Westmoreland category, Page 859
Property debate sparks spat between Latrobe mayor, manager
The changing of locks on an office door at the municipal building and the sale of a blighted property by the Westmoreland County Land Bank brought a rift between Latrobe’s mayor and its city manager public. “You don’t report to anybody,” Mayor Rosie Wolford told Wayne Jones. “None of us...
Westmoreland assistant public defender announces candidacy for Monessen district judge
Assistant Westmoreland County Public Defender Jack Manderino on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the open district judge seat in Monessen. Manderino, 55, son of the late state House speaker Jim Manderino, has served as a lawyer in Westmoreland County and in Pittsburgh for the last 30 years. “I want to...
Youngwood woman charged with assaulting mother rejects plea deal
A Youngwood woman awaiting trial for allegedly assaulting her elderly mother over the television volume during a Steelers preseason football game rejected a plea bargain deal Tuesday that would have required her to serve up to four years in prison. Defense attorney Tim Dawson said his client, Delores Amorino, has...
Derry man gets probation after guilty pleas in 3 cases
A Derry man will serve six years on probation after pleading guilty Tuesday to a series of charges involving three different cases, including allegations he made threats to employees at a magisterial district judge’s office in 2017. Police said all three cases against Paul Barsoum, 54, occurred during a one-week...
New Kensington man to serve up to 50 years in jail on child pornography charges
A New Kensington man was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 50 years in prison for the possession of more than 20,000 images of child pornography. Joshua Pottle, 37, was convicted of 40 felony counts in October following a three-day jury trial in which he was accused of having pictures...
Cops: Man inappropriately touched 2 Greensburg girls, had child pornography
A Jeannette man remained jailed in Westmoreland County on Tuesday on allegations he had inappropriate contact with two girls while he temporarily stayed at a Greensburg apartment last year, city police reported. Police arrested Gerald A. Helzel, 24, last week following a report made to the state child abuse hotline....
Hempfield proposes public safety committee; police coverage could be examined
Almost a year after Hempfield’s fire bureau came into fruition, township supervisors are looking to establish a public safety commission — with police coverage being one area of potential focus. While the seven-person commission is far from being formed, Township Manager Jason Winters presented a conceptual plan that focuses on...
Westmoreland happenings: Feb. 2 and beyond
Fundraisers • Have A Heart Buffet Pasta Palooza is planned 1-4 p.m. Feb. 10 host by the Humane Society of Westmoreland County at Lakeview, Route 30 Greensburg. Cost: $25. Tickets: 724-837-3779. • 80’s party band Velveeta will perform 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in Harrison City VFD, 1010 Mill St. Cost:...
Murrysville activating shelter plans for Wednesday, Thursday
With wind chills plunging below zero on Wednesday and Thursday, Murrysville is making a warming center available both days on an as-needed basis. Anyone in need of emergency shelter should contact police Capt. Chuck Tappe at 724-309-2369 or ctappe@murrysvillegov.org and request assistance. “If I receive a call, I will notify...
Police: Trafford man intimidated victim by calling her 157 times after assault arrest
A Trafford man is being held without bail after police said he made 157 phone calls to a woman who he previously was arrested for assaulting. Authorities said Nigel Christopher Hogan, 29, threatened the woman on Sunday to not testify against him at a hearing today or “she would regret...
Cops: Women tried to steal $3K worth of merchandise at Hempfield Walmart
Two 20-year-old women were arrested early Tuesday by state police trying to flee the Walmart store in Hempfield without paying for $3,276 worth of items. Megan M. Bender of Connellsville and Julie L. Thomas of New Stanton were arraigned on charges of robbery, retail theft and harassment following the incident...
Pittsburgh area jobless rate remains at 4.2 percent
The Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate remained at 4.2 percent in December, a drop of .7 percent from a year ago as the region added 9,600 nonfarm jobs compared to December 2017. Among the seven counties in the Pittsburgh region, Allegheny County’s jobless rate held steady at 4.2 percent, while Westmoreland...
Loyalhanna Watershed group seeks 6 conservation interns
The Loyalhanna Watershed Association is looking for six student interns to help with conservation and improvement projects this summer at Forbes State Forest. High school seniors or older students who are enrolled in a college program have until March 1 to apply for a local 2019 Youth Conservation Corps internship,...
2 convicted in 2001 Bell Township murder get life sentences reduced
Tyler Gett has just a few fuzzy memories of his grandfather, murdered nearly 18 years ago in a Bell Township field. On Monday, Gett, 22, and other family members watched as two of the now-grown men convicted of the 2001 beating and shooting death of 48-year-old Larry Dunmire were given...
Crews make repairs to historic Westmoreland County covered bridge
Editor’s note: Bells Mills Road and bridge reopened Tuesday. Crews worked Monday to repair parts of a historic covered bridge damaged recently in an apparent hit-and-run. Part of Bells Mills Road had been closed for several days. The damage on Bells Mills Bridge, which connects South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships,...
Irwin fielding calls to buy Rite Aid building
The building housing the soon-to-close Rite Aid store in downtown Irwin has attracted a few potential buyers at the same time a business organization is pleading with the company to keep the store open. Irwin Borough Manager Valerie Morton said Monday she has fielded calls for Rite Aid from interested...
Man arrested after assaulting woman in Southwest Greensburg apartment, cops say
A Greensburg man is accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Friday, returning to her home after being ordered to leave following an argument, borough police allege. Giovanni L. Meighan, 26, was arrested about 1:15 a.m. when police followed up with the victim after the first call and found her running down...
Cops: Pittsburgh man tossed 50 bricks of heroin from car during North Huntingdon pursuit
A Pittsburgh man who led state troopers on a three-mile chase along Route 30 in North Huntingdon late Friday tossed 50 bricks of heroin out of the window before jumping from the still-moving car and fleeing on foot, according to court documents. Laplez G. Cummings, 34, was captured with the...
Diocese of Greensburg will use National Catholic School week to recruit for its 13 schools
Karen and Jake Stilley weren’t planning on sending their children to Catholic school. In fact, they moved to the area intending to send Julia, 10, and Tommy, 7, to public school. But they really liked the preschool Julia attended at Aquinas Academy Parochial School, and the Hempfield family has stuck...
Westmoreland hopes to have third-party rental sites collect occupancy tax
Pennsylvania lawmakers are working to make taxes on sites such as Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway easier to collect by putting the pressure on companies rather than property owners. But it’s an issue Westmoreland County is still trying to solve. Between the state and county, people who rent out their homes,...
Elderly Westmoreland woman scammed out of $58K
An elderly Westmoreland County woman was scammed out of $58,000 this month after handing over prepaid gift cards and cash to a person she knew only as “Dave” in Hempfield Township, according to state police. Troopers said the suspect identified himself as a Publishers Clearing House executive when he contacted...
Gina Cerilli to seek another term as Westmoreland County commissioner
Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli announced Monday she will seek a second term in office. The Democrat from Hempfield was the top vote-getter in 2015 when she won in her inaugural attempt for public office and became the first woman in four decades to serve as chairwoman of the board...
Western Pennsylvania’s craft beer market grows with the flowVideo
John Titus and Tim Molinari are taking the plunge into the competitive world of craft beer brewing, after toiling for months to open their New Crescent Brewing Co. taproom in a converted storefront in downtown Irwin. Although craft brewers dot Route 30 in North Huntingdon and others are planned for...
Ice artists create more than 70 sculptures for Ligonier Ice Fest, continues SundayVideo
Ernie DiMartino’s ice carvers have been working behind the scenes for weeks. And they’re not done yet — nine workers are transforming blocks of ice into beautiful sculptures at Ligonier’s Diamond Park. “There’s a lot going on, the weather’s perfect,” said Cindy Purnell, chairwoman of the 28th annual Ligonier Ice...
Registered sex offender in Greensburg accused of asking girl, 16, for sex
A Greensburg man who is a registered sex offender is accused of repeatedly asking a 16-year-old girl for sex, according to court papers. Henry Lee Bailey Jr., 31, is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $125,000 bail on charges of corruption of minors and harassment. The girl reported...
