Westmoreland category, Page 809
5-month probe lands Mt. Pleasant Township man in jail on firearms charges
Following a five-month investigation, state police in Greensburg said they arrested a Mt. Pleasant Township man Thursday for illegal possession of multiple firearms including a AR-15 rifle and grinding off the serial numbers so they could not be traced. Michael C. Lint, 33, was arrested by state police following the...
Unity couple reaches rare milestone with 75th wedding anniversary
A thin, rectangular box collects dust in Harry and Velma Smith’s closet. It’s inscribed with the date May 17, 1944. Inside are the delicate lace remains of the dress and veil Velma Smith scrambled to find for her wedding amid World War II. There also is a message written by...
U.S. Air Force recognizes Hempfield’s parks and rec department
The Hempfield Township Parks and Recreation department was nationally recognized by the United States Air Force. According to Aaron Siko, parks and recreation director, the Air Force is allowed to use township facilities at no charge, including fields, pavilions and the athletic complex. The Air Force uses the facilities for...
Cops: West Newton woman cut man because she didn’t get birthday present, cake
Georgia M. Zowacki’s 55th birthday was not what she expected, according to court papers. The West Newton woman was unhappy and turned violent Wednesday because she didn’t get a birthday present, card or cake, police said. She drank vodka throughout the day to celebrate, but by 3 p.m. started threatening...
Allegheny, Westmoreland schools get grants for breakfast initiative
Several Westmoreland and Allegheny county schools were awarded grants recently as part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s School Breakfast Initiative. The initiative, which is providing more than 150 schools with grants up to $5,000 this year, is aimed at giving students a healthy breakfast. About $592,000 in grants were given to...
Hempfield-based General Carbide CEO finalist for regional entrepreneurial award
A Hempfield businesswoman is in the running to be Entrepreneur of the Year for the East Central Region of the United States. Mona Pappafava-Ray, president and CEO of General Carbide Corp., is a finalist in the competition that recognizes entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who excel in areas such...
North Huntingdon Police find $15K worth of marijuana wax, cocaine in traffic stop
North Huntingdon police stopped a car for driving erratically on Route 30 and arrested two Allegheny County men after finding about $15,000 worth of a powerful marijuana extract known as “Shatter” and a smaller quantity of cocaine, according to court documents. Dwayne M. Jefferson of Munhall and Darius L. Auston,...
Westmoreland Heritage promotes tourism ‘passport’
People who visit at least 25 Westmoreland County historic and cultural sites, art centers, theatres and community festivals this year can not only learn about the county’s history and heritage but get some prizes in return. A passport program offered by Westmoreland Heritage, in conjunction with the Laurel Highlands Visitors...
Arab headdress in Penn-Trafford school shooter training video criticized
Several Penn-Trafford School District alumni are up in arms over a perceived racist video of an active shooter drill at the high school. The video, posted on Twitter, shows a man — who some believe was serving as the active shooter — wearing what appears to be a keffiyeh, or...
County municipal authority hires architect for new sewer headquarters in New Stanton
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County board members on Wednesday hired an architect to design a new administrative and storage facility for the utility’s sewer operation, a move criticized by a former county controller for not seeking alternate proposals. The $225,000 contract was awarded to DLA+ Architecture to design and develop...
Greensburg man sent to prison for Jeannette armed robbery
A Greensburg man will serve up to 10 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Jeannette convenience store. Clinton Young III, 25, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of robbery and other related offenses in connection with the June 30 heist at a CoGo’s store on Harrison Avenue....
Hempfield students heading to Harrisburg for state K’NEX competition
With their K’NEX pieces in tow, four Hempfield elementary school students are set to build a functioning crane during Friday’s statewide competition in Harrisburg. The K’NEX State Competition, a yearly event that uses the toy construction system, requires students to build a crane that can move three objects at least...
2 men accused of supplying heroin to Latrobe man in fatal drug overdose
What police say was a fatal dose of heroin sold to a Latrobe man in July came with a warning: “be careful,” according to a state grand jury presentment. That disclaimer was made by Kyle Douglas Clem, 28, of Derry Township, and Michael Lilliock, 34, of West Newton, both of...
Greater Latrobe invites community to take part in superintendent search discussion
The Greater Latrobe School District invites the community to attend a focus group discussion Monday as part of its superintendent search. The meeting is set for 6-8:30 p.m. in the Senior High School Center for Student Creativity. It will be led by Tom Templeton of Templeton Advantage, a Perry County-based...
Township takes step to buy Ligonier Beach for $230k
Ligonier Township supervisors took another step this week toward acquiring the landmark Ligonier Beach property along Route 30. Supervisors unanimously authorized their solicitor to draft a $230,000 sales agreement to buy the private pool and restaurant property from owners Sherry and Steven Kozar. “I want to emphasize that (the sale)...
School bus hits Irwin church, driver injured
No serious injuries were reported early Wednesday when a First Student bus on its way to pick up students in the Penn-Trafford School District wrecked while making a turn onto Second Street in Irwin and struck Immaculate Conception Church. Irwin police Chief Roger Pivirotto said the bus was not carrying...
Hempfield decreases number of buses for next school year
Fewer buses will be used next year to shuttle Hempfield Area students, continuing a trend of the past four years. Budget cuts and decreasing student enrollment led to 44 buses being allotted for the district next year, six fewer than were used last year. The change will impact high school...
Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force plans patrols, checkpoints
Drivers beware: the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force will be out on the roads this weekend. Sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols will be set up in Westmoreland County from Friday to Sunday. Police did not offer specific details on locations or times. Police urged drivers to drink responsibly and be...
Authority to replace leak-prone Pleasant Unity sewer
Unity Township Municipal Authority is moving forward with plans to replace a leak-prone sanitary sewer main in Pleasant Unity and to extend sewage service to two businesses on Donohoe Road. The authority Wednesday opened bids for the Pleasant Unity project, including an apparent low figure of $201,127 submitted by McKeesport...
No injuries after plane crashes on takeoff at Arnold Palmer airport
No one was injured Tuesday night when a plane crashed during takeoff from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity, officials said. A single-seat experimental jet was taking off to fly locally shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday night, county emergency officials said. For an unknown reason, the plane crashed, a...
Westmoreland commissioner candidate pushes hard-right platform
Republican John Ventre, during an election forum Tuesday night in Greensburg, said “liberals who kill unborn babies” are not welcome in Westmoreland County. Ventre was one of six Republicans and one Democrat running for Westmoreland County commissioner who participated Tuesday night in the forum at the Greensburg Garden & Civic...
Law firm to investigate Westmoreland warden’s complaint against Commissioner Gina Cerilli
Westmoreland County will use a Harrisburg law firm to investigate a harassment complaint against county Commissioner Gina Cerilli. Jail warden John Walton last month accused Cerilli of misrepresenting facts associated with a state grand jury investigation into human trafficking that involved a jail guard. Walton said Cerilli used the false...
Greensburg prepares to dissolve Historic and Architectural Review Board
The agenda at Tuesday’s meeting of the Greensburg Historical and Architectural Review Board was typical — approving a straightforward sign change at a gas station. The circumstances, however, were not. The meeting was likely one of the board’s last, as city council moves to dissolve the organization that serves as...
Judge rules Belle Vernon students eligible for prom, graduation after underage drinking citation
A Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday halted the expulsion of eight Belle Vernon Area High School students cited this month for underage drinking at a charity event. The preliminary injunction granted by Common Pleas Judge Harry Smail Jr. means the students will be allowed to return to school next week...
Scottdale woman broke down barriers, loved people
Patricia Walker did not know she was opening doors for future generations when she stepped foot on a train that would take her to San Antonio, Texas, in 1950. The then 17-year-old made a decision about her life — rather than follow in the footsteps of a lot of young...
