Westmoreland category, Page 710
Irwin man pleads guilty in connection with Western Pa. cocaine ring
A year-long federal investigation into a southwestern Pennsylvania cocaine distribution network resulted in an Irwin man pleading guilty this week. Bernard Wilkins, 57, pleaded guilty to the two criminal counts before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Wilkins admitted responsibility...
Pair accused of damaging, removing 67 parking meters in Monessen
A Donora man and Johnstown woman are accused by police of damaging or removing 67 parking meters in Monessen, according to court papers. Randy Wayne Kimmel Jr., 30, and Samantha Lashay Walters, 27, caused $13,400 in damage, police said. They face 134 charges of conspiracy and criminal mischief in connection...
Murrysville author’s book discusses signposts on his journey of grievingVideo
One of the many historical uses of the cairn, a man-made stack of stones, is to mark a trail, as a means for travelers to find their way. For Joe Walko, 53, of Murrysville, the cairn served as a perfect metaphor for the grieving journey he began when his wife...
Driver hurt in Rostraver rollover crash
A Belle Vernon woman was hurt Monday in a crash that affected westbound traffic on Interstate 70 in Rostraver, according to state police. Carley N. Folle-Toman, 24, was taken by ambulance to Mon Valley Hospital after the 6:40 p.m. crash at mile marker 44.5, police said. Troopers said she suffered...
Antiques show, sale returns to Greensburg Country Club
Most area residents are too young to remember Oakford Park, the Jeannette amusement park that operated from 1896 to 1940. But if you have a little nostalgia in your heart for the popular recreation destination, John Mickinak has a deal for you. The Greensburg antiques dealer will have a 6-foot,...
Westmoreland County man assists in son’s search for kidney donationVideo
There’s no need to ask William Dolan of Mt. Pleasant Township about his 39-year-old son, William Jr.’s, need for a kidney transplant. It’s boldly advertised across the Acme man’s white pickup truck. Since last summer, the elder Dolan has been driving throughout Westmoreland and Fayette counties with a large four-by-six-foot...
Westmoreland Dems announce Army vet as candidate for state house special election
Robert Prah Jr. will be the Democratic candidate in an upcoming special election for a state House seat, Westmoreland County Democrats announced. Prah, 38, of Rostraver, is the director of Military and Veterans Affairs at California University of Pennsylvania. He’s a former U.S. Army infantryman and current officer in the...
Latrobe gas station robber sentenced to 2-4 years
A Johnstown man pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges he robbed a Latrobe convenience store last March. Police said Cory J. Lonsinger, 38, wore a hooded sweatshirt, gloves and had his face covered with a black bandana when he threatened a clerk at the Lloyd Avenue BP gas station on March...
Greensburg man sent to prison for exposing himself to a woman
A Greensburg man will serve up to three years in prison for exposing himself to a woman in his home. James W. Sanders, 36, formerly of Latrobe, pleaded guilty Tuesday to four misdemeanor offenses in connection with an incident last April 3. According to court records, police said Sanders lured...
New Stanton man convicted in fatal hit and run appeals verdict
A New Stanton man serving a 40-year prison sentence for the hit-and-run death of a man jogging on Christmas Eve in 2016 claims he was improperly convicted of murder. In an appeal filed Tuesday, Matthew Ramsay claims evidence against him during a three-day jury trial in March was insufficient to...
Scottdale library gets $50K donation from bank
Scottdale Public Library received a $50,000 donation from Scottdale Bank & Trust, the bank’s parent company announced. The donation was through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC, a program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Parent company Mid Penn Bank of Millersburg, donated a total of...
Alleged hazing incident in Greater Latrobe Junior High wrestling program under investigation
Greater Latrobe School District and state police are investigating an alleged hazing incident involving the junior high wrestling team. Superintendent Georgia Teppert said Tuesday she couldn’t comment on specifics of the investigation because of student privacy and personnel issues. The district is “taking all appropriate actions necessary,” has met with...
Hempfield supervisors, school board to hold joint meeting
Hempfield Township supervisors and the Hempfield Area School Board will converge next week for their first joint meeting in years. On Jan. 29, members of the two boards will have an “open dialogue” about things happening in Hempfield, township Manager Jason Winters said. Tony Bompiani, school board president, added that...
Police: Export man posted Snapchats of nude teen girl
Murrysville police are seeking an Export man accused of posting video of a nude 16-year-old girl to Snapchat. Clement Chitambo Jr., 21, was charged Jan. 14 by police with two counts of sexual abuse of children and one count of criminal use of a communication device. All three are felonies....
5 Mt. Pleasant high school students, 1 recent graduate hurt in 2-vehicle crash
The day after five Mt. Pleasant Area High School students and a recent graduate were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on crash, Superintendent Timothy Gabauer on Tuesday said district officials met with four students who remained hospitalized. “They are all in good spirits and extremely concerned about one another,” Gabauer said....
Latrobe man charged with raping unconscious woman at New Year’s Eve party
A Latrobe man was arraigned Tuesday on charges of raping and sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at a New Year’s Eve party in Hempfield, state police said. Hunter J. Hoyle, 20, declined to comment as he was led from District Judge Mark Mansour’s office to be transported to the county...
Greensburg Restaurant Week returns with new prix fixe menus
Following the success of August’s inaugural Greensburg Restaurant Week, organizer Think Greensburg presents the first winter version. There are 17 participating restaurants for the event Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, says Ashley Kertes, executive director of Think Greensburg. Many are returnees from the summer event. All will offer a week...
First Ligonier Valley Restaurant Tour kicks off Ice Fest
The Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the first Ligonier Valley Restaurant Tour as part of the annual Ligonier Ice Fest. The “tour” will take place from Jan. 25 through April 30, says Ruthie Stewart, events and marketing coordinator for the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce. The tour...
Ligonier next community to receive its pair of ‘Wings’
Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s “Wings Across Westmoreland” initiative will grant another community its wings. Ligonier’s piece of art will be revealed at 11 a.m. Jan. 25 at its new home, Town Hall on the Diamond, as part of the 29th annual Ligonier Ice Fest. The wings will highlight distinct features of...
Hempfield board ends controversial tax assessment appeals programVideo
A residential tax assessment appeals program that was largely criticized in 2017 will be eliminated from the Hempfield Area School District starting in 2021. The program, adopted in 2015 to target under-assessed commercial and industrial parcels, essentially raises property taxes to what they would be if officials did a countywide...
Youngwood shelter animals get helping hand via MLK Day of ServiceVideo
Allyson Bitner doesn’t have pets at her Hempfield home, but she understands the value of volunteering at a local animal shelter — for the helpers as well as the rescued felines, canines and other critters. “It’s very therapeutic to just pet a cat and pet a dog,” said Bitner, 15,...
4 students airlifted from head-on crash in Mt. Pleasant Township
Several Mt. Pleasant Area School District students were injured in a crash Monday evening, according to district Superintendent Timothy Gabauer. The head-on crash in Mt. Pleasant Township resulted in four people being flown by helicopter to Pittsburgh hospitals, Kecksburg fire Chief Adam Krozel said. According to state police, the driver...
Downtown Greensburg Project prepares marketing push for city
Greensburg wants to show off its good side, and the Downtown Greensburg Project is looking for public feedback on how to do that. “We’re not the same old city we’ve been for a long time, we want more collaboration, we want a stronger city,” said Jessica Hickey, director of the...
Greensburg Diocese 2019 Lenten Appeal generates almost $5 million for diocese, parishes
The latest Diocesan Lenten Appeal came in under the 2018 amount but still in keeping with recent trends, according to the Diocese of Greensburg. Totals for the 2019 appeal, one of three main sources of revenue for the diocese, were reported this monthin the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Accent. Pledges...
Cops: Greensburg man jailed in large-screen TV sale scams
A Greensburg man wanted for two months on charges of duping patrons at two city bars into buying his large-screen television then running off with the cash was jailed Sunday on robbery and theft charges. Charles W. Brant, 43, was arraigned before District Judge Jason Buczak on two counts each...
