Westmoreland category, Page 201
Norwin 6th-grader taken to hospital after being hit by car in front of school
A sixth-grader was hit by a car in front of Hillcrest Intermediate School in North Huntingdon Friday morning. North Huntingdon EMS Director Shane Spielvogle said the boy was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The boy was hit while walking to school, Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor wrote in a...
2 new Republicans, 3 incumbents to fill Hempfield school board seats
Two new Republicans will join the Hempfield Area School Board after a year filled with debate of national hot button issues and a pause on a planned $132 million high school renovation project. Tracy Miller, 46, who works for a local tax collector, and Jennifer Stape, 38, a stay-at-home mom,...
Vacant home, site of fire, a longtime nuisance for East Huntingdon neighbors
For two years, squatters in an abandoned home just outside Scottdale have been a nuisance to neighbors. Wednesday morning, the home along Mt. Pleasant Road in East Huntingdon caught fire. “The fire was a blessing. It’s just too bad it didn’t burn more,” one of the neighbors said. “I hope...
Wagon Wheel restaurant will close doors after 6 decades
Jodi Susick wasn’t going to miss her chance to order the red devil’s food cake from the Wagon Wheel. “My dad would pick me up on his lunch break and bring me with him for lunch,” said Susick, 49, of Salem as she waited for a massive slice of Our...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 10-12
From a benefit concert by The Clarks to a candlelight tour of the Compass Inn, there are plenty of things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region annual benefit concert At 7 p.m. Saturday, The Clarks will be taking the stage at...
Free art event in Latrobe will help kids ‘feel less alone’ this Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Local kids who are grieving loved ones will have the opportunity to decorate pots and plant seeds of hope on Children’s Grief Awareness Day. This year, the day falls on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Maria Graziano-Bickerstaff, funeral director at the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home in Latrobe, said its intent is to...
Unity man pleads guilty to assaulting woman who wouldn’t listen to him compose music
A Unity man was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail in connection with two separate assaults against a woman. Mark D. Marcinik, 32, pleaded guilty Thursday two counts of simple assault and criminal mischief for incidents that police said occurred at two homes in Unity in December...
Santa Claus greeted warmly as he arrives at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield
Santa Claus arrived with much fanfare at the Westmoreland Mall on Route 30 in Hempfield on Friday. His return to center court began with a parade led by the Hempfield Area High School Marching Band and a show from the Westmoreland Performing Arts group. A Christmas tree lighting and reveal...
3 injured in crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County
An adult and child were flown to a hospital after being injured in a two-vehicle crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County Thursday night. Dispatchers from 911 said another person was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The adult who was flown had been ejected from...
Boil water advisory lifted for Ligonier area following repair, testing
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers in the Ligonier area no longer have to boil or conserve their water. The water advisory was lifted as of 6 p.m. Thursday. A water main break Sunday near Waterford caused the disruption, specifically along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water...
Hempfield Area security committee ‘ironing out details’ before renting metal detectors
Hempfield Area School District is considering additional metal or weapons detectors for its buildings, but options to safeguard its schools could depend on staffing levels and training, members of the new security committee said. At the committee’s meeting this week, board member Mike Alfery said the group is considering renting...
Unity man pleads guilty to theft of $380,000 from mother
Christopher Treasure told a Westmoreland County judge on Thursday he stole $380,000 from his 75-year-old mother to dull the pain of personal loss. Those losses — the deaths of his father and son — caused him to spiral, Treasure said before pleading guilty to one felony theft charge. Prosecutors said...
Monessen man sentenced on federal drug charges
A Monessen man will serve more than five years in federal prison after his conviction on drug charges, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan announced Thursday. Daniel Smith, 41, was part of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine between June 2020 and July 2021, which involved residents of Brownsville as well as Chicago,...
Jeannette projects $75K more in wage tax collections in 2024 budget
Jeannette plans to hold the line on its property tax rate for 2024. City manager Ethan Keedy said the $6.15 million budget is balanced without a tax increase. Council was expected to tentatively approve the spending plan Thursday in advance of a final OK next month. Work on the budget...
Penn-Trafford to bring Shakespeare ‘play within a play’ to stage this weekend
The Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild will bring a twist on a Shakespeare classic to the stage this weekend for the first time in about two decades. The drama guild will perform “Romeo and Juliet: Together and Alive At Last,” a story about two middle school students, Anabell and Pete,...
Commission: Jeannette City school board member, former president fined for violating Ethics Act
A Jeannette City school board member was fined $500 for violating the state Ethics Act, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said. Mark Gogolsky violated the state’s Ethics Act when he filed deficient statements of financial interests between 2016 and 2020 by failing to disclose all reportable sources of income, according...
Unity mother reflects on ‘the worst 4 months of my life’ as probe into daughter’s killing stalls
Bruna Vesco Leonard had a few video chats with her 25-year-old daughter on the evening of June 9. Brianna Lartz was visiting a friend in Jeannette, and they were getting ready to eat dinner. Hours later, Leonard was panicked to hear about a shooting at the friend’s home. Leonard said...
Butler Health System losses nearly doubled in 2023, according to financial statements
Butler Health System’s losses almost doubled in the fiscal year ending June 30, according to newly released financial documents. The system, which in January merged with Excela Health to create Independence Health System, lost $43.3 million in fiscal year 2023. Butler Health reported $22.8 million in losses in the fiscal...
Boil-water advisory extended for Ligonier, Laurel Mountain, portions of Ligonier and Fairfield townships
A boil-water advisory has been extended as the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County awaits the results of a third precautionary test following a water main break in Ligonier Township on Sunday. Spokesperson Matt Junker said the latest water sample was taken Wednesday and tests take about 24 hours to get...
Westmoreland political leaders take contrasting view of election results
Westmoreland County Democratic leaders had high hopes but few expectations with regards the handful of county races on Tuesday’s ballot. While Republicans maintained control of county government, the more than 31,000 votes received by an underfunded and untested candidate who was on the campaign trail for just two months signaled...
Unity supervisors express concern over Greater Latrobe’s multimillion-dollar revitalization project, planned tax hikes
When Mike O’Barto learned of Greater Latrobe school board’s multimillion-dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039, he said he thought it was “ludicrous.” The district will proceed with the plan after 19 months of study, review and public comment, with an expected cost between $182 million and $198...
Nearly half of all Westmoreland write-in votes came from Greater Latrobe school board races
When John Petrarca saw the number of write-in votes in the Greater Latrobe school board election for four-year seats, he said it was “hard to believe.” Nearly half of the 22,259 total write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election in Westmoreland County were done so in the two races for Latrobe...
Bipartisan Norwin School Board victors say they hope to promote respect, avoid polarization
Members of the bipartisan “We aRe Norwin” slate of candidates will form a majority on Norwin School Board, according to unofficial election results. All five members of the slate were leading in unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s election. Tim Kotch Sr. led with 11.2%, and Nina Totin came in second...
Veterans Day observed with activities across Westmoreland County, region
Those who have served in the armed forces will be recognized during the following Veterans Day programs: • WCCC The Center for Healthcare Solutions and Unity in the Community will hold a free Veterans Suicide Prevention Walk and Human Services Fair Friday on the main campus of Westmoreland County Community...
Hempfield man charged with child rape
A Hempfield man is behind bars after state police said he raped a girl over the summer, according to court papers. Bryan D. Rockmore, 32, was arrested Tuesday on charges of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child and indecent assault of a person younger than 13....
