Westmoreland category, Page 605
Youngwood man get 35-70 years in prison for 2017 stabbing death, drug robbery
A 43-year-old man will not be eligible for parole until he’s 78 after pleading guilty Monday to third-degree murder in connection with his role in the 2017 stabbing death of a Youngwood man. Christopher J. David of Youngwood opted to avoid a trial before Judge Christopher Feliciani and a potential...
Westmoreland jail warden resigns, cites ‘harassment’ by Commissioner Cerilli
Westmoreland County Prison Warden John Walton submitted his resignation and retirement Monday to the prison board as a result of what he described as a “public character assassination and campaign of harassment” by Commissioner Gina Cerilli. Walton, 61, of Mt. Pleasant Township will work until Nov. 6. The board approved...
Westmoreland County adds 43 coronavirus cases over past 2 days
Westmoreland County saw its coronavirus case count increase by 43 over the past two days, according to a report Monday from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county had 22 new cases on Sunday and 21 new ones on Monday, the department figures showed. One new Westmoreland County death related...
Trial set for former cop accused of rape, sex assaults
A last-minute bid Monday to stop jury selection from beginning next week in a rape case involving a suspended Mt. Pleasant Borough police officer was rejected by a Westmoreland County judge. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said the attorney for John Andrew Brown, 47, of Mt. Lebanon, is prepared for trial after...
Westmoreland Ballet takes ‘Nutcracker’ filming to LigonierVideo
Dancers with Westmoreland Ballet are getting a new kind of performance experience as they work on a video version of “The Nutcracker.” With stage performances doubtful this year, company founder Judy Rae Tubbs decided to bring the holiday favorite to audiences in a pandemic-safe way. Tubbs also envisioned a “Nutcracker”...
Staffer at Level Green Elementary tests positive for coronavirus
A staff member at Level Green Elementary School has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a message sent to parents Sunday by Matt Harris, superintendent of Penn-Trafford School District. The school will be open as normal Monday. The district was notified Sunday about the positive test. The staff member...
Allegheny Badgers use teamwork to assemble log cabin in Murrysville
Export Maker Space owner Tom Spears and members of Spears’ Allegheny Hockey Association Badger team helped assemble a log cabin purchased by Pamela Barroso of Monroeville. The cabin was located in West Virginia, and brought to Spears’ property Sunday in Murrysville to be reassembled....
Greensburg police Det. John Swank dead at 51
Detective Sgt. John F. Swank Jr. often dealt with grim circumstances during his 19 years with the Greensburg Police Department. Yet, the 51-year-old Greensburg man, who died Saturday in the emergency room of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, will be remembered for his upbeat personality. “As good of a cop as...
Pa. still 3rd in animal-car collisions; End Roadkill PA raises funds for wildlife rehab
As Pennsylvania is still ranked third in the nation for the number of deer and other animal collisions with cars, a group from Philadelphia is trying to raise money for wildlife rehabilitation centers across the state. Wildlife Works in Youngwood, Westmoreland County, and Wild Bird Recovery in Butler County are...
Collision sends 3 to hospital, ties up eastbound traffic on Route 22 in Salem
A couple who had to be cut from their overturned Honda crossover vehicle and a male motorist in a van were taken to a local hospital after being involved in a collision Sunday morning on Route 22 in Salem. The crash was reported just before 10:30 a.m., at the intersection...
National Guard begins helping with covid-19 testing at Westmoreland Manor
Six National Guard members arrived Sunday morning at Westmoreland Manor and began assisting with testing for covid-19 infections at the nursing home. They are expected to remain at the home at least until Tuesday. The Guard members responded to a request for help Thursday by county officials, following a spike...
Linda Dickerson, consultant, longtime advocate for physically challenged, dies
For Linda Dickerson, making sure the many charitable organizations for whom she worked or served as a consultant were successful was more than just a job. It was a passion that grew from putting her own physical challenges aside to get things done for others. Ms. Dickerson, a longtime consultant...
National Guard set to arrive at Westmoreland Manor Sunday morning
Six members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are scheduled to arrive at the Westmoreland Manor by 6 a.m. on Sunday to assist with a covid-19 outbreak at the county-owned nursing home, county officials announced. The Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday requested help with testing from the Guard so the staff...
Irwin theater to host Sunday church service
The stage at Irwin’s Lamp Theatre, silent during the past months of covid-19 pandemic restrictions, will awaken with a sermon and songs Sunday morning. Grace Collective, a newly formed independent church, has rented the theater for its second large gathering of members, in a service set to begin at 10...
Westmoreland County has 2 new covid-19 deaths
Westmoreland County has two new coronavirus-related deaths Saturday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county also has 19 new covid-19 cases, two of which are probable with the rest confirmed. Saturday’s numbers bring the death total to 54 and case total to 2,203. Westmoreland County coronavirus by dayInfogram...
Greensburg neighborhood doesn’t let covid-19 crash partyVideo
A group of Greensburg neighbors, some of whom have lived along the same street in the northern end of the city for at least 40 years, gathered Friday afternoon for a country music concert and fellowship that made the oft-used quote from Mister Rogers really ring true — it truly...
Tractor-trailer rig carrying oranges overturns near New Stanton exit of turnpike, snarls traffic for hours
Traffic along the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, just east of the New Stanton exit, was tied up for several hours early Saturday as a result of an overturned tractor-trailer. No injuries were reported in the crash that happened at about 11:40 p.m. Friday. Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Jerry...
Penn Township man found guilty of shooting at police
A Penn Township man who fired one shot from a high-powered rifle through a wall and toward police officers responding to a domestic violence call at his home was convicted Friday of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. The Westmoreland County jury deliberated more than three hours before it...
9 more coronavirus cases at Westmoreland Manor
Nine more employees at Westmoreland Manor, the county-owned nursing home in Hempfield, tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Friday. According to the latest update from county officials, no additional residents have been diagnosed with coronavirus, leaving the number of infected at 47. There are currently 336 residents at the Manor....
Longtime children’s services coordinator will retire from Murrysville libraryVideo
After more than three decades as the children’s services coordinator at the Murrysville Community Library, Carol Siefken still has just as much passion as the day she started in 1987. You can hear the excitement in her voice as she rifles through drawers stuffed to the brim with supplemental materials...
Appeals court upholds murder conviction in Latrobe Good Samaritan killing
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the victim, who was Dan McNerny. A Pennsylvania appeals court upheld the third-degree murder conviction of a Latrobe man serving up to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder of a Good Samaritan who was killed as...
Hempfield’s Eddie Coletta passes away
Eddie Coletta, whom the Hempfield community held a rally for earlier this week, died Friday morning, his family confirmed. Coletta, 43, was diagnosed with AL amyloidosis, a rare disease impacting the heart, kidneys, liver and nerves, two weeks ago. The disease, which is caused by a bone marrow disorder, can...
2 companies, nearly 200 jobs join Westmoreland Technology Park II
Two companies are joining Westmoreland Technology Park II, one that is expanding its presence in the county and a second new manufacturing firm. The Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. board recently announced two sales agreements at the park that spans Hempfield and East Huntingdon: $439,600 for 11 acres with Red...
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Association gets a Doodlebug
A mini trolley car that children rode at amusement parks will get new life at the Ligonier Township railroad museum, along with a new coat of paint and complete refurbishing to get it back running next year. “We hope this Doodlebug will rival our main attraction — the (1905 Bobber)...
Hempfield lays out proposed 2021 budget
Hempfield leaders are leaning on tax revenues from a soon-to-be casino to balance their 2021 budget that’s facing a $1 million shortfall. Melanie Phillips, director of finance for the township, presented a more than $13.4 million budget to the board of supervisors this week. The proposed budget, which does not...
