Westmoreland category, Page 8
Firefighters battle blaze in East Huntingdon homeVideo
An East Huntingdon home was destroyed by fire Wednesday morning, and firefighters contended with snow and cold temperatures while extinguishing the blaze. Three people escaped the Mt. Pleasant Road home about 7 a.m. as flames spread through it. East Huntingdon fire Chief Rich DeForrest said it was fully engulfed when...
19-year-old Hempfield man charged after fleeing police
A Hempfield man is behind bars after Greensburg police said he led them on a chase earlier this month with speeds reaching 120 mph, according to court papers. Ty David Greenawalt, 19, was charged Tuesday with a number of offenses, including fleeing from police, reckless endangerment and summary traffic violations....
Will Menards still build in Hempfield? Extension discussed for Route 30 site
Hempfield officials are continuing discussions with home improvement chain Menards as a site plan for a new store is set to expire Dec. 31, said township manager Aaron Siko. “We have no documents and no signed agreement as of this date,” Siko said Tuesday. “The board is continuing to talk...
Westmoreland County officials sworn in; new judge, register of wills take office
Judge Harry Smail Jr. knows how well-versed Katie Pecarchik is in the operation of the Westmoreland County Register of Wills Office. As a clerk, she left a lasting impact on him when he as a young attorney filing estate matters. She again impressed him after taking over as acting register...
White-out on Route 119 near Westmoreland-Fayette border leaves 1 injured after multiple crashes
One motorist was injured in one of a series of three wrecks that happened during white-out conditions Tuesday morning along a stretch of Route 119 near the border of Westmoreland and Fayette counties. A PennDOT plow on hand to clear snow from the highway was involved in the last of...
Salem officials seek additional funding to extend public water service
Greg Bosich has been waiting for good news about his water for about six or seven years. Bosich lives on Kennan Drive in Salem, where a falling water table has caused wells to fail for homeowners along the road that connects Route 819 to Orr Drive. “They built a park...
The 25 most-read stories of 2025 on TribLive.com
The year 2025 was marked locally by the changing of the guard in the Pittsburgh mayor’s office, the changing of hands of U.S. Steel, uncertainty on college campuses and tragedy at PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena. We covered the stories, and you responded in droves online. Here were the...
Ligonier Township moves forward on replacing 1 local bridge, repairing another
Ligonier Township is moving forward with plans to refurbish a bridge on Harvey Road after awarding a contract for the project to a Washington County company. Replacement of a closed township bridge on Ramsey Road also is closer to reality now that state officials have approved the township’s application for...
Westmoreland Land Trust names Plum native as new executive director
The new executive director of the Westmoreland Land Trust brings a love of nature and extensive experience to a nonprofit organization that has helped preserve about 700 acres in the county. “I really connected to the trust’s mission of protecting and preserving land in Westmoreland County and making it accessible...
Latrobe joins Leechburg in switch to Indiana County no-kill group for animal control service
Latrobe is dropping its longtime Salem-based animal control provider in favor of an Indiana County nonprofit that has added a stray animal pickup service to its animal shelter and sanctuary operation. City officials said Whiskey Acres Rescue and Sanctuary’s no-kill policy was a primary factor in making the switch. “My...
So long 2025: Here are some events to ring in the New Year
Ready to put 2025 in the rearview mirror? New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and it’s a great time to put on a fancy outfit, raise a glass and look forward to all of the good things 2026 will bring. If First Night isn’t for you, here are a few...
North Huntingdon is closer to adopting solar power ordinance
North Huntingdon officials are moving closer to joining other Westmoreland County municipalities in passing an ordinance to govern solar power installations. The township commissioners met this month to request revisions to a proposed ordinance regulating solar power arrays. Harry Faulk, township manager, said a third draft of the regulations should...
Pennsylvania Turnpike reopens in New Stanton
The Pennsylvania Turnpike eastbound has reopened in New Stanton after a crash east of the Allegheny Tunnel. State police said a commercial vehicle rolled on its side shortly before 6 a.m. near mile 129 between the Somerset and Bedford interchanges, blocking all of the lanes. A California man lost control...
Unity Township considers higher taxes to support fire departments, infrastructure and services
For the first time in more than half a century, Unity officials are proposing to increase the township real estate tax by doubling it to 4.4 mills. The township supervisors will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday to vote on the tax hike and the tentative 2026 budget...
Former TribLive journalist publishes 2nd fiction thriller
When crime reporter Rita Locke discovers a prominent funeral director who was murdered is accused of burying empty coffins, she decides to dig a little deeper. Even if that includes putting her life in danger. That’s always been her modus operandi — her way of approaching a newspaper story —...
Former Rockette teaches aspiring dancers at Greensburg workshop
Bright lights and big kicks were the order of business Saturday for aspiring dancers in Greensburg. The Spectacular Holiday Dance Workshop, held at Seton Hill University and The Palace Theatre, welcomed students of all ages to step into the magic of Broadway with a 2½-hour class taught by former Radio...
Majority of job hunters turn to AI to help land next gig
Mallory Helbling turned to her own professional advice when she found herself laid off in December 2024. Among them: using artificial intelligence tools to assist in her job search as a career coach. “I was able to get my first contract role in February 2025,” said Helbling, 37, of Sharpsburg,...
Hempfield woman charged in Christmas stabbing
A Hempfield woman is charged with aggravated assault and child endangerment after state police say she stabbed a man during an argument on Christmas. Mia Lou Riser, 26, was involved in a dispute with a man at a Hempfield apartment around 6 p.m. Thursday, according to a criminal affidavit. The...
From pro baseball to the Marines: Murrysville’s Krauza follows father’s lead
The Krauza family of Murrysville has much to be thankful for this holiday season. Their son, Michael Krauza, 28, is home until Jan. 4 during a break from his training with the U.S. Marine Corps. While 28 is older than the average recruit, Krauza’s road to military service included a...
Residents express concern over proposed Hempfield fire station location on Arona Road
A dozen residents would like Hempfield supervisors to reconsider a proposal to put a new fire station in their neighborhood, citing traffic concerns, the potential effect on property values and past underground mining. Those who live at the confluence of Arona, Harry Long and Monkey Wrench roads questioned the proposal...
South Greensburg dental staff restores 12-foot holiday train displayVideo
Employees at a South Greensburg dental office have brought a traditional holiday train display back to life after more than 12 years in storage. The 144-square-foot layout at the office of Dr. Samuel Scardina features multiple trains chugging around village scenes and through a tunnel headed beneath a ski slope....
Judges swap dockets in Westmoreland court shuffle
Two Westmoreland County judges will swap dockets in January as part of a shakeup of the county’s court system. President Judge Christopher Feliciani will return to criminal court after a year presiding over civil cases. He will take over the criminal caseload handled by Judge Scott Mears, while Mears will...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Dec. 26-28
Westmoreland County offers several live music performances, museum events and community gatherings to fill the final weekend of 2025. From holiday-themed bingo to the conclusion of a worldwide church jubilee, here are five local events scheduled for this Friday through Sunday. Bon Journey A staple of the Western Pennsylvania music...
Icy road conditions on tap Friday for Pittsburgh-area motorists
Roads in the Pittsburgh area are about to get icy. The second of two clippers — storm fronts starting in Canada and sweeping past the Great Lakes into Western Pennsylvania this week — has led the National Weather Service to put Pittsburgh under a winter storm watch. Up to a...
No ham, no hassle: Chinese buffet, Jewish-run bookstore give Christmas a different spin
Greg Schmitt didn’t need a ham dinner with green beans and scalloped potatoes to celebrate Christmas with his family Thursday. Instead, the Tarentum man traded in the traditional holiday spread for a plateful of piping-hot General Tso’s chicken at a modest Chinese buffet. “It’s nice to have a place to...
