Westmoreland category, Page 442
1 flown from water drilling rig fire in Mt. Pleasant Township
One person was severely burned after a fire started while crews were operating a water drilling rig in Mt. Pleasant Township Monday afternoon, officials said. According to Kecksburg Fire Chief Adam Krozel, a company was drilling a water well at a home along Freeman Falls Road when something ignited, causing...
Norwin employee arrested, details scant from school district, police
A Norwin Middle School employee was arrested outside the building Friday, according to North Huntingdon police and the school district. Superintendent Jeff Taylor did not identify the employee or their position at the school located at 10870 Mockingbird Drive in the township. In a statement issued Monday, Taylor the district...
Latrobe merchants sweeten Shop Hop event with pie walk
Pie lovers and bargain hunters both will find a reason to visit downtown Latrobe on Wednesday for the business district’s final Shop Hop of the year. During the Fall Fest Pie Walk, slated for 4 to 7 p.m., visitors stopping at participating downtown merchants will have the opportunity to sample...
Incumbent, 3 newcomers in race for 3 city council seats in Latrobe
Four candidates are vying for three open seats on Latrobe City Council in Tuesday’s general election. The field includes incumbent Jim Kelley, a Democratic nominee who was the sole listed primary candidate, and three newcomers who waged successful write-in campaigns: William Yuhaniak, a Republican nominee, and Ann Amatucci and Bridget...
Norwin: Mask issue prominent in divisive school board campaign
The battle among eight candidates seeking four seats on the Norwin School Board features a slate of four Republican candidates who have opposed the district following the state mandate requiring masks in schools. Newcomers Christine Baverso, 44, Alex Detschelt, 45, and Shawna Ilagan, 39, join incumbent Raymond Kocak, 58, on...
Derry Township man arrested in theft of car left running outside convenience store
State police accused a Derry Township man of stealing a car while its owner was inside a convenience store last week, according to court papers. Troopers said they found the Chevrolet Cruze about 27 miles away and identified Aaron Michael Thompson, 27, as the suspect. He is charged with theft...
6 candidates vying for 4 seats on Trafford Council
Trafford residents will seat at least two new members on council in 2022 and possibly four, depending on the outcome of the Nov. 2 general election. Two incumbents and four newcomers are vying for the four available openings. Longtime Councilman Casey L. Shoub Sr., 70, a Democrat, is seeking his...
Police arrest Unity woman accused of pointing gun at driver of moving car
A Unity woman is behind bars after state police said she attacked a woman in a moving vehicle and pointed a gun at a man driving a second vehicle, according to court papers. Pamela Ann Smith, 50, is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and related offenses. Troopers...
Incumbents face newcomer, write-in challengers in Penn-Trafford school board race
In the Penn-Trafford School Board race, long-serving incumbents will go up against a newcomer who took the top spot in his primary race, and three first-time candidates who were compelled to start write-in campaigns by what they felt was an unresponsive board. “A lot of things are happening that I...
PennDOT video previews plans for reconfigured I-70/Route 51 interchange
PennDOT has released a video detailing plans for improvements at the Interstate 70/Route 51 interchange while preparing for the possible start of construction on the project in 2022. The project will widen cramped lanes on a 1.7-mile segment of the interstate in Sewickley while replacing the existing cloverleaf interchange with...
Greensburg Holiday Market kicks off holiday shopping at small businessesVideo
Booths filled with Christmas decorations lined South Pennsylvania Street in Greensburg on Sunday morning just hours before trick-or-treaters were scheduled to take to the streets. The first Greensburg Holiday Market of the season kicked off on Halloween this year, attracting residents hoping to get a jump start on their holiday...
Ray Mello, Hempfield softball legend, remembered for his commitment to team, players
Ray Mello, an instrumental coach for the Hempfield Area softball team, will long be remembered for his commitment to the sport and his dedication to the players. Mello died Sunday after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 82. “He impacted so many people in the community,” said Bob Kalp,...
Hempfield Area surveying parents on possible covid-19 vaccine clinic
As federal officials inch closer to approving the covid-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, Hempfield Area School District leaders are surveying parents to gauge their interest in an on-site vaccination clinic. School officials sent out a survey to collect information on whether there is sufficient interest for an...
Franklin Regional Thespian Club gives patrons two plays for the price of one with ‘Nooses Off’
After a school year in which the Franklin Regional Thespian Club put on a virtual play in the fall and a spring production with a cast of only seven, director Richard Sunny said he’s nearly forgotten what it was like to rehearse with a sizable group of actors. So naturally,...
Former plastics industry executive relishes new gig heading Westmoreland Cleanways
Mike Skapura has gone from making items to recycling them. On Sept. 2, he took on the role of executive director of nonprofit Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling in Unity after more than 26 years working at Latrobe’s Westmoreland Plastics plant. “It was a big change going from a for-profit industry...
Roads set to close in Allegheny Township, West Newton; reopening delayed in Mt. Pleasant Township
Road closures are scheduled to begin next week in Allegheny Township and West Newton for maintenance and improvement projects. According to PennDOT, weather permitting, a section of White Cloud Road in Allegheny Township will close beginning Monday for roadway reconstruction and drainage work. The closure will be in effect between...
Therapy stable in Murrysville holds well-attended Halloween-themed fundraiserVideo
Jacob Bereznak was excited to get to Bella Terra Stables in Murrysville on Saturday morning for a glimpse at the Halloween decorations he helped set up. Jacob, 7, of Upper Burrell, was one of the first people at Bella Terra’s Halloween festival fundraiser where children trick-or-treated with seven horses dressed...
Former Jeannette hospital property is on the market
The former Jeannette District Memorial Hospital property is for sale. The vacant 12-acre site on Jefferson Avenue is listed at $1.5 million, more than six years after the property was transferred from Excela Health to a private developer for $820,000. Craig Anlauf, who operates several assisted living facilities in the...
Women’s business ownership growing; still face different challenges
Tracy Alaia of Trafford had always dreamed of owning a boutique, but she wanted it to be more than just a shop. “I wanted it to be helpful to other artists,” said Alaia, who initially was going to have a paint studio, but that grew into a gift shop in...
No director, no problem: Westmoreland makes final election preparations
Westmoreland is one of five counties in Pennsylvania without a permanent election director heading into Tuesday’s balloting, but local officials insist operations have never run better. With days before voters head to the polls Tuesday and results are tallied, the fury and confusion that plagued the county election bureau a...
Compass Inn hosts spooky storytelling, pumpkin carving contest
Knox Lipinski was having a tough time picking out his favorite pumpkin on Friday night. Knox, 7, of Latrobe was at the Compass Inn’s sixth annual Pumpkin Carving Contest, which takes place this weekend during the inn’s Halloween Hauntings Storytelling event. He finally settled on a large pumpkin that, upon...
Westmoreland prothonotary announces extended hours for passports
The Westmoreland County Courthouse office that processes U.S. passport applications will have extended hours one day a week, officials announced. Beginning Nov. 4, the fifth floor Prothonotary Office at the courthouse will be open two additional hours every Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to process passports. It’s a...
2 arrested in connection with probe into 2019 shooting that killed a Jeannette man
Two Greensburg men were arrested Friday in connection with an investigation into a 2019 fatal shooting in Jeannette. Ronald Trotter, 21, and Michael E. Price, 20, are charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction and tampering with evidence. Trotter faces an additional weapons violation. County detectives accused the men of hiding guns...
5 nominees, failed primary candidate vie for 4 Greater Latrobe School Board seats
Five nominated candidates are vying for four seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board. A sixth hopeful, who fell short in primary voting, is seeking a second chance through a write-in campaign. Listed on Tuesday’s ballot are three incumbents — Republican nominee Bill Palmer, Democratic nominee Cathy Sarraf and Heidi...
Joel Murray brings family comedy legacy to ‘Whose Live?’ in Greensburg
How funny is “Whose Live Anyway?” Some of that depends on the audience in the city where the cast lands on any given night. “You do a little bit of research to find out what’s going on and get a feel for the place before you get there, but it’s...
