Westmoreland category, Page 100
Westmoreland County doubles scope of 2024 demolition program
Westmoreland County is doubling down on knocking down blighted properties this year. Commissioners this month approved demolition of an additional 13 dilapidated properties and, in doing so, signaled an expansion of a wide-ranging effort to reduce what is estimated to be as many as 1,500 blighted buildings throughout the county....
Mt. Pleasant’s doughboy monument to mark 100 years after multiple collision comebacks
Monday will mark a century since Mt. Pleasant first had a doughboy memorial statue keeping watch high over Main Street — although the figure passersby see today is not quite that old. “We are on the fifth rendition of the statue,” said Rick Meason, president of the Mt. Pleasant Area...
St. Vincent recognizes Westmoreland high school students in mock trial competition
Students from three Westmoreland high schools were recognized for their performance at a mock trial competition at Saint Vincent College last month. Hosted by the college for more than five years, the competition assesses students on their ability to form and deliver opening statements and closing arguments in a hypothetical...
Irwin business, apartment building damaged by early Saturday blaze
The air still smelled of smoke as Don Sowash took his 11-year-old Morkie, Benny, for a walk down Irwin’s Main Street on Saturday afternoon, pausing at a building he saw engulfed in flames just 12 hours prior. “Lots of smoke (was) pouring out all of these upper windows, and I...
Westmoreland County among 1st in state to study suicide with aim toward prevention
Sixty Westmoreland County residents died by suicide last year. Reducing that number is the aim of a new board that’s forming to study suicides in the county, especially those involving veterans, so the group can identify ways to prevent them. Findings of the review board could result in legislation and...
Clerical errors found during North Hempfield Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association audit being rectified, manager says
Issues found during a compliance audit of North Hempfield Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association, Inc. are being rectified, said township manager Aaron Siko. The five findings were related to the station’s relief association being transferred to township oversight under the process to become nonchartered — handing over the station’s management and...
Hempfield semiconductor plant tabbed for possible $3 million federal investment
A Hempfield manufacturer of semiconductor chips for military and commercial aircraft, solar power projects and windmills is in line to receive $3 million in federal funding. A company official said Friday the money will be used to almost double its capacity and add jobs. “This (funding) helps to ensure the...
Westmoreland happenings: Craft show, UPG fall play, more
Art • The Loyalhannon Spinners Guild will host a free display of some of their finished works and the raw fleece and tools used to get wool ready for spinning through Nov. 14 during regular operating hours at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. Membership in...
Here are Veterans Day activities, promotions happening throughout Westmoreland County
Veterans Day events are being held throughout the region. To submit an event, email gbgnewsroom@triblive.com. Events • White Valley AMVETS and Murrysville American Legion Post 711 will host Veterans Day activities throughout Murrysville, Export and Delmont on Nov. 9. They are: 9 a.m. at Eastview Union Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Delmont;...
Murrysville war monument relocated to community park just in time for Veterans Day
Jerry Deible wanted more people to see Murrysville’s honor roll monument for local World War I and II soldiers. Having been originally installed in 1967 on a small piece of property near the intersection of Old William Penn Highway and Sardis Road, it didn’t have much visibility. So Deible began...
Greensburg support group for international women serves as cultural hub
The average passerby would likely not expect a 1900s mansion on Greensburg’s Main Street to be a cultural hub. But for more than 30 years, nonprofit YWCA Westmoreland County has dedicated itself to welcoming women who move to the area from another country — helping with the transition to life...
State Attorney General’s Office says no legal opinion offered on controversial Mt. Pleasant parade entry
A Mt. Pleasant Borough report that last week’s controversial politically-themed entry in the community Halloween parade fell short of a hate crime was not based on a legal opinion provided by the state attorney general’s staff, according to a spokesman for that state office. Borough Solicitor Les Mlakar said at...
Benedictine nuns’ St. Emma Monastery open Christmas Shoppe
St. Emma Monastery Christmas Shoppe began Thursday at the retreat center, 1001 Harvey Ave. in Hempfield. Run by the Benedictine nuns who reside there, the three-day fundraiser features thousands of items: collectibles, housewares, home decor items, paintings, handmade crocheted and knitted pieces, glassware, jewelry, handmade candles and more. Money raised...
Man accused of shooting Mogie’s Lower Burrell pub owner remains hospitalized, criminal case on hold
The prosecution of a man accused in the fatal shooting last year of the owner of Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell has again been delayed. Nathan Salem, 45, has been in custody without bond since Dec. 21 after he was charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder in the...
Jury finds Belle Vernon man guilty in Rostraver road rage killing
A Westmoreland County jury after more than two hours of deliberations Thursday night convicted a Belle Vernon man of third-degree murder for a road rage killing nearly three years ago in Rostraver. Prosecutors contended Anthony Hairston, 29, was guilty of the first-degree murder and the intentional killing of 59-year-old Holly...
Bird’s eye view: Construction underway at $15M Hempfield Municipal Complex
Construction is continuing at the future site of the Hempfield Municipal Complex on Weatherwood Lane. The first phase of the $15 million development includes infrastructure, such as stormwater management and utilities, as well as the creation of pads for planned buildings and a 14-acre park, said township manager Aaron Siko....
Latrobe attorney accused of stealing $31K from female prison inmate
A Latrobe attorney is accused of exploiting an elderly jail inmate from New Kensington to get access to her bank account, stealing $31,300 and then using the money to gamble at a casino, according to court papers. Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said attorney John Allen Roth used his position...
5 things to do this weekend in Westmoreland: Nov. 8-10
Take a break from work and errands. It’s a good weekend to relax, take it slow and find time to see a concert or go to a fundraiser. Here are a few ideas for this weekend: Three Dog Night concert The nostalgic tunes of Three Dog Night will rock the...
Murrysville man, former Allegheny County detective, now accused of asking son to lie
A former Allegheny County detective is accused of asking his son to lie about where an alleged crime happened, which resulted in a criminal case against him being dismissed last year, state police said in court papers. Troopers said Raymond Bonacci, 58, of Murrysville, “encouraged and/or demanded” his son to...
Several Westmoreland municipalities issue burn bans in light of dry conditions
At least three Westmoreland municipalities have enacted burn bans in light of dry conditions in the region. Derry Township issued a burn ban Monday, and Mt. Pleasant Township announced a burn ban Tuesday that will remain in effect until further notice. Hempfield issued a burn ban Tuesday that will remain...
Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will take budget hit as Southwest Greensburg repeals tax
Word that the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library is set to lose thousands of dollars in annual revenue was not welcome news for patrons who visited the Greensburg library Wednesday afternoon. The previous day, voters in Southwest Greensburg approved a referendum repealing a 1-mill portion of the borough’s 28-mill property tax...
Vertiports for drones proposed for Arnold Palmer Regional, Johnstown airports
Airport officials in Westmoreland and Cambria counties envision creating a facility for a drone that could deliver cargo, fly passengers or transport a patient to a hospital in an electric-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically, just like a helicopter. “The possibilities are endless. We have all the...
‘Overjoyed’ or ‘disgusted’? Western Pa. voters weigh in on Trump presidential victory
Philip Manns stayed up until 2 a.m. watching the election returns on TV on Tuesday, pleasantly surprised by now President-elect Donald Trump’s performance Election Day. “I was watching all night, and I was just surprised he was doing so well,” said Manns, 81, of Hempfield. “I think the pollsters all...
Passengers describe events surrounding 2022 New Year’s shooting in Rostraver
A group of four people heading to a Rostraver bar to continue ringing in 2022 was irritated to come upon a red SUV traveling slowly on Rostraver Road, Shaquala Poole testified in Westmoreland County court Wednesday. Her boyfriend at the time — Anthony Hairston — was behind the wheel of...
Westmoreland County set to review, count provisional ballots
Westmoreland County on Friday will begin counting an estimated 1,200 provisional ballots cast at the polls on Election Day. County officials said it appears nearly 83% of Westmoreland’s more than 255,000 register voters cast ballots during the November presidential election. According to unofficial totals, more than 211,000 ballots were cast....
