Westmoreland category, Page 318
Pittsburgh man accused in North Huntingdon bank robbery
A Pittsburgh man declined to take $182 from a North Huntingdon bank police said he tried to rob and instead fled in a stolen BMW, according to court papers. The owner of the car, along with fingerprints found at the PNC Bank on Norwin Avenue, helped investigators identify Bruce M....
South Huntingdon woman accused of DUI, crashing into state police patrol car
A South Huntingdon woman is accused of being intoxicated when she crashed into a marked state police patrol car last month on Route 31, according to court papers. Troopers said they found text messages on a cellphone belonging to Kennedy M. Horvat, 27, in which she admitted she fled the...
Greensburg kicks off holiday season with parade, window display, raffle
When units head south on Greensburg’s Main Street Saturday for the city’s annual holiday parade, they’ll pass by a scene not witnessed in about four decades. Windows at the former Troutman’s department store at Main and Second streets will be decorated for the holiday season — for the first time...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Nov. 18-20
Here comes Santa Claus Special holiday entertainment will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at Westmoreland Mall, leading up to Santa’s arrival. The Hempfield High School Marching Band will escort the jolly old elf around the mall in a parade starting at 6 p.m. at the entrance on the lower level...
‘Like it was a video game’: Students try their hands at medical robots during Westmoreland Mall event
Textbooks and tests can help students understand the medical field only to a certain extent. On Thursday, Excela Health put surgical equipment into students’ hands. Dozens of high school and middle school students piled into the Westmoreland Mallin Hempfield to test out medical robots and learn about the dangers of...
Jury unable to reach verdict in Irwin man’s trial
A Westmoreland County jury was unable to reach a verdict on charges that an Irwin man had improper sexual contact with a 10-year-old girl. Jurors deliberated about six hours into Wednesday night before Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio declared a mistrial in the case against Justin M. Hartung. Prosecutors claimed...
Jeannette man not guilty of attempted homicide of neighbor
A Jeannette man was found not guilty Thursday of attempted murder and aggravated assault charges in connection with allegations he fired a rifle at his neighbor nearly three years ago. Dale A. Shaw, 66, was convicted of lesser misdemeanor offenses of reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and terroristic threats in connection...
Victim in fatal Rostraver shooting identified
A Philadelphia area man has been identified by the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office as the man who was shot to death Nov. 5 at a Rostraver shopping complex. The victim, Boyke Budiarchman, 49, was shot to death outside the Lowe’s store at the Rostraver Square shopping center off the intersection...
Holiday festivities kick off the season in Irwin
Area residents braved temperatures in the 30s to ring in the holiday season during the Light Up Norwin event Thursday night in downtown Irwin. Sponsored by the Norwin Rotary Club, the festivities included food, music and a tree-lighting ceremony. A parade along Main Street featured about 70 units. Kids were...
Westmoreland commissioners proposed deficit budget with no tax increase
Westmoreland commissioners will use more than $8.6 million in covid relief funds next year to outside agencies as part of the county’s 2023 budget introduced on Thursday. The $418 million spending plan keeps the 21.49 mill property tax rate that has been in place since 2019, but carries a nearly...
Norwin approves borrowing $20M for improvement projects
Norwin School Board directors took steps this week to borrow close to $20 million over the next 16 months to pay for roofing and paving, among other projects. The board approved borrowing the money in two installments — a $9.95 million bond issue in March and another $9.95 million scheduled...
Home again: Exchange student returns to Penn Township after 36 years
When Ada Drescher came to Western Pennsylvania for the first time 36 years ago as a high school exchange student from Croatia, her host family met her at the airport with a sign that read “Welcome Ada.” The same sign greeted Drescher, now 54, two weeks ago when she returned...
Norwin board debates cost of gym floor mats
The Norwin School Board is debating the cost of buying protective mats for a newly refinished gymnasium floor. The board this week spent about 40 minutes debating whether to spend $17,470 on the mats, which would be used in an auxiliary gymnasium at the high school. Mats for the main...
Jeannette man on trial for attempted homicide denies shooting at neighbor
A Jeannette man told a jurors Wednesday he fired a BB gun and set off a firecracker during an altercation with a neighbor. Westmoreland County prosecutors contend Dale Shaw used a rifle and fired at least one round that struck a home next door as his neighbor recorded video of...
Confession barred from evidence in trial of man accused in Jeannette fatal fire
Two confessions from a man charged with murder in connection with a fire in Jeannette were improperly obtained by investigators, a Westmoreland County judge has ruled. In a 27-page opinion, Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said Brian Rendon, 38, of Jeannette was incapable of voluntarily waiving his rights to remain...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild to host Nutcracker Party
Children of all ages are invited to celebrate the holiday season at the Penn-Trafford Drama Guild’s Nutcracker Party, featuring the cast of “The Nutcracker: The Play.” The event will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdayin the main lobby of Penn-Trafford High School, and will include games, snacks, dancing and...
Westmoreland Airshow discount VIP tickets to be sold Cyber Monday
Tickets for the Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity can get the VIP experience for the 2023 event at a discount price on Nov. 28, the county airport authority said. The authority is offering a $50 discount on the $200 ticket by buying...
Tax rate holds steady in North Huntingdon 2023 budget
North Huntingdon property owners will not pay additional real estate taxes to operate the township government next year, based on the preliminary spending plan officials adopted this week. The township commissioners Wednesday approved a preliminary general fund budget of $14.7 million that holds the line on real estate taxes at...
Some MAWC water customers warned of potential health risks, but no corrective measures required
Notifications were sent out Wednesday to more than 50,000 Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County customers who live south of Route 30 about a potential hazard caused by a high level of a chemical that is a byproduct of the process used to clean drinking water. Officials said tests at the...
Westmoreland happenings: Pancake breakfast, bingos, pierogi sale
Church news • St. James Church, New Alexandria, will have all-day Eucharistic adoration Nov. 21 for the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the church, 306 St. James Lane. Mass will be celebrated at 8 a.m. and adoration will continue from 8:30 a.m. until benediction at...
North Huntingdon plans 2023 budget that keeps taxes the same
North Huntingdon officials plan to tap the township’s federal covid relief fund allocation to help balance the municipality’s preliminary budget of $14.7 million for 2023 without raising real estate taxes. The township commissioners are likely to adopt a preliminary budget at the board’s meeting on Wednesday that will hold the...
Greensburg to hold line on taxes next year, proposes nearly $13M budget
Greensburg officials plan to hold the line on taxes as part of a proposed 2023 budget totaling nearly $13 million. It will mark the 15th consecutive year the city has avoided an increase in the tax rate supporting the general fund, according to Councilman Randy Finfrock. He noted the city’s...
North Huntingdon police officer sues, says he was turned down for promotion because of race
A federal lawsuit filed Monday by a Black police officer accuses the North Huntingdon police of retaliating against him because he complained of racist behavior in the department. Albert P. Carson II is suing North Huntingdon Township and former township manager Jeffrey Silka for claims including failure to promote, retaliation,...
Attorney for Irwin man denies sex crime allegations
The lawyer for an Irwin man charged with sex crimes against a 10-year-old girl on Tuesday told a Westmoreland County jury his client denies any wrongdoing. Justin Hartung, 40, is charged with two misdemeanor counts, indecent assault and indecent exposure, based on allegations from a now 14-year-old girl who claimed...
Sen. Kim Ward makes history as 1st female pro tempore of Pa. Senate
State Sen. Kim Ward keeps making history. On Tuesday, the Hempfield Republican became the first woman to be appointed by fellow lawmakers as president pro tempore of the state Senate. She will oversee operations of the governing body and serve as its leader in the new position, holding the responsibility...
