Westmoreland category, Page 3
Penn Township proposes steady property tax rate in 2026 budget
Penn Township commissioners will vote next week on a 2026 budget proposal that would not increase property taxes. The nearly $12 million spending plan includes a property tax rate of 17.4 mills, plus a 1.3 mill tax dedicated to the township’s five volunteer fire departments: Claridge, Grandview, Harrison City, Level...
Pinch of rising prices, outlook on inflation differs among area shoppers
Jaclyn Thomas of Southwest Greensburg and Tim Taylor of Sharpsburg are feeling the economic pressure of rising costs in different ways. “Being on a low income, it’s very hard,” said Thomas, 46, who is a food stamp recipient. “There’s a lot of things I had to cut out.” Taylor, 41,...
Latrobe to add accessible curb ramps at sites north of Depot Street
Latrobe plans to improve handicapped accessibility on city sidewalks at seven locations north of Depot Street, with the help of federal funding. Public works Director Scott Wajdic said there are several locations that lack curb ramps for those with mobility challenges. He said sites along Alexandria Street are targeted for...
St. Vincent Camerata explores Mary and the manger with ‘Nata Nox’ concerts
Chaz Bowers of Elizabeth has been admiring the St. Vincent Camerata for quite some time now. Over the years, he’s played the organ for several of the chamber ensemble’s concerts, and the music they perform is at the heart of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, where he serves as music...
Greater Latrobe School Board hires new solicitor after Sunshine Act argument, chooses Rossi as president
Greater Latrobe School Board has a new president and a new solicitor. The choices follow an extended argument among board members over the former solicitor’s billing and whether the public was given proper notice of the agenda item in accordance with the state Sunshine Act. Yelayna Rossi, one of two...
Greensburg funds easement for Northmont flood control project
Greensburg will pay $2,000 to a property owner to secure an easement that will allow for infrastructure upgrades and maintenance of the proposed Northmont flood control project. City council on Monday approved making the payment to WRW Properties, which owns 448 Roosevelt Way. Solicitor Zachary Kansler said the easement will...
Delmont mayor resigns in absentia; longtime solicitor retiring
Delmont will start the new year with a new borough attorney but without its newly elected mayor. Alyce Urban submitted a letter of resignation at Tuesday’s council meeting, just over a month after running unopposed in the November election and earning a new four-year term. Urban, who has served as...
Greensburg pension commission returns $62K to ex-chief, hears appeal on benefits suspension
Greensburg will return nearly $62,000 in pension contributions made by its former police chief while the city’s police pension commission weighs an appeal by a retired officer whose benefits have been suspended. Both former cops — Regina McAtee, 52, of New Kensington and Shawn Denning, 44, of Delmont — are...
Arnold man cleared of assault on inmate during sheriff transport
A Westmoreland County jury on Tuesday acquitted an Arnold man of assaulting a female inmate while the two were being taken to jail in the back seat of a sheriff’s car. Jurors deliberated one hour before returning not-guilty verdicts on charges of aggravated harassment by a prisoner and indecent assault...
Monzo to retire as head of Westmoreland airport authority
Gabe Monzo, who has seen plenty of takeoffs and landings during his more than four decades working for the Westmoreland County Airport Authority — including the last 17 as its executive director — announced Tuesday he will retire from that role at the end of April. “While the responsibilities seem...
Hempfield students, teachers pitch in to donate holiday meals to local families
Spanish teacher Natalie Fetterman couldn’t unhear the numbers — the 326 Hempfield Area students who take advantage of the district’s weekend food program. That’s in addition to the 900 students throughout the district’s nine school buildings who are registered for free or reduced cost lunches. “These numbers aren’t something that...
False fire alarm fines begin in Greensburg with the new year; ordinance holds property owners accountable
New rules regarding false fire alarms in Greensburg are set to go into effect Jan. 1. Greensburg council on Monday unanimously approved updating an ordinance that holds property owners accountable for alarm malfunctions, particularly when firefighters repeatedly respond to the same building. Fire Chief Tom Bell said firefighters have been...
Cause of blaze that destroyed Hempfield home under investigation
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a home in Hempfield’s Fort Allen section Tuesday morning. Flames and billowing smoke ripped through the residence at 318 Hopi Drive after the fire was reported about 9:15 a.m. Hempfield Fire Department Chief Anthony Kovacic confirmed...
Derry Township man gets prison for assault and strangulation of girlfriend
A Derry Township man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the assault and strangulation of his live-in girlfriend in early 2020. Wayne Nestler Jr., 36, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts of strangulation and one misdemeanor offense of simple assault in connection with allegations...
Greensburg keeps property tax rate steady, despite drop in total assessed value
Despite a $2.6 million drop in assessed property value for next year, Greensburg council passed a 2026 budget that keeps the millage rate steady. That decrease in total assessed value will result in about $21,500 less in property tax revenue for the city. When initially preparing the 2026 spending plan,...
Greensburg Lutheran church sells shopping plaza along Main Street
A Greensburg shopping plaza has been sold to a Unity church. Charter Oak Church on Frye Farm Road has purchased the Mid Town Plaza, at 450 S. Main St., from First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 246 S. Main St. for $1.15 million, through its COC Holdings LLC, according to documents...
Film festival organizers look to help students hone their content creation skills
Luke Champlain grew up going to the movies every week with his family. “We still go whenever we’re able,” said the 18-year-old Penn-Trafford senior. “I’ve always wanted to make movies. I think one of the coolest thing you can do is tell stories.” It’s easier than ever for young people...
Construction of driverless vehicle test track in East Huntingdon reaches the start line
Construction of a 2-mile track in East Huntingdon to test autonomous vehicles and train first responders is underway, with the facility expected to be in operation by late 2026. The project’s first phase, which includes the test track and supporting infrastructure, is expected to cost about $30 million. Work crews...
North Huntingdon OKs draft rules on leasing public land
North Huntingdon officials have approved a draft ordinance to govern the leasing of public land. The move is intended to prevent a recurrence of the controversy that surrounded a proposal for a sports complex on the public works facility site. Last month, the commissioners authorized advertising the ordinance, which would...
Fire destroys Cook Township house; man left homeless
Firefighters had to battle a smoky fire at a Cook Township house Sunday while being careful as ammunition in the house was exploding, a fire official said. There were no injuries from the fire along Hoods Mill Road off Route 130, said Chestnut Ridge Fire Chief Shawn Kestner. The owner,...
Fire guts Penn Township house
A state police fire marshal is investigating the cause of a fire that gutted a Penn Township house late Saturday night, a fire department spokesman said. The fire at the two-story brick house at 300 Murrysville Road in the Level Green section of the township was reported at about 10:30...
Jeannette business district: ‘Fledgling stages of being reborn’
As people were flowing into Jeannette’s downtown business district Saturday for the city’s holiday parade, there was a positive vibe among several business owners along Clay Avenue that downtown is seeing a revitalization. “It’s slowly coming back. There’s a lot of great things happening. We just need more,” said Jen...
North Huntingdon grandma’s love fills wedding cookie table
There is one ingredient in Adrienne “Baba” Frishof’s homemade cookies that can’t be measured — love. Frishof, 78, crafted 90 dozen cookies — 17 of the 26 varieties — for her granddaughter’s Oct. 11 wedding cookie table. “We had little takeout containers for guests to take cookies with them,” said...
Penn-Trafford alum launches nonprofit to give back to hometown
Penn-Trafford alumnus Andrea Lonzo-Porter was raised to understand the importance of helping others. “I come from a very, very large family,” she said. “We’ve always helped each other any way we could, whether it was time, money, just showing up. It taught me the importance of taking care of other...
Substitute teacher shortages leave some districts scrambling to avoid ‘vicious cycle’ in schools
During Allegheny Valley School District’s two-month search for a consistent high school biology teacher, Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said other teachers, outside substitutes and even school principals stepped in to keep the science class going. Eventually, the district found a long-term substitute with an emergency biology certification to fill the role...
