Westmoreland category, Page 818
Jeannette school director accused of stealing band group money free on bond
A Jeannette City school director accused of taking thousands from the district’s band parents association is free on $5,000 unsecured bond. Karen Ann Welshons, 56, was arraigned Tuesday morning on two theft counts filed Monday by Westmoreland County detectives. She was ordered to have no contact with any members of...
Meetings set for economic study of Laurel Highlands water improvements
Efforts to improve water quality in local streams create an estimated annual economic benefit of $278 million in the Loyalhanna Creek watershed. That’s according to the preliminary draft of a regional study, “Valuing Clean Water,” that looks to calculate such a figure for 21 sub-watersheds within the Loyalhanna-Conemaugh and Youghiogheny...
Westmoreland Bar Association survey ranks Michael Stewart II top judicial candidate
A Westmoreland County Bar Association survey of lawyers ranked Greensburg attorney Michael Stewart II at the top of the group of six candidates seeking two judicial openings on the Common Pleas Court. Stewart was “highly recommended” by 50% of the 180 county lawyers who participated in the survey circulated over...
Judge says Jeannette man not competent to stand trial in fatal fire case
A man charged with murder in connection with a deadly fire last year that killed an 87-year-old Jeannette woman is not competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Monday. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio said a psychological evaluation conducted last month determined Brian Eric Rendon did not...
Psychic accused of attempting to bilk Irwin woman out of $3,300
An area psychic who was turned down to perform a $3,800 “spiritual cleansing” service by a Westmoreland County woman last month was accused by Irwin police of attempting to use her customer’s identity to purchase $3,300 in furniture. Alexis Candy Mitchell, 25, of Monroeville, who does business as Psychic Novena...
Employees of Greensburg’s Rialto restaurant mourned after fatal crash in Hempfield
Community members are mourning the loss of two employees of Rialto, a popular Greensburg bar and restaurant, after a fatal crash in Hempfield on Sunday night. Kirstin R. Kerrigan, 22, of Arona and Marc F. Delissio, 33, of Penn Township died after their car went off the road, struck multiple...
3 West Newton brothers accused of theft by Rostraver sanitation company
Three Westmoreland County brothers who worked for the same Rostraver sanitation company are accused of theft for using company-issued credit cards to make dozens of fuel purchases for their private vehicles. Zachary T. Williams, 29; Justin D. Williams, 19; and Brandon J. Williams, 21, all of West Newton, have been...
Police: Jeannette City school director stole money from band parent organization
A Jeannette City school director is accused of taking thousands of dollars from the district’s band parents association, according to court papers. Karen Ann Welshons, 56, previously was the president of the association, police said. She is expected to surrender Tuesday on two theft counts. District officials in February reported...
Greensburg bloodhound team celebrates 50 yearsVideo
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department bloodhound team has been on the scent for 50 years. The late chief Ed Hutchinson founded the team in 1969, and it’s been part of search-and-rescue operations ever since. “I think the biggest thing here is saving lives,” said team commander Lou Battistella. Battistella has...
Hempfield students get taste of gardening with new project
Hempfield Area students are learning the benefits and responsibilities of tending to a garden, thanks to a new project at West Hempfield Middle School. Two raised vegetable beds growing radishes, beets and spinach are cared for by students in the school’s garden club, science teacher Tim Hines said. By planting...
Mt. Pleasant man accused of threatening 3 people with knife
A 40-year-old Mt. Pleasant man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison after allegedly threatening three people with a knife. Daniel J. Abbruzzese was arraigned Friday on charges of aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and criminal mischief filed by borough police in connection with the incident that occurred just...
Teen dies in 1-vehicle crash in St. Clair Township
A 19-year-old from Indiana County died following a crash Monday morning in St. Clair Township. Hunter A. Figard of West Wheatfield Township was identified as the victim of a one-vehicle crash on Route 711 at Robb Road, according to the Westmoreland County coroner’s office. Figard reportedly was unresponsive in an...
2 people killed, 1 injured in Hempfield car wreck
Two people were killed and one person was in critical condition after their car went off the road, struck multiple trees and overturned in Hempfield Township Sunday night. The crash was reported at 8:30 p.m. at 1244 Baughman Hollow Road. Killed in the crash were Marc F. Delissio, 33, of...
Tree of Life congregant speaks at Holocaust remembrance in Greensburg
Retired University of Pittsburgh history professor Seymour Drescher has long spoken about anti-Semitism, and at various times throughout his long career, has seen firsthand hate’s impact. Last fall, he saw it again when members of his own community, friends and fellow worshippers, were gunned down in the deadliest incident of...
Rustic Ridge Mine seeks to hire, move toward full production
A Cambria County mining company has put out a “help wanted” sign for its Rustic Ridge Mine that lies underneath parts of the Donegal area. LCT Energy LP of Armagh is seeking to increase employment at Rustic Ridge Mine from 37 to about 100 miners as it moves toward full...
Here’s how much school superintendents make in Westmoreland County
The Tribune-Review examined Department of Education data to gauge what our local school districts are paying their superintendent. Below is a look at how superintendents are paid in Westmoreland County....
Election forum planned for Westmoreland commissioner, judge candidates
Candidates for Westmoreland County commissioner and judge seats are expected to attend a question-and-answer forum this month in Greensburg. The May 14 event is sponsored by the Smithton-based 1776 Freedom’s Calling political action committee. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Greensburg Civic Garden Center, 951...
Ligonier native spends summers in Yellowstone National ParkVideo
Leslie Giesey doesn’t remember when she first traveled to Yellowstone National Park with her family, but she knows she was young, and knows she went fishing for wild trout that fill the streams. Now, decades later, she returns each summer to work as a nurse and spend her free time...
Norwin grad becomes boutique owner, Miss Pennsylvania contestant
Victoria Piekut received a phone call from her father, Jeffrey, in August 2016 with unexpected news — she was a business owner. The 22-year-old Norwin High School graduate had toyed with the idea, knowing both her parents had retail backgrounds, but never thought it would come to fruition. Working a...
Westmoreland sheriff candidates weigh in on office, what changes they’d bring if elected
Three Republicans are seeking to oust two-incumbent Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held in the May 21 primary. Held is being challenged by two current deputies Steve Felder, 55, of Penn Township, and Sam Pilato, 56, of Hempfield; and retired police officer Eugene Zulisky, 52, of Greensburg. Democrat James Albert, a...
Westmoreland sheriff faces crowded field in GOP primary election
As public corruption charges await a potential retrial, two-term Republican incumbent Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held insists he’s the best-suited candidate to head the department that has been besieged with current and former staffers charged with crimes, a dozen lawsuits that alleged mismanagement and operational squabbles with county leaders. “I...
Hempfield Area High School prom 2019
Hempfield Area High School had its prom Saturday night. Here is a photo gallery of the highlights from the grand march....
Westmoreland County Special Olympics celebrates 50 years at competitionVideo
Skyler Wood is an Olympian. Wood, 10, a fourth-grader at RK Mellon Elementary School in Bolivar, flashed a big smile as he was presented with a gold medal for winning his heat in the 50-meter dash Saturday morning at Westmoreland County’s Special Olympics track and field event. “I’m going to...
Penn-Trafford High School Prom
Penn-Trafford High School had its prom Friday night. Here is a photo gallery of the highlights from the grand march....
Mount Pleasant Senior High School Prom
Mount Pleasant Senior High School had its prom Friday night. Here is a photo gallery of the highlights from the grand march....
