Rich Cholodofsky stories, Page 102
Westmoreland prison guard fired amid inmate assault investigation
A Westmoreland County Prison guard was fired Monday, less than a month after the launch of an investigation into allegations that an inmate was assaulted by staff at the jail. Warden John Walton declined to reveal details that led to the firing. Sheriff James Albert, who serves as a member...
Bipartisan request to loosen restrictions in Westmoreland County sent to Gov. Wolf
Westmoreland County’s top elected officials are pleased with having been moved into the yellow phase of coronavirus reopening. They would just prefer a more robust shade. In a letter sent to Gov. Tom Wolf, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers and county commissioners asked for an enhanced designation that would...
Westmoreland jail benefits financially through pandemic slowdown
Although the coronavirus has not impacted the Westmoreland County Prison like some other jails, the pandemic has improved the facility’s bottom line, officials said. The virus considerably lowered the inmate count at the Hempfield lockup, which in turn has led to savings of more than $18,000 in medical expenses this...
Westmoreland waiting on Gov. Wolf’s reopen orders before changing election precincts
Some voting precincts in Westmoreland County might have to be consolidated should the state’s stay-at-home order remain in place for the June 2 primary, the county’s elections bureau director said. County officials will look to relocate or consolidate precincts slated for local school buildings, churches and senior living centers if...
Former South Greensburg secretary denied early release from jail
South Greensburg’s former borough secretary will remain in jail after a judge on Wednesday rejected his request for an early parole. Dennis Lee Kunkle Jr., 56, sought his release from the Westmoreland County Prison more than a year before the end of his nearly two-year sentence for stealing money from...
Westmoreland officials planning for when state eases restrictions
Westmoreland County officials said they don’t know when Gov. Tom Wolf will lift the state’s stay-at-home order for the county but planning is under way for what the anticipated reopening will look like. “We’ve been told by the governor’s office that Westmoreland County (government) can reopen anytime,” Commissioner Chairman Sean...
Masked man who police say planned to rob North Huntingdon bank gets prison sentence
A man who police say wore a rubber mask depicting a heavily wrinkled, middle-aged man as part of a failed bomb plot and bank robbery in North Huntingdon could serve up to two years in jail. Luke Joseph Dell, 35, of Ohio pleaded guilty Tuesday to terroristic threats and bomb...
County officials ‘knocking on wood’ Westmoreland Manor remains virus-free
As nursing and personal care homes have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus throughout the country and state, precautions put in place have so far enabled the 400-bed Westmoreland Manor to be spared, officials said Tuesday. The county-owned nursing home, the largest of the 66 nursing home or personal...
Judge rules former Leechburg police chief Diebold must remain in jail during pandemic
Michael Diebold, the former Leechburg police chief, will remain in jail as he awaits a hearing to determine if he violated parole terms for a sex offense, a Westmoreland County judge ruled. Diebold contended ongoing serious health problems put him at risk should he contract coronavirus and sought an early...
Westmoreland prison population cut by almost 30%
The Westmoreland County Prison inmate population has been reduced by nearly 30% over the past month as jail officials continue to tighten restrictions designed to prevent a potential coronavirus outbreak. Warden John Walton on Monday told members of the prison board there are 176 fewer inmates than incarcerated a month...
Former South Greensburg secretary wants out of jail early because of coronavirus
A South Greensburg man wants to be released from jail more than a year early for stealing money from his father to pay a court debt from a previous case and lying to a county judge. Dennis Lee Kunkle, 56, will appear before two county judges next week, claiming health...
Pregnant New Ken woman, convicted of helping cousin after killing cop, released from jail due to covid-19 fears
A New Kensington woman awaiting a potentially long prison sentence was released from custody on Friday to ensure the safety of her unborn child amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Lisa Harrington, 33, was being held without bond after being convicted of felony offenses for helping her cousin evade capture in...
Westmoreland to upgrade another 4 miles of freight rail lines
Work could begin soon on a $2.3 million project to replace more than four miles of track on Westmoreland County’s freight rail system that services local business and industry. Commissioners, acting as members of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp., on Thursday hired Frontier Railroad Services of New Stanton to...
Westmoreland officials cautiously optimistic about state reopening plansVideo
Westmoreland leaders are hopeful the county’s slow growth of new coronavirus cases will allow for the easing of restrictions early next month as part of the governor’s plan to reopen parts of the state. “We’re still two weeks away from the May 8 deadline. We will be talking about it,...
Courts continue under emergency rules, making plans to resume hearings, trials as restrictions lift
A Westmoreland County judge leaned close to his web camera and offered timely advice to a jail inmate who was granted an early parole after serving seven months for a burglary conviction. “Wash your hands as frequently as you can and wear that mask,” said Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher...
New Kensington woman convicted of helping cop killer asks for release from jail
A New Kensington woman awaiting sentencing for helping a cousin avoid capture following the murder of a city police officer claims she is at high risk to contract the coronavirus and should be released from jail. In court documents filed this week, Lisa Harrington, 33, claims her pregnancy and a...
Westmoreland extends county property tax deadlines
Westmoreland County taxpayers will have four additional months to pay county property taxes at a discounted rate. Commissioners said Tuesday they will vote later this week to extend the discount period for property tax payments until the end of August. The discount period was slated to expire April 30. Taxpayers...
Derry Twp. nursing home with coronavirus cases tests positive for Legionella bacteria
A Westmoreland County nursing home already infected with the coronavirus now has tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ Disease. Department of Health officials on Tuesday confirmed that a water sample recently tested at the Loyalhanna Care Center in Derry Township was positive for Legionella, a bacteria that causes...
Steelers great Troy Polamalu donates gift cards to furloughed Westmoreland workers
More than 400 furloughed Westmoreland County government workers will have a meal courtesy of Steelers’ Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu and his wife. County officials said Monday the former Steelers great donated gift cards to local restaurants to help employees who were temporarily removed from the payroll as government services...
Westmoreland won’t send mail-in ballot applications unless voters request them
Westmoreland County voters won’t automatically get applications for mail-in ballots ahead of the June 2 primary. County commissioners said Monday they opted against a mass mailing based on county’s tenuous financial condition and a reluctance to recommend to voters how they should cast ballots this spring. “At this point, we...
Allegheny County reports 3 more coronavirus deaths; total cases up to 1,035
Allegheny County on Sunday reported three more deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the countywide total to 50. The 50 people who have died range in age from 56 to 103 years old, with the most deaths occurring in people over 70, county data show. The county also reported 26 new...
2 injured in crash in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhoodVideo
Two people were injured Sunday morning when their pickup truck slammed into a pole and a building in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood. Police said a man and a woman, who were not identified, were removed from the vehicle and taken to a hospital where they are listed in critical condition. The...
Self-employed, independent contractors, others can now get state, federal jobless benefits
Pennsylvania’s self-employed workers and independent contractors can now file applications for unemployment benefits. The state’s Department of Labor and Industry said Saturday that workers who were previously ineligible for unemployment compensation will be permitted to seek benefits for wages lost because of the coronavirus pandemic. Department officials said state residents...
Allegheny County coronavirus cases top 1,000; county notes more test results
Allegheny County saw a jump of 62 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours. New data released Saturday morning revealed that a total of 1,009 cases of the virus have been reported in Allegheny County since March 14, when the first positive case was identified. That compares to 22...
Sheetz designates special hour for high-risk shoppers
Sheetz stores will set aside one hour each on Sunday for customers who are high risk to contract covid-19. Sundays from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. will be reserved for those who are at a higher risk to contract the disease brought on by the coronavirus. The program will be...
