Westmoreland category, Page 83
Lifelong Hempfield resident announces run for township supervisor
A lifelong Hempfield resident wants to serve as a township supervisor. In announcing her candidacy, Becky Durbin said she intends to focus on implementing a community alert system, supporting the township’s fire departments and the public works department. It’s important, she said, to maintain green space and make good decisions...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Jan. 31-Feb. 2
After an especially chilly January, we’ll all be waiting with bated breath to see what fate Punxsutawney Phil has in store for us on Sunday. Whether he sees his shadow or not, you can still celebrate like spring is just around the corner with these events. Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market...
Hempfield family uses cold to make rainbow blocks for front yard igloo
The Szekely family of Hempfield wasn’t about to miss its second chance at building an igloo. “We tried in 2018, but the weather wasn’t cold enough,” said Marta Szekely, who lives with her husband, Matt, and their children near Hempfield Park. There isn’t much traffic in the Szekelys’ neighborhood, but...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Love Stories’ evening features renowned cellist
The Westmoreland Symphony will present a special Valentine’s weekend concert titled “Love Stories” with special guest artist Zlatomir Fung at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg on Feb. 15. The centerpiece of the evening is Dvořák’s “Cello Concerto in B minor” featuring Fung. “He’s a brilliant cellist and an artist on...
Prosecutors reveal suspected motive for St. Clair mother’s murder
Westmoreland County prosecutors contend a long simmering period of discord between a New Florence woman and her mother provided a motive for her killing in late 2023. According to a court filing, investigators believe the Dec. 11, 2023, fatal shooting of 71-year-old Alice Robson was the culmination of years of...
Clairton man nabbed in West Newton drug sting
A Clairton man is behind bars after police said he sold 160 bricks of drugs to a confidential informant in West Newton and took $30,750 to settle drug debts, according to court papers. Ismail A. Hamlin, 28, is facing numerous drug and weapons violations in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties as...
Irwin man who can’t recall killing girlfriend sent to prison for up to 20 years
An Irwin man who has no memory of killing his girlfriend at a Monroeville hotel three years ago will serve at least 71⁄2 years in state prison. Matthew Gribschaw, 40, pleaded guilty but mentally ill in November to third-degree murder for killing Rochella Anderson, 49. On Thursday, Senior Judge Katherine...
Greensburg craft, gift store invites young artists to sell work
Hannah Smith has created art for as long as she can remember. But until last week, Smith, a homeschooled sophomore who lives in Hempfield, never envisioned her artistic talent could turn into a career. Smith is one of five young artists who stocked the shelves of downtown Greensburg’s Artisans of...
Jeannette man sentenced to up to 9 years for narcotics offenses
Nearly four years after police seized drugs and almost $10,000 from a Jeannette man, he was sentenced to serve up to nine years in prison, according to Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office. Larry Frederick, 35, was arrested in February 2021 after investigators seized from his home nearly 3...
Pa. student scores on national testing lower than pre-pandemic, results show
Pennsylvania public schools still may be grappling with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a national report on reading and math proficiency among fourth grade and eighth grade students. The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress — released Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics — shows...
Judge sets $1M bond for daughter charged with theft of Greensburg Beverage CEO’s estate
The lawyer for a Murrysville woman who, along with her mother, is accused of taking more than $4 million of a relative’s inheritance, told a Westmoreland County judge the case against his client has no factual basis. “Their theory is not supported by the evidence,” said defense attorney Paul Ellis...
Greensburg man to serve 20-to-40 year prison term for child rape
A Greensburg man was ordered to serve up to 40 years in prison for the rape of a child. James Dickant Jr., 35, was convicted of nine counts in a nonjury trial in October in which prosecutors claimed he had repeated sexual contact with a young child over a period...
Rostraver road rage shooter sentenced to 80 years in prison for ‘cold-blooded killing’
A Westmoreland County judge said Wednesday the New Year’s Eve road rage killing three years ago of a Rostraver woman was “one of the most callous, senseless, arrogant cold-blooded killings with malice” that he has seen. Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Anthony Hairston, 29, of Belle Vernon, to...
Defense attorneys say aides in Greensburg Salem elementary school followed direction of supervisors
Defense attorneys sought to push blame Wednesday in criminal cases alleging mistreatment of three Greensburg Salem elementary students onto two women who led the classroom, not two aides who were essentially their subordinates. Attorneys for Lorraine F. Robertson, 75, of Greensburg, and Amanda Lehman, 40, of South Greensburg, argued during...
Unity man dies after Ligonier Township head-on crash on Route 711
A Unity man who was severely injured in a head-on collision Monday in Ligonier Township has died. Colin Keough, 18, who lived on American Legion Road, was pronounced dead Tuesday in the intensive care unit at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, according to Cambria County Coroner Jeffrey Lees. Keough...
Westmoreland happenings: Valentine’s Day card drive, Jeannette bingo
Valentine’s Day • Senior Helpers is collecting handmade Valentine’s Day cards that will be distributed to local senior citizens. Schools, community groups and local organizations are welcome to participate. Arrangements can be made for pickup by Senior Helpers or they can be dropped off at the office, 4000 Hempfield Blvd.,...
Hempfield man to serve prison sentence for woman’s assault
A Hempfield man was ordered to serve up to eight years in prison for a brutal attack against a woman nearly three years ago. Cody J. Mattei, 34, pleaded guilty in November to felony counts of strangulation, aggravated assault, victim intimidation and a weapons offense in connection with 2022 incident...
Hempfield OKs change in compensation rate for property tax collector
Hempfield supervisors agreed Monday to pitch in more for the township property tax collector’s compensation, a figure officials said had gone unchanged for decades. Supervisor Doug Weimer estimated it’s likely been 35 years since the elected office has gotten a raise. “I think we’re overdue on changing the compensation formula,”...
Spirit plans for return of daily flights to Myrtle Beach from Arnold Palmer Regional
Spirit Airlines plans to resume daily flights from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity to Myrtle Beach, S.C., in May, an airport official said Tuesday. The daily flights from the county airport to Myrtle Beach International Airport will resume May 7, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County...
Hempfield delays decision on zoning change for proposed development near Valley Green
Hempfield supervisors are taking more time to mull over a request to rezone 100 acres of farmland to allow for a housing development after neighbors voiced concerns regarding flooding, traffic and wetlands on the property. Supervisors voted unanimously to table the measure. “Growth’s important to the township, I support controlled...
Nonprofit civic groups to connect with community at Greensburg forum
A Greensburg area organization is sponsoring an event to connect smaller nonprofit organizations with each other and with the community to make people aware of the life-affirming services that are available, the organizer said. The Connections for Life event will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the...
Monroeville man sought by Murrysville police
A Monroeville man is wanted on assault and terroristic threat charges stemming from an incident in Murrysville, police said. Travis F. Brown, 37, is accused of violating a protection-from-abuse order by visiting an Oregon Street home on Dec. 21, 2024. A woman who lives at the home told police Brown...
Vehicle travels off turnpike, strikes tree and overturns in Penn Township; driver hospitalized
A man driving through Penn Township on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital after striking a tree Tuesday morning. Penn Township Ambulance, Harrison City Volunteer Fire Department, and turnpike officials were dispatched to the area of mile marker 60 on the toll road around 8:20 a.m., according...
Westmoreland commissioners seek more oversight of juvenile detention center
Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center, plagued for more than two years by staffing and other issues, may be getting more oversight, if county commissioners get their way. Commissioners, who account for a half of the board that oversees the eight-bed secured facility for juvenile offenders, said they want monthly updates...
Union Mission building in Derry Township expands to offer longer-term transitional shelter
The Union Mission’s emergency shelter for homeless men was at 108% capacity last year, with cots supplementing its 24 beds. Next month, the faith-based organization will open a new long-term shelter that is expected to relieve pressure on emergency shelters in Westmoreland County. “There are folks using emergency shelters where...
