Westmoreland category, Page 719
Battle of Bulge veterans gather for ceremonies near GreensburgVideo
Seventy-five years after the massive German offensive in December 1944, the cold still stands out in the mind of Battle of the Bulge veteran Joseph Folino of Hempfield. “The bigger enemy was the cold. It was below zero, and there was no shelter for us. You were not allowed to...
North Huntingdon K-9 to retire
After eight years of service, one of North Huntingdon’s K-9 officers is retiring at the end of the year, to be replaced by a new dog. Officer Jeremy Nichols, who works with K-9 Nero, said he will be taking the German shepherd home once the dog leaves the department. “I...
P-T school library gets grant
A Penn-Trafford elementary school library aide’s enthusiasm led to a grant from an Ohio foundation that can be used to buy books and other materials for the McCullough Elementary School library in Penn Township. Sarah Schadler, a library aide at Penn-Trafford’s McCullough Elementary School, had volunteered at the used book...
Ligonier Valley coat distribution slated at YMCA
Ligonier-area residents who are lacking warm winter outerwear are invited to stop at the Ligonier Valley YMCA Sunday to check out garments that have been donated through the second annual Ligonier Valley Coat Drive. According to organizers of the drive, anyone who needs a coat is welcome to stop at...
Judge rules evidence from 2015 Jeannette arrest can’t be used in court
The raid of a Jeannette bar more than four years ago resulted in the illegal search of a customer, a judge ruled Friday. William Lamont Lewis, 42, of Pittsburgh, was charged with drug and weapons offenses following a state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement raid of Punch and Juniors Bar...
Greensburg Salem reverses $13 million bond decision
The new Greensburg Salem School Board made its first order of business reversing the previous board’s decision to borrow $13 million. The board’s two new members started their terms this month and, in their first meeting, took part in a 5-4 vote to undo the divisive bond issue. The board...
Allegheny, Westmoreland sheriff’s deputies combine resources to arrest fugitive in Homewood
Sheriff’s deputies from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties combined resources Friday to locate and arrest a 29-year-old fugitive hiding inside a house in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh. Deputies said Orlando Robert “Jay” Holt of Pittsburgh surrendered after a 45 minute standoff at a home along Paulson Avenue. Westmoreland County Deputy...
Youngstown contractor new Latrobe public works director
A local native whose company has handled tasks for gas and oil companies, railroads and the Westmoreland County Airport Authority will take on a new assignment next week, for the city of Latrobe. Scott A. Wajdic of Youngstown is scheduled to begin work Monday as Latrobe’s new public works director....
Greensburg children’s librarian turns page, opens book on retirementVideo
Janie Mason, “Miss Janie” to generations of readers, is nearing the end of a special chapter in her life. Early next year, she will retire from her role as a children’s librarian with the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. As part of an early sendoff, and a thank you for her...
New sign caps recent improvements at North Huntingdon nature preserve
Volunteers from Jeannette’s Elliott Group lent a hand this week as the Westmoreland Land Trust installed an updated sign at the entrance of its nature preserve along Ardara Road in North Huntingdon. The sign joins other recent improvements at the 59-acre Otto and Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve that were the...
Cops: Driver was speeding, had cocaine in system in fatal Salem Township crashVideo
A North Versailles man testified Friday that he was alarmed when he saw a white pickup truck speed past his car along Route 22 in Salem Township as they approached a steady red light on Aug. 10, 2018. “I was in the process of slowing down when I saw the...
Youngstown, Whitney-Hostetter firefighters propose merger
Firefighters from Youngstown Borough and the nearby Whitney-Hostetter department often respond together to emergency calls. Under a proposed merger, they soon could be heading to other emergencies as a single volunteer company. Unity Township Supervisors this week passed a resolution supporting the merger, which was sought by the firefighters. “They...
Sage’s Army to sponsor free Sober New Year’s Eve event near Latrobe
Sage’s Army, a Westmoreland County addiction prevention and support organization, will hold its first Sober New Year’s Eve Party, Monday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church Hall on Route 981, near Latrobe. The free event, featuring live music, food and drinks and...
Inmate accused in assault at Westmoreland lockup
A Westmoreland County Prison inmate is accused by police of assaulting another inmate last month, according to court papers. David Lee Jellison, 27, of Hostetter, was arraigned Friday on aggravated and simple assault charges. His bail was set at $50,000. County detectives said Jellison is seen on jail surveillance video...
Firefighters rescue person, dog trapped on hillside in Unity
Firefighters rescued a person and a dog Friday morning that were trapped on a wooded hillside in Unity , according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Two people became stuck on the hillside in the Horseshoe Drive area of Lawson Heights at 9:30 a.m. after the dog they were walking got...
Winter classes, activities help dogs (and their people) fight cabin feverVideo
Cabin fever — it’s not just for humans. Your canine companion might feel cooped up during the wintertime, too, when snow covers the yard, sidewalks are icy and temperatures fall below freezing. Who wants to go out for a walk in those conditions? Even a well-trained dog might get a...
5 things to do in Westmoreland: Dec. 13-15
It’s beginning to look a lot like … well, a holiday season in full swing. From celebrations of historical traditions, to dance and music, to shopping and helping others, opportunities abound to enjoy oneself and reach out in the spirit of the season. Christmas through the centuries Historic Hanna’s Town,...
New fire hall in Jeannette to replace Clay Avenue buildingVideo
A new building is in the works for the Jeannette Fire Department Relief Association. Officials hope to be in it sometime next year at the association’s current location on Clay Avenue, said president Bob Carter. The current building, which previously housed a service station, is in disrepair and is slated...
Jeannette residents call for hemp plant closure
Jeannette residents asked City Council on Thursday to keep the hemp drying facility on Thomas Avenue closed permanently. “I don’t know how this happened. Why was this allowed to come into the city?” Diane Shaw asked. Shaw lives on Lafferty Street, near the facility owned by Colorado-based Patriot Shield LLC....
Washington County man wants conviction overturned for 2013 Donegal murder
A Washington County man said in court on Thursday he was coerced by his former defense attorney to not testify in his 2015 murder trial and now wants his conviction of first-degree murder overturned. Michael Martin, 46, contends he was the victim of a poorly conceived defense by a lawyer...
Unity man facing at least 16 years in prison for child rape, pornography
A Unity man was sentenced Thursday to serve up to 10 years in prison for the rape of a child. Timothy D. Piper, 24, pleaded guilty in September to three charges, including counts of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Prosecutors said Piper had repeated sexual contact with a young...
Unity man charged in cryptocurrency fraud scheme
A 23-year-old Unity man could face 22 years in prison and lose the $942,500 house he bought near Mountain View, his Ferrari and expensive jewelry if convicted on federal accusations that he stole from executives and investors of cryptocurrency firms. Anthony Francis Faulk was charged in California with conspiracy to...
Franklin Regional school board won’t delay construction on Sloan intermediate building
Construction of the new Sloan intermediate school in the Franklin Regional School District will continue after three of the four new school board members were unable to muster enough support to suspend work for a month. “Many of us ran for this position because people in the community were questioning...
Westmoreland food bank benefits from annual United Way/Shop ‘n Save shopping spreeVideo
When David Sipes shot down the aisle at Route 66 Shop ‘n Save in Greensburg, buggy in tow, he had a game plan. In three minutes, the 48-year-old Irwin resident had to collect as much food as possible to donate to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Thursday’s shopping spree was...
Veteran Westmoreland sheriff’s deputy accused of indecent behavior with female inmatesVideo
A former Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy urged female inmates to expose themselves or grope him over his uniform in exchange for cigarettes, according to state police. State police conducted a yearlong investigation that on Thursday resulted in Daniel A. Gradischek, 32, of Unity, being arraigned on multiple criminal charges, including...
