Westmoreland category, Page 157
Cooper to face Republican challenger in 55th District primary
First-term state legislator Jill Cooper will face a primary challenge from a fellow Murrysville Republican this month. Cooper, 62, elected in 2022, will compete for the 55th District seat against Jamie Lingg, 50, who is in her first term on Murrysville Council. “There’s just some fundamental things that we’re not...
3 medevac helicopters respond to crash near Twin Lakes Park; 4 people taken to hospitals
Four people were injured Sunday evening after the vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a tree and overturned along Twin Lakes Road in Unity. One motorist was thrown from their vehicle and three others had to be freed by emergency crews, according to Tom Schultheis, emergency management coordinator for...
PennDOT work to trigger road closures in Ligonier Township, Rostraver
Portions of Route 259 in Ligonier Township and Lenity School Road in Rostraver are scheduled to close Monday morning for PennDOT road and bridge projects. Route 259 is set to close beginning at 7 a.m. between Austraw Road and McCurdy Trail while PennDOT crews replace a cross pipe over a...
School districts use technology to curb student vaping on campus
Tim Skoog keeps an unusual collection in his office at Franklin Regional School District. As the district’s director of safety and security, Skoog has confiscated hundreds of e-cigarette cartridges, or vapes, for his “vape graveyard” — a reminder of his efforts to decrease e-cigarette use on campus. “You really don’t...
Skateboard decks painted by Greensburg Salem students on display in advance of auction
At the Greensburg Salem School District, art has wheels. Eighteen hand-painted skateboard decks decorated by high school students are being auctioned off for charity through a collaboration between the district and the Greensburg Business and Professional Association, also known as Shop Greensburg. The boards feature colorful imagery ranging from outdoor...
Westmoreland happenings: Spaghetti dinners, bingo, speaker series, more
Church News • St. James Church, New Alexandria, will present the third installment of the speaker series “Living as Healthy Disciples” at 6 p.m. April 17 in the church social hall, 306 St. James Lane. The topic will be grief and loss. Bob Brinker, a counselor at Catholic Charities, will...
Fitness centers donate books to Charlie Batch charityVideo
Three fitness centers in the region donated 3,200 new and gently used children’s books to enhance reading and literacy through a charity founded by former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch. “It was a great donation, for sure. It will help provide books for our summer reading program and our Batch...
Democrats Bach, Dziados seek opportunity for fall race to unseat Reschenthaler in Congress
Democrats in Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District know there is a steep hill to climb. Businessman Ken Bach of Smithton or retired U.S. Navy veteran Christopher Dziados of South Strabane will attempt in November to oust three-term Republican incumbent Guy Reschenthaler, who has represented the six-county district since 2019. Both Bach...
4 taken to hospital after carbon monoxide detected at group home
Four residents of a group home in Unity were taken to a hospital Saturday after firefighters discovered elevated carbon monoxide levels in the building. A furnace malfunction caused the issue, according to Wayne Forsyth, deputy chief of Marguerite Volunteer Fire Department. Initial reports indicated a possible chimney fire. Upon arrival,...
High heels in Greensburg help mark continued struggle against gender violence
Krystle Karas isn’t a fan of high heels. “We are fans of comfort,” said Karas, 41, of Delmont, who along with more than 1,000 other men and women walked one mile Saturday morning in downtown Greensburg to send a message of support of victims of gender-based violence. There was both...
Delmont nonprofit wants to honor local gunsmith, highlight local history through plaques
A gunsmith who helped cement the rifle’s place in American history and two of Delmont’s landmarks will be adorned with plaques from the local historical society, if fundraising plans are successful. Jacob Earnest was born near Greensburg, and as an adult lived in the large brick house that today is...
Jeannette couple donates $10K to help cover cost of fixing ladder truck damaged in fatal fire
Jeannette business owners stepped up this week to help the city cover about half the $20,000 it will take to repair a ladder truck that was damaged in a March 20 fire that killed five members of a family of eight. “They blew me away when they came in (Thursday)...
Rostraver couple’s $1M donation will help complete Westminster College science center
Bill Maurer of Rostraver got the straight to the point when asked about his family’s $1 million donation to Westminster College. “I’m getting old,” he said. “I know there’s a need for all independent colleges as opposed to a state school, and I think it’s appropriate for those who can...
Police, New Alexandria officials investigate $88K in missing borough funds
State police are investigating after $88,000 went missing from New Alexandria’s coffers. The probe comes after borough council in March fired Chuck Ferry from his role as secretary-treasurer. Ferry could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, the small municipality of about 400 people is tightening its belt as it copes...
‘It is fitting’: Westmoreland courthouse law library renamed for woman who showed caring, compassion to all
If a defendant unable to afford representation walked into the law library at the Westmoreland County Courthouse looking for help, librarian Betty Ward treated them the same as an attorney with decades of experience. Watching Ward work was on-the-job training, said Pamela Snyder, who served as librarian assistant since 2016....
Westmoreland jury issues split verdict in case surrounding Unity man’s fatal drug overdose
A man was acquitted Friday of supplying the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed a Unity man in 2021, but was convicted of other drug counts. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated for about four hours before returning the split verdict against Andrey Young, 43. He was found not guilty of drug delivery...
Penn Township commissioners consider updating solar regulations
Penn Township commissioners will consider whether to make some adjustments to the ordinance regulating solar installations later this month. The board of commissioners and staff discussed the possibility of adding language addressing commercial solar installations at the township’s caucus meeting Wednesday, spurred by a proposal for a “solar farm” on...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust taps Penn Township native as new CEO
Twenty-one years ago, Penn- Trafford High School student Benjamin Luczak stood on the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, performing for an audience in the musical “Brigadoon.” In a few weeks, Luczak, 37, will have the responsibility of overseeing operations of The Palace, now that the Westmoreland Cultural Trust has...
Westmoreland Redevelopment Authority considers infrastructure for vacant Derry site
More than halfway into a six-month contingent agreement to sell a former Derry Borough industrial site, the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority may install internal roads and utilities to help lay the groundwork for attracting new occupants. “If we were able to sell the property and the developer was going to...
Seton Hill ships puppets to Florida middle school drama program left without props one week before showtime
When Seton Hill University professor Lisa Leibering’s theater design students created puppets for a local middle school production of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” they never expected their work would travel more than 1,000 miles away from Greensburg. But, when a middle school drama program director from Broward County, Fla., called about...
Irwin gets police body cameras, OKs prosecutorial review of footage
Irwin has joined six other municipalities in the county that have an agreement to let prosecutors review police body camera recordings before publicly releasing the footage. Irwin council this week unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding from Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli. Prosecutors who will review the footage are...
Westmoreland County OKs $1M increase to contract for rebuilt courthouse garage
The Westmoreland County Commissioners on Thursday agreed to pay a $1 million increase, making the new price $8 million, for the recent demolition and reconstruction of the county courthouse plaza and the parking garage underneath it. The increase resulted from several unanticipated work items and costs that exceeded the original...
Higher-ed experts discuss impact of banning books at Greensburg panel
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg professor Liz Jones can still remember the first time she picked up a copy of Elie Wiesel’s memoir “Night,” at 12 years old. The book’s frank descriptions of the horrors of the Holocaust would stick with her for life. “It blew me away. I was...
Jeannette police officers, neighbor honored for rescues made at fatal house fire
Miranda John wiped away tears as the six men who rescued her and two of her children from their burning home in Jeannette were honored Thursday night. “I am grateful for them because, honestly, if it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here,” she said afterward. “Yes, they couldn’t...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 12-14
Indoor or outdoor, artsy or active — there are plenty of activities to pick from this weekend in Westmoreland County. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes On Saturday, Blackburn Center hosts its annual event Walk a Mile in Her Shoes. For the past 13 years, the walk has gathered community...
