Westmoreland category, Page 355
Judge rules intent to harm supports murder count in Derry Township homicide
Westmoreland County prosecutors will be allowed to seek a first-degree murder conviction against a Unity man who, police say, shot into a Derry Township home and killed a woman as she slept. Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger, in a 20-page opinion issued Friday, rejected a defense request that claimed there...
Penn Township man charged in double homicide found competent to stand trial
A Westmoreland County judge has ruled a Penn Township man charged with the 2021 killings of his father and aunt is competent to stand trial. Police contend Neal M. Hubish, 42, killed his father, Arthur Hubish, 71, and aunt Maria Puskarich, 76, inside their Burrell Hill Road home Nov. 9....
Irwin man sentenced in stabbing now charged with hiding shank in cell
An Irwin man sentenced Monday for stabbing a man inside a borough bar was one of two inmates arraigned Friday on multiple charges of hiding shanks — homemade knives — in their jail cells, according to court documents. Joshua J. Robison, 26, of Irwin, and Jerome W. Thornton, 31, of...
Greensburg Garden Center member pens song for annual butterfly release
Greensburg Garden Center’s annual butterfly releases will be extra special this year, with a song written especially for the event. Member J.D. Peterson of Greensburg will perform her composition, “The Life Cycle of the Butterfly,” as part of a brief, fun educational program she will present during releases at 11...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: July 22-24
Funky Friday The funky soul sounds of Joslyn & The Sweet Compression will fill Greensburg’s St. Clair Park on Friday, as the weekly SummerSounds concert gets underway at 7 p.m. Powerhouse vocalist Joslyn Hampton and her brass-heavy band play original music influenced by generations of groove music. Band member Marty...
Greensburg music studio strives for an inclusive, welcoming vibe
The Greensburg-based Practice Makes Perfect Music Studio offers an array of classes, from piano and strings, to reeds and brass, to voice and percussion — including the boomwhacker, a hollow plastic tube tuned to a specific musical pitch by its length. “The only thing we don’t have — and we’re...
Murrysville monarchs fly free as Delmont library prepares for July 30 release party
Members of the Murrysville Garden Club brought a little “monarch magic” to Murrysville Community Library patrons on July 13, in the form of “butterfly wands” for their monarch butterfly release. The “wands,” made from native wildflowers, bring freshly hatched butterflies up close for program participants to observe. The garden club...
Minor injury reported when car collides with bear in Loyalhanna Township
A driver escaped with minor injuries when his car collided with a bear Thursday evening on Route 981 in Loyalhanna Township, according to first responders. The crash was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Route 981, between Pump Station Road and Mulberry Drive. “It’s a rather rural area,” said Bill...
Dogs, cats and goat have their day during Greensburg’s Summer in the City kickoff
It wasn’t quite the dog days of summer, yet canines were among the main attractions Thursday evening during the kickoff of Greensburg’s three-day Summer in the City festivities. Betsy Scheeren, a dog sitter from South Greensburg, was right in her element as she used both hands to vigorously pet Morgan,...
Westmoreland parks upgrades targeted in amended tourism plan
A year since local tourism slowly rebounded after the coronavirus pandemic, the Westmoreland County commissioners are allocating an additional $128,000 for grants and upgrades at county parks. The commissioners failed to finalize a tourism plan last year but voted this month to reimburse the county for money paid to arts...
Dog missing from Trafford family found dead in Braddock
One day after an Armstrong County woman was charged with theft after police say she failed to return a dog she was pet sitting for a Trafford family, the animal was found dead near railroad tracks in Braddock. Eva Hodgdon, owner of the 1-year-old German shepherd named Nani Nyx, said...
North Huntingdon woman charged with animal cruelty after blind, thirsty pugs found in condemned home, police say
A North Huntingdon woman is charged with animal cruelty after police said two dogs were rescued from her home, which was condemned Tuesday. Both of the pugs are permanently blind because of eye infections and they were suffering from complications related to water deprivation, lack of veterinary care and living...
Monroeville man accused of assault, pointing gun at relative during argument in Irwin
An Allegheny County man was arrested this week by Irwin police on charges of assaulting and pointing a loaded gun at a relative during an argument July 7. Raymond T. Musgrove Jr., 18, of Monroeville, was arraigned on multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a...
Westmoreland jury convicts Mt. Pleasant man of rape
A Mt. Pleasant man has been convicted of the rape and sexual assault of two girls. Westmoreland County jurors found Kenneth R. Daniels II, 42, guilty of 10 counts including felony charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault. Prosecutors dismissed one sex-related charge during the trial,...
Charlie Brown, 1980s rock musicals to be performed at Westmoreland County Community College this weekend
Fans of Snoopy or 1980s rock are in for a treat this weekend. Through Westmoreland Performing Arts, high school- and middle school-aged students will perform “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Rock of Ages” at Westmoreland County Community College. The antics and adventures of “Peanuts” comic book characters will...
Thursday food truck and music nights continue in Jeannette
The summer slate of Concerts and Food Truck Thursdays will continue July 21 in downtown Jeannette with an array of food vendors, a beer garden and music by Twisted Fate. Now in its fourth year, the event takes place every other week through Sept. 1, rain or shine. From 6...
Jon Anderson brings Yes songs to Greensburg with new generation of musiciansVideo
Jon Anderson still hasn’t given up on a Yes reunion. He knows Yes fans have spent 18 years hoping the surviving members of the seminal prog rock group would achieve some sort of détente and reunite on stage. But Anderson also knows he doesn’t necessarily need former band mates like...
Export dance studio headed to World Dance Championship later this month
This month, DeStella Dance Centre’s Alexis DeSabatine will mark a decade of owning the Export studio, and the 10th year is shaping up to be the best yet. “We went to Virginia Beach to compete at the Dream Makers National Dance Competition, and we had four of our dances make...
McKeesport residents say MAWC water remains contaminated
Barbara Girgash pleaded Wednesday with Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members for help. Girgash, along with her McKeesport neighbor Pat Puko, said, a year after toxic chemicals infiltrated the city’s water system — runoff from foam used to extinguish a fire — testing indicates high levels of the dangerous...
Westmoreland residents can help map next phase of broadband expansion through survey
Westmoreland residents over the next several months will be asked to help map out an expansion of broadband internet in the county. Officials this week announced the kickoff of a survey of the existing broadband infrastructure and service areas as part of an effort to enhance accessibility throughout the more...
New Kensington native to patrol Ohio River as part of Fish & Boat Commission’s newest officer class
Tyler Balla knew he wanted a career in law enforcement when he was growing up in New Kensington. “My uncle was a police officer in St. Petersburg, Fla., and he was my buddy,” Balla said. “Every time he’d come home, he’d always tell law enforcement stories. He passed away from...
Westmoreland DA to add information officer, fiscal coordinator/grant writer
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said three new jobs in her office will improve transparency and enhance the prosecutor’s efforts to secure additional public funding for services. The county’s salary board, which includes the three commissioners and Controller Jeffrey Balzer, signed off on Ziccarelli’s plan to create the new...
Kecksburg UFO Festival returns to Earth following pandemic complications
After a two-year absence, the annual Kecksburg UFO Festival is set to return July 22 to 24 to the volunteer fire department grounds. Ronnie Struble, president and chairman of the festival, said this year’s event will have the same amount of activities as previous years — plus more. “It’s a...
Federal judge unswayed by Unity man’s gun possession claim, sentences him to federal prison
A Unity man was sentenced Wednesday to seven years and three months in federal prison in a gun case, and the judge rejected claims that the defendant was unaware he was prohibited from having the weapons because of past felony convictions. “(Thomas G. Stanko) acted consistently with somebody who knew...
How I moved, lost my dog and regained faith in humanity over 5 days in July
Sometime late last fall, my husband, two sons and I decided to move. We’d lived for 17 years in Brentwood — front-row seats to the best Fourth of July parade around — but wanted a house with two bathrooms, maybe a game room and a bigger yard for the boys...
