Westmoreland category, Page 376
Hepler’s Hardware celebrates 80 years of family business in New Stanton
After 80 years in business, a New Stanton hardware store has processed more than 3 million customer transactions. Multiple generations of the Hepler family have worked at Hepler’s Hardware on State Route 119 North since it opened in 1942. Megan Orient, co-owner and president, is part of the fourth generation...
Greensburg policeman recalls chaotic scene at hospital as suspect lunged for officer’s gun
A Greensburg policeman said the scene was frantic as he ran into the emergency room at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg upon hearing reports there was a man with a gun inside. “There were about 20 to 25 people all in hospital scrubs — hospital staff — running out,...
Westmoreland native continues growing gamer-coaching company Metafy
Over the past three years, Derry native Josh Fabian has turned his gamer-coaching company, Metafy, into a major player in the gaming industry, raising $25 million in venture capital from international hedge funds such as Tiger Global and Seven Seven Six. As the company has continued to scale up —...
Greensburg to unveil new public works garage with tours, fire department display
Greensburg’s public works staff moved into a new garage in March. The public will be invited inside to tour the nearly 13,000-square-foot facility at 520 Urania Ave. during an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. While adults might be curious to see the results of the roughly $1.7...
Wolf & Whisk bakery opens in Greensburg’s Trendy Bunny shop
One of Kelsey Blahovec’s first cookie batches came out “in the form of edible concrete.” That’s what happens when you add a cup of baking soda instead of a teaspoon. It didn’t chase her out of the kitchen, though. She doubled down on her baking efforts and now is the...
Goat crew works to clear invasive plants at Historic Hanna’s Town
There’s a crew working hard to clear underbrush on a woodsy tract at Historic Hanna’s Town, but they’re not your typical 9-to-5ers. The team comprises 11 goats, and the supervisor is a miniature donkey. They’re on the scene, courtesy of Allegheny Goatscape and a Laurel Highlands Landscape Conservation Grant, to...
North Huntingdon OKs plans for road to proposed senior citizen building
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority cleared another hurdle this week toward building a 50-unit, four-story apartment building in Irwin for low-income senior citizens by winning North Huntingdon’s approval of plans for a 1,300-foot roadway to connect the complex to a township road. Despite strong and impassioned opposition from several residents...
North Huntingdon narrowly approves backyard chickens for 2 homes
North Huntingdon officials this week narrowly approved permits for two residents to keep chickens, with a warning from one council member that it could open the floodgates for more backyard hens. By 4-3 votes, the commissioners approved permits for Megan Javor of Lancelot Drive and Sarah Helzlsouer of Adams Drive...
Man shot in Derry Township accused of damaging $900 worth of property at suspect’s home
A man who was shot in Derry Township this week is accused of setting a fire at the home of the person state police believe pulled the trigger, according to court papers. Police said the fire damaged $900 worth of items. Troopers on Wednesday arrested Jonathan Thomas Corey, 39, of...
No tax increase planned in preliminary Hempfield Area budget
Residents in the Hempfield Area School District will not see a tax increase after school directors on May 16 unanimously passed a $100.9 million preliminary budget. This is the fourth consecutive year that taxes held steady, following five years of gradual increases. Taxes will remain at 83.46 mills. Of the...
Greensburg Salem searches again for business manager, OKs maintenance, custodial contract
The Greensburg Salem School Board last week approved a new three-year contract with maintenance and custodial workers extending through June 2024. The board also agreed to search for two new central office administrators, including a replacement for business manager Joan Wehner, who has resigned to accept a similar post at...
Pit bull shot after escaping Cook Township property
A Cook Township man’s dog was shot Sunday night after leaving his property, police said. The pit bull belonging to Mark E. Ahner, 60, of Stahlstown, escaped the property and became aggressive toward two men near the intersection of Main Street and Hoffer Plan in Stahlstown shortly after 9:30 p.m.,...
Boy, 15, charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe incident
A 15-year-old boy is being charged with terroristic threats after Latrobe police said he threatened another juvenile. A report about the incident was made to the department’s Greater Latrobe school resource officer and police said they seized “items of evidentiary value” during the investigation. There was no danger to school...
Latrobe Elks hope to attract new members with new lodge building
The Latrobe Elks Lodge and Golf Club hopes to attract members with a new building. The Elks held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building Wednesday. About two dozen people came to the Derry Township organization to celebrate and enjoy refreshments. The new building, which overlooks the Elks’ golf course, features...
Inflation blamed for Westmoreland municipal authority cost overruns
Inflation led to an 11% increase in Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County expenses in March, and utility leaders said Wednesday they are bracing for more cost overruns in the months ahead. “I don’t think prices will get cheaper, and we will continue to look at overages,” authority business manager Brian...
Voter turnout strong for Westmoreland primary as political leaders look to fall campaign
More than 41% of Republicans and nearly 40% of registered Democrats in Westmoreland County voted in Tuesday’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate primaries, numbers that have local political leaders predicting an energetic fall campaign. The county’s results closely mirror statewide totals as Democrats backed Lt. Gov. John Fetterman for Senate while...
Court rejects John Lesko’s appeal in 1980 western Pa. ‘Kill for Thrill’ spree
One of the last appeals for Pennsylvania’s longest-serving death row inmate has been denied. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Tuesday rejected 64-year-old John Lesko’s request for a new trial and sentencing hearing. He was convicted in the 1980 murder of Apollo police Officer Leonard Miller,...
Acme man jailed on $250K bond, accused of raping boy
A 33-year-old Mt. Pleasant Township man is accused of raping and sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy in 2020-2021. Brandon J. Hoffer of Acme was arrested and ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $250,000 bond after he was charged with 26 felony and misdemeanor criminal counts filed...
Ligonier Township property listed at $1.45 million was inspired by builder’s dream
Builder Joseph Minyon said the idea for the 12,000-square-foot, chateau-inspired home he built in Ligonier Township came to him in a dream. “I saw a bird in flight with wings outstretched — I’m not sure what kind of bird it was, but I’ll say it was an eagle,” he said....
Judge won’t remove lawyer in federal gun case against suspect in Cassandra Gross disappearance
A judge on Wednesday refused to remove the attorney for a Unity man suspected in the 2018 disappearance of Cassandra Gross from his representation in an unrelated gun case. Instead, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak ordered that Komron Jon Maknoon continue working with Thomas G. Stanko, 51, in...
The Westmoreland’s Director/CEO Anne Kraybill leaving for Kansas museum post
Anne Kraybill will step down as the Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art on July 22 to become director/chief executive officer of the Wichita (Kan.) Art Museum. “This is a bittersweet moment for me because the past four years at The Westmoreland have been some...
North Belle Vernon man accused of animal cruelty
A North Belle Vernon man is facing a preliminary hearing next month after humane officers reported finding his dog with several open wounds and a large tumor. Dan Karbowsky, whose age was not provided in court papers, was charged Tuesday with aggravated animal cruelty and neglect of animals. Officers with...
1 person reported seriously injured in Route 22 crash in Murrysville
At least one person was reported seriously injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash along Route 22 in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The crash occurred at 11:08 a.m. at the highway intersection with Harrison City Road, the dispatcher reported. The highway stretch was temporarily closed. It re-opened...
Westmoreland happenings: Blessing of the Bikes, broom sale and yard sales
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Cooper unseats incumbent Silvis; Dunbar wins in landslide
Former Westmoreland County Republican Committee Chairwoman Jill Cooper unseated first-term incumbent Rep. Jason Silvis in the GOP primary for the redrawn 55th state House district. Two years ago, Silvis, 47, defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Petrarca in 2020 to win the legislative seat that was previously based in Derry. A redistricting...
