Westmoreland category, Page 839
Greensburg woman accused of defrauding elderly Derry Twp. woman
A Greensburg woman hired to take care of an elderly Derry Township woman is accused of buying herself gift cards totaling almost $2,200 by using a woman’s credit card at two area supermarkets, state police at Greensburg said. The suspect, Mary Ellen Poscich, 45, allegedly defrauded the woman out of...
Westmoreland commissioner endorses chief of staff in Republican primary
Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson on Thursday endorsed his chief of staff, Sean Kertes, as his replacement. Kertes, 32, of Greensburg, has worked for Anderson, a two-term Republican commissioner, since 2016. Anderson announced earlier this year he will not run for re-election and will retire at year’s end. “From my...
Mental health advocate says sufferers typically are victims, not violent perpetrators
Many Americans have experienced some form of mental illness and getting the appropriate treatment is important, said Laurie Barnett Levine, director of Mental Health America of Southwestern Pennsylvania. But there is a stigma associated with mental illness that may act as a barrier for some to get help. “Mental health...
Driver accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian declines to testify at his trial
During a pre-dawn Christmas morning interrogation with police, Matthew Ramsay insisted he didn’t know he hit and killed a pedestrian hours earlier in East Huntingdon. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Kevin Wheelden testified Thursday that Ramsay appeared sluggish and tired and spoke with slurred speech as he was questioned by police...
Harm reduction movement pushes addiction advocacy, needle exchange in Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalition wants to spark a conversation and continued commitment to action around addiction and substance abuse in Westmoreland County. Among its goals: expand access to Naloxone and medication-assisted recovery programs and establish sterile needle exchanges for intravenous drug users. The Philadelphia-based coalition on Saturday will hold...
Greensburg Salem to honor 2 distinguished alumni
The Greensburg Salem Education Foundation will honor a medical researcher and a hospital executive as the district’s latest distinguished alumni. Dr. Susan Manzi and Albert Novak Jr. both graduated from Greensburg Salem High School in 1977. Manzi is chair of the Medicine Institute at Allegheny Health Network, supervising 400 doctors....
March for Parks will again include ‘pop-up’ bike shop at Murrysville march
Last year, March for Parks organizers decided to host a “pop-up used bike shop” to supplement fundraising for the Turtle Creek Extension of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail. More than 50 bikes were donated and the shop raised more than $1,600. Naturally, march officials want to try it again this year....
Westmoreland County settles another discrimination claim at sheriff’s department
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday agreed to settle a racial discrimination complaint filed by a former sheriff’s deputy. The out-of-court settlement calls for a payment of $17,500 to former Deputy Mark Taylor, who was one of three people to accuse the county sheriff’s department of racial discrimination last year. Commissioners...
Heritage trail meeting set for Thursday at Lamplighter
The Westmoreland Heritage Trail monthly meeting will take place tonight, Thursday, 7 p.m. at the Lamplighter Restaurant in Salem Township. Construction of the trail’s fourth phase, which will connect Murrysville and Export, is set to begin this spring, and trail officials kept plenty busy in 2018. Among other accomplishments, they:...
Sewickley Township firefighter injured by fallen tree
A firefighter was hospitalized with a fractured shoulder after being struck by a tree in Sewickley Township on Wednesday, according to Lowber Fire Department Chief Matt Geis. Firefighters received word that a downed tree was blocking Lowber Road around 7 p.m., Geis said. The tree was tangled up in vines....
Pennsylvania State Police find missing Ohio man
Pennsylvania State Police found a man they were searching for since Tuesday. Gary Cox, 65, was reported missing in Stark County, Ohio, Monday by his sister after he left work saying he was sick, police said. Officers on Tuesday found his car near the Antiochian Village Conference Center in Fairfield...
Trafford Road reopened in Murrysville
Trafford Road has reopened in Murrysville following a closure Thursday morning due to a disabled truck. The road was closed shortly before 9 a.m., when a tractor trailer truck broke down near its intersection with Pleasant Valley Road, according to Murrysville police....
Woman fatally shot by Greensburg police identified; family says she had mental health issues
A Greensburg woman who authorities said was carrying a gun when police fatally shot her suffered from mental health issues, according to a family member. Nina C. Adams, 47, was remembered Thursday by her aunt, Doris Jackson of Homewood, as a sweet, gentle person who was well-loved by her family....
Irwin police to get new vehicle
The Irwin Police Department is getting a new vehicle for $52,870, but the borough had to tap into its liquid fuels fund to cover the cost. Borough council on Wednesday approved the purchase of a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe from Kenny Ross Chevrolet Buick GMC in North Huntingdon. The price includes...
Pittsburgh rec staffer set to oversee Greensburg sports programs
A member of the Pittsburgh CitiParks staff has been tapped to take over as program manager for the Greensburg Parks and Recreation Department. Lydia Kinkaid, 27, of Pittsburgh, is expected to begin her new role in Greensburg later in March. Director at CitiParks’ Brookline Recreation Center, she previously was an...
Greensburg’s Nevin Arena loses Pens’ ‘Renovate the Rink’ contest
The votes are in, and Greensburg’s Kirk S. Nevin arena lost the competition for a $100,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Penguin’s Foundation. New Castle’s Hess Ice Rink won the Penguin’s first “Renovate the Rink” contest by getting the most votes from fans. Nevin Arena Manager Trudy Ivory said she wasn’t...
Tree falls on person in Sewickley Township
A tree fell on a person in Sewickley Township on Wednesday evening, according to Westmoreland County 911. Sewickley EMS were dispatched to the incident on Lowber Road at about 7 p.m. The extent of the person’s injuries were unknown, according to 911. Further details were not immediately available....
Testimony places alleged murder weapon in Latrobe man’s home
The alleged murder weapon and two other guns had been seen in the home of a Latrobe man who prosecutors contend helped plot a robbery that left another friend dead, according to testimony Wednesday in the trial of Colin Gearhart. Gearhart, 19, is charged with second-degree murder and other offenses...
Westmoreland primary could see nearly 500 candidates running for 173 elected offices
Nearly 500 candidates are expected to appear on the May 21 primary ballots in Westmoreland County. Elections bureau officials on Wednesday made public the complete list of candidates seeking 173 elected offices this year. Republican and Democratic voters will nominate candidates for state and county judges, county commissioners and row...
Children in Mt. Pleasant enjoy story time with therapy dogVideo
Nearly a dozen children gathered Wednesday at the Mt. Pleasant Public Library for Story Time with Therapy Dogs. The weekly story hour featured Cindy Porterfield and Rylee, her two-year-old German Shepherd from Youngwood Top Dog Therapy Dogs. The children spent time playing with Rylee before librarian Rose Eckman read three...
Trial begins for man accused of killing East Huntingdon pedestrian
Jolene Cummins said her husband was excited to finally spend Christmas Eve with his family. Having previously been on call for the holidays, Joseph Cummins had a new job and for the first time in years did not have to work. He prepared to head to church with his wife...
County detectives: Woman dies after being shot by Greensburg police
A woman died Wednesday after being shot by Greensburg police, according to Westmoreland County detectives. Police said the woman refused to drop her handgun after firing at a vehicle across the street. Her identity has not been disclosed. No one else was hurt, according to police. The woman started shooting...
Excela, Rotary partner for March 30 wellness checks in Murrysville
Excela Health and the Rotary Club of Delmont Salem are partnering to host a March 30 wellness check clinic in Murrysville. A 33-panel blood test will be available for $45 from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Westmoreland County Community College’s Murrysville campus at 6707 Mellon Road. An eight-hour fast is...
Elderly Jeannette man charged with possessing child pornography
A Jeannette man was jailed Wednesday on allegations that he had numerous child pornography files on his computer, according to court papers. Curtis Lamar House, 75, told investigators he didn’t understand why that type of pornography is illegal “because he didn’t think anyone was getting hurt,” agents from the state...
OxyContin maker says bankruptcy an ‘option’ as lawsuits move through courts
Bankruptcy is an “option” for drug maker Purdue Pharma in light of numerous lawsuits against them and others in connection with the nation’s opioid epidemic, the Washington Post reports. One of those lawsuits was filed in December 2017 by Westmoreland County, which seeks unspecified damages from 27 drug companies, including...
