Westmoreland category, Page 465
Norwin grad races against clock to get Afghan interpreters out of Kabul
A Norwin High School graduate who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan attempting to help rebuild the country and its military is on a new mission: to get two Afghan interpreters out of Kabul before the United States pulls out of the chaotic capital. “It is total chaos,” said...
Ex-Ligonier Township man admits setting fire to his own home
Robert Forgie acknowledged he endangered himself, police and firefighters two years ago when he set his new Ligonier Township home ablaze. “I’m sorry for what happened. I know I caused a lot of trouble,” said Forgie, 69, just after he pleaded guilty on Thursday to a lesser charge of risking...
Ex-Greensburg man pleads guilty to possession of sexually graphic pictures, videos of teen girl
A former Greensburg man will serve up to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges he possessed sexually graphic pictures and videos of a teenage girl. The prosecution dismissed 57 charges, including three counts each of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of an unconscious victim, against...
Sutersville robbery/shooting suspect pleads guilty, agrees to cooperate with potential murder investigation
An Allegheny County man pleaded guilty Thursday to charges in connection with the shooting of two men during a 2018 drug robbery in Sutersville. Curtis Thomas Everett, 28, of Glassport, was sentenced to serve 3 to 10 years in prison and cooperate with an ongoing investigation into the disappearance and...
Cows take center stage at Westmoreland FairVideo
Dante Frescura was excited to take home a blue ribbon from the Westmoreland Fair on Thursday after not stepping in the show ring the past two years. The 2021 Greater Latrobe graduate walked his heifer — which is pregnant and set to give birth in a couple weeks — in...
Youngwood man charged with assault of Derry woman
State police arrested a Youngwood man on Wednesday in connection with a brutal attack of a female relative inside her Derry Township home, according to court documents. Zackary K. Wentling, 28, was arrested on multiple criminal charges by troopers who interviewed the 59-year-old woman after 7 p.m. Wednesday in Forbes...
Quarantined commissioners say no to Westmoreland courthouse mask mandate
Westmoreland County commissioners, in quarantine this week after exposure to an office staffer who tested positive for coronavirus, said Thursday they will not require masks be worn at the courthouse. Face coverings have been optional for workers and visitors to the courthouse in downtown Greensburg since Gov. Tom Wolf lifted...
State police locate missing Hempfield man
State police safely located a Hempfield man missing from his home since Wednesday night. Police from Troop A in Greensburg were joined by the Westmoreland County Rough Terrain Fire & Rescue team, Hempfield firefighters and Murrysville Medic One personnel on Thursday morning, as a state police helicopter made several passes...
‘Real Men Wear Pink’ concert fundraiser set for Saturday in Salem
Chris Guido didn’t know that real men wear pink. To be more accurate, he did not know about the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign, in which community leaders are nominated to spearhead fundraising drives for the society to raise awareness and help fund research to battle breast...
Loose keys cause minor injury at Westmoreland Fair
A teen girl had a minor injury at the Westmoreland Fair this week after a set of keys fell during an amusement ride and landed in the mechanism operating the ride, according to a fair representative. The girl was on the Superman ride Monday when another rider’s keys fell down...
West Newton man accused of threatening to bring gun to state representative’s office
A West Newton man is behind bars after police say he threatened staff members working in the office of State Rep. Eric Davanzo and had a stolen handgun when officers arrested him, according to court papers. Raymond C. Keller, 54, is charged with receiving stolen property and four counts of...
Derry Township man charged with ramming police cruiser, dragging officers during pursuit through Murrysville, Monroeville
A Derry Township man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond after being charged with dragging police officers and ramming a patrol car during a chase through Murrysville and Monroeville. Cory R. Nolan, 33, was taken into custody after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday by police from both municipalities...
North Huntingdon wants Guffey Road speed lowered
North Huntingdon officials want PennDOT to conduct a traffic study on Guffey Road as a prelude to reducing the 35 mph speed limit. Township commissioners approved a request for the traffic study on a portion of the road that runs from the intersection of Main Street and Barnes Lake Road...
Hallowboo! set to return to Idlewild
Idlewild & Soak Zone’s popular Halloween program, Hallowboo! is returning this fall on weekends, beginning Sept. 25 and continuing through Oct. 31. A variety of family-friendly entertainment, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., will be provided, highlighted by a trick-or-treat trail through Story Book Forest. Many of the park’s...
Historic Bell’s Mills Bridge closure extended a few days
The closure of the historic Bell’s Mills Bridge in Westmoreland County will last a little longer. The covered wooden span initially was set to reopen to traffic on Thursday, but county Engineer Vaughn Neill said there have been delays in pouring concrete. “We now expect the bridge to remain closed...
Court action threatened over Franklin Regional school mask policy, as debates rage in Pa.
An attorney representing a group of parents in the Franklin Regional School District sent the superintendent and board of directors a letter this week threatening litigation if masking is not made mandatory. It is one of many lawsuits being considered by parents on both sides of what has become a...
Hempfield man pleads guilty in prison cell vandalism, escape attempt charge dismissed
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve up to 18 months in prison for an incident earlier this year in which police said he tried to escape from the county’s lockup. Jule Aaron Mascherma, 33, pleaded guilty to a charge of institutional vandalism after Westmoreland County prosecutors agreed to dismiss...
Farm’s excess ears provide fresh corn for Westmoreland Food Bank recipientsVideo
Ideal growing conditions this summer left John and Sam Greenawalt up to their ears in excess sweet corn on their Sewickley Township farm. That overabundance now is a windfall for the Westmoreland County Food Bank and the families it serves. About 30 volunteers gathered Wednesday morning at one of the...
Hempfield retiree helps fend off attack on sheriff’s deputy in emergency roomVideo
Joseph Twigger said he didn’t think twice in the emergency room at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg this week when he saw a county jail inmate trying to grab a sheriff’s deputy’s gun. On Monday, an inmate was draped over Deputy Edgar Fink, who was pinned against a wall...
Westmoreland officials say no plans to accept juveniles from soon-to-close facility in Pittsburgh
Westmoreland officials said Wednesday there are no plans for the county’s juvenile detention center to accept troubled youth from the soon-to-shutter Shuman Center in Pittsburgh. Allegheny County officials announced this week the 120-bed Shuman facility would close Sept. 18, after state regulators rescinded the detention center’s operating license following disclosure...
State police charge Derry Township man with raping juvenile girl
State police on Wednesday arrested a Derry Township man, charging him with rape and sexual abuse involving a girl over eight years, according to court documents. Tyler A. Elsworth, 21, was arraigned on 30 counts of sexual assault, 20 counts each of rape and rape of a child, 10 counts...
Hempfield woman jailed on $50K bond, accused of threatening relative with knife
State police on Wednesday arrested a 35-year-old Hempfield woman on charges that she allegedly threatening to stab a relative with a 6-inch knife during an altercation. Brittany S. Wilson was arraigned on criminal charges of attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault and making terroristic threats filed by...
Excela Health seeing increase in covid cases, with nearly all hospitalizations for unvaccinated people
The vast majority of covid-19 patients at Excela Health’s three hospitals have not been vaccinated against the virus, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol Fox. “Our numbers have dramatically increased in the last month,” she said, pointing to a “tenfold” uptick in covid patients compared to the three patients...
Westmoreland news: Digital literacy workshops, safe driving class and virtual job fair
Art • The Greensburg Art Center will host an exhibit of 3D art Sept. 25 to Oct. 22. Sculptures, reliefs and artisan craft entries are being accepted and there will be prizes for each area. A purchase prize of up to $1,000 will be awarded for an outdoor sculpture to...
Orders up: Greensburg Restaurant Week dishing up summer meal deals
Greensburg Restaurant Week is underway and will run through the weekend. The summer lineup features 21 restaurants offering specially priced menus through Sunday. And though its name cites Greensburg, the eateries are located around Westmoreland County. Local restaurants promote lunch and/or dinner specials offering reduced prices for a fixed-price menu....
