Westmoreland category, Page 365
Connellsville woman pleads guilty for role in fatal overdose
A Connellsville woman was ordered to serve seven years on probation for her role in the 2019 overdose death of a woman in Greensburg. Marcia Lynn Shearer, 61, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy as Westmoreland County prosecutors dismissed a more serious charge of drug delivery resulting in...
Judge says Greensburg shooting suspects exceeded expectations after posting bond
In the five years since Daishawn Stikkel and Nathan Childs were released from Westmoreland County Prison, their lives have significantly changed. Both men were charged with attempted homicide in connection with a shooting in March 2016 in Greensburg and had been behind bars for about five months before they posted...
Murrysville police captain settling into new position
When Tom Kusinsky was working his first law-enforcement job as an Edgewood police patrolman, he enjoyed his fellow officers and the experience he gained, but also quickly noted the borough’s small size. “It’s one square mile,” he said. “You’d get dizzy at night driving around.” Kusinsky was recently promoted to...
Westmoreland County sets another job fair to fill vacancies
Westmoreland County is looking to fill 245 open positions at the sheriff’s office, jail, nursing home and other government entities during a job fair this month. The event will run from 3 to 7 p.m. June 28 at Westmoreland Mall’s center court. “There is a shortage in employees right now,”...
Greensburg Salem looks to trim business teaching staff
Greensburg Salem School District plans to eliminate one of three business teaching positions through attrition as it prepares to pass a 2022-23 budget with no tax increase. Superintendent Ken Bissell said the district can avoid replacing a retiring business instructor because it is dropping a digital literacy component of its...
Franklin Regional student wins statewide National History Day competition, third place at nationals
In May, Franklin Regional seventh-grader Humna Anzaar became the district’s first student to win the statewide National History Day competition and move on the national level. This month, she earned a third-place finish at the nationwide competition in the “Junior Paper” category. Anzaar, 13, entered a paper on the history...
Irwin Borough manager honored for ‘distinguished service’
Irwin Borough’s manager was recognized by a state association for her outstanding service to the town. Shari Martino, 42, of North Huntingdon, was honored by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs with its Distinguished Service Award for 2022. She received the award at the association’s convention last month in Hershey....
North Huntingdon’s Korner Tavern looks back on 60 years of memories, family business
For 60 years in the North Huntingdon village of Hahntown, the Korner Tavern has served drinks and food to locals — from coal miners to everyday regulars who are considered family. Manager Victor Pilipovich, 74, grew up in the business. His family took over operations in 1962. “It’s hard to...
Ligonier family fights to save life of Great Pyrenees pup
When Josi Bennett lost her legs in a car crash 24 years ago and spent months in the hospital recuperating, the best part of her stay was Blizzard, a Great Pyrenees therapy dog. More than two decades later, when she saw Great Pyrenees puppies for sale on Facebook, she decided...
Irwin church colors community, raises money for nonprofit
Dashes of color flew through the air Saturday at Bushy Run Battlefield. As part of the Grace Collective Church Colors for a Cause 5K, community members ran and walked through the state park’s fields and trees while volunteers tossed colorful powder from the sidelines. Proceeds went to Rooted Outreach, a...
Brake failure leads to controlled crash at Rostraver Airport
No injuries were reported when the pilot of a Cessna 414 lost control of its brakes Sunday afternoon, causing the airplane to crash at the Rostraver Airport. Caiolinn Ertel, 61, of Pittsburgh was flying from Leesburg, Va., to Rostraver, where her plane is based, when she realized she had lost...
Police: 1 person killed, another flown by medical helicopter after South Huntingdon crash
One person is dead and another was flown by medical helicopter after an overnight crash on Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, state police said. Crews responded to the two-vehicle crash at mile marker 53 near the Yukon exit shortly after midnight Sunday, according to a police report. David J. Ott,...
Cost estimated at up to $3M for locker room redo at Greensburg Salem High School
Greensburg Salem officials are considering options for an overdue update of the district’s high school locker rooms while dealing with sticker shock at a projected cost of up to $3 million. Meanwhile, Superintendent Ken Bissell last week suggested hitting pause on a plan for providing heat relief in areas of...
Duquesne professor helps educators understand how to help children with trauma
Blanket punishments and cookie cutter programs aren’t appropriate responses when children have experienced trauma, according to Duquesne University professor Tammy Hughes. Hughes discussed the psychology and needs of such children at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s 2022 School Safety and Security Symposium at Westmoreland County Community College. “This isn’t about breaking...
Bikers host memorial ‘Ride in Peace’ for slain Penn Township coupleVideo
Liz Amend hoped her brother Jacob Erdeljac and his girlfriend Mara Casale smiled down on the motorcyclists who gathered in Hempfield Saturday for a memorial ride in honor of the couple who were killed in Penn Township last year. “Jake was an avid Harley rider. He met Mara, and she...
More people choosing mass transit as gas prices remain high
More people are turning to public transit as gasoline costs settle in the $5 per gallon range across the region. Westmoreland County Transit Authority has experienced a 30% increase in bus ridership since gas prices started climbing, said Ashley Cooper-Brounce, the authority’s deputy director. “We just recently looked at the...
Father figures: These coaches teach more than skills; they serve as role models for their players
Fathering comes in all forms. For many dads, it means getting involved with their children’s sports activities. But for fathers who go even further and become coaches, they are impacting more than their children’s lives. They are serving as father figures, as role models, for groups of kids. Meet local...
Westmoreland health care providers, employees combat staffing shortages from pandemic
The local health care industry had its challenges before a pandemic swept around the world two years ago. As summer 2022 approaches, human resources directors and department managers are finding it even more difficult to find the people who can provide basic services. It’s especially tough for small facilities such...
Greensburg’s Pennsylvania Avenue, McLaughlin Drive included in summer paving plans
Greensburg officials plan to mill and resurface portions of eight streets this summer, including Pennsylvania Avenue. The work on seven of the streets is to be completed in two phases at a combined cost of $371,406. City council this week approved contracts for both phases with Derry Construction, which submitted...
New Alexandria man sentenced to 5 years on child porn charges
A New Alexandria man found with 8,000 images and videos of child pornography was sentenced to five years in federal prison and 10 years of probation for distributing the sexually explicit material, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said Friday. Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti sentenced Matthew T....
Police: Derry Township man accused of assaulting woman, 2 children
A Derry Township man is accused of assaulting a woman and repeatedly striking two children with a belt, according to court records. Iszac T. Dallar, 32, was arrested and arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, making terroristic threats and three counts each of harassment and...
CSX rail work will result in detours for South Huntingdon motorists
CSX crews are scheduled to perform maintenance on two railroad crossings in South Huntingdon, causing a pair of consecutive road closures. PennDOT said Jacobs Creek Road will be closed near Post Office Road from 7 a.m. Tuesday until 7 p.m. on June 25. The second closure is scheduled on Second...
Westmoreland Land Trust nature backpacks are ready to check out at county libraries
Some outdoor lovers like to watch birds, some go wild for flowers and others may enjoy exploring woods and waterways. Resources for any of the above interests now can be checked out, along with books and other media, at Westmoreland County’s public libraries. Westmoreland Nature Backpacks are available for library...
3 charged as 61 animals removed from Monessen home
Sixty-one animals were removed from a Monessen home earlier this month that city police and rescuers said was in deplorable condition. Three people were charged with animal cruelty and related offenses Wednesday while rescue groups work to rehabilitate the dogs, birds, chickens, cats, kittens and a rabbit. All of the...
Mutual Aid Ambulance CEO and operations manager depart, board tabs former coroner Ken Bacha interim CEO
Two years after changing administrators in charge of its day-to-day operations, Mutual Aid Ambulance Inc. confirmed its new chief executive officer and director of operations departed this week. The Greensburg-based nonprofit said Friday that CEO Douglas DeForrest and director of operations Lorenzo Garino are no longer employed with the ambulance...
