Westmoreland category, Page 300
Westmoreland primary election on track as legal challenge progresses
Uncertainty about whether two Republicans can remain on the ballot in the race for Westmoreland commissioner is not expected to impact the county’s preparations for the spring election. “Our schedule is intact right at this second. We have until April 5 to get answers,” election bureau Director Greg McCloskey said...
PennDOT projects in Westmoreland, neighboring counties part of $585M construction budget
Replacement of the Route 356 bridge over Pine Run in Allegheny Township and resurfacing of an 8-mile stretch of Route 136 are set to get underway in Westmoreland County in the months ahead. They join 64 other highway and bridge construction projects PennDOT has awarded or intends to advertise for...
State police: Trooper tried to stop wrong-way driver before Rostraver crash
A Pennsylvania state trooper who spotted a wrong-way motorist on Route 51 in Rostraver on Tuesday night tried to stop the SUV before a crash that injured the driver, according to a news release. Police said they saw Rebecca Stevenson, 71, of Belle Vernon driving the SUV north in the...
Westmoreland explores relocation of youth shelter program
Because of the growing number of children facing adult criminal charges, Westmoreland County is looking to buy a home or large facility near Greensburg to accommodate its juvenile shelter program. With the purchase, the county is hoping to relocate the shelter program from the Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield....
Murrysville council approves Kistler Road development; will upgrade Duff Park bridges
Murrysville council recently approved a project along William Penn Highway that includes both retail space and apartments. Council granted reapproval to Kistler Place, a mixed-use project proposed near the intersection of Kistler Road and Route 22 west of Rick’s Sports Bar in Murrysville. Developers are required to sign and post...
Annual Gombosh Fishing Derby set for April 1 in Murrysville
The annual Joey Gombosh Fishing Derby will offer free fishing for children ages 15 and under on Saturday The derby will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the pond at Townsend Park. No fishing license is required for children, and there is no fee to participate. There are...
Pitt-Greensburg’s Joan Chambers Concert Series returns with 3-date season
The Joan Chambers Concert Series returns to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Saturday for the first concert of a condensed, three-performance season. Baritone Skip Napier, accompanied by pianist Tim Heavner, will lead the audience on a tour of musical styles from opera and oratorio to spirituals beginning at 7:30...
South Greensburg man accused of child luring
A South Greensburg man is accused of luring a child Sunday, authorities said. Keith Lilliock, 43, was charged with felony counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle and interference with the custody of children, District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli’s Office said. The charges stem from an incident involve...
Hempfield middle school redistricting plan approved
Hempfield students and their families now know what schools they will be attending next year. The Hempfield Area School Board approved a redistricting plan that consolidates the district’s three middle schools into two and defines which schools students will attend. School directors voted in February to combine the middle schools...
Banana Split Princess Pageant candidates must apply soon
The Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Banana Split Princess Pageant on May 20 at Robindale Auditorium in Latrobe. The 2023 pageant has expanded to welcome girls between the ages of 9 and 13 who live in Greater Latrobe, Derry Area, Ligonier Valley, Greensburg Salem...
Appeal seeks to remove Westmoreland GOP commissioner challengers from primary ballot
The chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee has renewed his effort to have two GOP candidates for county commissioner removed from the primary ballot. Bill Bretz on Monday filed an appeal with Commonwealth Court challenging a one-sentence ruling issued March 17 by Common Pleas Judge Jim Silvis. The judge...
WetGo car wash proposed along Murrysville business corridor
Giant Eagle officials are looking to expand their presence along the Route 22 business corridor in Murrysville, proposing a WetGo car wash. The 1.2 acre site, formerly home to Standard Bank, is situated adjacent to the GetGo fuel station and convenience store, and across Old William Penn Highway from the...
Drugs, weapons seized from New Stanton apartment
Two men from Detroit and a third from Louisiana were arrested Thursday after state police said they had drugs and weapons at a New Stanton apartment. Two residents of the one-bedroom South Center Avenue apartment told troopers that the trio was staying with them. Andrew J. Toster, 25, and Keeven...
Rostraver teens charged with attempted homicide after gas station shooting
Two Rostraver teenagers are facing attempted homicide charges after one of them is accused of shooting at a man at a North Belle Vernon gas station, according to court papers. The targeted man was not hurt. Aiden Christopher Becker, 17, is being charged as an adult. He was arraigned Friday...
Police arrest Hempfield man suspected of thefts from New Stanton vo-tech school
A Hempfield man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal and damaging three vehicles while state police said he trespassed on Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center property. Officials at the New Stanton school told troopers they had been having issues with scrap metal and vehicle...
Former Unity fitness facility converts to pickleball courts
Charles and Stephanie Pienaar closed Omega Fitness and Crossfit Ageless in Unity last year when they decided to attend Bible college in Colorado. That left them wondering what to do with the building at 3595 Route 30 East, across from Lazor Furniture, the third facility housing the fitness business they...
Latrobe’s first Night Market set for April
Have you ever wanted to see what happens in Latrobe after dark? Starting this April, you can. Jodie Edmiston, co-owner of Latrobe’s Green Goddess, is planning a Latrobe Night Market hosted by local vendors. The first market is set to be on the third Wednesday of April — April 20...
Westmoreland County to buy building housing District Judge Mahady’s office in Unity
Westmoreland County is buying the building and property that houses the Unity office of District Judge Tamara J. Mahady. The commissioners recently approved an agreement of sale to acquire the parcel from Main Street Properties for $375,000. Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher said the county tries to negotiate with landowners when...
Greensburg police arrest Unity plumber on fraud charge
Greensburg police arrested a plumber who they said took $13,900 from a city resident and failed to replace a sewer line. Mark Loughran, 52, of Unity, who operates ML Plumbing, was arrested on a home improvement fraud charge. The Westminster Avenue resident told police she hired Loughran in June to...
North Huntingdon police to step up Route 30 patrols to cut down on crashes
North Huntingdon police plan to step up traffic enforcement along a 1.5-mile stretch of Route 30 from Carpenter to Malts lanes in the western end of the township after numerous crashes there, including at least six fatalities in the past five years. “That corridor is dangerous,” North Huntingdon police Chief...
Linn Run trout study results to be unveiled
A study of the overall health of the 7-mile-long Linn Run and its watershed across parts of Linn Run State Park, Forbes State Forest and the Rector area will be unveiled this week. The Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited initiated the Coldwater Conservation Plan three years ago for the...
Animal sedative poses increased threat in local drug overdoses
A powerful tranquilizer normally used by veterinarians treating horses and cows was found in more than 18% of fatal overdose cases in Westmoreland County, according to the Coroner’s Office. Officials said the drug, xylazine, is becoming an increasingly popular additive to heroin, fentanyl and other drugs. Its presence has local...
Renaissance of vinyl records prompts Greensburg pop-up sale
As the compact disc marks 40 years of availability in the United States this month, it is being surpassed by an older form of music media — vinyl. The number of CD album sales dropped by about 12%, to 36 million, between 2021 and 2022, while vinyl record sales grew...
WQED documentary, Pitt-Greensburg panel to explore isolation’s impacts, remedies
Isolation’s damaging effects, experienced by many during the covid-19 pandemic, can include declines in both physical health and mental health. It’s the topic of a recent WQED documentary and a free presentation Wednesday on the Pitt-Greensburg campus that will include a screening of “Alone: Isolation Hurts.” There will be a...
Early Ligonier Township farm yields trove of historic artifacts
Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series marking the 250th anniversary of Westmoreland County’s founding. Planting seeds for crops was the aim of many settlers who arrived in Westmoreland at the time of its formation as a county 250 years ago. Others were on a mission to plant...
