Westmoreland category, Page 609
Westmoreland County adds 11 coronavirus cases
Westmoreland County added 11 new coronavirus cases Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported. The county has had a total of 2,032 cases, with 1,952 of those confirmed and 80 reported as probable. All of Friday’s new cases were confirmed. There have been 40,423 people who had negative PCR tests....
Murrysville woman, 20, appointed to national Crohn’s advocacy board
For Rachel Stackiewicz, enjoying most meals is a temporary pleasure at best. Stackiewicz, 20, of Murrysville, has been living since age 11 with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Along with ulcerative colitis, it is one of two illnesses classified as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. “Every...
Salem man accused of ethnic intimidation in phone calls
A Salem man was charged Thursday with ethnic intimidation after police said he used racial slurs during multiple phone calls to a South Greensburg man, according to court papers. In addition to the felony count, Adam Joseph Amendola, 27, is charged with misdemeanors counts of making terroristic threats and harassment...
Speakers at Greensburg rally urge action to achieve unityVideo
Marguerite Babcock of Cook Township sat on a bench at St. Clair Park in Greensburg on Thursday as speakers stressed the need for unity in a country deeply divided less than two months before the presidential election. “I’m extremely concerned about the high level of divisiveness and nastiness that has...
Unity Township Municipal Authority to begin office security upgrade
Work is set to begin next week on security improvements at the Unity Township Municipal Authority office near Pleasant Unity. Marmat Inc. was awarded the project contract, at a cost of $96,545, and is expected to start by adding an emergency exit at the rear of the building. According to...
Greensburg man accused of struggling with deputies, exposing himself
A 40-year-old Greensburg man being evicted from his residence under a protection from abuse order Wednesday was arrested on multiple charges after scuffling with three sheriff’s deputies and then exposing himself, according to court records. Eric W. Cummings was arrested on charges of obstruction of government functions, open lewdness and...
Group home for former mental health patients approved in Greensburg
Plans to convert a Greensburg mansion into a group home for former mental health patients at Torrance State Hospital was approved this week over objections from neighbors who claimed the project could lower nearby property values. The city’s zoning hearing board voted to grant a special exception that clears the...
Jurors find Scottdale man guilty of raping girl
A Westmoreland County jury on Thursday rejected a Scottdale man’s claims that his physical limitations prevented him from having sexual activity and rendered him unable to have repeatedly raped a young girl. Dylan Chiaramonte, 27, was convicted of rape of a child, two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated...
Westmoreland Manor staff to be tested for coronavirus
All staff at Westmoreland Manor will again be tested for coronavirus. Commissioners on Thursday cut a deal with Excela Health to test the staff of the county owned nursing home in Hempfield as part of a federal mandate put in place this week. The county will pay Excela $105 per...
Western Pa. nonprofit turns to public for diaper donations during pandemicVideo
Anna Joyner is hoping to collect 5,000 diapers by next week, and she got at least halfway to her goal on Thursday. The Greensburg resident is the outreach coordinator in Westmoreland and Fayette counties for the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, an organization started eight years ago to help get diapers...
Slot machine arrival marks milestone in Hempfield casino constructionVideo
The former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield is starting to look a lot like a casino. Live! Casino Pittsburgh, a $150 million venue owned by The Cordish Companies of Maryland, is slated to open before Thanksgiving with 750 slot machines and 30 table games. By Thursday, about...
Pry bar in crashed car led Rostraver police to make arrest in attempted break-in at gun store
A pry bar and screwdriver left behind in a car that crashed near the scene of an attempted burglary at a gun store led Rostraver police to connect an Elizabeth man to the crime, according to court papers filed this month. Authorities said they identified Kristopher Cerniga, 33, as the...
Westmoreland County reaches 50 covid-19 deaths after a month with no reported deaths
Westmoreland County has 18 new coronavirus cases Thursday, per the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Of the new cases, nine are confirmed and nine are probable. One new covid-19 related death was also reported, which resulted in the county reaching 50 total deaths. Prior to Thursday, there had not been a...
Growing older: Number of centenarians on the rise in U.S.
Sounds of honking horns, cheering crowds and bouts of “happy birthday” wafted through normally quiet neighborhoods this year as friends and family, not letting the coronavirus pandemic stop them, celebrated loved ones turning 100. The number of centenarians around the world is on the rise, data show, a generation of...
Jeannette native helping students of military personnel killed or disabled
A Jeannette native is spearheading efforts to raise money for educational scholarships for families of military service people who have died or have been disabled while on active duty. Michael Popella of Grove City founded the Folds of Honor of Western PA Chapter after meeting the national organization’s founder, Lt....
North Huntingdon officials cry foul on backyard chicken ordinanceVideo
The months-long debate over keeping chickens in North Huntingdon residential areas will continue after the commissioners rejected a proposed change to the rules on Wednesday. Commissioners cried foul on adopting an ordinance that would allow residents to obtain a permit to have four hens in a residential district if they...
Greensburg resident gets surprise parade to celebrate 103rd birthday
With horns honking and balloons waving from their windows, dozens of cars drove down Greensburg’s Alwine Avenue to wish Catherine Campolongo a happy 103rd birthday. Campolongo was a baby during the flu pandemic of 1918, and on Wednesday celebrated a socially distant birthday during another historic pandemic. Her secret to...
Golf outing raises more than $4,000 for Animal Friends of Westmoreland
Animal Friends of Westmoreland currently has 152 animals in their care. Since its inception in 2006, the nonprofit has rescued more than 5,700 animals. Like most nonprofits, Animal Friends relies on donations and they could not be happier to have received a $4,200 donation recently — the proceeds from the...
Head of Pittsburgh area gambling ring, son, plead guilty to running numbers
The 90-year-old patriarch of a Pittsburgh family connected to gambling operations in Western Pennsylvania for more than a half century agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve charges the family operated a sports betting and numbers running business dating back to 1994. Robert “Bobby I” Iannelli, of Pittsburgh, along with his...
Greater Latrobe encourages kids to take advantage of free school meals
Children in the Greater Latrobe School District students can get two free meals a day through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Greater Latrobe joined other area school districts that are taking advantage of the meal program. Picking up where a similar effort ended in June, the pandemic-prompted program provides...
Police: Sutersville man jailed on $75K bond for puncturing tires with arrow, threatening neighbor
A Sutersville man allegedly used a crossbow arrow to puncture tires on two vehicles parked near his apartment on Tuesday and then threatened to stab one person who confronted him about it, police said. Rickie Linn Case, 58, was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment,...
Derry man accused of assaulting, spitting on woman in attempt to make her crash
North Huntingdon police say a Derry man repeatedly tried to make a woman crash her car as she drove through Westmoreland County on Monday. Police arrested Jason M. Thomas, 30, on charges of harassment, reckless endangerment, simple assault and making terroristic threats following the alleged 7:30 p.m. assault inside the...
Free milk flows in Jeannette giveaway
The American Dairy Association North East partnered with Schneider’s Dairy and The Salvation Army to distribute 1,000 gallons of milk in Jeannette on Wednesday through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Each vehicle that participated in the drive-thru distribution at the Magee Avenue parking lot received two gallons of milk. Some...
Jeannette thrift store opening in new spot after previous location is sold
The St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Jeannette appears to have found a new home. The store, which was forced to close its Clay Avenue location in December, will be setting up shop at the intersection of North First Street and Harrison Avenue. President Marilyn Lander said she hopes...
Trial starts in Penn Township attempted murder case from 2016
Jury selection started Wednesday in the attempted murder trial of a Penn Township man accused of firing a rifle at police who responded to a domestic call at his home more than four years ago. The case against Jody Martz, 56, was delayed for years as attorneys argued a series...
