Westmoreland category, Page 725
Community honors retiring county Commissioner Chuck Anderson and his wifeVideo
Chuck Anderson stepped back, a look of genuine surprise on his face. The luncheon at Lakeview Lounge had been advertised as the regular monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, an event that typically draws about 30 retired military officers. On Wednesday, more than...
Greensburg man gets jail time for grabbing girl, 9, by throat
A Greensburg man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of child endangerment for a physical altercation in September with a 9-year-old girl. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani sentenced Roger E. Russell Jr., 64, to nine-to-23 months in jail as part of a plea bargain in which prosecutors...
Man gets probation for trying to run over ex-lover’s boyfriend in Derry Township
A former Greensburg man was ordered Wednesday to serve five years on probation for an attempt to run over a romantic rival with his car this year in Derry Township. Robert Kuszajewski, 28, now of Jeannette, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and making terroristic threats...
No injuries reported when car crashes into Madison houseVideo
Dale Stinogle was jolted from his quiet afternoon looking out the kitchen window of his Madison apartment Wednesday when he “heard a big crash, like an explosion, and then the whole house shook.” “We have a few oxygen tanks stored in our basement, and it was so forceful, I first...
Stahlstown man watches childhood tree light up Rockefeller Center for NYC holiday tradition
When Mitch Schultz Jr. watched a rainbow of lights bring a holiday glow to this year’s Christmas tree at New York City’s Rockefeller Center, it added a stunning final chapter to his family’s 60-year history with a Norway spruce. “I trimmed it tons of times as it was growing,” said...
Westmoreland dog owners warned of website selling fake dog licenses
Westmoreland County Treasurer Jared Squires on Wednesday warned residents to avoid a fraudulent website that is selling bogus dog licenses. Squires said the state Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement identified the bogus site as selling fake Pennsylvania dog licenses. Operators of the sham site paid internet search...
Trio accused of selling methamphetamine from Salem Township house
Informants helped break up an alleged crystal methamphetamine distribution network operating out of a Salem Township home, according to court documents. Brian D. Dumnich, 35, his girlfriend, Heidi J. Altman, 32, and Victoria Nave, 34, all of the Forbes Road section of Salem, are charged with drug-related counts after agents...
West Virginia man pleads guilty in shooting death of former Delmont man
A West Virginia man pleaded guilty this week in connection with the fatal shooting of a former Delmont man, according to the Herald-Mail. Alvin Deshaun Gilbert, 27, of Berkley County, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Monday in West Virginia. He admitted during a hearing in circuit court to killing Corey...
Police: New York man tried to buy phone in Murrysville with fake ID
A New York man is in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after police said he tried to buy a cell phone in Murrysville with a fraudulent identification card. Orlando David Castillo-Paulino, 20, of Yonkers, allegedly tried to buy an iPhone 11 Pro Max for $1,100 at a Verizon Wireless...
Jeannette adding surveillance cameras on Bullitt Avenue
About a dozen surveillance cameras will be installed on Bullitt Avenue in Jeannette through a grant from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. The cameras will be bought and installed with $11,432 in money seized during drug arrests in the city, police Chief Shannon Binda said. The cameras will be...
Small fire at senior high rise in Scottdale forces brief evacuationsVideo
Some residents of the Scottdale Manor senior citizen high rise along Pearl Street were briefly evacuated from their apartments Tuesday night because of smoke from a small fire in the building. No serious injuries were reported in the fire but several residents were taken to a hospital for evaluation, according...
History program focuses on Latrobe-area churches
The Latrobe Area Historical Society will usher out the year with an encore presentation of a program highlighting the many facets of the town’s faith community. The slide show “Holy Latrobe: The Historic Houses of Worship” will be screened at 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the society headquarters, 416...
Latrobe hires patrolman, promotes K-9 officerVideo
Latrobe police shored up their ranks by hiring new patrolman Matthew DeChicchis and promoting K9 Officer Robert Derk to sergeant. Most recently employed with the police department in Johnstown, DeChicchis “came out heads and tails above everybody else” in Latrobe’s civil service hiring process, Latrobe Police Chief John Sleasman said...
Jeannette man gets at least 6 years in prison for fatal Yukon DUI crash
A Jeannette man will serve at least six years in prison for his role in a fatal vehicle crash in March in which his 25-year-old passenger was killed. Trey L. Cue, 24, pleaded guilty Tuesday to homicide by vehicle, drunken driving and other offenses in connection with the crash that...
Blue Angels jets slated to fly when Westmoreland airshow returns in 2021
The Shop ’n Save Westmoreland County Airshow should be flying high once more in 2021 — after taking hiatus next year — with a return of the Blue Angels Navy jet team as the chief attraction. Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo received word Tuesday that the popular jet demonstration...
Greensburg creates student planner program
Greensburg is looking for college students to serve as student planners, working alongside city employees on upcoming projects. “We’re treating students as colleagues, so you’re not running to get people coffee and making copies, this is different,” said Planning Director Jeff Raykes. The new Student Planner Program is based on...
Discover the magic inside these 10 Downtown Irwin businesses
Holidays are meant to be magical: the twinkling lights, the thrill of a little mistletoe, and the warm gratification of gifting the perfect presents to friends and family. Of course, with online shopping that experience has become somewhat less enchanting. What better way to bring back the magic of the...
Cops: Penn Township woman charged in hit and run, and then slugging other driver
A Penn Township woman allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident is accused of punching and threatening to shoot the other driver, who followed her after the initial crash, according to police. Carla L. Smith, 57, was charged Monday by township police with simple assault, harassment, failing to stop and render...
John Sphon named new CEO at Excela as rating agency downgrades bonds
John Sphon, a longtime Excela Health executive, was named CEO of the Westmoreland County hospital and health system Tuesday. Sphon’s appointment followed the announcement five days ago that Moody’s Investors Service had downgraded $63 million in outstanding Excela bonds from A3 to Baa1. In a statement on the downgrade, Moody’s...
Westmoreland officials seeking input on housing, community development needs
Officials from the Westmoreland County Community Development Division are seeking input on housing and community development needs. There will be four sessions over the next month to help determine spending priorities for federal money over the next five years. An online survey is available for people unable to attend a...
Latrobe firefighters leave council meeting without reason for their suspensionsVideo
Firefighters who are under suspension at Latrobe Fire Department’s Goodwill Hose Company No. 1 say they haven’t been told why. “We were suspended without cause, without reason,” Nico Giovannagelo, captain of the Goodwill Hose Company, said of himself and six other firefighters. “We do not know why we were suspended,...
Greensburg approves $7,600 in new business grants
The City of Greensburg will give $7,600 in grants to three new businesses. City Council unanimously approved the grants Monday under a program that provides money to cover “soft costs” like architectural and design fees for commercial endeavors. All three businesses are located at 136 South Pennsylvania Ave., a long-vacant...
Greensburg keeps taxes flat in 2020
Greensburg passed a budget with no tax increase for the 12th year in a row. The $12.8 million budget keeps real estate taxes at 25.05 mills, with a separate one-mill tax supporting the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library. City Council approved the budget unanimously Monday. Council also approved the purchase of...
Derry Township man to serve at least 8 years in jail for drug overdose death
A Derry Township man will serve at least eight years in prison for his role in the overdose death of a friend in early 2017. Eric B. Vogel Jr., 31, pleaded guilty in September to a charge of drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the overdose of 29-year-old...
Pittsburgh Penguins players make annual holiday visit to UPMC Children’s HospitalVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins made the holidays a little brighter for patients at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Monday. Donning Santa hats, the players stopped by several rooms at the hospital to drop off gifts including stuffed penguins, hats and calendars and to spend a little bit of time talking,...
