Westmoreland category, Page 705
One woman’s marathon journey to a perfect fit in the classroomVideo
Vicky Krug was determined to become a teacher. Her resolve only grew during nearly two decades she spent as a social worker, substance abuse therapist, substitute teacher and tutor earning multiple degrees and certifications along the way. A brain injury she suffered when her car and a truck collided on...
Scouts — both boys and girls — clash at Pinewood Derby in IrwinVideo
Cub Scout Pack 293 leader Daryl Muzy admits technology has improved significantly in the 50-year history of the North Huntingdon-area Cub Scout pack’s annual pinewood derby race. Instead of eyeballing the finish line, as was once done by the scoutmasters, the speedy wooden cars now cross a laser beam that...
Westmoreland bus authority pays $12,500 in overtime in 1st week of running service
Westmoreland Transit Authority paid out about $12,500 in overtime wages for the first week in January after it assumed control over bus and paratransit services from a private contractor. Officials said scheduling procedures that had been in place for years as well as a driver shortage required the agency to...
Federal authorities join East Huntingdon gas tanker explosion probeVideo
Federal investigators have joined the probe of a fuel tanker explosion Friday that leveled an East Huntingdon tanker truck garage and sent three workers to a Pittsburgh hospital, including one with critical burns. Officials from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. Department of Transportation gathered Saturday...
Lights sought for Miracle League field in Murrysville Community Park
A request by Miracle League of Western PA officials to add lighting to the Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field at Murrysville Community Park could end up as a delicate dance balancing player safety and respect for nearby residents who were told the park would not be lit. “There were commitments made...
Cops: Missing Ruffsdale girl, 13, found safe
A 13-year-old Ruffsdale girl who went missing this week was found safe late Friday, state police said. Troopers issued an alert early Friday saying Lainey Ucman had not been seen since 9 p.m. Thursday in the area of Story Frye Road in South Huntingdon. Late Friday, state police in Belle...
Greensburg police ask for help identifying burglary suspect
Greensburg police are asking the public’s help identifying a suspect in a burglary Saturday in the city’s Northmont area. An unknown suspect reportedly burglarized a residence during the morning hours and fled in a Subaru SUV. Police described the burglar as a white male about 5 feet 5 inches tall...
Dollar General considers new store in Unity
A new Dollar General store could be coming to Route 30 in Unity. Next week, the township zoning hearing board is scheduled to hear from developers of the store proposed along the eastbound lanes of the highway at Smith’s Hill Road, just east of Beatty Crossroads. At 6 p.m. Jan....
3 injured in tanker truck explosion inside garage near New Stanton
Three people were reportedly burned Friday in a tanker truck explosion inside an East Huntingdon garage, Westmoreland County 911 said. The explosion occurred about 4:25 p.m. at 1528 New Stanton-Ruffsdale Road near New Stanton. Evening commuters headed south on Interstate 70 around 5 p.m. could see the smoke plume from...
Westmoreland tourism grants top $300KVideo
From an indoor ax throwing business to art museums, and everything in between, Westmoreland County tourist destinations were seeing dollar signs on Friday. Festival organizers, hotels, parks and theaters all benefited from the latest round of tourism grants announced by the Westmoreland County commissioners and the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau....
State police seek missing Ruffsdale girl
State police are seeking a 13-year-girl who has been missing since 9 p.m. Thursday. Lainey Ucman was last known to be in the area of Story Frye Road off Route 981 in South Huntingdon, police said. She may be driving a white hatchback-style 2017 Ford Focus. The car has a...
Youngwood tattoo artist arrested after sheriff’s deputies find suspected LSD in shop
When Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies went looking last month for the subject of an arrest warrant, they found suspected LSD instead at a Youngwood tattoo parlor, according to court papers. Deputies on Friday arrested the tattoo artist Ulises F. Osorio, 30, of Hempfield, on drug and related offenses. Investigators said...
Jury in Jeannette slaying rejects twin defense, finds Penn Hills man guilty of murderVideo
A Westmoreland County jury wasted little time in rejecting a man’s claim that his identical twin was the shooter in a brazen daylight murder in downtown Jeannette. Jurors deliberated about two hours before finding Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee of Penn Hills guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Michael Wilson, a...
Police: Pair dumped mother cat, 4 kittens at Hempfield shopping plaza
A Southwest Greensburg man and woman are accused by police of dumping a mother cat and four kittens behind a shopping plaza in Hempfield. Samantha Talley Smith and Corey William Seabol, both 26, are charged with cruelty to animals and neglect of animals. Seabol faces additional citations of driving while...
Police: Youngwood pair left behind 3 cats, turtle, bearded dragon at apartment
Two former Youngwood residents are accused of leaving behind three cats, a bearded dragon and a turtle when they abandoned a borough apartment, according to police. Emily Elizabeth Cisar and Jeffrey Andrew Houston, both 26, are charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and related offenses. Houston faces an additional charge...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Jan. 17-19Video
Depending on your holiday/travel plans, this week may have been the first full work week since sometime last year. It’s not easy getting back into that full-time production mode. Luckily, the weekend looms for most of us. Get out and hear some music, get some culture, maybe even dare your...
Birthday buddies: Teacher, student celebrate 75-year friendshipVideo
As a young child, Garnet Overly recalls, she always looked forward to school. “Schooling was something I always enjoyed. I enjoyed going to school and I enjoyed my teachers I had in the lower grades. Right now don’t ask me their names,” says Overly, 94, of Donegal Township. “I remember...
Judge won’t dismiss charges against ex-Derry mayor accused in gun incident
A judge on Thursday rejected a request from Derry Borough’s former mayor to dismiss assault charges related to accusations he threatened children with a loaded gun. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani ruled testimony presented during a preliminary hearing last year established enough evidence that Kevin Gross’ actions...
Grandmother of man accused in fatal Jeannette shooting offers alibi
A grandmother took the witness stand Thursday and said her grandson — a man on trial for a brazen daylight murder in downtown Jeannette — was in Florida at the time of the fatal shooting. Shirley Muhammad testified her paternal grandson, Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee, 30, of Penn Hills, was in Orlando...
Tenaska offering scholarships to students from Belle Vernon, Yough
Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners LLC, owner of the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station near Smithton, is offering $6,000 in scholarships for college-bound students in Westmoreland County this year. Tenaska manages scholarship programs in communities where its power plants are located and has given out approximately $760,000 in scholarships to date. This is...
Southwest Greensburg searches for new manager
Southwest Greensburg is looking for a new manager. “My wife and friends were all retired, and it’s time for me to join the fun,” said Corry Sheffler, 64, who has been the borough manager since 2011. He’ll be stepping down at the end of February. Sheffler wears a lot of...
Police: Hempfield man was drunk in head-on crash that seriously injured driver
A Hempfield man was drunk when he crossed into oncoming traffic, slamming head-on into another vehicle and seriously injuring its driver, according to state police. Troopers said 65-year-old Joseph J. Forbes had a blood-alcohol content of 0.216%. The legal limit to drive in Pennsylvania is 0.08%. He is charged with...
Firefighters called to blaze in Rostraver
Firefighters were called to a reported house fire in Rostraver on Thursday, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The fire was reported at 10:45 a.m. on Rostraver Road near the Route 51 overpass. Traffic on Rostraver Road and Route 51 was affected. No injuries were reported....
Cathy Sarraf joins Greater Latrobe School Board as appointee
Unity resident Cathy Sarraf finished just out of the running in November’s election of five Greater Latrobe school directors, but she joined the board this week as an appointed member. With Eric Hauser absent, the school board voted 6-1 Tuesday to appoint Sarraf to serve the two years remaining in...
North Huntingdon garbage complaints shrink, township officials sayVideo
North Huntingdon residents are filing fewer complaints about the township’s new trash hauler failing to pick up their garbage on time, township officials said this week. The township administrative staff “is not spending nine hours (a day),” fielding phone calls from residents upset that County Hauling of Rostraver failed to...
