Westmoreland category, Page 373
Cost estimated at up to $3M for locker room redo at Greensburg Salem High School
Greensburg Salem officials are considering options for an overdue update of the district’s high school locker rooms while dealing with sticker shock at a projected cost of up to $3 million. Meanwhile, Superintendent Ken Bissell last week suggested hitting pause on a plan for providing heat relief in areas of...
Duquesne professor helps educators understand how to help children with trauma
Blanket punishments and cookie cutter programs aren’t appropriate responses when children have experienced trauma, according to Duquesne University professor Tammy Hughes. Hughes discussed the psychology and needs of such children at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s 2022 School Safety and Security Symposium at Westmoreland County Community College. “This isn’t about breaking...
Bikers host memorial ‘Ride in Peace’ for slain Penn Township coupleVideo
Liz Amend hoped her brother Jacob Erdeljac and his girlfriend Mara Casale smiled down on the motorcyclists who gathered in Hempfield Saturday for a memorial ride in honor of the couple who were killed in Penn Township last year. “Jake was an avid Harley rider. He met Mara, and she...
More people choosing mass transit as gas prices remain high
More people are turning to public transit as gasoline costs settle in the $5 per gallon range across the region. Westmoreland County Transit Authority has experienced a 30% increase in bus ridership since gas prices started climbing, said Ashley Cooper-Brounce, the authority’s deputy director. “We just recently looked at the...
Father figures: These coaches teach more than skills; they serve as role models for their players
Fathering comes in all forms. For many dads, it means getting involved with their children’s sports activities. But for fathers who go even further and become coaches, they are impacting more than their children’s lives. They are serving as father figures, as role models, for groups of kids. Meet local...
Westmoreland health care providers, employees combat staffing shortages from pandemic
The local health care industry had its challenges before a pandemic swept around the world two years ago. As summer 2022 approaches, human resources directors and department managers are finding it even more difficult to find the people who can provide basic services. It’s especially tough for small facilities such...
Greensburg’s Pennsylvania Avenue, McLaughlin Drive included in summer paving plans
Greensburg officials plan to mill and resurface portions of eight streets this summer, including Pennsylvania Avenue. The work on seven of the streets is to be completed in two phases at a combined cost of $371,406. City council this week approved contracts for both phases with Derry Construction, which submitted...
New Alexandria man sentenced to 5 years on child porn charges
A New Alexandria man found with 8,000 images and videos of child pornography was sentenced to five years in federal prison and 10 years of probation for distributing the sexually explicit material, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said Friday. Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti sentenced Matthew T....
Police: Derry Township man accused of assaulting woman, 2 children
A Derry Township man is accused of assaulting a woman and repeatedly striking two children with a belt, according to court records. Iszac T. Dallar, 32, was arrested and arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, making terroristic threats and three counts each of harassment and...
CSX rail work will result in detours for South Huntingdon motorists
CSX crews are scheduled to perform maintenance on two railroad crossings in South Huntingdon, causing a pair of consecutive road closures. PennDOT said Jacobs Creek Road will be closed near Post Office Road from 7 a.m. Tuesday until 7 p.m. on June 25. The second closure is scheduled on Second...
Westmoreland Land Trust nature backpacks are ready to check out at county libraries
Some outdoor lovers like to watch birds, some go wild for flowers and others may enjoy exploring woods and waterways. Resources for any of the above interests now can be checked out, along with books and other media, at Westmoreland County’s public libraries. Westmoreland Nature Backpacks are available for library...
3 charged as 61 animals removed from Monessen home
Sixty-one animals were removed from a Monessen home earlier this month that city police and rescuers said was in deplorable condition. Three people were charged with animal cruelty and related offenses Wednesday while rescue groups work to rehabilitate the dogs, birds, chickens, cats, kittens and a rabbit. All of the...
Mutual Aid Ambulance CEO and operations manager depart, board tabs former coroner Ken Bacha interim CEO
Two years after changing administrators in charge of its day-to-day operations, Mutual Aid Ambulance Inc. confirmed its new chief executive officer and director of operations departed this week. The Greensburg-based nonprofit said Friday that CEO Douglas DeForrest and director of operations Lorenzo Garino are no longer employed with the ambulance...
Kentucky psychiatrist sentenced in kickback scheme involving Hempfield testing lab
A Kentucky psychiatrist was sentenced this week to three years of probation and ordered to repay more than $24,000 to the Kentucky Medicaid program. Varanise C. Booker, 67, admitted that she was a licensed psychiatrist who operated a medical practice, Family and Children Behavioral Health Services, in Louisville, Ky., that...
Greensburg woman pleads guilty in 2018 child rape case
A Greensburg woman said “guilty” 35 times in court Friday when a judge asked how she was pleading in the 2018 rape of a 5-year-old boy. Corby Jo Kinzey, 28, entered a general plea to all of the charges against her and could face decades in prison when she is...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: June 17-19
Scandalous scoundrels Faire Wynds Entertainment will present a living history program entitled “Scoundrel’s Alley” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Compass Inn Museum, along Route 30 in Laughlintown. A troupe of four historical re-enactors will portray rogues, paupers and other undesirable figures, bringing to life historical...
Musser’s will open new location in DelmontVideo
As the summer growing season kicks into high gear, Larry Musser of Musser’s Farm Market in Penn Township is gearing up to boost his production to make produce available in more locations. A new Musser’s store will open this summer in the former Second Fiddle location on Route 66 in...
Honor roll includes 3 Westmoreland men whose cancer deaths followed service in Vietnam
James Sumner of Greensburg lost a battle with cancer just more than a year ago, at 76. New Kensington’s Donald Penzera, formerly of Greensburg, lost his in 2006, when he was 56. Floyd Serbanjak of Herminie was 23 when he succumbed to the disease in 1974. The three Westmoreland County...
Westmoreland County Transit Authority to buy 20 new paratransit vehicles
Westmoreland County Transit Authority is updating its fleet of paratransit vehicles as it reports seeing ridership numbers for the door-to-door, shared-ride service recover after slumping during the covid-19 pandemic. The authority on Thursday approved buying 20 new paratransit mini-buses to replace similar vehicles. Executive Director Alan Blahovec said the authority...
Volunteers brave heat to assemble bicycles for Westmoreland County kids in need
Maj. Scott Flanders, director of the Salvation Army location in New Kensington, knows having a bicycle on long summer days is one of the joys of growing up. Thanks to volunteers and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 100 kids will be well-equipped to ride. About 50 volunteers braved the...
Murrysville creates ‘do-not-knock’ list for residents to opt out of most types of soliciting
Murrysville residents now can opt out of most types of solicitation through a “do-not-knock” list that will be given to anyone applying for a solicitation license. Council voted 7-0 to approve an updated version of its peddling and soliciting ordinance to give residents the ability to restrict who can walk...
Westmoreland group plans Juneteenth programs in 3 communities
Greensburg’s Unity in the Community group has added Jeannette as a third Westmoreland County venue for its second annual weekend of programs celebrating the Juneteenth holiday. The Celebrating Freedom events begin Friday in Greensburg, with speakers and activities scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Westmoreland County YWCA headquarters,...
North Huntingdon delays decision on waiving building permit fee for Norwin
Norwin school officials will have to wait another month before finding out whether North Huntingdon will waive a $15,575 building permit fee for a school roofing project. The township commissioners on Wednesday tabled making a decision until July on the requested waiver. The move comes a week after a majority...
Rostraver commissioner accepted to enter ARD program in harassment case
Rostraver Township Commissioner John J. Lorenzo was permitted to enter a probationary program Thursday and a judge ordered that his in-person participation in some board meetings be restricted. The order was part of an agreement with the state Attorney General’s office, which prosecuted accusations that Lorenzo used fictitious Facebook accounts...
Police find drugs, missing teen girl in North Huntingdon motel; man arrested
An Ohio man was found in a North Huntingdon motel Wednesday with marijuana, a gun and a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing, according to court papers. Robert Easley, 40, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, drug possession, corruption of minors and related offenses. He was being...
