Westmoreland category, Page 387
DNA match from Greensburg man leads to arrest in Hempfield bank robbery
Authorities used DNA gathered from an index card to charge a Greensburg man with a Nov. 24 bank robbery in Hempfield, according to court papers. Jonathan Smith Jr., 29, wore a distinct red “DoorDash” covid-19 mask and dark ski cap in an attempt to hide his identity when he passed...
Charges filed in 2020 fentanyl overdose death in Sewickley Township
A Butler County man is accused of selling the fatal dose of fentanyl that killed a Sewickley Township man. Matthew S. Steinbook, 41, of Seven Fields supplied three stamp bags of fentanyl to Todd A. Shaak, 40, according to state police Trooper Shane McClelland. Shaak was found dead in the...
Delmont man to remain in jail as judge seeks answers to mental health questions
An 82-year-old Delmont man’s mental health struggle has left him behind bars for more than two years, and a Westmoreland County judge this week said he is at a loss as to what should happen next. “I think anything would be better than him spending his last years in jail...
Westmoreland happenings: Turkey dinner, strawberry festival and vacation Bible schools
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New app notifies Latrobe residents of community events, incidents
Latrobe residents can access community-related information with the swipe of a smartphone. The city will use Pittsburgh-based app Savvy Citizen to update locals with events, meeting dates, emergency notifications, outages, trash pick-up delays and weather watches and warnings. Latrobe Police Community Service Officer Beth Straka encourages all Latrobe residents to...
Southwest Greensburg VFD turns to federal grant to attract new volunteers
Southwest Greensburg Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief Ed Milliron can remember when he first joined the volunteer fire department in 1982, and the fire whistle went off “you’d literally see about 40 people pouring out of their houses running to the fire station.” Times have changed, according to fire Chief...
Fire chief calls blaze at former Derry auto shop ‘suspicious’
A blaze that destroyed the defunct Ralph Smith & Son Inc. auto repair shop in Derry was called “suspicious” Wednesday by borough fire Chief Josh Campbell. “The state police fire marshal is still investigating the exact cause. … I was there within 5 to 10 minutes of the call (Tuesday),...
Dismissal of Unity man’s criminal cases upheld by state appeals court
The dismissal of three criminal cases against a Unity man named as a suspect in his former girlfriend’s disappearance has been upheld by a state appeals court. A three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the ruling issued last year by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger,...
Westmoreland County to break election ties on Wednesday, results to be certified Friday
Westmoreland County election officials on Wednesday will break ties in the more than 300 deadlocked races in the May primary. The tie-breaking process will begin at 10 a.m. at the courthouse and be conducted through a random casting of lots. Candidates in each of the tied races will select numbered...
33rd annual Westmoreland Glass Show aims to entice collectors
As happens with collectors of every sort, what began as a passing interest blossomed into a 25-year quest for Kenneth and Jackie Kosoglow of Claridge. Avid fans of Westmoreland Glass, the Kosoglows started their collection with simple pieces of the decorative and utilitarian household glass, made in Grapeville between 1889...
Greensburg man escapes handcuffs, walks out of city police station
A Greensburg man is being held without bail after police said he slipped out of handcuffs Saturday at the city station and walked out of the building, according to court papers. Gerald V. Leonard, 59, is charged with escape. He had been taken into custody on an unrelated bench warrant...
Norwin OKs budget, keeps full-day kindergarten sessions
Norwin property owners will pay slightly more in real estate taxes in the upcoming fiscal year after the school board narrowly adopted a final budget Monday. By a 5-4 vote, the board approved a 1-mill tax hike for property owners in North Huntingdon, North Irwin and Irwin. The move increases...
Longtime Murrysville hardware store closes its doors
Last Friday, the back room at John Meier & Sons Hardware in Murrsyville probably looked very similar to its early days — an extended family gathering around the table for lunch, before heading back out for one more afternoon at the store. In the 1970s, it wasn’t unusual for Sue...
Lower fees cited in recommended switch of Greensburg city worker savings plan
Greensburg could see lower costs if the city switches to a new provider for its employee retirement savings plan. Financial adviser Ed Gaskey this week recommended city council change the company offering the voluntary 457 tax-deferred employee savings plan from Nationwide to OneAmerica, based on proposals from four companies. Mayor...
Tribune-Review mail delivery subscriptions now available
The United States Postal Service has a proud and lengthy history of supporting newspapers, going back to before our nation was born. Even in the current era, the USPS is an advantageous mode of delivery for newspapers and periodicals. Now, Trib Total Media is excited to partner with USPS to...
Humanitarian award bestowed by Greensburg Fire Department
A longtime member of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department who died April 14 is being remembered for the legacy of service he left behind. Dennis A. Johnson, 75, of Greensburg, was posthumously recognized with the “Commemorative Axe” Humanitarian of the Year Award during the fire department’s recent 65th annual banquet....
Out & About: Women of Westmoreland relaunches after pandemic pause
Like so many other organizations, Women of Westmoreland paused its activities during the pandemic. The networking and professional development organization got back to business with a relaunch event on May 24 at Bella Terra Vineyards in Hunker. The group last met on the day before the pandemic shutdown, noted Lisa...
Westmoreland issues final certification of results for the May primary
Results from most races in last month’s primary election were certified Monday afternoon by the Westmoreland County Elections Board. County commissioners, who serve as members of the board, signed off on the final official results from the key ballot races that saw Republicans and Democrats nominate candidates for governor, U.S....
Acquitted in cop’s death, Ray Shetler eager for trial in assault case
A New Florence man previously acquitted of killing a police officer and now charged with assaults against law enforcement officials insisted in court on Monday he had no interest in delaying his upcoming trial. Ray A. Shetler Jr. 37, issued instructions to push ahead with his scheduled trial in June...
Despite 2 injuries, Westmoreland rodeo deemed a success
Forty bulls and 30 horses drew more than 4,000 people to a makeshift rodeo at the Westmoreland Mall parking lot over the weekend. “Up and all it was pretty doggone successful,” said Sean Sullivan, general manager at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, coordinator of the event. But two men were hurt during...
North Huntingdon police accuse man of intentionally striking pedestrian with SUV
An Allegheny County man accused of intentionally striking a man with his SUV in the parking lot of a North Huntingdon Sheetz was arrested by police. Alan B. Israel, 45, of White Oak was charged after the incident at 8:19 a.m. Sunday outside the store at 13700 Route 30. The...
$65K stolen from Derry Township home
A man is accused of stealing $65,000 during a burglary at a Derry Township home last month, according to court papers. Tyrus Martin, 21, who has addresses in Johnstown and Whitehall, on Monday was ordered held without bail after state police said he was illegally in possession of a gun...
West Overton Museums presents exhibit on Industrial RevolutionVideo
John Lloyd Shallenberger was one of the lucky ones among the 19th-century laborers at West Overton. In about 1860, when the founding Overholt family purchased a Buckeye Mower and Reaper machine, workers such as Shallenberger no longer were needed to harvest grain crops with hand tools for the family’s mill...
Murrysville speaker series will focus on Pittsburgh’s sports history
Coaches are quick to explain that sports can help teach a young person about life. And it’s not just a clichéd path to motivation. “We talk about sports at the Heinz History Center in the way you’d expect, but also about its importance to understanding history,” said chief historian Anne...
Westmoreland Drug Court graduates say program changed their lives
Lindsie Spillar’s drug addiction had gotten so bad she couldn’t help herself as she walked through security while entering the Westmoreland County Courthouse more than three years ago. She stole a purse just after it was checked through an X-Ray machine. Addicted to heroin and methamphetamine since her teens, the...
