Westmoreland category, Page 24
Suspect in rigged lawn mower explosion in Salem arrested in Indiana County
A Westmoreland County man charged with rigging a lawn mower to explode has been arrested in Indiana County. James Sever, 54, of New Alexandria was taken into custody early Tuesday evening, according to state police. An off-duty trooper reported seeing Sever about 7 p.m. along Hoodlebug Trail in Center Township....
Westmoreland Housing Authority OKs $17.1 million budget
Westmoreland County Housing Authority board members on Tuesday approved the agency’s annual operating budget that officials hope will be an accurate spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Rachel Fritz, the authority’s chief financial officer, told board members the budgets for administrative costs and public housing programs total $17.1 million...
Norwin Art League renovates studio
The Norwin Art League’s studio in downtown Irwin has undergone a significant transformation, offering a completely refurbished space for artists to learn and create. The recent renovations, which began in June, included a full overhaul of the facility. To create a more open and natural environment, the league removed old...
Derry Township woman accused of faking husband’s death to recoup $2,800 down payment for garage
A Derry Township woman is accused by police of forging a death certificate for her husband in an effort to get out of a $14,800 contract for a metal garage to be built at her house, according to court papers. Lori L. Shawley, 54, was charged this week with felony...
Police: Owner of car involved in Hempfield e-bike fatality charged with resisting arrest
A Jeannette man who state police said owned the car involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Hempfield was charged Monday in connection with an alleged incident at his home during the investigation. Troopers said they were led to the North Third Street home of James S. Grady II, who was...
Pa. Turnpike lane in Westmoreland reopens after closure for emergency repairs
An eastbound lane of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Westmoreland County is now open after bring closed for more than eight hours Tuesday. Turnpike crews made emergency repairs to a void discovered under the surface . The problem was discovered at about 10 a.m. Tuesday near mile marker 62.4, between the...
Greensburg Civic Theatre kicks off 74th season with ‘Seussical’
If the “Seussical” musical was a person, it would surely be related to Mallory Grantz’s Monroeville family. “This is the fifth time in our family that one or more of us has been involved in ‘Seussical,’” said Grantz, 39, who will direct a production of the show to kick off...
After Pittsburgh Riverhounds project stalls, North Huntingdon to consider setting rules for leasing township land
North Huntingdon is considering a new set of rules for anyone who wants to lease township-owned land. The township commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday to advertise a new ordinance that aims to prevent the kind of controversy that arose last year when officials considered leasing land for a $30...
Therapy dogs, youth boxing demo join lineup for Latrobe’s National Night Out on Wednesday
Therapy dogs and a youth boxing demonstration will be first-time features at this year’s National Night Out in Latrobe, set for Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. The free event, meant to promote police-community relations and crime prevention, will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. In addition to seeing a Westmoreland...
Police pensions suspended for 2 former Greensburg officers convicted of drug crimes
Greensburg’s police pension board voted Monday to suspend benefits paid to two former officers, both of whom are serving sentences for federal drug crimes. Notice of the suspensions will be provided to Shawn Denning, 41, of Delmont and Regina McAtee, 52, of New Kensington. They have 30 days to appeal...
Franklin Regional has counseling options in place after student suicide
Flowers were left at the entrance to Franklin Regional Senior High School on Monday, a gesture of sympathy after a student committed suicide behind the school early Sunday morning. Franklin Regional officials said resources from Westmoreland County Behavioral Health as well as the University of Pittsburgh’s youth counseling service will...
Norwin won’t attempt to retrieve deleted videos, may consider new records policy
A North Huntingdon resident’s attempt to get Norwin School District to spend money on retrieving deleted school board meeting videos has been denied. Bill Bojalad, board president, said last week there is no support among board members to hire a data recovery company to try to find the videos that...
Irwin to explore fire safety inspection program
Irwin borough officials have approved a plan for the fire department committee to develop a new fire safety inspection program. The committee will work in collaboration with the Irwin fire department and community stakeholders. The borough council voted unanimously to approve the initiative, which will be spearheaded by council members...
Updated contract would lower starting salary for new Jeannette police officers
An arbitration decision calls for wages for new Jeannette police officers to decrease in an updated contract, a change that concerns union representatives. Under the pact that expired Dec. 31, new officers hired in 2024 earned a percentage of the $78,502 base rate their first year, based on experience, and...
World War II end to be commemorated at Lamp Theatre
The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will be commemorated at The Lamp Theatre in Irwin on Sept. 21 with newsreels from World War II, Jeeps such as the ones used during the war, historical artifacts and military displays. The free GI Canteen for a Day program...
Acid mine water treatment plant project gets $2M boost from state grant
An acid mine water remediation project, first pitched to Murrysville officials three years ago, has received $2 million in support from the state Department of Environmental Protection. As part of more than $5 million in mine-related grant funding, the department awarded $2.1 million for the Murrysville Area Watershed Association to...
Jeannette Initiative sessions set template for downtown revitalization
Two public information sessions are scheduled to share the Jeannette Initiative’s plans for revitalization as the organization prepares to apply for Main Street Matters designation in mid-October. Program manager Kristie Linden held the first session Sept. 10 and discussed the ideas that initiative committee members have identified to push revitalization...
Franklin Regional student dies by suicide at high school
A Franklin Regional student was found dead by suicide at the high school in Murrysville on Sunday morning, according to school district and community officials. “This is an unimaginable loss for our school community, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the student’s family and friends,” Superintendent Gennaro R....
Westmoreland happenings: Motorcycle run, stuffed cabbage dinner dance, art show, spaghetti dinner, more
Art • Greensburg Art Center will host a Black and White Art Show through Oct. 17 at the center, 230 Todd School Road, Hempfield. The display includes 55 pieces in grayscale, sepia tones, natural clay and natural wood. The center will host a free presentation from 2 to 4 p.m....
Connellsville Middle School teacher accused of exchanging nude photos with 14-year-old
A middle school teacher from Mount Pleasant is accused of exchanging nude photos with a 14-year-old child. Ashley Mongell, 30, is a seventh grade science teacher at Connellsville Area Middle School. State police said they began investigating Mongell and her contact with the child after Instagram made a report to...
Thousands celebrate Scottish heritage at Ligonier Highland Games
Wayne Bunch thinks he might have some Scottish heritage, but that’s not really what drew him to the Ligonier Highland Games on Saturday. Bunch, 41, of Uniontown, was there for the chance to try out the unique sporting events. Athletes donning kilts participated in Scottish games like the stone put...
PennDOT maintenance to restrict traffic on bridges in Westmoreland County
Motorists will encounter nighttime lane restrictions beginning Monday as crews perform maintenance on two Westmoreland County bridges. Single-lane restrictions will be in place between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday on the Route 30 bridge in South Greensburg. The same restrictions will occur on the Matthew Smelser Memorial...
Longtime chief of staff to Senate leader Kim Ward resigns
A shakeup is coming to the legislative staff of Pennsylvania Senate President Tempore Kim Ward. Ward, R-Hempfield, announced Friday her longtime chief of staff Rob Ritson has resigned to take at job at UPMC. Ritson has served as Ward’s top aide for 23 years. “Rob’s professionalism and demeanor set an...
Greensburg tax program 1 vote from securing another decade of incentives
The Greensburg Community Development Corp. only needs one more vote of approval before its tax incentive program can be renewed for another 10 years. Greensburg Council and Greensburg Salem School Board officials voted this week to renew the LERTA, or Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement. The program gives commercial developers...
Decaying Latrobe theater earmarked for demolition, new plans discussed
The City of Latrobe is partnering with the nonprofit Latrobe Foundation to pursue demolition of a vacant commercial building on Main Street. Decades ago, the building at 319 Main St. was home to the Olympic Theater movie house. Most recently, it was occupied by vending machine supplier Westmoreland Amusements. The...
