Westmoreland category, Page 473
Sewickley mother pleads guilty in child’s cocaine consumption
A Sewickley woman was sentenced Thursday to serve three years on probation for allowing her two-year-old son to ingest cocaine. Arrica Ann Holwell, 23, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of child endangerment. According to court records, police responded to her home in July 2020 after a Westmoreland County Children’s...
Latrobe man sent to prison for New Year’s party sexual assault
A Latrobe man will serve up to four years in prison for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman at a New Year’s party last year in Hempfield. Hunter Hoyle, 22, told a Westmoreland County judge on Thursday he was sorry for his actions in the early morning hours of...
19-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting girl in New Florence
State police this week charged an Indiana County man with sexually assaulting an underage girl in New Florence, according to court records. Michael Troy Matson, 19, of Robinson, formerly of New Florence, was arraigned on three counts each of corruption of minors and indecent assault of a child less than...
Laurel Highlands baseball coach DeBerry dies following stomach cancer diagnosis
A few years ago, Scott DeBerry of Uniontown needed a French drain around his home, but there really wasn’t room to bring a backhoe in to do the digging. “He hand-dug the whole perimeter. That was an incredible amount of work for one person,” said Shawn Bernarding of Dormont. “He’s...
Plans for Dollar General in Hempfield underwayVideo
Despite some back and forth between township supervisors, a proposed Dollar General store is one step closer to opening in North Hempfield. Supervisors during a meeting last week granted final conditional approval for proposed plans in a 3-2 vote. Supervisors Rob Ritson and John Silvis voted against the project. Proposed...
PA CareerLink will host an outdoor job fair Aug. 12 in Hempfield
With employers across a variety of industries in search of workers, PA CareerLink Westmoreland County will host an Aug. 12 job fair. “Employers in this region are really in need of workers,” said Janice Albright, administrator for PA Career Link Westmoreland County. “We’ve been open for quite a while, but...
Reenactment of 18th century battle returns to Bushy Run this weekend
After a year’s hiatus because of pandemic conditions, reenactors will gather this weekend at Bushy Run Battlefield in Penn Township to restage the clash between British and Native American forces that took place on the site in August 1763. The British victory at Bushy Run helped lift a Native American...
Greensburg woman charged with using stolen identity to get $57K in bank loans
A Greensburg woman is behind bars after state police said she used the identity of a person she met at a drug treatment center to get $57,000 in bank loans, according to court papers. Nina Marie Barkley, 34, who also has a West Mifflin address, is charged with 18 counts...
Youngwood pool celebrating 60 years of funVideo
The opening of Youngwood Park n Pool in 1961 changed the landscape for children at the time. Borough native Paul Kettren remembered riding his bike to the pool for opening day as an 11-year-old and presenting his pass to get in. After that, the facility played a major role in...
College-age crew takes on trail tasks at Forbes State ForestVideo
Before the week is out, Bill Repko’s crew will have hauled, shoveled and raked crushed sandstone along about 700 feet of a mile-long trail near the summit of Laurel Ridge. Guided by the retired Greater Latrobe school teacher, the team of five area college students is wrapping up improvements to...
Murrysville woman hosts pop-up American Sign Language classes
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Penn Township library volunteer says ‘it’s a heck of a lot of fun’
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Greensburg Salem eyes covid mask recommendation, not mandate
The Greensburg Salem School Board is considering a health plan that would recommend, but not mandate, masks for all who enter district school buildings. At this week’s board discussion meeting, there was passionate debate about the proposed mask policy, including the choice of wording. The board is expected to take...
Irwin fireman pleads guilty for role in mobile home blaze
A felony arson charge filed against an Irwin firefighter was dismissed Wednesday as part of a plea bargain that the prosecutor said came at the direction of the property owner whose vacant mobile home was destroyed in the blaze. Shawn Richard Mann, 25, of North Huntingdon, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor...
Jeep driver charged with DUI, driving more than 100 mph on Route 22 in Murrysville
A Murrysville police officer said in court papers though he knew the driver of a 2020 Jeep Wrangler was speeding along Route 22 early Sunday, he didn’t realize the car was going more than 100 mph until he attempted to catch it. This week, police charged Alex P. Moxie, 24,...
Flight cancellations continue for Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines’ flight cancellations continued Wednesday and Thursday for passengers planning to fly out of or into Arnold Palmer Regional and Pittsburgh International airports. Four arrivals and three departures were canceled at the Unity airport Wednesday and an additional five flights were canceled Thursday. Eleven Spirit flights were canceled each...
The Stroll returning to Ligonier with more classic cars than ever
At least 130 vintage rides will be rolling into Ligonier on Friday, as The Stroll returns after a pandemic-year hiatus. This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with the reserved area for the antique and classic car show expanded to accommodate more vehicles. As usual, the vintage rides...
Westmoreland DA to seek death penalty against man accused of double murder
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck says he will seek the death penalty against a North Huntingdon man accused of gunning down a Penn Township couple. The county’s top prosecutor said the May 16 fatal shootings of Jacob R. Erdeljac, 40, and his girlfriend, Mara Casale, 27, came amid a...
Charges withdrawn against Unity man
Multiple criminal charges were withdrawn against a Unity man arrested in June after being accused of assaulting a woman in Latrobe , according to court records. Latrobe police had charged Aaron M. Klingensmith, 38, with multiple offenses, including burglary, harassment, simple assault and strangulation after he was accused of breaking...
YWCA Westmoreland’s new executive director hits the ground running
When Carol Palcic of Southwest Greensburg met her new co-workers at the YWCA, she felt like she’d hit the jackpot. “The volunteers, the board and staff have all been tremendous,” said Palcic, who came on board as executive director for the YWCA Westmoreland County in early June and was officially...
Keystone State Park beer makes debut; 1st in a series for Williamsport brewery
Of all the 121 state parks in Pennsylvania, a Williamsport craft brewery named the first of its specially themed line of beers after the 1,200-acre Keystone State Park in Derry Township. New Trail Brewing Co. writes on the can of the hazy IPA — called K.S.P. — that it is...
Fort Ligonier Days will return in October, organizers say
One of Western Pennsylvania’s most popular fall festivals, Fort Ligonier Days, is set to return Oct. 8-10 after a hiatus last year because of the covid-19 pandemic, the festival’s chairman confirmed. “Absolutely, we’re moving forward. We’re excited about it,” said committee Chairman Jack McDowell. Usually held the second weekend in...
Police say Derry Township man was intoxicated in 2018 crash that injured motorcyclist
A Derry Township man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a crash almost three years ago that left a motorcyclist seriously injured. Troopers said Orrin William Burbank, 41, was intoxicated and didn’t have a valid drivers license, according to court papers. He is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while...
You Are Here gallery in Jeannette hosts 3rd anniversary show
You Are Here gallery is celebrating its third anniversary with an exhibition opening Saturday. A public reception is scheduled for noon-6 p.m. in the art space at 406 Clay Ave., Jeannette. At 3 p.m., there will be a toast to the featured artists, along with a reading of original haiku...
Butcher’s block from burned-down Spaghetti & Steak House gets new lifeVideo
When the Spaghetti & Steak House in Murrysville burned down in mid-May, owner Monica Meehan was fairly certain there was nothing left. “One of our waitresses called in the middle of the night, because her boyfriend had a scanner and heard it was happening,” Meehan said. But, as she began...
