Westmoreland category, Page 835
Westmoreland County’s longest-serving public defender keeps giving clients his all
Greg Cecchetti knew from an early age he wanted to be a defense attorney. More than three decades later, he’s still at work defending low-income residents charged with crimes. “I always wanted to be a lawyer, since the sixth grade,” Cecchetti said. “In high school, I knew I wanted to...
North Huntingdon zoning board faced with issue of ‘what is a family’
Detra Pivirotto lives in Lindale Court, a housing plan in North Huntingdon zoned for single family homes. So when a group of about 10 men moved into a nearby house this year, she had questions. “This was not a familial relationship. It was pretty obvious. It was a commercial relationship,”...
Walmart looks for expansion into Pa. alcohol sales in Fayette
Walmart is looking to begin selling alcoholic beverages in Fayette County, a first for the retail giant in Pennsylvania. The chain submitted a winning bid of $65,000 for an expired restaurant liquor license in Redstone Township — one of 62 offers received from various bidders for 22 such licenses in...
Hempfield officials look to improve fire department ratings ahead of insurance assessment
Hempfield officials want to solve issues at several township fire stations after a national assessment company changed requirements for its rating system. The assessment has a direct correlation with homeowner’s insurance rates. Grapeville, Luxor and West Point — a quarter of Hempfield’s dozen volunteer fire departments — had a low...
Watercolor class at Latrobe Art CenterVideo
Each week aspiring artists gather at the Latrobe Art Center for instruction and friendship. On Thursday, the watercolor class led by instructor Elmer Knizner, 86, of Youngwood, worked on painting a scenic road leading to a farm. According to Knizner, the class typically works on one painting per week, but...
March for Parks in Westmoreland County passes $1 million markVideo
The speakers were blasting “Eye of the Tiger” as hundreds of marchers set off Saturday along the walking path at Twin Lakes Park. They had reason to celebrate. It was the 17th annual March for Parks fundraiser, and this year the total collected since the first march passed $1 million....
Former Green Bay Packer delivers keynote at 1st Greensburg Catholic Diocese conference
Mike McCoy called up a volunteer Saturday from an audience of about 600 Catholic men. The former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle asked the volunteer to shove him in the chest. After a firm shove, McCoy staggered backward a few steps. Then he planted his feet, lowered his center of...
Greensburg family band prepares for album-release show at Mr. Smalls in Millvale
If you listen to the early recordings of Greensburg indie-rock band Essential Machine, and then listen to songs from its new record, “Wildfires,” you might not think it’s the same band. Karen and R.J. Dietrich’s sound has evolved quite a bit over the past decade. But not only is it...
Truck driver pleads guilty in Route 22 crash in Salem Township
A Georgia truck driver pleaded guilty Friday to charges he caused a multi-vehicle collision nearly four years ago in Salem that left one motorist injured and traffic stalled for more than eight hours on a busy section of Route 22. Andrew M. Parkes, 32, was sentenced by Westmoreland County Common...
West Newton man pleads no contest to indecent assault
A West Newton man will serve up two seven years on probation for having improper sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl last year. Michael J. Rozzo Jr., 32, pleaded no contest this week to misdemeanor charges of corruption of a minor and indecent assault in connection with an incident Feb....
Salem man sent to prison for high-speed police chase while under the influence
A Salem man will serve up to six years in prison after he was sentenced Friday for being under the influence of controlled substances when he led police on a 20-mile, high-speed chase last year that started in Greensburg and ended with a crash in Loyalhanna. David Negich Sr., 52,...
Hempfield Area High School students to compete in BotsIQ finals
Together with their robot, 25 Hempfield Area High School students are preparing for their final battles at the BotsIQ Finals Competition, which features student-made robots battling for the top spot. “Take NASCAR, boxing and MMA and put it together,” said Hempfield’s teacher advisor Craig Siniawski. “These kids have a small,...
Trump derails cuts to Special Olympics funding as Westmoreland County branch to mark 50th anniversary
Milton Claney remembers standing in the University of Pittsburgh’s stadium in 1968 when a boy ran past holding his bronze medal yelling, “I won! I won! I won!” At that moment, he realized what Special Olympics was all about. “I can’t say in 35 years I saw one Special Olympics...
Monroeville man linked to massage parlor human trafficking, prostitution case gets lower bond
A Monroeville man accused of helping run a human trafficking and prostitution ring out of five massage parlors in Monroeville and Murrysville returned to court Friday asking a judge to lower his $100,000 bond. Chang Yu Chen, 51, of Monroeville, who was described by the state Attorney General’s Office and...
Ex-Franklin Regional student working on plea deal in connection with cyber attack
The lawyer for a former Franklin Regional High School student charged with initiating cyber attacks that disrupted school and government computer systems throughout Westmoreland County in 2016 said in court Friday that plea bargain negotiations are progressing. Michaela Gabriella King, 21, of Murrysville, is awaiting trial on felony charges of...
Humane agents: 2 dogs left in 27-degree temperature in Derry Township
Two Avonmore people are accused of animal cruelty in connection with two dogs found in a “deplorable” recreational vehicle parked in Derry Township during below-freezing temperatures, according to court papers. David Gailbreath, 39, and Lori Gailbreath, no age available, are both charged with animal cruelty and neglect. Humane agents from...
Penn Law professor Amy Wax among Saint Vincent conference participants
University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax will be among the speakers at a Saint Vincent College conference on “Science, Human Nature and Public Policy” April 5-6. The 2019 Culture and Public Policy Conference, sponsored by the college’s Center for Political and Economic Thought, will focus on themes of human...
Dismissal begins at Norwin Schools after temporary lockdown
Norwin School District began dismissing students about 3:30 p.m. Friday after an hour-long delay due to an ongoing police investigation. Tim Kotch, assistant superintendent of secondary education with the school district, said that North Huntingdon Police requested the delay due to an ongoing, active criminal investigation. However, parents were notified...
Munhall man found dead in Pittsburgh after being sought for kidnapping ex-girlfriend, burning her Irwin house
A Munhall man has been found dead in Pittsburgh of an apparent suicide after police spent Thursday and Friday searching for him in connection with a kidnapping in Butler County and a fire in Westmoreland County, emergency dispatch officials reported. John Thomas O’Leary, 52, was being sought for starting a...
Veteran Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels retires
The Pennsylvania Crime Codes manual, vehicle law handbook, all of the legal newsletter updates, criminal and civil complaints had been cleared Friday morning from atop the desk of longtime Mt. Pleasant District Judge Roger Eckels. Hanging in front of the desk was a banner reading “Happy Retirement.” An unopened bottle...
Latrobe businesses promote monthly shopping night
Downtown Latrobe’s latest Shop Hop Night, set for 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, will feature an Easter theme. Introduced in February, the evening of shopping, promotions and refreshments is held the first Wednesday of each month at participating downtown merchants. “I thought it would be something that would be fun...
1 hurt, 3 arrested after home invasion in Jeannette
Three teenagers were jailed Friday afternoon in connection with a Jeannette home invasion that left a man injured. Police Chief Shannon Binda said investigators believe the trio targeted the South Fifth Street row home earlier in the day. Larenzo Dayshawn Peddicord, 18, of Jeannette is charged with robbery, aggravated assault...
Police say Trafford man choked 13-year-old girl
Trafford police arrested a man Thursday night they say strangled and threatened to kill a 13-year-old girl. Daniel Edward Magill, 43, is charged with strangulation, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and terroristic threats. Police said the girl called 911 for help around 11:30 p.m. Thursday from inside...
Irwin plans to pave 15 streets
Irwin has approved paving 15 borough streets this summer. J.M. Paving Inc. of North Huntingdon, the lowest of 10 bidders, was awarded the $245,616 paving contract. The streets slated for paving are: parts of Cedar, Center, Green, Oak, Sixth and Walnut streets; Penglyn and Short streets; parts of Melrose and...
Tech center tenant partners with Westmoreland County Community College for 3-D printing programVideo
The first private entrepreneur to move into Westmoreland County Community College’s Advanced Technology Center has multiple ties to the college. Tronix3D President Buck Helfferich and business partner Kyle Metsger, Tronix3D’s director of technology and innovation, are alumni of the college and are partnering with WCCC to offer internships and potential...
