Westmoreland category, Page 31
House fire along Route 22 in Salem was site of July pipe bomb explosion
A Salem house was destroyed Friday in a fire state police are investigating as a possible arson. It’s the same property where a pipe bomb was placed in a lawnmower, resulting in an explosion July 20, according to police. Evicted tenant James M. Sever, 54, has been on the run...
Yough-N-Roll bicycle ride benefits Mon/Yough Trail Council
The pre-registration deadline for the annual Yough-N-Roll bicycle ride is Sept. 2 with the event taking place Sept. 13 on the Great Allegheny Passage. The ride will be followed by a free Party on the Trail at the Boston access 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Both events are fundraisers for the Mon/Yough...
Pair of kids stole more than $1,700 in vapes from Derry Township convenience store, police say
Pennsylvania State Police say a pair of masked children smashed their way into a Sunoco convenience store in Derry Township and stole more than $1,700 worth of vapes. A 12-year-old and 14-year-old are facing burglary and theft related charges. Authorities have not released their names. Surveillance footage from the early...
Family that lost home in Penn Township fire grateful for help, daughter’s return from hospital
A couple of agonizing hours passed between the time Laurie Kiss learned that her family’s Penn Township home was on fire until she learned her 11-year-old daughter was rescued. Kiss was on an out-of-state work trip Aug. 4 when a neighbor phoned to alert her to the fire that soon...
Penn Township to draft ‘no parking’ ordinance; Rowe Road residents vie to keep street parking
The Penn Township Commissioners gave the go-ahead to start drafting a “no parking” ordinance for some roads throughout the municipality. Commissioners discussed expanding the parking ordinance to select roads about a year and a half ago but revisited the topic after township staff noticed potential parking complications on Rowe Road....
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Aug. 22-24
Back-to-school time has arrived, but even as summer vacation ends, the weekend’s still wide open to have fun with family. Here are some events to enjoy together. Bark in the Boro This Ligonier pet fair will be a perfect day out for you and your pup. Held on the Ligonier...
Husband of Ligonier woman killed by falling branch at McKeesport park sues city for her death
The husband of a Ligonier woman killed by a falling tree branch while she was attending a softball event in a McKeesport park last month has sued the city in Allegheny County Court. William W. Miller, who is the administrator of his late wife, Gendie’s, estate, cites negligence and infliction...
Unity plumber pleads guilty to bilking homeowner
A Unity plumber was ordered to serve at least 11½ months in jail for failing to complete a sewer replacement job at a Hempfield home in 2022. Mark E. Loughran, 55, pleaded guilty to felony counts of deceptive business practices, theft and receiving advance payment for work not completed. But...
Judge orders closure of sex assault case against former Pirates pitcher
A Westmoreland County judge has ordered the closure of the criminal case that ended the Major League Baseball career of former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez. Vazquez, 34, was convicted of the sexual assault of a Scottdale teenager and served about four years in prison before he was deported in...
Hempfield Area begins new school year
Students in the Hempfield Area School District returned to classrooms Thursday. The district instructs more than 5,000 students across its nine schools — Fort Allen, Maxwell, West Hempfield, West Point and Stanwood elementaries; West Hempfield and Wendover middle schools; Harrold School for ninth graders; and high school. To help students...
Westmoreland Food Bank breaks ground on multimillion-dollar expansion
The Westmoreland Food Bank served about 5 million meals in 2024. And while officials are hoping the overall demand will decrease, their ability to fulfill that need will be expanding soon, along with their building on Devonshire Drive in Salem. Work on the planned expansion kicked off Thursday morning. “It’s...
Punxsutawney Phil, blown glass demo new features at Latrobe’s banana split celebration
Furry weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil keeps his strength up by eating corn, kale, carrots — and his favorite, bananas. So, the famous groundhog should be right at home on Saturday when he makes his first ever visit to Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration. “Before any road trip, we like...
Fair spectators enjoy demonstrations featuring Fancy, a rescued horse
A rescue horse has found a niche at the Westmoreland Fair with trainer Scott Downs. When Fancy was rescued by Second Chance Equine Association in 2009 from a location in Greene County, she was malnourished and loaded with parasites. Fancy and seven other horses didn’t have water or hay, “and...
Westmoreland happenings: Soup and salad bar, band concert, car cruise, more
Fundraisers • Congregation Emanu-El Israel Sisterhood will sponsor a rummage sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon Monday at the synagogue, 222 N. Main St., Greensburg. Please use the back door of the building. Details: 724-834-0560. • The Norwin Elks will host a car cruise...
Access improvements underway at Latrobe Amtrak station
Amtrak is renovating its Latrobe station to improve accessibility for all passengers, particularly those with physical limitations. The project will add a new, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp with a canopy, providing access from the McKinley Avenue parking area to the train platform. The existing concrete steps will be replaced,...
Residents, landowners tell state regulators they oppose 2nd Rustic Ridge mine in Donegal area
A group of about two dozen Donegal area residents pleaded with state environmental regulators Wednesday to reject an application for another coal mine next to an existing one. They cited mine subsidence damage, loss of water supply, coal truck traffic and stream pollution from the mine the Johnstown company already...
Westmoreland launches program to assist searches for missing at-risk residents
First responders in Westmoreland County know all too well the dangers that exist for those with dementia, autism, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders who wander away from home. In the last year, nearly three dozen searches throughout the county were undertaken in response to missing person reports filed by caregivers,...
Murrysville church will host blood drive
Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church in Murrysville will host a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. It will be from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 4600 Old William Penn Highway in Murrysville. Donors can schedule an appointment by calling 800-733-2767 or visiting RedCrossBlood.org — enter...
6 taken to hospitals after 2-vehicle crash in Youngwood
Six people were transported to local hospitals Tuesday afternoon following a two-car crash in Youngwood, according to emergency officials. First responders were called for a crash near the intersection of Burton Avenue and South Third Street (Route 119) in Youngwood. Mutual Aid Ambulance took the two adult drivers and one...
Prosecutors say threats continue following 2021 Election Day assault
An East Huntingdon man charged with a 2021 Election Day assault at a Westmoreland County voting precinct was jailed Tuesday. Prosecutors told a judge that continued threats have been made against the alleged victim and her family. Zachary Lambing, 38, of Alverton, is awaiting trial on charges of simple assault...
Reward offered in case of Greensburg man missing for 3 weeks
A reward is being offered for information on the location of Ruben Carranza, a Greensburg man who has been missing for three weeks. “I don’t think my son is hiding, so all of the things that come into my mind (are) bad things,” said his mother, Dawn Rose. “Somebody knows.”...
Week-old goats draw a crowd at Westmoreland Fair
A pair of week-old goats have become mini celebrities at the Westmoreland Fair. Brothers Zane and Gunner Temple picked up the pair — named Queen and Bubba Jr. — Tuesday morning so youngsters and adults could get a look at the two kids and pet their soft fur. It’s been...
Antiques, other props from ‘Hershey’ filming hit the auction block
With a traditionally strong market for Hollywood memorabilia, the sale of props from a movie shoot is not unusual. But typically, those props are just that — recreations of items such as swords from a medieval film or fake body parts from a horror movie. In the case of “Hershey”...
Seton Hill plans fireworks as part of welcome for students
Fireworks will be part of Seton Hill University’s Welcome Weekend activities on Sunday night. The display is set to begin at 9 p.m. and last around 15 minutes. The Greensburg campus will not be open to the public for the event, but university officials are notifying the public so people...
Greensburg Salem marks start of school year with Back to School Bash
Greensburg Salem students and families celebrated the start of the school year during the district’s Back to School Bash Monday. Music, games and food trucks filled Offutt Field in Greensburg Monday evening. The marching band and cheerleading squad performed. A cornhole tournament was held to support the district’s Mini-THON program....
