Westmoreland category, Page 711
Fayette County man released from jail after his sentence is reduced
A Fayette County man was paroled Friday after being resentenced to serve a shorter jail term for his role in the thefts of construction equipment and building materials during a month-long crime spree in 2016 throughout Westmoreland County. David F. Wray, 48, of Fayette City, pleaded guilty in 2018 to...
Judge: Greensburg dad to stand trial for allegedly leaving kids in deplorable home
A Westmoreland County judge on Friday rejected a defense request to dismiss child endangerment charges against a Greensburg man suspected of leaving three children home alone for about a week in deplorable conditions. Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani ruled prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to support the charges against Ryan...
Terrelle Pryor files court petition asking to keep firearm permit after arrest
Former NFL player and Jeannette native Terrelle Pryor doesn’t want to surrender his permit to carry a concealed firearm, which was issued in Westmoreland County. On Friday, Pryor’s attorney, Stephen Colafella of Beaver County, asked for a hearing to challenge Sheriff Jonathan Held’s order revoking a concealed carry firearm permit....
PennDOT work to restrict southbound traffic at Route 51 and I-70
Motorists should be prepared for potential traffic delays Tuesday on Route 51 in Rostraver as crews complete preliminary field work for proposed reconstruction of the highway’s interchange with I-70. According to PennDOT, southbound traffic on Route 51, in the area near I-70 and Finley Road, will be restricted to one...
Brothers to address Westmoreland Woodlands group on Chestnut Ridge raptor count
Western Pennsylvania’s ridges can serve as superhighways for birds of prey migrating north each spring and south when fall arrives. Two Fayette County brothers have established that Chestnut Ridge, the western-most of those ridges, provides just such a route. At a Thursday presentation of the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association, they’ll...
Police seek pair in theft at Hempfield Best BuyVideo
State police in Greensburg are asking the public’s help identifying two suspects in the recent theft of a video gaming device and numerous accessories from the Best Buy store in Hempfield Township. Trooper Steve Limani said the thefts of a Nintendo Switch Lite gaming system, a speaker, and a gaming...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Jan. 3-5Video
Happy new year. The champagne corks have been popped, the party hats worn, the horns blown, the countdown over. Done hibernating? The big holiday parties may be over, but the good times are still rolling in Westmoreland County. Run off the calories, the cold No doubt those cookies, that eggnog...
Norwin library compiling long-range studyVideo
Norwin Public Library officials plan to use the results of a survey to determine the course of the library’s future. Library Director Diana Falk wants to start implementing programs or services included in a long-range plan being developed. “We really want to look at it (the study) to see what...
Helltown Brewing to host Tecmo Super Bowl tournament in Murrysville
For Dave Samuelson, tasting room manager at Helltown Brewing, the Sega Genesis console represented the apex of his video-game playing days, and one of the games Samuelson remembers playing best is Tecmo Super Bowl. “It was the first (football) game that had the real players,” said Samuelson, 45. “It had...
North Huntingdon man sues township over tree-cutting order
Three North Huntingdon officials are being sued in federal court after the township had 10 trees removed from a resident’s front yard in October. Curt Orner of 500 Oakhurst Drive alleges in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Dec. 30 that the defendants — township Manager...
Westmoreland Transit buses run normally after county operations takeover
Lisa Snow drove the Westmoreland County Transit Authority’s 4F bus to and from Pittsburgh on Thursday, the same route she’s operated over the past few years. There were no differences in how and where the bus traveled, but for Snow and her passengers, it was the start of a new...
Monessen police file multiple charges against man who barricaded himself in home
Monessen Police filed charges Thursday against a 47-year-old man who was involved in a 10-hour New Year’s Eve standoff at his home after city police attempted to serve him with a protection from abuse order. Jason G. Johnson was taken into custody 12:45 a.m. Jan. 1 by the state police...
Jeannette hikes property taxes by almost 6%
Jeannette property taxes are increasing by almost 6% this year. After approving a $5.5 million preliminary budget in late November that carried no property tax increase, council approved a final 2020 spending plan this week that raises the tax rate by 2 mills, an increase of 5.9%. City officials expect...
State licensing process delays opening of Hempfield hospitalVideo
Almost two months after officials held a grand opening ceremony for one of the region’s first “micro-hospitals,” doors to the new facility remain closed. The 120,000-square-foot Allegheny Health Network Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital, located at Route 30 and Angew Road, was slated to open in the weeks following the Nov. 9...
Mt. Pleasant Township woman jailed after New Year’s Day standoff with troopers
A Mt. Pleasant Township woman faces multiple charges stemming from a domestic altercation early New Year’s Day that resulted in a short standoff with state troopers. Kelly J. Wigginton, 35, was arraigned Thursday on charges of resisting arrest, simple assault, theft and illegal possession of a firearm as a result...
Ligonier Ice Fest planning more frosty fun for 29th year
As the January chill sets in, thoughts in Ligonier turn to ice. The Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce will host its 29th annual Ligonier Ice Fest on Jan. 25 and 26. DiMartino Ice Co. of Jeannette will begin carving at 10 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, with ice sculptures to...
New Derry man accused in Latrobe police chase
A New Derry man was arrested Thursday after Latrobe police said he fled a traffic stop and crashed into a boulder. Nicholas E. Armitage, 19, is charged with fleeing from police and reckless endangerment along with 19 summary traffic violations. An officer attempted to pull over a Toyota Scion at...
Police: Suspect claimed to be Westmoreland sheriff’s deputy in $7K scam
A man claiming to be a Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy scammed a New Alexandria woman out of $7,000, according to state police. The suspect told the woman in November that she could get out of a warrant for her arrest if she bought Reloadit prepaid cards. The man falsely represented...
Penn Township targets growth with comprehensive plan
Penn Township last adopted a comprehensive plan for the community in 2005. A lot has changed since then. Officials hope an updated plan will position the community for growth in the decade ahead. New housing developments are cropping up all over the township. Plans for a high-speed rail line, once...
Westmoreland’s first baby of 2020 arrives week earlier than expectedVideo
Serena Rose Spino came into the world a week earlier than expected — just in time to be Westmoreland County’s first baby born in 2020. She emerged at 6:29 a.m. New Year’s Day at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg. Serena Rose, the daughter of James Spino, 31, and his...
Going, going, gone: Bill Mazeroski’s sports memorabilia a big hit at New Year’s Day auctionVideo
“Long ago, it must be,I have a photographPreserve your memories,They’re all that’s left you.”— Simon & Garfunkel, “Bookends” (1968) Hundreds of photographs, trophies, baseball bats, cases of baseballs, gloves, signed cards and jerseys from Bill Mazeroski’s 17-year Hall of Fame career as a Pittsburgh Pirate were sold on New Year’s...
One injured in Ligonier fire
One person was taken to the hospital after a house fire in Ligonier on Tuesday, according to Westmoreland County 911. The fire started in the basement of the Griffith Street home, a dispatcher said. It was reported at 4:12 p.m. and was quickly extinguished by Ligonier’s Waterford Fire Department and...
Baseball merger coming to Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg
Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg are joining forces, combining their youth baseball programs in an effort to save the struggling sport. “All of our programs were dying off,” said Southwest Greensburg recreation Chairman Miles Webb. Starting in the spring, the newly created Greater Greensburg Athletics organization will administer baseball...
Overdose deaths in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties on course to drop againVideo
Drug overdose deaths in Westmoreland County appear to have dropped for the second year in a row. Through Dec. 1, 90 people died from drug overdoses in the county and 14 more cases are being investigated as overdose deaths, according to coroner statistics. Coroner Ken Bacha said he expects eight...
Franklin Regional superintendent to be keynote speaker at chamber prayer breakfast
Gennaro Piraino, superintendent of the Franklin Regional School District, will give the keynote address at the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce’s annual prayer breakfast on Jan. 31. Piraino is the Superintendent of the Year as chosen by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators. The breakfast will mark the 45th year...
