Westmoreland category, Page 88
Backyard ice rinks a ‘labor of love’ for handy hockey families
Growing up in Monroeville, Matt Sargo fell in love with ice hockey after his neighbor, a Buffalo, N.Y. transplant on a mission to spread the sport’s good word, built a small rink in his backyard. “He came here with a plan,” said Sargo, a hockey coach who now lives in...
Unity proposes guidelines for ATV trails, limiting solar farms to conservation zone
Potential solar farms would be confined to the eastern edge of Unity, in the vicinity of Chestnut Ridge, under a zoning ordinance amendment proposed by township officials. If approved, the change wouldn’t affect the existing case of Joseph Stas and GreenKey Solar, whose plan to develop a solar panel array...
Independence Health looks to cut losses, crunch data to improve bottom line, patient care as 3rd year begins
Independence Health cut its operating losses by close to 50% in 2024, but those losses remain in the eight-figure range, prompting leaders of the regional health system to further reduce expenses. Excela and Butler health systems combined in 2023 to create a third, albeit smaller, health care giant in a...
Mt. Pleasant woman guilty for drunken crash that injured pedestrians
A Mt. Pleasant woman was convicted Friday for her role in a drunken-driving crash more than four years ago that injured two pedestrians. Elizabeth M. Sirianni could serve at least one year in prison as a result of the verdicts rendered by a Westmoreland County jury following a three-day trial....
Fusting Centre seeks expansion of Salem campus on Route 22
A proposal to expand the Fusting Centre business campus along Route 22 in Salem has received a preliminary recommendation from township planning commissioners. Developer Bushy Run Investments is asking to consolidate the existing Fusting Centre property — which is the corporate headquarters for medical staffing and home care firm Dedicated...
Mt. Pleasant woman gets up to nearly 2 years in jail for theft of $50K from band boosters
A Mt. Pleasant woman has been sentenced to serve time in the Indiana County Jail for stealing more than $50,000 from a high school band boosters group. Lara Lee Brown, 57, pleaded guilty to the thefts, which state police said occurred from 2019 through 2022 while she was treasurer of...
About $500K of work to fill Unity sinkhole nearly complete
Crews have pumped more than 3,300 cubic yards of grout into an abandoned mine void to stabilize a section of a Unity property where a local woman fell into a sinkhole and died. With recent snow blanketing the ground at Monday’s Union restaurant, work to restore a cordoned-off area behind...
Program to send text message alerts to residents starting in Jeannette
Municipal information will soon be texted to interested Jeannette residents. Council unanimously approved a one-year contract with Simple Texting for about $590. “This is going to be used anytime there’s a change in garbage (collection) or important information,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. “Residents can sign up to receive text...
Greensburg Salem eyes proposal for school upgrades
Nearly five months after hiring an energy savings company to help the district tackle an overhaul of its facilities, the Greensburg Salem School Board will vote next week on the first phase of renovations. Though the district has made minor improvements at its schools in recent years, its last major...
Greensburg Salem art students display work at Seton Hill gallery, gain ‘authentic’ experience
After four months of brainstorming, sketching and developing a portfolio of artwork, nine Greensburg Salem High School students’ art is on display at the Seton Hill Art Center. The art show, displayed in Seton Hill’s Jodee Harris Gallery, is considered the final exam for Greensburg Salem’s AP Art and Portfolio...
Vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycle restored for Greensburg police
A 1959 Harley-Davidson Servi-Car that has been stowed away by Greensburg police for decades is close to hitting the road again. The relic, once covered by a blue tarp in a storage garage, has been painstakingly restored over several months and is awaiting decal lettering as a final touch to...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Jan. 10-12
It may be tempting to curl up with a blanket and a piping-hot beverage this weekend to escape the frigid temperatures, but with so much going on in Westmoreland County, why not risk the chill and do something fun? Here are some ideas. Art on Tap: Casino Night Treat yourself...
Jeannette man not guilty of ordering teen brother to shoot adversary
A Westmoreland County jury on Thursday cleared a Jeannette man of allegations that he ordered his teenage brother to shoot his opponent after losing a street fight nearly four years ago. Following just one of hour deliberations, jurors returned not guilty verdicts for all five counts against Brandon Ingram. Ingram,...
Mother, daughter accused of stealing $4.4M from Greensburg Beverage CEO’s estate
A mother and daughter were arrested Thursday on police accusations they stole a relative’s $4.4 million inheritance from the estate of the CEO of Greensburg Beverage, according to court papers. Angela Lynne Valesky, 26, of Murrysville, and her mother, Lisa Anne Skatell-Valesky, 51, of Jeannette, are charged with theft and...
Greensburg Salem considers accepting grant to train teachers in mental health program
Greensburg Salem teacher Taylor Guido has seen firsthand how taking care of her mental health benefits her students. But it wasn’t until she attended a mental health-focused camp in Somerset County that she learned this valuable lesson. That’s why the district has proposed a program to train its teachers in...
Rivertowne Pub demolition bids submitted for review by North Huntingdon commissioners
The condemned former Rivertowne Pub & Grille on Route 30 in North Huntingdon — a piece of the defunct, bankrupt Rivertowne Brewing Co. — likely will be razed this spring, township officials said Wednesday. The North Huntingdon commissioners expect to vote on a demolition contract when the board meets Jan....
Latrobe’s Adelphoi to double capacity at charter school; expansion set for summer debut
Latrobe’s Adelphoi expects to debut an expansion of its Ketterer Charter School in June, more than doubling its capacity to provide instruction for area students who face emotional, behavioral or academic challenges. Construction is underway on two additions to the 45,000-square-foot school that is chartered by the Greater Latrobe School...
Attempted homicide added to Mt. Pleasant man’s charges in truck chase, shooting
A Mt. Pleasant motorist accused of chasing another driver and shooting at his vehicle had his day in court delayed Wednesday as state police refiled the charges against him, adding attempted homicide. Paul A. Caletri III, 30, also is charged with aggravated and simple assault, criminal mischief, reckless driving and...
Jury finds Monessen man not guilty of rape, sex assault charges
A Monessen man was acquitted of sexual assault charges on Wednesday. After nearly two hours of deliberations by a Westmoreland County jury, Jerry Francis Griest, 63, was found not guilty of three charges in connection with allegations made by an autistic woman who claimed she was raped after she rejected...
Defense claims Mt. Pleasant woman’s drinking not the cause of crash that injured pedestrians
Westmoreland County prosecutors contend a Mt. Pleasant woman was severely drunk when she drove her sports utility vehicle off the road and struck two pedestrians in early July 2020. Assistant District Attorney Theresa Miller-Sporrer told jurors on Wednesday that Elizabeth Sirianni’s decision to drive home after drinking at two local...
Trial begins for brother accused of ordering gunfire that started Jeannette shootout
Terra Dudley knew her son was in trouble but hesitated when she pulled out a gun to defend him as he fled from a barrage of bullets. She then fired at the teenage boy who had taken aim at her 17-year-old son, James Sanders. “My heart broke. I had just...
Former Derry Area Aqua Club president accused of stealing $24K from organization
The former president of the Derry Area Aqua Club was jailed Wednesday on police accusations that she used money from the organization to pay for gambling and sports betting, according to court papers. Josie Faye Ruffner, 35, of Latrobe, is charged by Westmoreland County detectives with dealing in proceeds of...
Westmoreland happenings: turkey dinner, more
Fundraisers • Jeannette Knights of Columbus hosts bingo at 7 p.m. Fridays in Mersinger Hall at Ascension Church, 615 Division St., Jeannette. Doors open at 6 p.m. and early birds begin at 6:30 p.m. Players younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Smoke-free venue. Food will be available...
Attorney for Jeannette officer seeks probationary program in case of false traffic stop reports
The attorney representing a Jeannette police officer accused of falsifying reports related to traffic stops said he hopes to get his client into a probationary program. Matthew S. Painter, 40, of Penn Township, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on 18 misdemeanor counts. There was no agreement struck...
Solar power company wins zoning approval in North Huntingdon
A clean energy company was given the green light Tuesday to proceed with plans for a solar power system it wants to build on a North Huntingdon farm, a first step in a long approval process that could take three years before producing electricity, a company official said. The five-member...
