Westmoreland category, Page 787
State delays change to Westmoreland’s paratransit system
A proposed state change local officials said could devastate Westmoreland County’s paratransit system for low income and elderly riders has been delayed. Gov. Tom Wolf late last week signed legislation authorizing a six-month study of the plan approved last year giving oversight of the state’s medical assistance transportation program to...
Westmoreland Historical Society library reopens at new centerVideo
Celebrities may turn to the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots” for help in tracing their family trees. People from all walks of life who are searching for information about their ancestors can once more take advantage of a local resource — the Westmoreland Historical Society’s Calvin E. Pollins Memorial...
Private Industry Council’s new leader strives to give back to community
Working at the Private Industry Council was the only work Shujuane Martin has known. Fresh out of California University of Pennsylvania where she starred on the basketball court, Martin started her career in 2003 as a caseworker at the tri-county agency based in Hempfield that helps low-income families navigate through...
Route 130 reopens near Pa. Turnpike after motorcycle crash; 1 injured
At least one person was injured Sunday night in a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle along Route 130 just east of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, officials said. Officials received a report about 8 p.m. of the incident at Route 130 and Long Drive in Penn Township, a Westmoreland County...
Broken leg ruse in Connellsville emergency room began 52-year relationship
Robert Broderick has no regrets over a ruse more than 50 years ago he and a Connellsville State General Hospital nurse pulled off in the hospital’s emergency room that introduced him to his future wife and “a lifetime of loving memories.” In 1968, Broderick was a cub reporter at The...
2 children involved in 2-vehicle crash in Derry Township
First responders responded to a two-vehicle crash involving two children Sunday afternoon. A Westmoreland 911 dispatcher said the crash happened around 2:40 p.m. in the 4000 block of Route 982 in Derry Township. The dispatcher said they received a call that the children were “shaken up,” but it’s unclear if...
Missing Murrysville man with dementia found safe
Authorities on Sunday night found a 72-year-old Murrysville man reported missing the day before, officials said. Murrysville police had asked for the public’s help to locate Robert Ludwig, who has dementia and a history of wandering away from his residence without supervision. Police posted an update to their Facebook page...
Route 981 detour ahead as PennDOT plans to replace Latrobe bridge
A section of Route 981 in Latrobe will be closed for a few days, beginning July 12, so crews can remove a bridge over Unity Run and replace it with a box culvert deck. Route 981 (Lloyd Avenue) will be closed to traffic between Wimmerton Industrial Park and Linden Street....
Crews find pickup truck reported missing in Loyalhanna Creek; no one injured
Water rescue crews on Saturday found the missing pickup truck that officials believed had sunk in Loyalhanna Creek during heavy rainfall the night before, officials said. Authorities located the car and determined there were no related injuries, a Westmoreland County 911 shift commander said shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday. Officials...
Murrysville opens ‘destination playground’ and splash parkVideo
Murrysville public works crews had to battle a soggy spring to get it finished, but municipal officials cut the ribbon on their “destination playground” and splash pad on Saturday morning at Murrysville Community Park. Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim Morrison wasn’t waiting to cool down, volunteering as the first person to...
Retired U.S. Marine from Greensburg displays WW II weapons, gear at West Overton Museum
Retired U.S. Marine Corps First Sgt. Ron Maxson picked up a 9 1/2 pound M1 rifle on exhibit Saturday at West Overton Museum in Scottdale and told the onlookers he could still “tear it down and put it back together blindfolded.” None of the spectators admiring the dozens of World...
Rescuers continue search for sunken car in Loyalhanna Creek, while Yough search canceled
Water rescue crews returned to Loyalhanna Creek in northern Westmoreland County Saturday to look for a car that was reported submerged during heavy rains Friday. Meanwhile, North Huntingdon police said a second search in the county, for kayakers reported to be distressed in the Youghiogheny River, was called off. A...
Russian band covering Chicago tunes packs SummerSounds in GreensburgVideo
Friends of SummerSounds Chairman Gene James knew people from New York, Maryland and Virginia who were traveling to Greensburg on Friday evening to watch Leonid & Friends, a Russian band covering hits by American pop group Chicago. But it was nearly impossible for him to point them out in a...
Police seek man who robbed Unity BP gas station
State police are searching for a man who robbed a Unity gas station at gunpoint early Friday. The suspect brandished what appeared to be a small-caliber, semi-automatic pistol, pointing it at least twice at the cashier at the BP station, which is located between the eastbound and westbound lanes of...
Ft. Ligonier to hold `Friendly Fire’ demonstration
George Washington might not think it is an incident to commemorate from the French and Indian War, but Fort Ligonier is holding another “Friendly Fire Friday for Free” event on July 5, the second of four such events this summer. Special demonstrations, weather permitting, will feature musket and artillery firings...
Ligonier golfers have drive to preserve D-Day legacyVideo
A former Latrobe resident’s love of golf and his regard for one of the most heroic acts of the Greatest Generation combined Friday to bring more than 100 men carrying golf clubs from all directions to Ligonier Township. The skirling sounds of the Laurel Highlanders pipes and drums and the...
N.J. man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting West Newton girl
A New Jersey man is charged with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl who went missing from her West Newton home Tuesday. Andrew X. Carnegie-Blackman, 23, of Highland Park, was arrested Thursday on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, criminal sexual contact and two counts each of sexual...
Pennsylvania lowers sales tax on taproom craft beers, pushes start to Oct. 1
Some craft beer brewers will adjust prices. Others are considering options to offset any additional cost associated with a state requirement that they must collect sales tax starting Oct. 1 — after a July 1 start date was delayed — on beers sold at their taprooms and to-go purchases. John...
Ex-NASA consultant to present astronomy program
A former NASA consultant will discuss the size and scale of the universe, the stars and other celestial wonders during a free program on astronomy at 10 a.m. July 6 at the Norwin Public Library, Caruthers Lane, Irwin. “Astronomy for Everyone” will be presented by Kevin Manning, an astrophysicist and...
North Huntington woman sentenced to federal prison for bank, mail fraud
A North Huntingdon woman convicted of embezzling from the Steel Valley Authority has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 18 months in prison, the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh said. The sentence was imposed on Nicolette Gizzi, 46, who had been convicted of bank and mail fraud. Prosecutors said...
Judge refuses to have online criticisms of Greensburg dentist practice removed, allows lawsuit to move forward
A Westmoreland County judge Friday refused to grant an injunction that would have forced the removal of online social media posts a local dentist claims are libelous. Common Pleas Judge Chris Scherer, in a four-page opinion, said the injunction request from Three Rivers Dental Group in Greensburg could ultimately have...
South Greensburg dentist’s office offering free care for vets
A South Greensburg dentist’s office is looking for veterans who could use some free dental work. Kraisinger Family Dentistry on Huff Avenue will host a free day of dentistry for vets Aug. 10. Dr. Josh Parry organized the event. “The VA dental is so backed up, it’s hard to get...
Here’s where to watch July Fourth holiday fireworks in Western Pa.
Here’s where you can watch fireworks around Western Pennsylvania this Fourth of July holiday. July 3 • Findlay Township Independence Day Celebration, begins at 7:30 p.m., fireworks at 9:45 p.m., Recreation and Sports Complex, Route 30. No parking permitted on Route 30. • Hampton Township Community Day Celebration, fireworks at...
Latrobe 4th fest marks half century, heads for leadership transition
Spectators lining downtown Latrobe streets on Thursday to watch the annual 4th of July Celebration parade will have to wait until the end of the procession to view this year’s grand marshal. The celebration’s 30-member organizing committee, including longtime Chairwoman Carol Greenawalt of Latrobe, will collectively fill that honorary role,...
Excela Health eliminates 15 jobs
Officials at Excela Health said they eliminated 15 positions at its three hospitals this week as part of a fiscal year-end assessment that scrutinized workplace efficiency and duplication of resources. “The result is a modest change in staffing in non-clinical areas,” Excela spokeswoman Robin Jennings said. The health system, which...
