Westmoreland category, Page 744
Missing Rostraver woman found dead along trail
A Rostraver woman who was reported missing Tuesday was found dead Thursday morning. The body of Dina Kotlar, 48, was found about 8 a.m. in a wooded area along a trail, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Kotlar’s death was a suicide, Allegheny County Police Lt. Andrew Schurman...
Unity supervisors approve plan for GetGo store along Route 30
Giant Eagle’s proposal for relocating and expanding its GetGo store in Unity moved a step forward Thursday as the township supervisors gave final approval of a site plan for the convenience store and gas station. Pat Avolio, director of development for Giant Eagle, said the supermarket chain wants to construct...
Latrobe area women running in 150-mile Cumberland-to-Pittsburgh relay raceVideo
Two Latrobe-area women intend to test their endurance, physical fitness and mental toughness in a 150-mile relay race along the Great Allegheny Passage that starts Friday in Cumberland, Md., continues throughout the night and does not end until runners reach Pittsburgh’s South Side on Saturday. April LeViere, 42, of Latrobe...
Youngwood VFW to celebrate 100th anniversary; seeks new members
The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Youngwood celebrates its 100th anniversary Saturday, and officials are hopeful the organization will be able to attract more members so there will be future celebrations. “We have very few new members with an all-volunteer Army. It’s difficult to maintain the members” as they...
Jeannette woman convicted of third-degree murder in boyfriend’s death
A 39-year-old Jeannette woman was convicted Thursday of third-degree murder for the violent beating death more than three years ago of her 19-year-old boyfriend. Jurors in Westmoreland County deliberated more than three hours before finding that Crystal Belle was guilty of a lesser charge. Prosecutors asked for a first-degree murder...
Police: Man barricaded in house for hours in Rostraver taken for mental evaluation
A man who barricaded himself inside a home in Rostraver for hours Thursday was taken to Pittsburgh for a mental health evaluation, police said. Rostraver police did not identify the person who was taken from the house by ambulance. A Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said the incident began around 2:20...
Reward increased for info on shooting of bald eagle on West Penn Trail
A reward for information leading to charges being filed against whoever shot a bald eagle on the West Penn Trail in Derry Township last week has been raised from $500 to $750, according to the couple who started a GoFundMe account to pay for bird’s medical expenses and the reward....
Police: Hempfield man exposed himself to 10-year-old girls
A Hempfield man was arrested Thursday on charges of exposing himself to two 10-year-old girls in Greensburg in August. Ronald E. Wineland, 61, was charged with two counts of corruption of minors and single counts of indecent exposure and open lewdness by city police. Wineland was arraigned before Greensburg District...
New Hempfield pre-K center puts spotlight on continuing needVideo
A new full-day pre-kindergarten classroom in Hempfield was cause for celebration Thursday, but the celebration was muted because of the ongoing unmet need in Westmoreland County. Leaders of Westmoreland Community Action Head Start met with area lawmakers to officially open the classroom and to advocate for more funding for pre-K...
Westmoreland commissioners authorize $7.1 million purchase of new voting equipment
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday authorized the purchase of $7.1 million worth of new voting equipment. They are hoping a promise from the state, which mandated counties purchase new equipment with verifiable paper trails, to reimburse part of the cost comes through. Gov. Tom Wolf last year called for the...
West Point residents remain critical of siren’s decibel levelsVideo
The first time Brittany Waterhouse’s daughter, Gwendalyn, heard the wail of the West Point Volunteer Fire Co. siren, she took off running. The beehive-shaped siren located atop a telephone pole across the street from their New Market Drive home normally sounds off between two and three times a day, Waterhouse...
Litter of kittens, cat abandoned behind Hempfield shopping center near Route 30Video
A litter of kittens and an adult cat were abandoned during the weekend near a large trash bin in a Hempfield shopping complex. The people accused of leaving the animals behind were caught on camera and investigators are working to learn their identities. The animals were found behind the Greengate...
Lloydsville, Marguerite firefighters honored for Route 30 rescue
Nine volunteer firefighters from two Westmoreland County companies were honored by the county commissioners Thursday for their quick action far from home. The firefighters, from Lloydsville and Marguerite departments, were traveling in a convoy Oct. 3 to Maryland, where they planned to attend the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. It was...
Halloween Hauntings tours scheduled at Compass Inn Museum
Newly carved jack-o-lanterns will illuminate walkways as visitors arrive for the annual Halloween Hauntings tours at Compass Inn Museum. Tours led by costumed docents are scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Oct. 19, 26 and 27 at the 18th-century stagecoach stop at 1386 Route 30, Laughlintown. Tours starting from 6 to 7:15...
Food 2 Go 4 Kids provides Hempfield elementary students with weekend mealsVideo
Elementary schools across Hempfield Area School District are working with local churches to ensure qualifying students have hot meals to eat on weekends. As part of the Food 2 Go 4 Kids program, school and church officials work together to purchase, package and disperse easy-to-make food for students, striving to...
Competency evaluation sought for Delmont man accused of shooting at neighbor
An attorney for a Delmont man accused of trying to kill his neighbor is seeking a judge’s permission to have his client evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Attorney James Crosby wrote in a motion filed in Westmoreland County court Wednesday that he has “serious concerns”...
Irwin takes stance against vaping, bans from parks and playgrounds
Amid the growing concern over the health impact of electronic cigarettes, Irwin council is making a move to ban their use at the borough’s parks and playgrounds. Council this week directed solicitor Zachary Kansler to preparean ordinance to prohibit vaping at places such as Irwin Park. The ordinance would be...
Woman sues Greensburg diocese, claims officials protected priest accused of rapeVideo
A woman is suing the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, claiming she was repeatedly raped by a priest in her Seward parish in 1972 after the priest was transferred there because of earlier abuse allegations. The woman, identified only as Jane Doe, said she suffered horrific sexual abuse at the hands...
Defense witness says Jeannette murder victim likely didn’t die from blood loss
A forensic pathologist testifying for the defense told jurors Wednesday there was not enough blood at a Jeannette murder scene for the victim to have died there from blood loss. “I don’t think, looking at those scene photographs, that there was nearly enough blood” to cause the death of Khalil...
Latrobe seeks new city manager, public works head as Michael Gray resigns
Latrobe is seeking applicants for two positions — city manager and public works director — as the man who holds both titles has tendered his resignation. Michael Gray said he submitted his resignation Monday for personal reasons. City council is expected to act on the resignation Tuesday , with Gray’s...
3 Westmoreland precincts get new polling places
Some voters in Hempfield, Monessen and Lower Burrell will travel to different polling places on Election Day, according to the Westmoreland Election Bureau. Three polling sites have been moved, according to the bureau:Hempfield Township Middletown precinct will now vote at Harold Zion Lutheran Church, 671 Baltzer Meyer Pike. The previous...
Westmoreland municipal authority approves $1 million worth of water line projects
The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County on Wednesday approved nearly $1 million worth of projects to install, relocate or replace water lines in several communities. The board voted to move forward with a project to relocate the water lines near the Yukon Interstate 70 interchange in Sewickley and South Huntingdon...
Police serving warrant in Ligonier discover suspected methamphetamine
What started out as a routine bench warrant arrest this week turned into a drug bust. Police serving an arrest warrant on a Ligonier Township man Tuesday for failing to appear for hearings on charges of retail theft allegedly discovered an unspecified amount of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a stolen...
Greensburg seeks holiday parade participants
It’s time to prepare for the most wonderful time of the year. Greensburg is looking for bands and organizations to participate in the city’s 28th annual Holiday Parade, which will take place Nov. 23. Recreation program Manager Lydia Kinkaid said the city hopes to see plenty of participants sign up...
Greater Latrobe eyes $1M gym roof replacement
Greater Latrobe School Board on Tuesday will consider spending a little more than $1 million to replace the roof on the senior high school’s upper gym wing. The board also is expected to vote on replacement of the sound system in the school’s gym and swimming pool and on expansion...
