Westmoreland category, Page 356
Turnpike drug suspect sentenced to 9 years in prison for transporting 400 ‘bricks’ of heroin
A former Philadelphia man was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in federal prison for transporting about 20,000 packets of heroin three years ago when state police stopped him along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township. Cristobal Rosa-Robles, 51, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh by a federal...
Slickville Community Days shines spotlight on former mining town
About 400 people live in the small Salem Township community of Slickville, but visitors will swell that number this weekend, for the town’s annual Community Days. Set for Friday and Saturday, the festival had its start as a remembrance of the town’s founding as a coal mining community a little...
Westmoreland municipal authority moves forward with water, sewer upgrades
More than $2 million in upgrades, including water line replacements in Murrysville, were approved Wednesday by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County. The authority will spend more than $1.3 million to replace a water line on Murry Highlands Circle and McWilliams Road that serves about 50 customers. Officials said the...
Scottdale man found in North Huntingdon motel after removing ankle bracelet
A Scottdale man who was free on bail on drug and gun charges is accused of cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet and hiding out in a North Huntingdon motel, according to court papers. Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies tracked Donald M. Young, 46, over several days before apprehending him Friday....
Man who paralyzed Latrobe woman in Parkway East crash sentenced to 2 to 4 years
A Wilkinsburg man who was in the throes of mental illness last year when he went on a 75-minute crime spree, including stealing two cars, striking pedestrians and causing a crash that led to a Latrobe woman’s paralysis, will serve two to four years’ incarceration. Derek Deleon Brown, 30, pleaded...
Export dance studio earns Star Dance Alliance World Championship title
When DeStella Dance Centre owner Alexis DeSabatine is watching her students perform from backstage, she is a bundle of nerves. “I literally hold my breath and tense up,” she said. “I’m so nervous but also so excited.” On July 27, she had plenty to be excited about, watching from backstage...
Penn Township Fall Festival planning committee aims to ‘bring the community together’
For Michael Ginsburg, the annual fall festival is the one time a year every corner of Penn Township comes together. Ginsburg, a 43-year resident of Level Green, was a township commissioner when the idea for a fall festival was born in 2005. Following the success of the township’s 150th birthday...
Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor plans Roaring 20s anniversary gala
Lincoln Highway enthusiasts can celebrate the country’s first coast-to-coast highway — and those who promote it — during a Roaring 20s Anniversary Celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20 at Latrobe Country Club. Hosted by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, the night will include cocktails, buffet dinner, music by...
Resource center set to open to help those with flood damage in Latrobe area
A resource center will be open for six hours Friday to provide assistance to victims of flooding in Unity Township and the surrounding areas. The center will be open from noon to 6 p.m. at the Westmoreland County Community College’s Latrobe campus at 130 Depot St. Attendees can learn about...
Westmoreland happenings: Peach festival, turkey dinner, ethnic food sale
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to Carol Pinto-Smith at cpinto-smith@triblive.com or mailed to Briefly Speaking, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks before the event. Each announcement is printed once; there...
Medieval manuscripts illuminate Pitt-Greensburg course on the history of books
Some dragons popped up in the latest summer course led by history instructor William Campbell and two colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The fanciful creatures are among decorative figures that caught the eyes of his six students when they got an up-close look at some illuminated medieval...
Authority mulls adding car charging stations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is considering an agreement with Rostraver-based startup company Kilocharge to add electric vehicle charging stations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Board members asked executive director Gabe Monzo to negotiate with the company after solicitor Daniel Hewitt detailed Kilocharge’s initial proposal. Hewitt said the company proposed...
Penn-Trafford students earn scholarship money in esports tournament, expand club
Penn-Trafford High School has expanded further into the esports scene. Penn-Trafford began participating in competitions in the spring 2020 after launching its Esports Club. This summer, students had the opportunity to play for scholarship money. From July 15 to 17, Penn-Trafford Esports Club coordinator and history teacher John Carlisle took...
Franklin Regional Sporting Clays team seeks new members for fall season
Terry Ventorini of Murrysville knows a few kids who might be interested in taking aim at the Salvation Army’s “Shoot for Hope” fundraiser, set for Aug. 18 at Highlands Sporting Clays in Champion. “We had three kids go to the Pennsylvania State High School Clay Target League’s state tournament in...
Jeannette-based cemetery company has new name, logo
A Jeannette-based cemetery company that is one of the largest privately owned gravesite operators in the country has a new name. CMS East is now known as Life Remembered. The 66-year-old company announced the name change one year after it was acquired by Pittsburgh private equity firm Stonewood Capital Management....
Unity restaurant, storage facility join in efforts to help flooding victims
Local businesses have stepped forward to help victims of Friday’s flooding in Unity Township and surrounding areas, joining the efforts of organizations and individuals. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Sharky’s Cafe and The Pier will welcome those who are recovering from the flash floods for a free buffet meal at the...
Families ‘thankful’ as Variety distributes customized adaptive bikes to kids
Six-year-old Nash Millward got to ride his very own bike for the first time Tuesday — thanks to Variety the Children’s Charity’s My Bike Program, which provides adaptive bikes to kids with disabilities. Nash, of Mt. Pleasant, was diagnosed with epilepsy and nonverbal autism, and without the program, “he probably...
What the FBI’s search of Trump’s home could mean for Pa. midterm elections
Pennsylvania Republican leaders on Tuesday expressed outrage over the FBI’s search of former President Trump’s Florida home, and said they think the incident will boost GOP voter turnout in the upcoming midterm elections. Democrats downplayed the potential political fallout, arguing that Democratic voters became more highly motivated to head to...
High-speed motorcycle chase in Hempfield results in probation, house arrest sentence
A Scottdale man pleaded guilty this week to charges in connection with a high-speed motorcycle chase last summer that police said reached speeds in excess of 107 mph. Cameron Scott Ulery, 27, told a Westmoreland County judge he fled from police after leaving Live! Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall in...
Police: Derry woman charged after dog found dead in ‘extremely unsanitary’ basement
A Derry Borough woman was released from jail Tuesday on aggravated animal cruelty charges after police said they found a dog that had died of dehydration in her basement, according to court papers. Destiny F. Witherspoon, 25, posted $25,000 bail after being arrested and held at the Westmoreland County Prison...
Avonmore man accused of swinging a knife at neighbors, spitting on troopers
A neighbor was cut on her finger Sunday when state police said she disarmed an Avonmore man who was swinging a knife in the street, according to court papers. Richard W. O’Brien, 45, was being held without bail on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, simple assault and resisting arrest...
Coroner names man who died in Greensburg apartment building fire
Authorities have identified a man who died in a Greensburg apartment building fire Monday night. The Westmoreland County coroner’s office listed the victim as David M. Bramini, 40. A ruling on the cause and manner of death is pending results from an autopsy and from toxicology testing. Greensburg Fire Chief...
St. John’s Harrold church marks 250 years in Hempfield
When Susan Miller moved back to Hempfield in 1983, she knew without a doubt that she would be joining St. John’s Harrold Reformed United Church of Christ. Miller, 66, who lives outside the township’s Fort Allen neighborhood, has ties in the church dating back to 1900s when her grandfather was...
Pets can compete to serve as Greensburg’s 1st animal ambassador
Greensburg community leaders have a new pet project underway. They’re looking for the ideal animal companion to serve as the city’s first designated pet ambassador. The spotlighted pet will be selected this month through a contest including online and in-person segments. The winning pet and owner will be invited to...
Cleanup continues after flash flooding in Unity’s village of Dorothy
Peggy Gross watched as an antique sewing machine that belonged to her great-grandmother was carried out of her flood-ravaged Unity home. “Oh, that breaks my heart. You have no idea how old that is,” she said while standing under the shade of a tree in the front yard. Bags of...
