Westmoreland category, Page 371
Wolf sightings are Penn Township man’s reward in latest Yellowstone visit
(Editor’s note: Penn Township resident Robert Szypulski — a computer programmer with Windstream Communications — is a regular visitor to Yellowstone National Park and documented his most recent visit to the park’s northern range in April. In the wake of the historic flooding this month of the Yellowstone River and...
1-day festival a potent addition to Greensburg Craft Beer Week
Kris Jon Fischer of Greensburg is disappointed when he goes to a place that serves beer and finds only major label brands on tap. “I want to see craft beers,” he said. That wasn’t a problem during the past 11 days, when the annual Greensburg Craft Beer Week spotlighted specialty...
Chalk, walk, creativity come together at Greensburg’s Lynch Field
A beach scene, a rainbow, fish and a school bus were among images that added color to Greensburg’s Lynch Field walking track Saturday afternoon. Sponsored by Greensburg Parks and Recreation, the activity encouraged park visitors to get creative with colored chalk and transform portions of the track into temporary works...
2 wounded, 2 charged in shooting at Rostraver restaurant/bar, police pursuit
Rostraver Township police have charged a Monroeville man with shooting two other men early Sunday during a fight outside Sweeney’s Steakhouse bar and grill in Rostraver. A Charleroi woman is charged with fleeing the scene along Rostraver Road at high speed behind the wheel of a car occupied by two...
Hempfield veterinary center attracts pets, owners with treats, tours
Hannastown Veterinary Center’s Summer Treat Social attracted more than 40 owners and their pets Saturday afternoon, including Kristy McCracken and her Bernese Mountain Dog, Riley. At 13 months, rambunctious Riley is well on the way to reaching the 2-foot height at the shoulders many dogs of that breed achieve as...
New partnership development director brings ‘exuberance’ to Go Laurel Highlands
When it comes to her career, Kelli Brisbane’s priority is creating an impact in the community. The former executive director for Animal Friends of Westmoreland, Brisbane has been named the partnership development director of Go Laurel Highlands — a destination marketing organization based in Ligonier that seeks to bring tourism...
$121M project set to begin at Route 51 interchange in Rostraver
The reconstruction of the Interstate 70 and Route 51 interchange in Rostraver has the distinction of being the highest-dollar-value project ever bid in PennDOT’s District 12. Golden Triangle Construction Co. in Oakdale was the winning bidder at $120.6 million. Work has gotten underway, but the impact for motorists will be minimal...
Funerals for Westmoreland County’s unclaimed veterans moved to larger venue
Funeral services next month for 15 veterans whose remains sat unclaimed at the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office will be relocated to Hempfield Park to accommodate a larger-than-expected crowd. Officials said there has been an “overwhelming response” from the community to attend the ceremony. Coroner Tim Carson said Friday he expects...
Hempfield Area continues debate on change to curriculum review of challenged books
A policy related to evaluating course material soon could be changed even as Hempfield Area School Board members remain split over the best way to proceed. The monthslong conversation, which began in March when a small group of parents challenged two books available to high school students, continued this week...
Scottdale Pride expands for year 2, aims to launch nonprofit
Until last year, there was no such thing as an LGBTQ Pride event in Scottdale. Now, the Scottdale Pride committee is looking not only to expand the second annual event, but also the group behind it. Stephen Elcock said he and the other committee members seek to launch an official...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: June 24-26
Sounds of soul The SummerSounds concert series will welcome Pittsburgh-based soul singer Billy Price for a show at 7 p.m. Friday in St. Clair Park in downtown Greensburg. A regular on area music stages, Price received a Legends of Pittsburgh Rock ’N Roll Award in 2016. His 2015 recording with...
Hyde Park man guilty of third-degree murder in wife’s 2017 death
Jeffrey Mark Fondrk told a jury Thursday that as his wife lay unconscious on the floor of their Hyde Park home, he extracted a gate from under her body and stepped over her to pour a glass of Pepsi and did so again to sit on a sofa and watch...
Westmoreland sheriff’s department struggles with staffing shortage
Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said his department remains substantially understaffed even after 11 deputies were sworn into duty this week. The department remains about 10 staffers short of a full roster of 78 deputies. “We do all the duties we are required to do, but it’s a constant struggle,”...
Lawsuit settled in lawyer’s death at Greensburg YMCA
A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family members of a local attorney who was found dead in the sauna last year at the Greensburg YMCA has been settled. According to court records, a Westmoreland County judge on June 7 approved the agreement to end the litigation that claimed the...
Greensburg Salem OKs budget with no tax hike
Greensburg Salem property owners won’t see an increase in taxes for the 2022-23 school year. The school board this week approved a $49.1 million budget that holds the line on taxes at 89.72 mills but balanced it with a transfer of $531,540 from the district’s fund balance. By transferring the...
Westmoreland Democrats to select new leader
After weeks of delay caused by the litigation over the results of the May primary, Westmoreland County Democrats once again are set to elect a new party chairperson. Democrats are scheduled to convene tonight at Hempfield Park for their reorganization meeting to select a replacement for committee chairwoman Tara Yokopenic,...
Jeannette City tax increase spurred by decrease in property values, school leaders say
Jeannette City School District property taxpayers will see their bills go up by 1 mill after the school board approved the increase in the $23 million 2022-23 budget. District interim business manager Dale Kirsch and superintendent Matthew Jones said the rate will rise to 89 mills, which is about average...
Crash near Mt. Pleasant sends driver to hospital
The male driver of a car involved in a one-vehicle crash along Route 31 was flown to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh late Wednesday, according to state police at Greensburg. The Honda Accord veered off the westbound lane of Route 31 after 9 p.m. and hit a tree along Laurelwood...
Severe thunderstorm downs trees, wires in Southwestern Pennsylvania
A storm blew through Southwestern Pennsylvania early Wednesday evening and toppled numerous trees, knocking out electricity and damaging homes. West Penn Power reported it had about 12,500 customers without electricity in Southwestern Pennsylvania, primarily in Westmoreland, Washington, Indiana, Butler and Fayette counties, as of 5:52 a.m. Thursday morning. Outside of...
Belle Vernon dad organizes blood drive in honor of ‘superhero’ son battling eye cancer
Albert Jasso knows how important it is to have donated blood at the ready during a medical emergency. Jasso’s 11-year-old son, Cam, recently needed blood transfusions while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the eye. “This time around, we knew it was going to be more intense,...
South Greensburg McDonald’s closed for makeover; drive-thru expansion included
Travelers at the busy junction of routes 119 and 30 in South Greensburg who are anticipating a stop at the sign of the Golden Arches may not be “lovin’ it” so much for the next several weeks. The busy McDonald’s restaurant at 1207 S. Main St. (Route 119) is temporarily...
Unity man jailed in connection with theft of 7 guns
A Unity man was jailed Tuesday on state police accusations that he stole seven guns from a relative’s home, according to court papers. Troopers said Caleb A. Krisfalusi, 19, sold the guns to two shops. Police recovered the firearms and returned them to the relative who lives in Cook. Krisfalusi...
Yough’s Sardon going home to lead West Jefferson Hills School District
Yough School District is searching for a new superintendent to replace the district’s top administrator. Janet Sardon is returning home to lead the West Jefferson Hills School District, where she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. Sardon, 50, who has served as Yough’s superintendent since September 2011, will assume her...
Westmoreland happenings: Christmas in July, car cruise, summer social, more
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking can be emailed to 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 is no fee....
Laughlintown’s Compass Inn Museum marks 50th anniversary
Laughlintown’s 18th century inn originally provided respite and accommodations for travelers and drovers over a span of 63 years. In its current incarnation, as a restored museum, it has welcomed tourists for 50 years. The Ligonier Valley Historical Society, which operates the museum, celebrated the modern milestone at its recent...
