Western PA Local News category, Page 929
Private Industry Council hires former Norwin administrator
A former Norwin administrator has been hired as the chief operating officer for a non-profit that operates employment, education and training programs in Westmoreland and Fayette counties Thomas Wrobleski, a former human resources director for Norwin, was hired recently as the COO for the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc.,...
Suspect identified with help of DNA pleads guilty in Lower Burrell robbery
An Allegheny County man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the armed robbery of a beer distributor in Lower Burrell. Blair Adam Payne, 29, of Mt. Oliver pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and receiving stolen property in connection with a heist police said was solved...
Fayette man accused of sending sexually explicit videos
A Fayette County man is accused of recording himself having sex with a 17-year-old Westmoreland County girl and sending seven videos of the encounters to her 15-year-old friend, according to court papers. Trevor N. Mayfield, 28, of Luzerne, was arrested Friday and jailed on $50,000 bail. State police said they...
Harmar elevates part-time officer, bringing police force to 9 full-timers
Harmar supervisors expanded the township’s police department to nine full-time officers by elevating part-time Officer Erik Brannock to full-time status. Township officials said Brannock has been employed by the township as a part-timer for about seven months. Brannock will earn the starting salary of $57,676. Supervisor Bob Exler said Brannock’s...
Tarentum Bridge restrictions to continue next week
PennDOT announced that single-lane restrictions will continue next week on the Tarentum Bridge. Restrictions will include: Monday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., westbound and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastbound for concrete patching. Tuesday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. westbound for concrete patching. Wednesday and Thursday: 12:01 a.m. Wednesday through...
2 face drug charges after Allegheny Township traffic stop
A New Kensington man and a Harrison woman are facing drug charges after a traffic stop. According to court records, Allegheny Township police charged Michael Luffey, 38, of the 1500 block of Leishman Avenue, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, misbranding a controlled substance, possessing drugs and...
Wildlife Works caring for albino raccoon found at Somerset County lumberyard
A rare albino raccoon is in the care of a Westmoreland County wildlife rescue after it was found with its two siblings at a Somerset County lumberyard, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The three baby animals were captured Tuesday by state Game Warden Andy Harvey at Berlin Lumber, southeast...
Mac Miller’s estate drops 10th anniversary album
Mac Miller’s album “Watching Movies With the Sound Off” celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special edition of the record. Rostrum Records released the new edition along with the estate of the Pittsburgh native, according to Rolling Stone. The 20-track album contains three original bonus songs — “Goosebumpz,” “O.K.” with...
Police charge man in connection with work not completed at Lower Burrell gas station
Lower Burrell police charged a Findlay Township man with theft of services because the owner of a city gas station said contracted work was not completed. Gregory Alan Scott, 33, of the Clinton section of Findlay Township was charged with two felony counts of deceptive business practices and theft by...
$52 million Highlands budget includes no tax increase for residents
Highlands School Board Vice President Nicole Kocon said the district’s conservative budgeting combined with growing local revenue has helped hold taxes steady for the 2023-24 school year. The board approved the $52 million budget, maintaining the property tax rate of 25.13 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000...
Franklin Regional adopts 2023-24 budget with 2-mill tax hike
Franklin Regional school directors approved a $66.6 million budget for the 2023-24 school year that includes a 2-mill tax hike. The budget will bring in $66.27 million in projected revenue. In the past few years, district officials have offset budget gaps using money earmarked to fund annual state-mandated increases in...
Pittsburgh to Erie Trail Alliance fundraiser on tap at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in East Deer, a future trailhead
Nearly two decades after the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance took the initial steps to create regional recreation opportunities, leaders are celebrating 188 miles of trails that have been carved out amid dozens of communities showcased along the path. The goal to connect the two cities and thousands of steps...
Natrona Comes Together offers children one-stop shop for summer reading, art and sports
A crushed soda can and a jar of paint might be enough to inspire the next generation of artists. At the very least, the craft sessions could unleash creativity for the 25 or so children who gather at Natrona Community Park for educational programs all summer long. “Having a weekly...
97th annual Cinderella Ball celebrated on Father’s Day
For a girl, her father is her first love. On Sunday, that bond was evident as dads and male role models reached out for the hand of the young women they’ve embraced their entire lives at the 97th annual Cinderella Ball — fittingly on Father’s Day. Sixteen debutantes were presented...
Early-bird teachers contract approved, tax rate unchanged in Jeannette
The Jeannette City School District property tax millage rate will remain unchanged for the 2023-24 school year, and new positions will help students with internships and teachers manage classrooms and learning. Plus, teachers will earn more starting in the 2024-25 school year under a new contract struck between the education...
Highmark Health cuts 118 jobs
Highmark Health laid off 118 employees this week across the regional health insurer’s operations, the company said. The layoffs occurred across all departments and included a small number of management positions, said Lynn Seay, a Highmark Health spokeswoman. With the layoffs announced Wednesday, Highmark has eliminated 259 positions this year,...
Turnpike to close to westbound traffic from Breezewood to New Stanton overnight Saturday
An 86-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s westbound lanes from Breezewood to New Stanton will be closed beginning 11 p.m. Saturday to about 6 a.m. Sunday for road construction work, the turnpike commission said. The seven-hour closure is needed for crews to safely implement an interim traffic crossover as part...
House near Murrysville’s Pedora Park will be demolished
Murrysville officials have begun the process to try and demolish a long-abandoned property near Pedora Park. Council members voted unanimously to designate the residence at 6283 Old William Penn Highway as a blighted structure. “This isn’t a fixer-upper,” code enforcement officer Nick Ruffner said. The property was posted as being...
Pittsburgh native Nick Pasqual’s indie film ‘Poor Paul’ now streamingVideo
From its 2022 world premiere at Dormont’s Hollywood Theater, the indie movie “Poor Paul” has moved on to bigger audiences. With creators and cast members including Pittsburgh natives Nick Pasqual and Abhi Sinha, the film is now available on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Google Play and YouTube. “A statistic I find...
Kinzua skywalk reopens after inspection prompted by high winds
The skywalk at Kinzua Bridge State Park has reopened after high winds prompted an emergency inspection and a temporary closure, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The McKean County structure was closed Wednesday and was inspected Thursday. The skywalk stretches 225 feet above the valley floor...
Observatory Hill House Tour features 12 homes
Jeremy Lawler was taking down his Christmas tree in February when he noticed two cars pull up and people get out to take pictures in front of his house. “Thinking that was odd, I went outside to see what was going on,” Lawler said. “I spoke to one of the...
$8.8M in covid funds earmarked for water, sewer projects in Westmoreland
As many as 50 farms and other properties in East Huntingdon could have municipal water service this fall when water lines are extended to tap into the municipal system. It’s a project that might never have happened without funding from Westmoreland County, according to East Huntingdon Supervisor Joel Suter. “It’s...
22 suspected drug dealers arrested in sweeping Western Pa. raid
Twenty-two of 24 men who federal prosecutors say sold cocaine and fentanyl in Western Pennsylvania have been arrested in a sweeping raid that began last month, according to court documents. Law enforcement began arresting suspects in late May following a nine-count federal indictment. They are accused of dealing 5 kilograms...
Morning roundup: Rostraver woman pleads guilty to credit union theft
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, June 23: Woman pleads guilty to $340,000 theft from credit union A Rostraver woman pleaded guilty this week to taking $340,200 from a Monessen-based federal credit union almost seven years ago, then staging a fire in the safe...
New affordable housing development to cater to seniors in Pittsburgh’s Fairywood
A new development will bring affordable housing for senior citizens to Pittsburgh’s Fairywood neighborhood. Officials broke ground Thursday on Cedarwood Homes, a 46-unit development at the former Fairywood School site. “We’re going to make sure the people who live here can age in place and they can do it with...
