Westmoreland category, Page 403
State trooper based in Hempfield charged with harassment
A state trooper’s duties have been restricted after he was cited this week in connection with an incident at his Mt. Pleasant Township home. Michael S.J. Predajna, 37, is facing two counts of harassment. Citations filed by state police indicate that he slapped someone at his home at 2:10 a.m....
Troopers arrest Ohio man after finding 1 kilo of cocaine in his SUV on Pa. Turnpike
An Ohio man is behind bars after state police said they found 1 kilogram of cocaine hidden in the SUV he was driving Wednesday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Jose O. Pacheco-Diaz, 41, of Lorain — located about 30 miles west of Cleveland — is charged with drug and weapon violations....
Invisible Man Brewing secures enough Girl Scout cookies to host brew pairing event
Cookies and milk are a classic combination. Kids love them. Santa loves them. Cookies and beer? Not quite as common. Despite supply-chain issues that have affected the delivery of Girl Scout cookies in some parts of the country, the annual treats will be paired with several local beers, courtesy of...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 4-6
Mother-daughter artwork An opening reception for “A Little Bit of Everything,” a joint exhibition of paintings by Indiana County artists Jolene Joyner and Jonelle Summerfield, is set for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St. A former surgical nurse, Joyner is a member of the Indiana Art...
Sessions to get underway to shape a better Greensburg
Input from Greensburg residents is key to successfully updating the city’s 14-year-old comprehensive plan, city leaders said as they prepare for public sessions to begin this week. The sessions, broken into three rounds, will give community members an opportunity to weigh in on the project and suggest any improvements needed...
Derry Township home destroyed by early-morning fire
A Derry Township home was gutted by a fire early Thursday morning. Emergency crews were called to the 1500 block of High Street near its intersection with Route 982 shortly after 1:30 a.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911 supervisor. No one was home at the time, according to Tribune-Review...
Talks at home, school can help children process Ukraine war images, information
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been dubbed the TikTok war by some, as videos of the violence have surfaced across that and other social media platforms favored by many of today’s youths. “It makes it more real for them, not just some distant event,” said Jaime Rininger, who teaches geography...
Former state senator Bob Regola gets probation for DUI
Former state senator Bob Regola was ordered Wednesday to serve one year on probation for a drunken driving arrest last October in Penn Township. Regola, 59, of North Huntingdon, was charged with two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol and three traffic offenses after a traffic stop...
Police still looking for red pickup that injured Latrobe woman in hit-and-run
State police are still looking for a red Dodge pickup truck involved in a hit-and-run nearly six weeks ago that left a Latrobe woman seriously injured. Trooper John Robertson Jr. testified Wednesday that he has asked the father of the man accused of driving it at the time of the...
Napping dad seeks dismissal of remaining endangerment charges
The lawyer for a former Greensburg man found not guilty last month of child endangerment charges, in connection with allegations he napped as his three young children walked alone on a city street, wants a judge to dismiss three remaining reckless endangerment counts. Defense attorney Michael Garofalo in court documents...
Closures of I-70 west in Rostraver planned as emergency bridge repairs continue
Part of Interstate 70 in Rostraver will be closed two nights next week, as well as the following weekend, as crews continue emergency work to repair a bridge damaged by an over-height vehicle. The westbound side of the highway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday and...
State trooper in New Stanton charged with possessing child porn, jailed on $500K bond
A state trooper assigned to the turnpike detail in southwestern Pennsylvania remains in jail after investigators allege he possessed dozens of computer files containing child pornography, including on a personal cellphone he was carrying when arrested Tuesday at the New Stanton station. Sean R. McKenzie, 37, a corporal, is charged...
1 suspect in check theft, ‘washing’ scheme jailed; police still looking for 2nd in $10K case
A McKees Rocks man accused in a check “washing” scheme was jailed Tuesday. Bryan. A. McGraw, 30, was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail. State police announced last week they were searching for McGraw and Michael G. Machay, 35, of Butler, in connection with a check...
County official: Prevention is a key to controlling blight in Latrobe
Preventing properties that are in fair condition from deteriorating is among recommended strategies for Latrobe to tackle blight. A recent Westmoreland County inventory of the city’s 3,912 properties indicated that 57, or 1.4%, are rated in poor condition, while 368, or 9.4%, are in fair condition, according to Brian Lawrence,...
Hempfield leaders approve rezoning of former Cherry Creek Golf Course
Hempfield supervisors this week granted a zoning change that could pave the way for residential development at the former Cherry Creek Golf Course. The zoning status will change from agricultural to suburban residential for about 100 acres of the golf course, which closed in 2015. While site plans for possible...
Read Across America Day: Western Pa. organizations find creative ways to encourage reading
When children learn to read, the skill “opens the world to them,” according to Amber Power, executive director of Bella Terra Stables in Murrysville. Bella Terra Stables is one of many local organizations that offer unique ways to encourage children to read. “If you can make reading fun for kids...
Westmoreland Courthouse dome lit blue and yellow to show support for Ukraine
The golden dome atop the Westmoreland County Courthouse will continue to be lit in blue and yellow, a public showing of support for Ukraine. The new bicolor palette is designed to mirror the Ukrainian flag, said county Commissioner Sean Kertes. “Westmoreland County stands with the people of Ukraine as they...
Westmoreland happenings: church services, fish fries and soup sale
Church news • Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380, Washington Township, will have a drive-thru ashes distribution from 6:30 to 8 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. today at the church. A worship service with ashes will be at 7 p.m. Details: unionpresbychurch.com. • A World Day of Prayer service...
Greensburg Salem mourning death of longtime coach Steve Snider
The Greensburg Salem community and Westmoreland County are mourning the loss of a legendary coach, Steve Snider. His son, Nathan Snider said his dad would often say, “It’s a beautiful day.” “That was one of his favorite sayings, and it truly is for him,” Nathan Snider said. “He touched a...
Covid pandemic puts pressure on Pittsburgh region’s child care services
Like so many businesses over the past two years, the child care industry has been whipsawed by the covid pandemic and its impact on the economy. Some parents working from home or leaving their jobs have pulled their children from child care, which creates openings — if the centers can...
Hempfield Girl Scout receives national honor for coming to grandfather’s aid after serious fallVideo
When Ashley Bensur found out her grandfather had fallen 10 feet from a balcony at his Hempfield home the morning of July 11, 2020, there was no doubt in her mind that she had to help. Rather than waiting to hear an update on his condition, Bensur, then 12, tagged...
Greensburg man guilty of recording teens in basement bathroom
A Greensburg man was convicted of criminal charges related allegations that he recorded pictures of teen girls in a bathroom with a smart phone. Following a nonjury trial this week, Carlos Alvarado, 49, was found guilty of one felony charge of attempting to record illicit images of a child and...
Former Mt. Pleasant, Perryopolis doctor gets prison for illegally prescribing drugs, having sex with patients
Dr. Emilio Navarro told the court he made a mistake. It was a mistake that he made dozens of times over four years. A federal indictment against Navarro, a longtime family physician who practiced in Mt. Pleasant and Perryopolis, said he wrote prescriptions for painkillers and Xanax to two patients...
Hempfield man pleads guilty to raping girls, faces up to 12 years in prison
A Hempfield man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges that he had sex with two young girls. Police said Kilian A. Thomas was 20 when he met the girls, ages 13 and 11, through social media in late 2019 and arranged multiple encounters in which they had sex in his...
Man with ties in 3 counties jailed in Westmoreland on accusations of possessing meth in Salem motel
Three days after a transient man was released on bond from the Armstrong County Jail last month, he was arrested in Westmoreland County for possessing methamphetamine in a Salem motel, according to court documents filed Tuesday. Ryan J. Fredericks, 27, who has lived in Johnstown, Apollo and Derry Township, was...
