Westmoreland category, Page 161
‘It’s a real shock’ friend says of fatal North Huntingdon dirt bike crash
A 19-year-old former Norwin High School student and a 16-year-old Norwin sophomore who were killed over the weekend in a dirt bike crash were mourned by classmates and friends Monday while donations poured in to help the families. The victims, Adam Bilinsky, 19, and Colin Bargiel, 16, both of North Huntingdon,...
Mom can’t explain son’s role in Hempfield bank robbery
Latreace Anna Jackson never suspected the trajectory of her son’s life would lead her to a Westmoreland County courtroom. “The weight of my son’s crime is enormous. At first, I was in disbelief when I found out it was him. I thought, why? It was not his character,” Jackson of...
Ex-Allegheny County detective pleads guilty to harassment in Export bar incident
A former Allegheny County detective pleaded guilty Monday to two summary harassment citations connected to an incident at an Export bar last year. Raymond Bonacci, 57, of McKeesport, was ordered to pay $362 in fines and costs, according to court records. The two harassment counts were filed last week when...
Morning Roundup: Jeannette man sought in Swissvale crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, April 1: Jeannette man sought in Swissvale crash An arrest warrant was issued over the weekend for a Jeannette man accused of being impaired when he crashed into a backhoe in a construction zone in Swissvale. The backhoe...
Hempfield supervisors approve part-time, paid fire department position in contested vote
Hempfield supervisors narrowly approved seeking paid part-time day shift drivers for the fire department. The move is part of efforts to strengthen and support the township volunteer fire department’s 10 stations in the face of challenges with emergency response. The township has met with firefighters over the past few months...
Schools adjust schedules for April 8 eclipse
Editor’s note: This report has been updated as school districts have changed plans. Potential safety concerns with viewing Monday’s solar eclipse have led some school districts to shift schedules, give students the day off or go remote with a flexible instruction day April 8. The eclipse coincides with regular dismissal...
Eclipse education: Western Pa. schools make plans for day of astronomical event
When the moon passes in front of the sun in the afternoon of April 8, students with the astronomy club at Penn-Trafford High School will be waiting on the football field to see it. Most Penn-Trafford students are being dismissed two hours and 15 minutes early on the day of...
2 teens killed in North Huntingdon dirt bike crash
Two teens were killed Sunday in a motor bike crash in North Huntingdon, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The victims were Adam J. Bilinsky, 19, of Coulterville Road, North Huntingdon, and a 16-year-old boy whose name has not been released, Coroner Tim Carson said. The wreck happened just...
Independence Health System to honor organ transplant patients, encourage donations in April
Independence Health System will honor patients awaiting organ donations in April for Donate Life Month. Participating hospitals Frick in Mt. Pleasant, Latrobe and Westmoreland in Greensburg will kick off the month with a flag raising on Friday . The health system is uniquely positioned to inspire the community to donate,...
Westmoreland happenings: Recovery meetings, bingos, senior center news, more
Fundraisers • Lincoln Heights Civic Association will have bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. April 4 at the center, 42 Millersdale Road, Hempfield. There will be 20 regular games and five quickies. Payout is 50/50. Free coffee. Cost: 25 cents for a three-card board; $1 for quickies. • A bingo...
Lilies bloom at Easter, a time of renewal
Pots filled with lilies will bloom inside churches as Christians celebrate Easter on March 31 — or May 5 for those of the Orthodox Christian faith. But how did these beautiful flowers become the symbol of Easter? Everything about the lily speaks of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, Catholic Diocese...
North Irwin bridge project lands funding; work may begin in 2026
A new bridge over a ravine and railroad bed in North Irwin could be built in two years if plans hold true, a PennDOT official said this past week. The Fourth Street Bridge has been closed for a decade and was removed last year. As some residents await its replacement,...
Youth-run West Newton trail eatery sets April opening, plans expanded summer hours
The Outpost River’s Edge Eatery, a youth-operated restaurant along the Youghiogheny River and the Great Allegheny Passage trail in West Newton, will open for its fourth season Saturday, April 6. Initial hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, with plans for an expanded daily operating schedule...
Greensburg Art Center launches next exhibit, installment of ‘Picture This’ series
Every time Eileen Yeager comes across an herb or spice in a cookbook, she writes it down to investigate later. Yeager, 75, of Murrysville, is not just interested in expanding her cooking repertoire. She translates her knowledge of herbs and spices into art — which are on display at the...
Bridge, road work set to restrict traffic in Greensburg, Rostraver
Single-lane restrictions are scheduled to begin Monday for PennDOT road projects in Greensburg and Rostraver. Westbound traffic will be restricted to a single lane on Route 136, between Hamilton and Lincoln avenues, during work on the bridge over Route 30 in Greensburg. The work, expected to continue through early May,...
Way of the Cross marks Good Friday in Greensburg
The annual Way of the Cross drama was performed Friday in downtown Greensburg. The reenactment portrays Jesus in the hours before his crucifixion — driven relentlessly through the streets of Jerusalem by Roman soldiers. The event started with Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. Following sentencing, he was led by the...
Residents concerned for Bernese Mountain Dogs seen wandering Murrysville since January
It’s not that easy to lose a Bernese Mountain Dog, at least from a visual standpoint. They can get up to 110 pounds, and the breed traces its lineage back, in part, to the ancient Roman mastiffs. The American Kennel Club characterizes them as loyal, calm and high-energy. Two Berneses...
Westmoreland chamber seeks young professionals for FUEL group
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce will hold the first meeting of its young professionals group in an effort to bring the next generation of business leaders into the fold. “Our goal is to create a supportive community where young professionals can not only learn from each other and their...
Middle school league draws teams from 6 area districts to compete in bots combat
Freeport Area Middle School claimed the King of the Ring title last year and is hoping to repeat that feat May 17, when teams from six schools across the region pit their tech-based creations against each other at Indiana Area Junior High. It’s the second year the Freeport Area school...
Murrysville abandoned gas well to be plugged; state officials assessing thousands more
When Pamela Schrank’s family moved into their Murrysville home last May, she was told an old gas well at the edge of some woods on their property had been capped. That wasn’t the case, according to state environmental officials — a fact Schrank found out last fall when she was...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: March 29-31
The Easter Bunny is slowly making its way to the greater Pittsburgh area leaving chocolate and eggs in its wake. Whether you celebrate the holiday or not, there’s still plenty to do this weekend in Westmoreland. Cantilever Tours The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 N. Main St., Greensburg, will...
Westmoreland GOP commissioners again nix drop boxes for mail-in ballots
Westmoreland County’s two Republican commissioners denied a request from several voters to install drop boxes throughout the county in advance of the April 23 primary. Commissioners heard from seven voters during the elections board meeting Thursday who urged them to approve drop-off boxes for mail-in ballots. Neither of the two...
2 accused of cashing checks and money orders taken from Giant Eagle pharmacy deposit bags
Two Allegheny County men, including one charged with homicide, are accused of intercepting $4,800 in checks and money orders paid by Giant Eagle pharmacy customers, according to court papers. Preliminary hearings are set for next month on charges of conspiracy and receiving stolen property against Adelin M. Itongwa, 23, of...
Man who abandoned 73 cats in North Huntingdon home receives 7 years of probation
A North Huntingdon man is forbidden from owning or keeping any animals while he is under court supervision in a case in which 73 cats were rescued from his home. Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio on Thursday sentenced Matthew Jacobs, 48, to one year less a day to two years less a...
Live Casino site for Greater Latrobe chamber’s inaugural expo and conference
Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its inaugural Connect Conference and Expo April 11 at Live Casino Pittsburgh, in Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall. The event is set for 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the casino’s top level and will include booth displays by area businesses and organizations,...
