Westmoreland category, Page 488
Eclectic local band HABATAT vying for NPR Tiny Desk Concert slotVideo
When HABATAT dragged a desk onstage at a recent concert, it wasn’t just an eclectic performance art prop. The band, whose members hail from Greensburg and Johnstown, were getting ready to video a song for submission into NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert contest. HABATAT was onstage at FUNKy FEST, an annual...
Latrobe manager: Try again for funding of additional Ligonier Street intersection upgrade
As work winds down on traffic light and pedestrian improvements at nine downtown Latrobe intersections, the city plans to seek funding for another intersection upgrade, on the south end of Ligonier Street. Final touches at the downtown intersections, including installing decorative thermoplastic crosswalks with a herringbone pattern, could extend into...
Charges filed in 2019 Sewickley Township crash that injured 2
A North Huntingdon man was jailed Monday in connection with a 2019 drunken-driving crash in which two people were hurt, according to court papers. Brandon Lamont Pugh, 24, is charged with aggravated assault by vehicle, driving under the influence, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle and a dozen summary...
State, local police plan Independence Day sobriety patrols, checkpoints in Westmoreland areaVideo
Beware, Westmoreland County drivers — local and state police are going to be keeping a close eye out for intoxicated motorists over the next several days. State troopers and the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force both said they plan to have roving patrols and stationary sobriety checkpoints around the area...
Westmoreland commissioner urges municipalities to apply for funds by Wednesday
Eighteen Westmoreland County municipalities could collectively be leaving nearly $2.5 million on the table if they don’t apply for pandemic relief funds by this week’s deadline, according to county Commissioner Doug Chew. Chew learned that, as of Friday, 18 local communities had not applied for their share of funds from...
Saint Vincent College campus reopens after police investigate bomb threat
A bomb threat prompted temporary closure of the Saint Vincent College campus Monday evening. College officials said the campus was cleared to reopen just before 10 p.m., after state police determined the threat wasn’t credible. At about 7:30 p.m., officials were notified of a threat involving the Saint Vincent Archabbey...
Longtime Greensburg firefighter dies
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags at all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds in Westmoreland County to fly at half-staff in honor of a longtime Greensburg firefighter who died over the weekend. Richard A. Fry, 77, was found in his vehicle June 24 after participating in the Mt. Pleasant...
Prison sentence imposed for rape of Vandergrift child
A Greensburg man will serve up to eight years in prison for the rape of a 5-year-old Vandergrift girl. Eric Jermain Emory, 35, pleaded guilty last week to one count of rape of a child for repeated sexual assaults of a girl in 2019 and 2020 and three additional charges...
Lawyer’s alleged disclosure at issue in Arnold homicide case
The lawyer for a Churchill man charged in a fatal shooting in Arnold last summer told a judge that statements made to police by another attorney should not be used as evidence at his upcoming homicide trial. The trial for Devon Askew, 26, is scheduled to begin Nov. 15. Westmoreland...
Excela Health posts $72 million net income for 1st 9 months of fiscal year
Excela Health saw its net income jump to $71.9 million from July 2020 through March 31, a $100 million turnaround from the $34 million loss it posted from July 2019 through March 2020, according to a hospital report. The Greensburg-based health system, with hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Mt. Pleasant,...
Commonwealth Court judge recuses himself from Murrysville fracking appeal case
A Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania judge whose previous career included helping craft state fracking legislation has recused himself from a case involving local fracking laws. Judge J. Andrew Crompton issued an order Monday granting the Murrysville Watch Committee’s request that he recuse himself from the panel adjudicating its appeal. The...
2 coronavirus cases reported at Westmoreland prison
Two Westmoreland County Prison inmates have active coronavirus infections but the facility’s warden on Monday said there is no sign of an additional outbreak at the Hempfield lockup. One inmate developed an infection while in quarantine and another tested positive after he was placed in a general population unit, said...
Unity man accused of assaulting, choking woman in Latrobe
A Unity man is charged by Latrobe police with breaking into a city residence and assaulting and choking a woman. Aaron M. Klingensmith, 38, was arraigned on multiple criminal charges including burglary, harassment, simple assault and strangulation after the alleged assault at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at a residence along Wagner...
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra to offer free patriotic concert at Greensburg amphitheater
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra announced its free patriotic summer concert at St. Clair Park in Greensburg will return July 9. Titled “Summer Sparklers,” the annual outdoor concert will be conducted by WSO Artistic Director Daniel Meyer at 7 p.m. in the park’s Robertshaw Amphitheater. Program favorites will include “The Star-Spangled...
2 seriously injured in Route 30 crash in Hempfield, ambulance officials say
Two people were seriously injured in a multi-vehicle crash Monday that prompted the temporary closure of a portion Route 30 west in Hempfield, according Mutual Aid Ambulance personnel. The collision occurred about 1:50 p.m. at the highway’s intersection with North Greengate Road, a 911 dispatcher reported. The crash closed the...
Grass-cutting dispute led to assault in Hunker, troopers say
A Hunker man is headed to court next week after state police said he assaulted a neighbor with the butt end of a knife during an argument over cutting grass, according to court documents. Troopers last week arrested Ian Christian Cartia, 28, on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly...
The Palace Theatre to return to live shows starting July 30
In a bit of scheduling serendipity, The Palace Theatre in Greensburg will reopen to live audiences with a July 30 visit from The Happy Together Tour. Marking its 11th year of national touring, the show is headlined by The Turtles and features other hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s, including...
Unity man accused of chasing woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield
A Unity man is behind bars after state police said he chased a woman on foot on Route 30 in Hempfield during a fight, according to court papers. Mucahit Demir, 25, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, harassment and walking on a highway. Troopers were called just before 1:30...
Salem man accused of fleeing, hiding from police in Route 30 chase
A Salem man is accused of speeding away from state police over the weekend on Route 30 and hiding in a wooded area before being caught, according to court papers. Aaron Patrick Weimer, 55, is charged with fleeing from police, driving under the influence and related offenses. Troopers were on...
2nd suspect charged in Jeannette shooting
A McKeesport man arraigned Monday is accused by police of ordering the April shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Jeannette, according to court papers. Brandon Lee Ingram, 24, was charged last week with solicitation to commit homicide, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Authorities said Ingram ordered his younger brother to...
Driver shortage limits Westmoreland shared-ride system; hiring event planned for July 1
Door-to-door shared rides on the Westmoreland County Transit Authority’s paratransit system will be limited because of an ongoing driver shortage, officials announced this weekend. Authority Executive Director Alan Blahovec said the Go Westmoreland system needs to hire up to 15 full-time drivers to ensure the service that provides subsidized rides...
Tastyland to open soon, as other Western Pa. ice cream shops welcome 2021 season
After nearly 45 years of owning Tastyland along Route 66 in Hempfield, owners Bill and Mary Kuhns passed the keys to the roadside ice cream shop and food stand on to someone new. Jill Gunniers became the primary owner of Tastyland in December because she wanted “an adventure” to pursue...
Family-run ‘Anything with Wheels’ show in Latrobe benefits local veteransVideo
Western Pennsylvania’s ninth Veterans Anything with Wheels Show was held Sunday at the Cooperstown Events Center grounds in Latrobe, drawing hundreds of showy vehicles amid the scorching heat. Ranging from vintage to modern-day, automobiles of all makes, shapes and sizes were on display for spectators, veterans and sponsors to judge...
As Pa. mask mandate ends, some rejoice, while others say they will keep masking up
As of Monday morning, mask wearing in Pennsylvania is no longer a mandate. “It’s about time,” said Joe Dibattista of North Huntingdon. Dibattista, 69, and his wife, Chris, were among the many on Sunday at Westmoreland Mall who said they were ready to move forward, with the coronavirus seemingly in...
Man dead in New Stanton crash of classic car
A 72-year-old man was killed Sunday morning when a classic car ran off a winding road near New Stanton, state police said. According to Westmoreland County 911, rescue crews were dispatched at 8:14 a.m. to South Center Avenue near Sandworks Road in response to a report that a person had...
