Westmoreland category, Page 222
Latrobe hires collection company to enforce overdue taxes, fees
Latrobe officials hired a collection agency to recoup unpaid taxes and fees in the city. The resolution passed 5-0 during Monday’s council meeting, and the two-year contract will begin this January. City Manager Terry Carcella said the driving force behind the decision is the amount of money that’s owed to...
Hunker man on trial for sexual assault
A now-20-year-old woman told a Westmoreland County jury Monday she never expected to be the victim of a sexual assault. “I was going to go have a good time. I just turned 18 and wanted to get out in the world,” she testified during the first day of the trial...
Record $2.5M spent at Westmoreland tax sale
Kimberly Brant of Adamsburg came to the Westmoreland County Courthouse with a pocketful of cash and hopes for a new home. Jon Wildi of New Kensington hoped for a miracle. Both saw their wishes come true Monday morning at the county’s annual sale of tax delinquent properties where a record...
Delmont woman accused of filling dog prescription for hundreds of Xanax pills after pet’s death
A Delmont woman who works as a veterinary technician is accused of attempting to fill a Xanax prescription for her dog four months after it had been euthanized, according to court papers. Agents with the state Attorney General’s Office also said Bobbi Jo Vaia, 38, filled a legitimate Xanax prescription...
Coroner: Man hit by train near South Huntingdon-Smithton border died by suicide
A man who was hit by a train Monday morning at the border of South Huntingdon and Smithon died at noon, authorities said. The 67-year-old Chartiers Township, Washington County, man died by suicide, according to a release from the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The man was hit just after 10:30...
Murrysville waits to move forward with short-term rental ordinance
Murrysville council members are debating an ordinance regulating short-term rentals through companies like AirBnb and VRBO. The council has split over the rental issue perceived by some as limited in scope and by others as a question of personal safety for neighbors in a residential area. “So far, I’ve heard...
Penn Township gym to host fundraiser for children with cancer
Gianna Wilkie wants her two passions — fitness and Penn State’s THON — to “stay collided” in a spin class fundraiser slated for this month. As a Penn State student, Wilkie was highly involved in THON, an organization that raises money and offers support to families facing childhood cancer. In...
‘Day One Sober’: Youngwood native Mia Logan explores cathartic side of songwriting
Going the autobiographical route for your first musical release represents a bold move. So does including lyrics along the lines of: Now I’m sleeping in the bed that I have made / Every day I try to fix my past mistakes Plus Youngwood native Mia Logan named that tune “Day...
Greensburg Salem set to reject outdoor classroom bids; basketball court taking shape
Greensburg Salem is rethinking its approach to developing an outdoor classroom at the high school as construction proceeds on a new basketball court in a grassy area behind the middle school. Superintendent Ken Bissell said he would like to get community input while the district considers other potential facility projects,...
Westmoreland Fair provides educational opportunities for students prior to fall classes
For Madison Davis, the Westmoreland Fair has conflicted with the start of her college classes for the past three years — but it hasn’t stopped her from making the most of her fair experience. Davis, 20, of Dawson, is a junior majoring in nursing at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly...
Latrobe Italian Festival returns for 2nd year, catalyzes growth for local community
Michael Ciotti says he’s been going to Italian festivals his whole life Since he was born in the city, it naturally made sense to create the Latrobe Italian Festival soon after opening his local business. The festival returns to Thompson Street this weekend for the second year, honoring the city’s...
Menu specials will welcome diners at 14 eateries during Greensburg Restaurant Week
Bay of Fundy salmon, Syrian specialties and generous servings of pumpkin waffles and pancakes are among the flavorful options awaiting diners who partake of the offerings during Greensburg Restaurant Week. Slated Monday through Sept. 17, the semi-annual event showcases the diverse menus of 14 restaurants in Greensburg and nearby communities,...
Westmoreland political leaders eye state judicial contests to lure voters
Westmoreland County’s political leaders said Election Day 2023 could set the stage for the following year’s presidential election. With a ballot devoid of high-profile contested county races this fall, officials said they expect to work overtime to ensure voters are motivated to head to the polls or vote by mail...
‘Homecoming’: Sisters of Mercy, St. Xavier’s Academy alumni return to Unity to celebrate opening of new nature preserve
Barbara Mance was sitting in her English class at St. Xavier’s Academy on March 16, 1972, when the fire alarm went off. She walked downstairs, assuming it was just another fire drill. She and her classmates were joking that “maybe the old place is finally burning.” Upon arriving outside, they...
Commissioner candidate has surgery for injuries suffered in 2021 Election Day attack
A Democratic candidate for Westmoreland County commissioner is temporarily off the campaign trail after having surgery Thursday to repair lingering injuries suffered during an attack at the polls on Election Day in 2021. Lisa Gephart, 56, of Mt. Pleasant Township remained hospitalized Friday and is recovering and expected to return...
Westmoreland home repair program filled before program launch
A new $1.6 million program to stop future blight has more than enough potential applicants even before Westmoreland County officials were ready to formally announce its launch. Brian Lawrence, executive director of Westmoreland County’s Redevelopment Authority, said referrals from other agencies have “overprescribed” what officials expect to be a popular...
‘Read-in’ highlights representation in books frequently targeted for banning
When Mackenzie Fangman read “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, it was an awkward experience at times. “It made me cringe to read, but it was a cringe of self- recognition,” said Fangman, 26, of Greensburg, who also is gender-queer. “And if it made me feel that way as an...
PennDOT bridge replacement will trigger detour in South Huntingdon
A section of Wyano Waltz Mill Road (Route 3010) in South Huntingdon will close Monday so PennDOT crews can replace a bridge over a branch of Sewickley Creek. The closure, between Markeys Road and Waltz Mill Road, is expected to continue through mid-November, depending on weather conditions. PennDOT will post...
Yough-N-Roll, Party on the Trail planned along Great Allegheny Passage
The annual Yough-N-Roll and Party on the Trail fundraisers along the Great Allegheny Passage are set for Sept. 16. Riders in the Yough-N-Roll and Family Fun Ride can set their own pace and distance starting from the Boston trailhead. There are 40- and 20-mile options that turn around at Cedar...
Bridge inspection to restrict traffic on I-70 span across the Monongahela River
A routine inspection of the Speers Bridge will trigger daytime single-lane restrictions on Interstate 70 beginning Monday. The lane restrictions are expected to continue through Friday, Sept. 15, on the bridge, which carries I-70 over the Monongahela River, affecting both eastbound and westbound traffic between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m....
Mt. Pleasant SportZone closes; hockey rinks for sale
An East Huntingdon indoor sports arena and entertainment center that had multiple names through almost 20 years and drew hundreds of boys, girls and their families for weekend inline hockey and other tournaments will have an entirely new purpose. Snowplows, salt spreaders and tree cutter supplies will soon fill the...
New trees provide fresh setting for blooms at First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg
First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg has upped its curb appeal this year by replacing overgrown foliage on it grounds at 300 S. Main St. with new landscaping elements. It was time to refresh the plantings of rhododendrons and yew trees after more than two decades, according to the church’s pastor,...
Body art: Meeting of the Marked tattoo convention inks three decades of skin design
A tattoo needle punctures the skin around 100 times per second, depositing the ink 1.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters below the surface. It bypasses the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin. Tool firmly in hand, the image that appears is more than ink injected into the skin — tattoos...
Baltzer Meyer Historical Society plans Oktoberfest event
You don’t have to travel all the way to Germany to celebrate the autumn season. Baltzer Meyer Historical Society in Hempfield will host an Oktoberfest festival on Sept. 17, featuring beer, snacks, refreshments, and historical activities. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. at the Historical Society at 624...
Decision delayed on new North Huntingdon car wash
Plans for a car wash in North Huntingdon hit a snag this week when township zoning board members questioned the idea of constructing the building 25 feet from busy Route 30, one-half the setback required in the municipality’s ordinance. When it was clear that all four members present at the...
