Megan Swift stories, Page 16

On Saturday, auto enthusiasts will gather starting about 5:30 p.m. at the new Busy Beaver near Delmont for the second annual car show to remember late Franklin Regional graduate Damian Bearley. Bearley was 18 when he died in an early morning crash July 10, 2021, after his car hit a...

Westmoreland County Park Police’s sole police dog, Rico, received a gift Thursday to help with his training, thanks to 1st Summit Bank. Rico, a German shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, is 1½ years old and trained to find explosives and guns, as well as in tracking and apprehension. The dog...

Though she grew up in Somerset, Donna Gibson was living close to Pittsburgh during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. After moving back to Somerset, she and her husband received an invitation to plant trees at the Flight 93 National Memorial in 2012. And, since then, she’s brought a team to...

When Mary Withrow began working as Heal Animal Rescue’s new executive director last week, it felt like she was “home again.” Heal is a no-kill animal adoption center and sanctuary nonprofit, with a shelter in Youngwood and an animal sanctuary in Latrobe. Withrow, 60, of Pittsburgh has a history of...

After EMT and firefighter Andrew Beck died suddenly in January at just 23 years old, his friend and mother wanted to carry on his legacy of service in Westmoreland County. In February, the pair co-founded the Andrew Logan Beck EMS and Fire Scholarship Fund, which will provide funding for local...

For Rita Firestone, growing, harvesting and selling sweet corn has been an integral part of her life ever since she and her late husband started The Original Firestone’s sweet corn stand 52 years ago along Route 30 in Unity. “I do it because I want to do it, not because...

As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, there are many local celebrations to choose from to spend the holiday with family and friends. Here’s a list of fireworks displays, parades and festivities: ALLEGHENY COUNTY Brentwood On July 3, Brentwood will hold its Street Fair and the Battle of the Barrel,...

Similar to countless other businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic, General Carbide is on the hunt for reliable employees to fill staffing shortages — specifically, recent high school graduates. Jessica Gardner, the human resources manager for the Hempfield-based manufacturer, said the lack of employees has made the...

For 60 years in the North Huntingdon village of Hahntown, the Korner Tavern has served drinks and food to locals — from coal miners to everyday regulars who are considered family. Manager Victor Pilipovich, 74, grew up in the business. His family took over operations in 1962. “It’s hard to...

The local health care industry had its challenges before a pandemic swept around the world two years ago. As summer 2022 approaches, human resources directors and department managers are finding it even more difficult to find the people who can provide basic services. It’s especially tough for small facilities such...

Maj. Scott Flanders, director of the Salvation Army location in New Kensington, knows having a bicycle on long summer days is one of the joys of growing up. Thanks to volunteers and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 100 kids will be well-equipped to ride. About 50 volunteers braved the...

Employers expecting to fill job vacancies with the traditional summertime influx of high school students have been left wondering where the workers have gone. Many employers are “literally begging for new employees” with little result, said Don Acker, program manager for Equus Workforce Solutions in New Kensington. “Right now, we...

Empty classrooms, overworked health care employees, and communities divided over masking and vaccines became inescapable as Western Pennsylvania navigated its way through the covid-19 pandemic. Tim Murphy, a licensed psychologist specializing in psychological trauma, said the pandemic experience has had a “devastating effect” on people’s physical, mental and emotional health....

Despite some setbacks over the past few years, public pools in the area are looking forward to opening this week. Making it to opening day amid the coronavirus pandemic and recent labor shortages hasn’t been easy, according to Glenn Moyer, arena and pool manager for Greensburg’s parks and recreation department....

After 80 years in business, a New Stanton hardware store has processed more than 3 million customer transactions. Multiple generations of the Hepler family have worked at Hepler’s Hardware on State Route 119 North since it opened in 1942. Megan Orient, co-owner and president, is part of the fourth generation...

Through a new partnership with the Greensburg-based Blackburn Center, Rickie Houston is set to speak with athletes at local colleges this fall regarding sexual and domestic violence, as well as mental health. Houston is the director of training for A Call to Men, a national organization that works with men...

Dr. Jonathan Burns has been attempting for around six years to uncover archaeological evidence of an artillery battery and line of communication supposedly buried near the back door of Fort Ligonier — all while impacting veterans’ post-war lives. Located along Route 30, the British fortification is a recreated 18th century...

Throughout the height of the covid-19 pandemic, it seemed as if the opioid epidemic had come to a sudden halt — largely because coronavirus headlines dominated newsstands, television broadcasts and everyday conversation. The latest overdose death figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, convey a starkly opposite...

The Yukon Volunteer Fire Department received $903 in donations over the weekend from six siblings who successfully held their third lemonade stand. Laken Cope’s children first sold lemonade at the end of May and used the inaugural profits to purchase additional lemonade and cups for a second sale in June....

Jackie Bearley said the support her family received after the death of her 18-year-old son, Damian, has been overwhelming. Damian Bearley died in a crash early Saturday morning after his car hit a deer in Derry Township, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. The Murrysville teen was driving south on...

At the end of May, Laken Cope finally allowed her six children to create their own lemonade stand — something they’ve always wanted to do. Now, the kids are set to hold their third sale this weekend to benefit the local community. After selling their first batch of homemade lemonade,...

After jumping over coronavirus-related hurdles, local library programs are back this summer — and there are offerings for all ages. Murrysville Community Library’s annual summer reading program, titled “Tails and Tales” this year, has begun and will last through Aug. 6. “We’re really grateful that we can be open,” said...

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra announced its free patriotic summer concert at St. Clair Park in Greensburg will return July 9. Titled “Summer Sparklers,” the annual outdoor concert will be conducted by WSO Artistic Director Daniel Meyer at 7 p.m. in the park’s Robertshaw Amphitheater. Program favorites will include “The Star-Spangled...

Westmoreland officials are pressing on with a restructuring of the county’s election bureau even though the fate of its director remains in limbo. Greg McCloskey, the county’s public works director, was appointed to oversee the election bureau while director JoAnn Sebastiani remains on a paid suspension. On Wednesday, he said...