Westmoreland category, Page 566
Scottdale man on covid battle: ‘I did not think I was going to make it’
Wayne Grabiak had encouragement coming from all angles. There were the FaceTime calls with his wife and text messages from family, friends and his cardiologist. Plus, the staff at AHN Jefferson Hospital loudly repeating a mantra through a glass window separating his room from the rest of the intensive care...
Five Star Trail leased for another 25 years
Westmoreland County’s Five Star Trail will be around for at least another quarter century. County commissioners, acting as members of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp., last week approved the renewal of the 25-year lease with the Regional Trails Commission and the private freight railroad that operates along the tracks...
Excela remembrance tree event to be virtualVideo
Excela Health Hospice’s annual remembrance tree event will look a little different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The event, typically held at the now-shuttered Ramada by Wyndham Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center in Hempfield, will be a virtual ceremony featuring ornaments that memorialize a loved one previously under...
Lower Burrell woman spent months battling covid long-haul syndrome
When Kristin Giron Stewart was discharged from UPMC St. Margaret hospital after a 13-day battle with covid-19 over the summer, she thought she was well on her way to recovery. The 47-year-old Lower Burrell woman grew frustrated and frightened as the days wore on, and she continued to struggle with...
Greensburg church prepares hundreds of meals for Christmas giveawayVideo
Holly Hallman and her family spend every Christmas at First Presbyterian Church in Greensburg, helping to prepare Christmas dinners for those in need. She’s helped organize the event for eight years, bringing along her husband, Craig, as well as her parents. This year, she brought a new addition — her...
More than 1,000 pounds of food donated to Westmoreland food bank from new casino
As the facility sits dark in compliance with mitigation orders aimed at stopping a surge of covid-19 cases across the state, officials with Live! Casino Pittsburgh took time to donate food, along with volunteer hours, to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. “Just because we’re closed doesn’t mean we can’t help...
Merry (covid) Christmas: Western Pa. families share how they plan to spend the holiday
Christmas this year, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, will be different for most, if not all, families. As the virus continues to spread, Gov. Tom Wolf curtailed some businesses and shut others through the holiday season. Health officials have urged people not to travel and to celebrate Christmas...
Greensburg infant’s brief life honored with random acts of kindness
In January, the brief life of a Greensburg infant led to an outpouring of love and support to his bereaved parents. This year on the date of his birth and death, Jan. 6, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region is honoring his memory with Willie’s Random Acts of...
Derry group gives away 170 Christmas meals
A group of Derry residents on Thursday gave out more than 170 Christmas dinners to families in need at Taps N’ At restaurant. The giveaway was organized by Derry Area School Board member Sean M. Kemmerer and Taps N’ At owners Larry and Jessica Gray, who recently founded the Derry...
Greensburg plans to help businesses, individuals with covid relief money
Greensburg plans to use nearly $194,000 in federal CARES Act money to aid small businesses, provide rent assistance and help feed those in need. Municipalities received coronavirus relief funds through the existing Community Development Block Grant program. Greensburg submitted its application about three months ago, and recently learned it had...
Monessen woman sentenced to 2-4 years for stabbing
A Monessen woman was sentenced this week to two to four years in a state prison on an aggravated assault charge in connection with the stabbing of her neighbor. Prosecutors dismissed attempted homicide and related charges against Tiffany Grogan-Howard, 38, on Wednesday, according to a court order. The stabbing was...
Greensburg Salvation Army receives gold coin worth $1,700
Greensburg Salvation Army Capt. Ashley Luzader was sorting through the usual pile of change that had been dropped into bell ringers’ red kettles Tuesday when she found something strange — an unusually heavy coin wrapped in white paper. “I was pulling out all the dollars, and I was thinking ‘this...
For 31st straight year, Hempfield supervisors approve budget with no tax increase
Hempfield supervisors unanimously approved a $13.5 million budget that does not raise real estate taxes for the 31st consecutive year. The approval, which took place at Monday’s meeting, came after months of cutbacks and planning to make up for lost expenses because of the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue streams such as...
Westmoreland County covid cases continue downward trend
With 368 new cases of covid-19 announced Thursday, Westmoreland County continues to bend the average downward. The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s latest report shows the county is seeing 30% fewer new cases than a week ago. Over the past seven days, Westmoreland has registered 2,229 cases, as opposed to 3,176...
Checkpoint shields installed to boost covid-19 protection at Arnold Palmer airport
Acrylic shields are in place at the security checkpoint at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport as an added measure to help prevent the spread of covid-19. Installed the week of Dec. 18, the shields are meant to provide enhanced protection for passengers boarding Spirit Airlines flights and Transportation Security Administration officers...
Teen charged as adult in Mt. Pleasant Township armed robbery
A North Huntingdon teen was arrested by state police Wednesday in connection with an armed robbery Saturday in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 17, is charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, theft and related offenses. He is being charged as an adult. Troopers were...
VFW Christmas cheer sent to Pa. National Guard soldiers around the globe
A brief social media post relayed by state Veterans of Foreign Wars Department officials late Monday to Westmoreland County’s VFW District Commander Carl Trusiak couldn’t have been more welcome and gratifying. “A lot of the packages are coming in!!! The team and brigade love them! Thank you!” the anonymous National...
Manor World War II veteran survived little-known Christmas Eve disaster off French coast
Carl Monk, like many World War II veterans, didn’t talk much about his experiences serving with the Army in Europe. He had a small shrapnel scar on his left elbow, received as his infantry unit fought in France in early 1945, and a brief tale of surviving a German submarine...
Irwin police, fire, EMS get stuffed Moose dolls for childrenVideo
Irwin’s police, firefighters and emergency medical services received two dozen cuddly Moose dolls recently to give to children when they are in stressful situations. The brown Tommy Moose stuffed animals adorned with a red shirt and yellow antlers were distributed at the Irwin Fire Department Friday by members of the...
As elderly Greensburg couple battles covid in hospital, family asks public to ‘be smart’
Jim Kuhns had 30 cupcakes for his 91st birthday on Monday. He had balloons, gifts, cards and his favorite: scratch-off lottery tickets. But something was missing — his family. That’s because the Greensburg man celebrated in Westmoreland Hospital while battling covid. Betty Kuhns, his wife of 66 years, wasn’t by...
Southmoreland grad killed in crash ‘brought a different kind of energy to the room’
No matter who is talking about him, one thing is clear about Brandon Peterson — he knew how to brighten anyone’s day. “As soon as he’d walk into a room, he put a smile on everyone’s face,” said Mason Neiderhiser, 16, of Mt. Pleasant. “He was such a good guy.”...
Wagging tails join ringing bells for Salvation Army kettle drive in HempfieldVideo
Area owners let the dogs out Wednesday to help attract attention to the Greensburg Salvation Army’s annual red kettle donation drive. Members of the Youngwood Dog Club, accompanied by their public-friendly therapy dogs, volunteered to augment the efforts of kettle bell-ringers at several Hempfield retail locations including Walmart and Macy’s...
Westmoreland County adds 327 new coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County added 327 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, the 44th straight day of triple-digit new cases. The new cases bring the county’s total to 17,406, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Of those new cases, 270 are confirmed and 57 are probable. The PCR test positivity rate of the...
Settlement with former Jeannette official includes repayment to city
Jeannette’s former community development director repaid nearly $7,000 to the city that she was mistakenly given after her retirement last year, according to a settlement agreement. The issue was caused by an incorrect calculation in the city’s payroll department, giving Diana Reitz more money than she was entitled to for...
Scottdale man killed after getting out of disabled pickup on Route 119
A Scottdale man was killed Tuesday when state police said he got out of his disabled pickup truck on Route 119 and was hit by a tractor-trailer in East Huntingdon. Brandon C. Peterson, 18, was driving a Dodge Ram 2500 that became disabled on the southbound side of the highway...
