Westmoreland category, Page 75

Amanda Skiffington said she’s ready for the holiday season. Skiffington and her 8-year-old son, Levi, were among the crowds that gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown Jeannette for the city’s Sparkle of Christmas celebration with a parade down Clay Avenue and a holiday craft show at the American Legion. “We’re here...

It wasn’t uncommon for neighbors to see Elizabeth Pollard out and about, walking with her 5-year-old granddaughter, tending to her flower garden and hosting a popular stop for neighborhood children during Halloween trick-or-treating. Family members said Pollard’s pride and joy was helping to raise her granddaughter after tragedy struck the...

A Trafford man is accused of extorting money from his elderly Murrysville uncle. Joseph Calisti, 40, is accused of defrauding the man of more than $10,000 in purported legal fees in a scheme authorities say involved a bogus claim the uncle’s properties were under investigation by state environmental officials. Investigators...

Natural gas company CNX Resources Corp. will expand into Westmoreland County in a $505 million deal. CNX announced this week it will acquire Pine-based Apex Energy II LLC — a move that will add about 36,000 acres in Westmoreland County to CNX’s scope. It will also earn CNX 8,600 acres...

Ron Duvall knew something was wrong the minute he approached the door of his jewelry store in Penn Township last week. Owner of Valmax Jewelers in the township’s Penn Crossing shopping plaza, Duvall pulled the keys to the building from his pocket only to realize the door was already unlocked....

Norvelt firefighters no longer have to fold in the side mirrors of their engines to get the vehicles in and out of their station. They now have four larger truck bays at their disposal in a new station in Mt. Pleasant Township that is more than double the size of...

It’s crunch time for Penn-Trafford High School’s video production class. The class of 26 students is in the final days of piecing together its 4½-hour broadcast raising money for Make-A-Wish — a nonprofit that grants experiences to children with critical medical conditions. “We’re putting a puzzle together, but we’re missing...

Christmas event • Level Green Presbyterian Church, 105 Olive Drive, Trafford, will host a free live Nativity Dec. 13 on the church front lawn. Visiting with the animals will be at 6:45 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. Carol singing will be afterward. Hot chocolate, hot cider,...

A few people had honest words Thursday about the previous state of a waiting room outside family court at the Westmoreland County Courthouse: outdated, dreary, worn and a collection of random things. But thanks to Calvary Church in Irwin, those descriptive words are all positive after a $10,000 renovation project....

Two organizations and three people were honored recently by the Westmoreland County Historical Society’s 2024 Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Awards. The awards are presented annually to people, organizations, businesses or educational institutions that have contributed to the preservation of Westmoreland County’s historic places, documents, records or stories. The awards...

Eat, drink and be merry at some great events around the county this weekend. Get away from the cold with delicious treats, fun performances and lots of good cheer. Irwin Christmas cookie tour Businesses throughout downtown Irwin will be spreading a little Christmas magic with the Irwin Christmas cookie tour...

Keeping her sights aimed sky-high earned Scottdale resident Christina Stoner two prizes in this year’s Go Laurel Highlands photo contest. Stoner won second place in the contest’s “nature” category with her image of the Northern Lights, captured over Acme Lake. Her photo of a fireworks display lighting the sky above...

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is scheduled to visit Greensburg on Monday afternoon to remind Pennsylvania residents to sign up for medical coverage through Pennie, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Davis is slated to make an appearance at Adagio Health with Pennie Executive Director Devon Trolley and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner...

More than 72 hours have passed since authorities believe Elizabeth Pollard vanished into a sinkhole above an abandoned mine in Unity, yet her family remains hopeful that she will be found alive. Her niece, Tabitha Pollard, relayed a message Thursday on behalf of Pollard’s husband and son. “They are still...

Hours after being released from jail Monday for stalking singer Lacey Sturm in Murrysville, an Ohio man was back behind bars after he showed up at the woman’s home, according to court papers. Anthony A. Carpenter, 43, arrived at the house at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday in a flat bed truck,...

The taxidermy grizzly bear and red devil’s food cake that were once staples at the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Salem have been replaced by fresh pasta salads and Italian aromas. Wagon Wheel closed its doors almost exactly a year ago after more than six decades in business. Rizzo’s has opened...

A Northeastern Pennsylvania man was convicted Wednesday of the sexual assault of a teenaged girl four years ago at Keystone State Park. David Stone, 62, of Dingmans Ferry in Pike County, was found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and corruption of a minor in connection with allegations...

Chris Kondrich wasn’t shocked to learn a sinkhole had opened a street away from his Upper Marguerite home in Unity. A former firefighter and longtime hazardous materials volunteer, Kondrich said he has seen plenty of mine subsidence incidents. Kondrich lives on Lemmon Road, about a quarter-mile from where Elizabeth Pollard,...

Westmoreland County’s elected officials will again receive raises in 2025. The commissioners and row officers are slated to see their paychecks jump next year by nearly 3.4%, nearly mirroring the hikes received this year and once again prompting one official to call for a cap on future raises. “This is...

Christmas events • Cook Township Community Center will host a free opportunity for children to meet Santa Claus at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at the center, 1698 State Route 711. There will be photo ops with Santa with backdrops, a cookie-decorating station, and free cookies and hot chocolate. • The...

Authorities fear a grandmother from Unity who disappeared while looking for her cat may have been swallowed by a sinkhole. Crews searching for Elizabeth Pollard, 64, learned Wednesday morning that they have to switch up their tactics after the integrity of the mine where they’ve been digging is being compromised....