Westmoreland category, Page 575
New covid cases force 2 Westmoreland County courthouse offices to close
Two Westmoreland County Courthouse offices were shut down Friday as the coronavirus continues to surge. The Register of Wills Office, which processes estate documents and marriage licenses, was closed on the courthouse’s third floor along with the Public Defender’s Office on the fourth floor after staffers tested positive for the...
WOW Outlets property for sale in Hempfield for $2.5 million
After about 30 years under the ownership of the Maskowitz family, WOW Outlets in Hempfield is for sale. The building, which houses World of Values and Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity, among others, has been on the market for about a year, said owner Barry Maskowitz. He noted that the...
Equine therapeutic center in Cook Township plans drive-thru holiday Winterfest
The STAT Ligonier Therapeutic Center will spread some holiday cheer with a drive-through Winterfest, from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19. “We were thinking about how so many Christmas events have been canceled, and we wanted to do something for the kids and the community,” said founder Catherine Markosky. The...
Westmoreland County sets record (again) for new covid-19 cases
Westmoreland County set another high for new covid-19 cases Friday, marking a second straight day a record was set. There were 412 new cases reported Friday, following Thursday’s 400 case count. In the past two days, the county has recorded more covid cases (812) than it did in its first...
Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center to begin remote instruction
Students at Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center will move to full-time remote instruction on Monday as Westmoreland County has experienced several weeks with a “substantial” level of covid-19 transmission and cases have been on the rise. Full remote instruction also is underway or imminent at the three school districts...
Westmoreland County to award additional pandemic grants
Westmoreland County will award a final round of covid-relief grants next week to small businesses, while nonprofit agencies and local volunteer fire departments will receive awards later this month. Commissioners on Thursday increased grants handed out last week to Penn and Washington townships to cover coronavirus-related costs incurred by their...
Virtual meeting set to update public on Laurel Valley road project in Unity
PennDOT will hold a virtual meeting this month for the public to review and comment on plans for the northern section of the proposed Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project. The project proposes an alternate, improved alignment for 11 miles of the Route 981 corridor, between Route 819 in Mt. Pleasant...
Norwin middle, high school students to stay in virtual learning mode through December
With covid cases rising in Norwin schools and high absenteeism among employees, middle and high school students will have virtual instruction for the remainder of December, the district announced Thursday. Elementary and intermediate middle school students will return to a hybrid mode two days of in-person learning and three days...
Hempfield school leaders take first steps toward feasibility study to rebuild or renovate high school
Hempfield school officials are moving forward with a feasibility study that will look into renovating or rebuilding the high school. Board members voted unanimously this week to advertise for requests for proposal to find a company to complete the study, which will determine what kind of project is possible at...
Ethics commission fines former Belle Vernon Area superintendent for violationsVideo
The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission this week fined a former superintendent of the Belle Vernon Area School District $1,250 for numerous ethics violations. The commission said John Wilkinson, who resigned in 2018, borrowed several pieces of district equipment for his personal use, including a generator, circular saw and cement mixer....
Additional charges filed against Latrobe counselor accused of sexual abuse of minors
Five more former clients of a Latrobe therapist accused of inappropriate behavior during counseling sessions have come forward with new allegations, according to court papers. Gregory Patrick Miscik, 49, of Salem was charged Nov. 6 with trafficking, sexual abuse of children, child pornography, corruption of minors, indecent assault and harassment....
Latrobe man convicted of illicit contact with a minor accused of soliciting images from girl
A Latrobe man serving time at home on electronic monitoring for illicit contact with a juvenile in 2017 was arrested again Wednesday by state police on new charges of having a girl send him explicit images through social media. Cristofer R. Dowden, 21, was arraigned on two counts of indecent...
Westmoreland County sees record 400 new covid-19 cases, surpasses 10,000 total cases
Westmoreland County added a record 400 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported, pushing the total number of cases over the 10,000 mark. The state also reported that there were six new deaths in the county. The total number of cases in the county now stands...
Hempfield Area middle school students’ return to daily in-person classes delayed
Hempfield middle school students hoping to return to in-person classes full time beginning early next year will now have to wait a few more weeks as covid-19 cases continue to spike. Superintendent Tammy Wolicki recommended that students return to in-person classes five days a week beginning Jan. 19 rather than...
State loan could help add jobs at industrial park housing former Volkswagen, Sony plants
A state loan of $2.25 million could bring more than 100 new jobs to the RIDC Westmoreland industrial complex near New Stanton. The low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania will help with a proposed $5.6 million renovation. The work...
‘Christmas Brasstacular’ opens River City Brass online concert seasonVideo
The emotional impact of not being able to play together during the pandemic didn’t hit members of River City Brass until they finally gathered to rehearse and record their upcoming online concert season. “We hadn’t played since March. For us to come together was very overwhelming,” said artistic director and...
Norwin covid-19 cases top 100; 21 new cases reported
Norwin School District officials said Wednesday the district has 21 new covid-19 cases among its students and staff, pushing the total number of cases since school began Aug. 31 to more than 100. The reports of 21 new cases, pushing the total to 114 cases of the coronavirus, is the...
Hempfield to continue with hybrid model of learning next week
The Hempfield Area School Board reaffirmed students will return to in-person classes every other day starting next week after they completed a week of remote learning after the Thanksgiving break. Students will return to in-person classes through the hybrid model Monday after district leaders said they returned a formal notice...
Western Pa. congressmen join rebuke of U.S. Attorney General William Barr
A bloc of 39 congressmen — including five Pennsylvania Republicans who were reelected Nov. 3 — lashed out at Attorney General William Barr in a letter expressing dismay at “the shocking lack of action” stemming from the Justice Department’s investigation of allegations of fraud in the election. The letter was...
Penn-Trafford to return to in-person learning next week
After a week of remote learning following the Thanksgiving break, students in the Penn-Trafford School District will return to in-person classes next week. School officials on Wednesday announced students will return to in-person classes beginning Monday. However, the school day will be shortened on Wednesdays, where the district will operate...
Former Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez again seeks dismissal of charges in teen sex case
The lawyer for former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez said 11 criminal charges related to allegations that he and a teenage girl exchanged sexually explicit text messages should be dismissed over jurisdictional issues. In court documents filed this week, defense attorney Gary Gerson said those charges related to alleged crimes...
Virus cases found at 5 Westmoreland County public housing properties
Coronavirus cases among residents in five public housing properties throughout Westmoreland County were reported over the past week. Residents in communities in Greensburg, Hempfield, Latrobe and Monessen have reported contracting the virus, confirmed Michael Washowich, executive director of the Westmoreland County Housing Authority. “It’s a trend that mirrors what has...
Derry church is target of repeated vandalismVideo
Two break-ins and vandalism this week at a Derry Borough church have left the Rev. Sam Lamendola and his parishioners questioning why the house of worship seems to be a target. “It’s been traumatic particularly to the parish staff who love and take care of the church day by day,”...
Trump supporters plan rally from Unity to Greensburg Saturday
President Trump’s supporters are gathering again Saturday outside the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg to protest the results of the election. The rally, which will feature speakers, starts at 2 p.m., said co-organizer Tony Naples. But the day will begin at the Trump House in Unity at 1 p.m. with...
Westmoreland jury trials halted as virus cases mount in county
All trials scheduled for December in Westmoreland County will be postponed amid the rising number of coronavirus cases already diagnosed and the potential for a continued surge in the coming weeks. Common Pleas Court President Judge Rita Hathaway said Wednesday that criminal trials slated to start next week will be...
