Westmoreland category, Page 506
‘Technical error’ omits discussion of judge’s recusal from Commonwealth Court livestreamVideo
During oral arguments last week before the state’s Commonwealth Court, attorney John Smith, representing the Murrysville Watch Committee and its appeal challenging Murrysville’s unconventional gas drilling ordinance, requested that Judge J. Andrew Crompton recuse himself. Moments afterward, the livestream feed of the public court proceeding cut to a hold screen,...
Allegheny County covid case average lowest since Halloween
Both the state and Allegheny County on Tuesday saw covid-19 statistics drop to levels not seen since the fall. Locally and at the commonwealth level, case averages are back to where they were late last year. Cases Allegheny County saw its seven-day average of covid-19 cases drop to lows not...
Murrysville man charged with arson in restaurant fire
A Murrysville man was arrested Tuesday on arson charges in connection with a weekend fire that destroyed a landmark restaurant along Route 22. Murrysville police Chief Tom Seefeld said Brian Paul Lucas, 43, confessed to starting the fire at Spaghetti & Steakhouse and Hot Rod Lounge early Saturday after authorities...
North Huntingdon man charged with double homicide in Penn Township killingsVideo
A North Huntingdon man is accused of killing a Penn Township man at his home as well as his girlfriend as she tried to escape early Monday, fulfilling what police say was “a grudge reconciliation weekend.” Before District Judge Helen Kistler on Tuesday night, Victor Steban, 53, of North Thompson...
Belle Vernon area teen accused by troopers in 2020 brick-throwing incident on I-70
A 16-year-old is charged in Westmoreland County juvenile court in connection with a brick-throwing incident along Interstate 70 in North Belle Vernon last year, state police said. Trooper Brian McKee said evidence against the teen from the Belle Vernon area culminated with charges of criminal mischief, propulsion of missiles and...
Weekly spread of covid in Norwin area less than 1% again, as of May 18, 2021
For the second consecutive week, there was a less than 1% increase in the weekly rate of transmission of coronavirus for residents in the North Huntingdon-North Irwin-Irwin area, the smallest percentage increase since October, according to the state Department of Health. There were 24 additional confirmed cases of covid from...
Evidence suppressed in federal gun case against suspect in Unity woman’s disappearance
A 2018 search at a Potter County cabin was illegal, a federal judge has ruled, suppressing evidence against Thomas George Stanko in a weapons case. U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann ruled that federal authorities didn’t have a valid reason to believe that a gun would be found at the cabin....
Jeannette police dog vehicle funded solely by donations hits the streets
A new police dog patrol unit is on the streets of Jeannette after incredible support from the community helped handler Sgt. Jim Phillips keep a promise he made years ago. The entire cost of the 2020 Ford Explorer Interceptor — $47,611 — was funded solely by donations to the department’s...
Sparse voter turnout for Pennsylvania primary election; votes start being countedVideo
Voter turnout for Pennsylvania’s primary Tuesday was sparse compared to November’s election, but officials say it was bolstered by mail-in voting and statewide ballot questions drawing out third-party voters. Results are slowing coming in for Allegheny County and Westmoreland County races. In Allegheny County, voters requested 124,813 mail-in ballots —...
Former WCCC accountant pleads guilty to theft from school
A former accountant at Westmoreland County Community College was ordered to serve five years of probation for the theft of more than $54,000 from the school’s student government account. Shirley Ferrenberg, 60, of Unity, pleaded guilty Monday to one felony theft count in connection with the funds police say were...
No injuries as truck crashes into ditch on Route 366 in Washington Township
No one was injured Monday afternoon when a tractor-trailer cab ran off Route 366 and landed in a ditch in Washington Township. The crash was reported shortly after 2:45 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911 supervisor. The truck, which was not hauling a load, broke through a guardrail and...
Police charge man they say wore only underwear while breaking into South Huntingdon homes
A West Newton man is behind bars after state police accused him of wearing only underwear and breaking into two South Huntingdon homes Saturday, according to court papers. Stephen Levi Wilson, 25, is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, disorderly conduct and related offenses. Police say he broke into a...
Greensburg Salem looks to draw on fund balance to cover 2021-22 revenue gap
A $1 million operating surplus forecast for Greensburg Salem at the end of the current fiscal year is expected to help the school district avoid a tax increase for 2021-22. But it won’t be enough to avoid dipping into the fund balance to cover next year’s expenses, according to a...
Coronavirus vaccines for homebound individuals underway in WestmorelandVideo
It was as if a higher power had something to do with getting a coronavirus vaccine into Greg McNaughton’s New Alexandria home on Monday. “Ave Maria” played on the television in McNaughton’s room while his left arm was injected with the vaccine by Lorenzo Garino, director of operations with Mutual...
Mt. Pleasant motorcyclist arrested with drugs, gun after going 85 mph in a 35 mph zone, police say
A Mt. Pleasant Borough man told investigators he was on drugs during a short police chase in New Stanton Saturday that ended when he crashed his motorcycle, according to court papers. Troopers said they seized a loaded gun and drugs from Joshua Scott Lucot, 24. He was being held at...
Teen testifies to sexual relationship with ex-Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez, says initial contact was ‘super cool’
A 17-year-old girl testified Monday she thought it was “super cool” when Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez responded to her social media message in which she wished him a happy birthday in July 2017. Six weeks later, with her parents away for the day, Vazquez had sex with her...
Fire extinguished at Derry Borough apartment building
A fire at Derry Manor Apartments was quickly extinguished by fire crews on Monday, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The building on West Fourth Avenue in Derry Borough was evacuated. It was unclear if anyone was hurt. An air conditioning unit reportedly was on fire, according to dispatch reports....
Pennsylvania’s covid report dips under 1,000 for 1st time in over 7 months
It hasn’t happened since Oct. 5. That’s the last time Pennsylvania’s daily covid report showed fewer than 1,000 new cases. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health added just 872 new cases. It’s been 225 days since the state posted such a low number — adding 672 on Oct. 5....
Victims ID’d in Penn Township double homicide, police find stolen vehicle 5 miles away
A man and woman were fatally shot at a Penn Township home Monday, and a Toyota Tacoma taken from the scene was found abandoned in Manor hours later, according to investigators. Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck identified the victims as Jacob R. Erdeljac, 41, and Mara Casale, 27. They...
4 incumbents, 3 challengers seek nomination for Mt. Pleasant Area School Board
Seven candidates, including four incumbents, are seeking nomination to four seats on the Mt. Pleasant Area School Board. All cross-filed on the Democratic and Republican tickets in the May 18 primary. Incumbent board members on the ballot this year include Allison A. Brooks, 37; Brad Coppula, 46; Eric Poole, 43;...
New bishop presides at first maskless Mass at Saint Vincent Basilica
In yet another sign that the world is beginning to reopen from the covid-19 pandemic, Bishop Larry Kulick of the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg celebrated Mass without a mask Sunday for the first time in more than a year. The occasion was a visit to the Saint Vincent Basilica Parish...
$3 million in stimulus money two months away, North Hutingdon officials told
North Huntingdon will get about $3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan for a variety of public projects, but township officials were told not to expect the check right away. It could be another 60 days before North Huntingdon gets the money under the stimulus relief package that Congress...
Feds assisting North Huntingdon police investigating car explosion
Authorities are investigating a car explosion in North Huntingdon on Saturday night. The vehicle exploded on Clay Pike shortly before midnight, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. There were no injuries or damage to other property reported. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, according to the 911 dispatcher....
Fire destroys landmark Murrysville restaurant
Spaghetti & Steakhouse, a landmark on Route 22 in Murrysville for more than 50 years, was destroyed Sunday in an early morning fire. The restaurant that has fed generations of local families and survived the pandemic was a total loss. A dispatcher for Westmoreland 911 said a caller reported the...
Help wanted: Western Pa. businesses hurting from lack of worker interest to fill open jobs
Dino’s Sports Lounge is in the same boat as so many other employers — competing to attract workers in a market made all the harder by covid-19 and an extra $300 a week in benefits being pocketed by eligible jobless workers. “I can’t get people to apply,” said Dino DeCario,...
