Western PA Local News category, Page 1931
Drop box added at Murrysville location ahead of May 18 primary
Westmoreland County officials say more than 15,400 mail-in ballots have been sent out to voters ahead of the May 18 primary. Another batch of more than 800 ballots is ready to go out, Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani said. The deadline to apply for mail-in ballots is May 11. They...
Sutersville woman accused of sexually assaulting teen
State police charged a Sutersville woman with sexually assaulting a teenage boy last year in Hempfield while he was finishing up the school year virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Ashley Elizabeth Sherry, 21. State police said they were...
Irwin man gets 15 years for role as ringleader of gang’s drug operation
An Irwin man who led a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania will serve 15 years in prison. Christopher Highsmith, who was responsible for the distribution of 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug conspiracy in September before U.S. District...
Irwin woman accused of falsifying police documents, claiming to be male officer in insurance claim investigation
An Irwin woman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she claimed to be a male police officer to an insurance investigator and falsified several documents relating to a claim, according to court papers. Sharon K. Powell, 49, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft, criminal use of a communication facility,...
La Roche student newspaper rebranded with new name, focus on digital publishing
The student newspaper at La Roche University in McCandless has revamped its format to reflect changes in the industry and to allow student journalists to focus on digital publishing. The La Roche Courier has ended a 25-year run and is being replaced by the Redhawk Post, which will allow readers...
Ligonier Valley police seeking pickup truck involved in hit-and-run
The Ligonier Valley Police are seeking help in identifying who was driving a pickup truck that was involved in a hit-and-run crash into a building early Wednesday. Police reported the crash occurred about 12:20 a.m. at the corner of South Fairfield and Loyalhanna streets in the borough. A porch was...
Mt. Pleasant Area, Yough schools to host covid vaccine clinics following similar events in Greensburg, Hempfield
Hayden’s Pharmacy will conduct covid-19 vaccine clinics at additional Westmoreland County schools after administering doses of the Pfizer vaccine to several hundred recipients Tuesday at Greensburg Salem Senior High. A voluntary clinic on Thursday at Mt. Pleasant Area School District will be available only to students age 16 and older....
Site near Monroeville Mall eyed for new $91 million VA outpatient clinic
Veterans in the eastern suburbs could soon have easier access to health care. Milwaukee-based Summit Smith Development was recently awarded a contract to develop a 64,000-square-foot outpatient clinic near the Monroeville Mall for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. JLL, the real estate firm that brokered the deal, said in...
On the Move: Promotion for Irwin woman, scholarship for Norwin senior
Irwin native Bethany Dressler, who lives in Erie, was promoted to account manager for HUB HDH, a global insurance broker with offices in Erie. Dressler, a Norwin High School graduate, has worked at HUB for seven years. Its regional headquarters is in downtown Pittsburgh. She previously was enrollment coordinator. Dressler...
Allegheny County reports 2nd-lowest covid case total in past month
The Allegheny County Health Department on Wednesday reported its second-lowest covid-19 case total in the past month. The county added 158 new cases Wednesday. Only the 94 cases reported April 26 was lower. It’s also the second-lowest total dating back to March 15, when 124 were reported. The county’s coronavirus...
South West Communities Chamber outlook discusses tolls, covid-19 and more
Officials from several communities banded together during a May 4 virtual meeting against the implementation of a toll on an I-79 bridge in Bridgeville. The virtual meeting was part of the Southwest Communities Chamber of Commerce 2021 Community Outlook. Participants of the call included managers and administration officials from Bridgeville,...
1st Pittsburgh International Literary Festival to get people talking, reading
The Pittsburgh International Literary Festival, known as “LitFest,” hopes to get people talking through reading. Hosted by the City of Asylum @ Alphabet City based on Pittsburgh’s North Side, the virtual event will feature authors from all over the world discussing topics that encompass Black, Indigenous and all people of...
Export officials vote to keep $8 sewage surcharge in place
Two Export council members want the borough to keep its word and remove an $8 surcharge on sewage customers that was originally intended to expire after a year. But ongoing expenses related to its long-term flood control plan and its participation in a state environmental consent order kept that from...
2 Democrats in race for Leetsdale mayor
In Leetsdale, incumbent Democrat Mayor Peter Poninsky is up against Democrat Sandra Ford in the primary. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, no Republicans are on the ballot. Here are the responses to the questions posed to the candidates by the Sewickley Herald. Sandra Ford...
Food Podcast: Food bank farm preps to grow produce for Pittsburghers
When people think of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, they usually think about a warehouse filled with food. Not many people realize the food bank not only houses and distributes food to the people of Western Pennsylvania, but it also grows it. But 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, on...
Westmoreland news includes bus trip, UFO conference and chicken dinner
Arts • Diamond Theatre of Ligonier will conduct auditions for the play, “A Hiro’s Tale,” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 7 and 8 at the theater, 210 W. Main St. Performances will be July 23 to 25. Actors of all ages are needed, no experience necessary. Rehearsals will be...
Greensburg Salem presents ‘Charlie Brown’ as livestream musical
Beloved cartoon characters come to life for Greensburg Salem High School’s spring musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The production, streaming Friday through Sunday, follows a day in the life of the neighborhood gang from Charles Schulz’s long-running “Peanuts” comic strip. “‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ is a...
News and events in the greater Murrysville area for the week of May 3, 2021Video
The following news and events are happening in the coming weeks in the Star’s coverage area. To submit briefs or upcoming events, email pvarine@triblive.com. Delmont Concert Band to play Ligonier concert series The Delmont Concert Band will play as part of the 71st annual Sunday Evening Band Concerts sponsored by...
Woman who contracted covid, missed work sues nursing home for race and age discrimination
A 76-year-old nurse who had to miss work for more than three months after she contracted covid-19 is suing the Wilkinsburg nursing home that employed her for race and age discrimination. Yvonne Manns, who began working at Pennwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on West Street in 2013, said in the...
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials have money left over for another 750 feet in Export
Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials may not have determined precisely how they’re going to finish the section connecting Export and Delmont, but leftover funding from the trail’s fourth phase will extend it another 750 feet eastward. Construction of the trail’s fourth phase, connecting Murrysville and Export, wrapped up with some money...
Poll workers needed in some Allegheny County precincts as primary election prep continues
Election clerks are still needed in six municipalities and three of Pittsburgh’s wards, but most positions at polling places are filled and workers have been trained, Allegheny County Administrative Services Deputy Director Jessica Garofolo told the elections board Tuesday. Allegheny County Councilman Sam DeMarco said Tuesday he is concerned that...
Covid restrictions to lift, but businesses still finding hiring workers difficult
Businesses across the region welcomed Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement Tuesday lifting covid-19 restrictions by Memorial Day, but they expressed cautious optimism alongside frustration as they now face the challenge of filling job openings. “It should be great, but on the other hand, we’re all in the same boat looking for...
Uncontested municipal races in the South Hills
Multiple South Hills municipalities have uncontested council, commissioner or mayoral races in the primary election. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, in Baldwin Borough, Mayor David Depretis, a Democrat, is running unopposed for reelection. In Baldwin Township, two Democrats are vying for two spots on...
Kecksburg UFO Festival remains grounded in 2021, despite plan to lift pandemic restrictions
The Kecksburg UFO Festival, usually held annually in July, has been canceled this year, even though most of Pennsylvania’s covid-19 mitigation restrictions will be lifted May 31. “We had to cancel. We needed more time to line up vendors. … There were just too many questions,” said Ron Struble, a...
Aspinwall considering tax credit for emergency responders
Aspinwall emergency responders could soon be in line for a tax break. Council is considering a special tax credit for fire and EMS volunteers that would slash up to $300 from their Earned Income Tax (EIT) or cut 20% from property taxes. “This is a new initiative that the borough...
