar claims he was the victim of a systematic effort by Westmoreland County prosecutors to subvert and hide evidence. During a hearing Tuesday, lawyers for Denard Galloway, 59, argued the county district attorney’s office withheld key...
Ex-Jeannette mayoral candidate found guilty, fined for tacking signs on utility poles
A Jeannette man who was cited by state police for attaching mayoral campaign signs to utility poles was found guilty Tuesday during a summary trial. Ed Day, 61, was fined $100 plus costs, totaling $273.75. He faced a maximum fine of $300. He vowed to appeal the ruling before leaving...
Mt. Lebanon named highest-ranked Pittsburgh-area high school in national listing
Mt. Lebanon was the highest-ranked Pittsburgh-area school in a U.S. News and World Report listing of the country’s best public high schools. The list, released last week, assessed more than 24,000 public high schools across the country. The majority of the schools, 18,000, were ranked on several performance-related factors: college...
Fast-moving fire damages Scottdale salon and house
A home and salon were damaged in Scottdale Monday afternoon during a fast-moving fire, said fire Chief Dave Wendell. But the contents of some rooms were spared because the doors to them were closed, he said. Photos posted on the department’s Facebook page from inside the Loucks Avenue home showed...
Hempfield OKs housing plan along Forbes Trail Road
A new residential development is expected to bring 70 homes to Hempfield. Township supervisors on Monday granted final conditional approval for the Deer Point site plan. Farmland along Forbes Trail Road at Fetters Road will be turned into 24 town homes, 16 duplexes and 30 single family homes. A clubhouse...
Menards seeks extension for site plan of home improvement store in Hempfield
Home improvement store chain Menards is seeking an extension to its site plan through the end of 2025, according to a letter sent to Hempfield obtained by TribLive. Township supervisors are expected to consider the extension during their September meeting, manager Aaron Siko said. “It’s so exciting to know they’re...
Encouraging nightlife reason to tweak property zoning ordinance, Greensburg officials say
Greensburg has changed over the years, but its zoning ordinance hasn’t. Work is underway to update the decades-old zoning map to better reflect the community’s look and how it could evolve. There are several upcoming opportunities for members of the public to provide input. “Zoning does affect everybody,” said Alec...
Man admits stealing car with Lucky the dog inside, but provides no leads
Willard Martz and his dog, Lucky, were nearly inseparable. Martz, a retired Marine from Donegal Township, had cared for his late son’s dog since 2020, and they were rarely apart until last fall, his daughter told a Westmoreland County judge Monday. She addressed the court during a guilty plea hearing...
Woman stabbed at Greensburg apartment, man charged
A woman was stabbed at a Greensburg apartment Sunday morning, and police said they seized about 450 stamp bags of drugs during the investigation. Officers were called to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg after 9 a.m. and learned the woman had been stabbed in the leg, according to court...
Trial date set for man charged in Unity woman’s murder
A Westmoreland County judge has set a February trial for a Unity man accused in the suspected murder of his girlfriend more than seven years ago. Cassandra Gross was last seen in April 2018, and authorities almost immediately named her boyfriend, Thomas Stanko, as a person of interest in her...
Accounting books closed on Jeannette EMS bankruptcy; more than $400K left unpaid
The Jeannette EMS bankruptcy case was closed this month and about $416,000 in unsecured claims were not paid, according to a final report. Those unsecured claims included $46,594 the agency said it owed to cash advance lender Cloudfund LLC, $32,087 to Spartan Business Solutions and $10,428 to WEX, Inc., a...
2-vehicle crash in Mt. Pleasant involving school students sends 3 to hospitals
Three people were injured in a crash involving two vehicles Monday morning in Mt. Pleasant Borough. The crash was reported at 7:15 a.m. at North Church Street and Park Avenue. Mt. Pleasant Area School District Superintendent Tom Gabauer said he went to the scene of the accident with school district...
As back-to-school costs rise, educators rely upon donations to bolster classroom supplies
The brightly colored posters, comfortable seats and hands-on science experiments present in Kaylyn Wojnarowski’s Gateway classroom might not exist if the first grade teacher relied solely on the district’s budget for supplies. Wojnarowski welcomed students back to her classroom at Cleveland Steward Jr. Elementary on Thursday — the start of...
Murrysville looks ahead to planned capital projects
Murrysville will spend about $3.8 million on capital projects in 2026, a number that will jump substantially in 2027 and 2028, when the municipality undertakes two major bridge replacements. Murrysville Council held a public hearing Tuesday for its 2026-30 Capital Improvements Plan, which is its guiding financial document for budgeting...
MAWC approves upgraded security at New Stanton campus
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will spend about $350,000 to upgrade security at its New Stanton headquarters. Officials announced the plan last week that includes upgraded surveillance cameras and a gate to prevent unsupervised access to the water and sewer agency’s garages and warehouse. “Over the years we’ve had...
IUP disciplines cheerleaders for hazing involving alcohol
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has remained mum on whether its cheerleading squad will be allowed to perform along the sidelines for the Crimson Hawks this football season. The squad was disciplined over the summer for forcing new members to participate in alcohol-related events, requiring underage members to assist in buying...
State budget stalemate not expected to result in Westmoreland transit authority service cuts
The ongoing budget stalemate in Harrisburg will have little impact on Westmoreland County Transit Authority operations, officials said. Executive Director Alan Blahovec, during the authority’s monthly board meeting Thursday, said the agency has enough funding in place to continue its current schedule of fixed-route bus service and paratransit programs throughout...
Sewing guild busy working on Christmas stockings for soldiers
Members of the American Sewing Guild are getting ready for Christmas, even though it’s August. Guild members were busy this week sewing Christmas stockings to be shipped to military members stationed overseas. The group worked into the early afternoon at Murrysville Alliance Church. The stockings are donated to New Kensington-based...
Hempfield Area drafts 3D designs for high school renovation
Five years after Hempfield Area School District approved a feasibility study for a renovation of its 1956 high school, the district is starting to nail down what the refurbished building will look like. Architect Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates laid out visions for the project in October, and the school board...
Developer seeks approval for proposed solar array in Ligonier Township
Ligonier Township’s planning commission is set to review a proposal to develop an 18-acre solar farm along Springer Road, the first such facility under consideration in the township. Plans submitted by SunVest Solar call for a 3 megawatt solar array on a 32-acre property owned by Michael Becer. The company,...
Westmoreland happenings: Peach festival, doggie paddle, Hawaiian prom, more
Fundraisers • A peach festival will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the West Newton Lions Field House, 511 Pittsburgh St. Sponsored by First Church of God, the menu will include sandwiches, salads, peach cobbler and drinks. • Mon Valley YMCA, 101 Taylor Run Road, Carroll Township,...
Pet memorial service: helping victims of alleged widespread fraud deal with loss
Mark Petros of Herminie thought it was odd the way Harrison funeral director Patrick Vereb handled his dog, Bear, in late December after Vereb was contacted to cremate the family’s pet, with the understanding they would receive the remains. “I carried the dog out and placed it in his van,”...
Westmoreland County’s ag challenge: keeping the next generation on the farm
How do you keep the next generation of farmers interested in staying on the farm, when that life offers them the guarantee of hard work seven days a week with compensation far below other occupations? That’s a challenge for Westmoreland County farm families, as farmers are getting older, with the...
Allegheny jail guard to serve probation for drunken driving crash in North Huntingdon
An Allegheny County Jail guard pleaded guilty this week to being drunk when he caused a violent crash three years ago in North Huntingdon, injuring another motorist. Dwight D. Edwards, 52, of Penn Township was charged following the Nov. 14, 2022, crash on Morris Avenue. Police said Edwards’ pickup truck...
Children, dog removed, woman arrested after police find fleas, dead canine at Jeannette home
A Jeannette woman is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and three counts of endangering the welfare of children after authorities reported finding the children and a dog in what they described as deplorable living conditions at the woman’s Bullitt Avenue home. Jeannette police, humane officers and animal control officers...
