Westmoreland category, Page 333
Salem teen, her terrier earn honors at National Dog Show
Natalia Backos and her dog, Boozer, have much in common. That includes matching pajamas and major wins at this year’s National Dog Show in Philadelphia. The 15-year-old Salem girl captured $5,500 in scholarships when she was judged as the top junior handler at last weekend’s two-day show. Under her guidance,...
Norwin High School girls to play flag football games for charity
A group of Norwin High School students have been practicing for two big football games Wednesday, but they won’t involve boys and they’re not for a WPIAL championship. Taking the field at the Norwin Knights Stadium will be about 150 girls in ninth through 12 grades, playing two flag football...
Holiday cheer to flourish at Jeannette Sparkle of Christmas
The annual holiday Sparkle of Christmas parade and celebration returns to downtown Jeannette on Saturday with food, art, children’s activities and wintertime cheer. Presented by the Jeannette Business Association and the Jeannette American Legion, the event will feature a parade, craft show, cookie and candy sale and visit from Santa...
Hempfield officials defend middle school consolidation as community awaits February vote
Hempfield Area officials defended the district’s proposal to permanently close Harrold Middle School at the final public meeting before the school board will vote on the plan in February. About 70 people attended Monday’s board meeting, many of them to speak out against the plan. Parents raised concerns over transportation,...
Greensburg police union files suit to block change in retirement plan provider
Greensburg’s police union has filed suit in Westmoreland County court seeking to block a change to a retirement savings plan it says would violate its contract with the city. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 56 argues in the civil action filed last week that Greensburg’s planned change of provider for...
‘Making great strides’: Jeannette IDs 12 more blighted homes for demolition
Twelve homes in Jeannette were deemed public nuisances and ordered demolished Monday, adding to the city’s list of blight proposed to be removed through Westmoreland County American Rescue Plan funding. Fire Chief Bill Frye said he hopes to push as many as 100 properties through what can be a time-consuming...
Vehicle rollover in Ligonier Township sends 1 from Route 30 scene for treatment
One person was transported for treatment following a one-vehicle wreck Monday evening in Ligonier Township, according to responding firefighters. The rollover crash with entrapment was reported at about 7:15 p.m. on Laurel Ridge, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher confirmed. Waterford and Ligonier firefighters were dispatched to the crash near the...
Police seek suspect in Hempfield gift card fraud
State police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a fraud suspect in an incident last month at the Hempfield Walmart. Police said a man shown in surveillance photos they released on Monday is suspected of making a fraudulent return of gift cards at the store at about 3 p.m....
Westmoreland County Prison guards injured, inmate from Irwin charged
A man being held at the Westmoreland County Prison was arraigned Monday on aggravated assault and terroristic threats charges after authorities said he injured three guards, according to court papers. Carl A. Jones, 33, of Irwin, is accused in the Oct. 31 incident at the Hempfield jail. Westmoreland County detectives...
Family of victims in East Huntingdon fire located
After more than two days of searching, members of the Westmoreland County coroner’s office have located family members of an elderly East Huntingdon couple killed in a fire Friday. Coroner Tim Carson said Monday that they located a son in Swissvale. Ernest E. Wright Sr., 87, and his wife, Nancy...
GetGo car wash site in Irwin recommended for approval
Giant Eagle Inc.’s plans to build a car wash at the site of a former motel along Route 30 in Irwin moved a step closer last week when North Huntingdon officials approved the site plans and Irwin Borough’s planning commission gave its green light for the project. Although the car...
Raises approved for Westmoreland transit leaders
The Westmoreland County Transit Authority’s director and its top deputy will be getting raises approved last week by the authority’s board. The board unanimously authorized a more than 23% pay raise for Executive Director Alan Blahovec, his first raise since being promoted to the authority’s top job in 2014. Blahovec’s...
Turkey team: Greensburg man organizes Thanksgiving charity drive
Dominick Domasky of Greensburg finally feels like he’s ready for Thanksgiving after he receives his truckload of turkeys, packed in boxes and stacked on pallets. “There’s four turkeys in a box, and they’re giant boxes, about 4 feet high,” Domasky said. “They bring these boxes out … one weird-looking dolly...
Police: Clairton man sold drugs while working at Cricket Wireless in Rostraver
A Clairton man is in the Westmoreland County Prison after police said he was selling drugs during his work hours at a Rostraver store. Melvin T. Payne, 42, was jailed Thursday on $250,000 bail after police reported making two drug purchases through a confidential informant this month. He is facing...
Behind the Art: Fort Ligonier namesake rendered by renowned portraitist
On the wall opposite the entrance to the Fort Ligonier art gallery is the painting of a white-wigged soldier on horseback, apparently in the thick of battle. “Most visitors naturally assume it’s George Washington,” said Julie Donovan, the fort’s director of marketing and public relations. But it’s not. Rather, it’s...
North Huntingdon man pleads guilty to fraud, money laundering from West Virginia business
A North Huntingdon man pleaded guilty this month in West Virginia federal court to stealing $3.5 million from a construction company he managed. A court date has not been set for Michael D. Allen, 60, to be sentenced on wire fraud and money laundering charges. Information filed Oct. 3 in...
Excela CEO details more specifics of upcoming Butler Health merger
Excela CEO John Sphon doesn’t expect either patients or staff to experience much of a difference in how they access or provide care as the Greensburg-based hospital system moves forward with a merger with Butler Health System. Sphon opened up about the plan Friday as the two organizations announced they...
‘Good Cop’ tells tale of Murrysville man’s police work
It was midnight, and John Hartman really wanted a cup of coffee. The date was July 9, 1998. Hartman had just finished his shift with the North Franklin police and was getting ready to pick up a second shift, with the nearby North Belle Vernon police, that wouldn’t end until...
Coroner’s office to keep searching for family of elderly couple killed in East Huntingdon fire
Smoke still rose Sunday from the burned remains of a home that sits on about 13 acres of farmland in East Huntingdon, two days after an elderly couple was killed in a fire there. Members of the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office have been working with state troopers and sheriff’s deputies...
Out & About: Southwestern Pennsylvania arts council hosts 27th annual show
For the 27th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council for the Arts, juror Paula Burleigh said she chose “artworks that asked me to find unexpected delight in the ordinary.” Her choices included works in various media by 53 regional artists, revealed during a Nov. 12 opening reception...
MAWC, union reach new labor deal
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and a union representing more than 260 workers have agreed to a new five-year labor contract. Authority board members last week approved the collective bargaining agreement with the Utility Workers of America Local 164 that includes pay raises totaling 14% over the life of...
MAWC seeks state grants for water, sewer upgrades
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County has requested nearly $11 million in grants from the state’s covid-relief funds to pay for water and sewer system upgrades. Authority officials said last week identified five projects from different state programs funded with American Rescue Plan funds. “They would have gotten done but these...
Hempfield Area to resume book battles next week
After months of discussions, it’s back to the drawing board for the book policy committee in the Hempfield Area School District. The battle over what titles should be on the shelves of school libraries and what process could be used to deal with materials that are challenged because of graphic...
Greensburg’s Holiday Parade warmly kicks off the season on a cold, but sunny, day
Gloved hands waved and blankets wrapped shoulders Saturday along Greensburg’s Main Street Saturday as holiday cheer was spread throughout the community. Onlookers exclaimed as groups of dogs and alpacas passed along the Holiday Parade route and tapped their toes while several marching bands and dance troupes played and shimmied their...
Coroner seeks information on couple killed in East Huntingdon house fireVideo
Two people were killed in an East Huntingdon house fire Friday night, the Westmoreland County coroner said. The fire was reported at 8:20 p.m. in a home on Espey Run Road. Coroner Tim Carson confirmed authorities are trying to find family members of Ernest Elmer Wright Sr., 87, and Nancy...
