Westmoreland category, Page 18
Greensburg Salem hires energy savings company to draft middle, high school improvement plans
As Greensburg Salem prepares to make its final debt service payment in January, the district is working with an energy savings company to create long-term improvement plans for its middle and high school buildings. The school board voted unanimously to hire TEN, The Efficiency Network, to complete conceptual design plans...
Jeannette extends tax break program for commercial properties
A five-year extension on a tax break program for commercial properties in Jeannette has been approved by city council. Now, Jeannette City school directors and the Westmoreland County commissioners have to follow suit for the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance, or LERTA, program to continue. It was established in Jeannette...
Team spirit high at Southmoreland with Scotties on track for banner year
Southmoreland’s Russ Grimm Field is brighter this year, with new LED lights and artificial turf, and so are the prospects of the Scotties football team. With a 7-0 record heading into Friday night’s showdown with visiting rival Mt. Pleasant Area, the team is riding high on a new wave of...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Oct. 10-12
Things are jumping in Westmoreland County this weekend, from museums to theaters to battlefields and everywhere in between. Here’s just a few ideas of what to do. Art on Tap: Rocktober Fest The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is combining several of the best things for this month’s 21+ Art...
Westmoreland man, woman killed in crash near Washington, D.C.
A Westmoreland County couple who loved music were coming home after attending a concert in Washington, D.C., when they were killed Sunday in an accident near the nation’s capital. Alyssa Samantha-Dee Caldarelli, 22, of Adamsburg, and Ryan Dean, 26, of Murrysville were fatally injured in a crash along the George...
Man accused in Salem lawnmower pipe bomb case now charged over 2nd explosive attempt
James Sever, the man accused of planting a pipe bomb in his former landlord’s lawnmower, was charged Thursday with putting a second bomb on a pickup truck being used by one of Sever’s relatives, state police said in court papers. The pickup was a loaner vehicle from a Rostraver car...
Greater Latrobe, Burrell high schoolers take science class outdoorsVideo
About 30 junior and senior students from Burrell and Greater Latrobe high schools put their science lessons into action Thursday. As part of Greater Latrobe’s Capstone Environmental Science course, the students inspected bee boxes to assess the health of the queen bee. The bee boxes were built about a year...
Fort Ligonier Days to feature return of fireworks, new history-themed games
As many as 60,000 people are expected to pack Ligonier’s Main Street on Saturday morning to watch the parade that is a central feature of the town’s Fort Ligonier Days festival. Those who remain on hand later that day, after more than 200 crafter and food vendor booths close, will...
Greensburg official: Focus is on increasing residential housing options
Boosting Greensburg’s residential population within the city’s 4-square-mile boundary likely will have to come from building conversions in the downtown business district, a city official said this week. “Housing is our main focus right now. The only residential growth will be by developing residences” in the downtown area, said Alex...
Westmoreland happenings: Fire museum program, meeting, art exhibit, more
Art • The Greensburg Art Center and the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will sponsor an exhibition by artist D’anna Kromer from Friday through Nov. 15 at the library, 237 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg. A free opening reception will be from 5 to 7 to p.m. Friday. Public welcome. Details: greensburgart center.org....
Derry man convicted for causing 2019 crash that injured passenger
A Westmoreland County jury convicted a Derry Township man for causing a 2019 vehicle crash in Unity in which his passenger sustained serious injuries. Robert S. Mayer, 61, following a two-day trial, was found guilty this week of two felony offenses, aggravated assault by vehicle and causing an accident while...
Soaring gold prices spell payday for some, but economic uncertainty for all
Now might be a golden opportunity to empty out the jewelry box. A palmful of gold necklaces, rings or other jewelry could fetch about $10,000 at precious metals dealers as gold’s price-per-ounce continues its record-breaking rise. “People cry, like shaking — they can’t believe the amount they’re getting,” said Jenn...
Westmoreland jury acquits suspended trooper of girlfriend’s assault
Suspended state police Trooper Nicholas Hood was found not guilty Wednesday in connection to an alleged domestic violence incident two years in his Derry Township home. A Westmoreland County jury deliberated two hours before finding Hood not guilty of one misdemeanor count of simple assault. Common Pleas Judge Michael Stewart...
Delmont officials will host Q&A on Shields Farm master plan
Delmont officials will host a meeting from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 15 with a question-and-answer session about a draft of the master plan for the borough-owned Shields Farm property. The draft will be presented, having incorporated comments received during the last public meeting and through completed surveys. The plan’s purpose is...
Dayton Freight shipping company to build depot off I-70 near Smithton
An Ohio-based freight company is moving into Westmoreland County and bringing at least 50 jobs with it. Dayton Freight finalized the purchase of 31.5 acres at the Interstate 70 Industrial Park in South Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. officials. The company, through Stream’s Edge Properties, paid $1.7...
‘Petulia Masquerade’ song/video making debut at Westmoreland Museum of American Art
Early morning television watching and a scribbled word helped to spark the “Petulia Masquerade” song project spearheaded by Steve Bodner. The first part sprung from the 1968 movie “Petulia,” which featured George C. Scott and Julie Christie. “It was a very strange movie. It’s like a late ‘60s thing. Janis...
Fire departments spread awareness with annual prevention night at Westmoreland Mall
Fire trucks from area departments descended on a Westmoreland Mall parking lot Tuesday to spread awareness about fire prevention. The 29th annual Hempfield-Greensburg Fire Prevention Night drew families who, despite rainy weather, got to check out the rigs and demonstrations from firefighters. It was a regional opportunity for fire departments...
Penn Township dental office plans free care day for veterans, service members
A Penn Township dental office is joining ranks with similar practices in multiple states this week to provide free care to military veterans and service members. It’s the first year for the Pearl Dentistry office to participate in Freedom Day USA, a program founded in 2013 by a West Virginia...
Derry Township OKs solar farm permit over objections by neighbors
The Derry Township Supervisors on Tuesday approved a permit for a proposed solar farm along Newhouse Road after hearing objections to the project from several neighboring residents. The supervisors indicated they aren’t any more pleased about the proposed 27-acre solar array than residents are. But they said they are issuing...
Westmoreland extends election bureau hours, OKs polling place changes for November
Westmoreland County announced it will extend hours of operation for its election bureau for a two-week period prior to the Nov. 4 general election. The county’s election board on Tuesday also approved new locations for five voting of the 306 precincts that will be used on Election Day. Voters will...
Assault trial begins for suspended state police trooper
Sarah Hellmann told a Westmoreland County jury Tuesday she was hesitant to contact police to report allegations that one of their own had assaulted her during a fight in a Derry Township home. She said it was only after she was encouraged by her employers that she went to the...
Tenant future clouded as Walmart plans demolition of Monroeville Mall site
Rick Murray would like to help Walmart pitch its vision of a mixed-use development on the site of the Monroeville Mall, because he thinks it could someday be a real asset to the community. The problem is, despite being a mall tenant, he has no idea what the future of...
Hempfield opens online auction of surplus equipment
Bidding has started for 118 pieces of surplus equipment Hempfield is hoping to unload. The online auction is underway, and several items already have more than a dozen bids. The auction, being conducted by Anderson Auctioneers, will end Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Payment and pickup for winning bidders...
For local governments, winter road maintenance is summertime concern
Long before he jumps in his salt truck, Unity Supervisor Mike O’Barto says, the township has to consider winter road maintenance and road salt acquisition. O’Barto is among 21 plowmen, including two other township supervisors, who work to clear the 165 miles of roads in Unity, which is one of...
Westmoreland County approves ballot curing process for November election
The Westmoreland County commissioners on Tuesday approved a process to allow voters this fall to correct mail-in ballots. Republicans Sean Kertes and Doug Chew, who for the past five years have opposed efforts to allow what is known as ballot curing, said they were required to reverse course and implement...
