Westmoreland category, Page 337
Westmoreland chief clerk granted raise for expanded duties
Westmoreland County’s chief clerk is getting a more than $7,100 raise that officials said will be partly covered using funds from the county’s $105.4 million American Rescue Plan allocation. Chief Clerk Vera Spina will have added responsibilities in addition to her jack-of-all-trades role as the point person for the county’s...
Judge adds $3.78 million to verdict in Westmoreland swimming pool injury case
A Westmoreland County judge awarded $3.7 million in delayed damages to a Vandergrift man who was left a quadriplegic after he jumped onto a raft in a friend’s swimming pool in 2013. After a trial in March, a jury issued a $19 million verdict, a record high in Westmoreland County,...
Greensburg teen charged with attempted homicide will be tried in juvenile court
A Greensburg teen charged with the attempted homicide of three people will be prosecuted as a juvenile, a judge ruled this week. Anthony Shook, 17, originally was charged as an adult with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and other offenses after he was arrested in June 2021 in connection with a...
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to host 2022 Pa. Aviation Conference on airport grounds
After four decades, the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania will hold its annual conference at an airport for the first time. The Arnold Palmer Regional Airport will host the 42nd conference, which kicks off Sunday, Sept. 18 and concludes Tuesday, Sept. 20. The Unity airport has hosted the conference previously, but...
Southwest Greensburg church picnic will benefit first responders
First responders will be celebrated Saturday at the Greensburg Church of the Brethren’s second annual community picnic. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the church grounds at 554 Stanton St. in Southwest Greensburg. The Southwest Greensburg police and fire departments and Mutual Aid Ambulance Service...
Greensburg Salem School Board solicits proposals for facilities study
Greensburg Salem School Board took a first step this week toward a districtwide building feasibility study, voting 6-3 to seek proposals from prospective consultants. If one is approved, the consultant also could help manage the district’s capital projects over multiple years. Superintendent Ken Bissell noted it’s been at least three...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Sept. 16-18
Fall festival Opening ceremonies for the Penn Township Fall Festival will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Penn Township Municipal Park in Harrison City. The festival continues through the weekend, with Saturday highlights including a parade at 10:30 a.m. and Zambelli fireworks at 9:30 p.m. A community worship service...
South Huntingdon church predates America, will mark 250th anniversary
In rural South Huntingdon, a large stone block under the roof eaves at Sewickley Presbyterian Church bears the date 1832. The stone marks when the building was constructed, and it was plenty long ago — but the church itself was already 60 years old by that time, formed just a...
Greensburg woman sentenced for rape of 5-year-old boy
A Greensburg woman was ordered to serve up to 110 years in prison for the repeated rapes of a 5-year-old boy. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani imposed a series of consecutive sentences against Corby Jo Kinzey on Thursday, but fell short of the maximum penalty of 534 years...
Murrysville planners look at proposal for second fracking well
Murrysville planning commissioners will consider a recommendation for the second Olympus Energy fracking well in the municipality. Canonsburg-based Olympus is seeking to build the Hermes unconventional gas drilling well on a 147-acre property just southwest of the Rolling Fields Golf Club, on the 5000 block of Logan Ferry Road. The...
Sewickley Township farm earns conservation award thanks to management practices
The Lash family of Sewickley Township knows a few things about keeping a farm going. They’ve kept their family farm running for more than two centuries and recently were named Conservation Farmers of the Year by the Westmoreland Conservation District. Once a dairy operation, the Lashes have had to make...
Mt. Pleasant man accused of another assault of nurse at jail
A man being held at the Westmoreland County Prison was arraigned Thursday for assaulting a nurse at the jail, the second accused incident in as many weeks involving a nurse, according to court papers. Joe Paul Biller, 37, of Mt. Pleasant is charged with aggravated assault and simple assault. County...
Ligonier Highland Games return to Idlewild & SoakZone
A friendly disagreement about recipes led to the creation of a shortbread baking contest at the Ligonier Highland Games. The baking contest will be held for the fourth year, as the 63rd games take place Saturday at Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier Township. Gates open at 8 a.m., with the...
Murrysville incorporates residents’ feedback into park improvements
Murrysville Parks and Recreation Director Carly Greene was pleasantly surprised when a group of about 35 people turned out for a May neighborhood parks meeting at Kovalczik Park. Less than a half-dozen folks showed up at previous park meetings, and this big turnout was the precise reason for hosting them:...
Scottdale coffee shop owners have reason to celebrate during this year’s fall festival
When Melville Petrosky first entered the coffee shop in the former Collections by Marty building in Scottdale a few years ago to see a friend’s artwork on display, he had to leave. Not because he didn’t like the space, but because he loved it. “I always wanted a coffee shop,”...
Glassport man accused of selling guns stolen from North Huntingdon home
A Glassport man accused by police of selling several guns stolen from a North Huntingdon home was arraigned Wednesday on theft charges. John S. Hudak, 47, took photographs of the guns and communicated with potential buyers through Facebook messages, according to court papers. Police believe 13 handguns and long guns...
Westmoreland set to end deal with Monessen for blight project
Westmoreland commissioners on Thursday are expected to terminate a contract with Monessen to coordinate a plan to remove blighted properties in the city. Officials signed off on a $7,500 deal late last year in which the county planning department would oversee efforts to identify and publicize efforts to remove dilapidated...
Greensburg OKs 5-year union contract, code enforcement retirement and hiring
Union members of Greensburg’s recreation and public works and operations staffs will see annual pay hikes under a new five-year contract. City council this week approved the contract with Teamsters Local 30 that runs from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2027. The 21 workers included in the bargaining unit...
Hempfield man stopped at Delmont Dairy Queen with guns told police he was ‘fighting the shadow fake presidency’
A 2021 involuntary mental health commitment prohibited a Hempfield man from possessing a firearm, but Delmont police said they confiscated three loaded handguns from him after an incident at a Dairy Queen on Saturday, according to court papers released Wednesday. The man claimed to be an undercover state trooper who...
Thieves target cars at Westmoreland County parks
Westmoreland County Park Police are investigating a rash of thefts from cars at county parks, including one apparently linked to a fraudulent transaction at a Hempfield financial institution. Daylight thefts have occurred throughout the county park system, according to Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers, and have included purses and other items stolen...
Hempfield school officials, police investigating after bus picks up person who claimed to be a student
The Hempfield Area School District is investigating after a person claiming to be a student was picked up by a school bus Wednesday morning and dropped off at the high school. According to information sent to parents, the driver of bus 65 received permission from the bus garage to pick...
Republic Services officials say they’re planning changes to improve Delmont collections
Republic Services municipal sales manager Renee Shipley told Delmont officials that the company is making some changes to help address customer complaints about poor communication and missed collections. “We know you’ve been more than patient with us,” Shipley said at this week’s council meeting. “You’re our partner, and we have...
Pedestrian hurt after being hit on Route 982 in Derry Township
A woman was flown by medical helicopter Tuesday afternoon to a Pittsburgh hospital after apparently being hit by a vehicle in Derry Township, according to Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. The incident happened after 2:30 p.m. on Route 982 near a storage facility and cemetery, just before Industrial Boulevard. Piantine...
Westmoreland happenings: Community picnic, rummage sale, band festival, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Navy veteran, retired insurance broker known for work ethic, volunteerism
Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes. Bill Tuscano didn’t look forward to idle time. He retired in 1992, leaving the Greensburg insurance brokerage firm he’d built to the next generation of his family. But, at...
