Westmoreland category, Page 652
No new coronavirus cases, deaths reported in Westmoreland County
No new covid-19 cases or deaths were reported Monday in Westmoreland County. The countywide case total remains 449, with 38 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth Bacha has reported 32 coronavirus deaths, less than the state’s reported 38. Bacha’s office has not updated its...
Laurelville Retreat Center pool will open to the public
With many pools remaining closed this summer, swimmers will have one more option for water fun. The new pool at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant Township will open to the public by June 15 for two daily swim sessions. The pool will operate with limited crowd capacities and distancing...
Hempfield firefighters free man’s leg pinned by concrete slab, dispatchers say
Hempfield firefighters responded Monday to rescue a man whose leg was pinned by a concrete slab, according to Westmoreland County 911 dispatchers. The incident occurred at 11 a.m. at a residence in the 1900 block of Clawson Avenue, the dispatcher said. Firefighters from Midway-St. Clair were called to free the...
Man accused of leading troopers on 100 mph chase in Hempfield, Unity
A Ligonier Township man is accused of leading state troopers on a chase exceeding 100 mph for several miles along Route 30 in Hempfield and Unity and intentionally crashing into three state police patrol cars. Robbie T. Saunders, 56, is charged with attempted homicide of a police officer and aggravated...
83% of Pennsylvania’s 2.4M unemployed have been paid; Greensburg cafeteria worker still waiting
Sharon Sachs lost her job in Seton Hill University’s cafeteria when the Greensburg campus closed in mid-March because of the covid-19 pandemic. Now, she could be the poster child for dysfunction in Pennsylvania’s jobless benefits program. “I have not received a penny since filing for unemployment the week of March...
Coroner: Unity man found dead after jumping into pond
A 52-year-old Unity man was found early Sunday in a pond off Route 130, Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha said. Patrick A. Takitch was found at 7:45 a.m. by authorities, Bacha said. Takitch jumped into the pond at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday and didn’t resurface. Multiple fire departments assisted in...
‘Very peaceful’ protest brings people together in GreensburgVideo
Protest co-organizer Lisa Roberts wanted Sunday’s event in Greensburg to be “truly peaceful.” “No violence will be tolerated,” Roberts said on the heels of a violent eruptions in Downtown Pittsburgh the day before. She got her wish. About 200 protesters gathered and marched Sunday from the Westmoreland County Courthouse to...
2 more covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County, no new deaths
Westmoreland County on Sunday reported two additional coronavirus cases and no new deaths, according to state health officials. That brings the total number of cases to 449. The total number of deaths remains at 38. Close to 9,500 people have tested negative for the virus. Neither the state nor coroner...
Army Corps band of brother divers repairs locks, dams in Western Pennsylvania
Thirty-one feet below the surface with near zero visibility, a small group of divers are doing painstaking work at the bottom of the Monongahela River to replace rusty bars and beams on 14-foot-high intakes that feed water into locks at a dam near Brownsville. “Diving is inherently dangerous. You just...
Pandemic primary features no contested races in Westmoreland, but record mail-in ballotsVideo
More than 30,000 votes have already been cast in Westmoreland County ahead of Tuesday’s primary, where there are few contested races for more than a dozen state and federal offices. What was once anticipated to be a significant day for politics because of a contentious Democratic presidential primary has since...
Farmers markets begin opening with covid-related health, safety changes
The Lower Burrell Farmers Market will open June 13 in the city hall parking lot — sans guest presenters from the Penn State Master Gardeners and live entertainment. Customers also won’t be allowed to enjoy the food they buy on site. “I think people, instead of sticking around, moseying about...
Vendors celebrate return of Ligonier MarketVideo
Ligonier Country Market looks a little different this year, but the hundreds of eager shoppers looked pretty much the same as always Saturday. “Everyone wanted to come out and see happy faces,” said Sherrie Okert, who sells herbs and tomato plants at the Broken Locust tent. The weekly market opened...
3 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths in Westmoreland County
Three new covid-19 cases were reported Saturday in Westmoreland County, with no new deaths. The countywide case total is now 447, with 38 deaths, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The county had a total of 10 new cases this week, with no reported deaths. Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth...
New home improvement store could take place of Ramada hotel in Hempfield
A new home improvement store could be headed to Hempfield, pending township approval, taking the spot of the Ramada by Wyndham Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center. If plans for the site are approved, the hotel and former Westmoreland Athletic Club that closed in 2015, located near Westmoreland Mall, would be...
Hempfield students perform virtual chorus, art showsVideo
Students at Harrold Middle School in Hempfield weren’t going to let the coronavirus pandemic cancel their chorus concert. The show much go on, as they say. But rather than packing into an auditorium and risking exposure to parents, staff and students, chorus teacher Dan Lauritzen had students record themselves singing...
Laurelville announces day camp launch on June 22
Laurelville Retreat Center will offer week-long day camps for children ages 5-12 beginning June 22 as the region moves into green status. Although sleep-away camp sessions have been canceled for the summer, a camp spokeswoman said day camp events — which have been fashioned to meet CDC guidelines — will...
Western Pennsylvania restaurants team to benefit Westmoreland County Food Bank
Order to-go items from some Pittsburgh restaurants next week and you will help feed others at the same time. Takeout Tuesday is June 2 and area eateries will be donating 15% to 25% of proceeds from sales that day to the Westmoreland County Food Bank. The promotion is being organized...
Cops: Southwest Greensburg man accused in stabbing
A Southwest Greensburg man was arraigned this week on charges of aggravated and simple assault for allegedly stabbing a man earlier this year. Jason M. Walters, 37, spent Thursday night in the county prison, but was released Friday after posting $100,000 obtained from a bail bondsman. Police were called to...
Westmoreland County adds 1 new coronavirus case, no new deaths
One new covid-19 case was reported in Westmoreland County on Friday, bringing the countywide total to 444. No new deaths were reported. That leaves the countywide total at 38, according to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Allegheny County reported 19 additional cases of the coronavirus Friday, bringing...
Community, fire departments turn out to honor late Delmont Chief Rich Balik
The funeral service for Rich Balik, Delmont’s fire chief, was held Friday at P. David Newhouse Funeral Home in New Alexandria. Balik, 47, a longtime firefighter with several departments in Westmoreland County, died unexpectedly Saturday. He was found unresponsive at his home and apparently died of cardiac arrest on the...
Southbound Route 119 reopened in East Huntingdon following 2-vehicle crash
Route 119 is partially closed in East Huntingdon Township following a crash involving a PennDOT truck, Westmoreland County emergency officials said. The southbound lanes of Route 119 are closed near its intersection with Routes 981 and 31 following a crash reported shortly before 11 a.m. The crash involved a PennDOT...
Paint a rainbow to benefit Irwin Rotary food program
Artists of all ages and experience levels are invited to create rainbow paintings to be displayed at Feathers Artist Market and Gifts in Irwin. Pieces submitted for “Project Rainbow” then will be auctioned to benefit Irwin Rotary’s Care & Share Pantry, which provides food to community members in need. Paintings...
Westmoreland leaders pleased to move to green phase next week
County leaders expressed relief Friday to learn Westmoreland soon will move into the green phase of the state’s coronavirus reopening plan. Gov. Tom Wolf announced Friday that Westmoreland is one of 16 additional counties in the region, including Allegheny, that will move from the yellow to green phase June 5....
Hempfield waives temporary tent permit fee to help businesses during pandemic
Hempfield businesses can receive a temporary tent permit from the township without paying a fee. The offer is an attempt to help businesses move products outdoors to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Township supervisors this week unanimously agreed to waive the $350 fee until Dec. 31. Supervisor Tom...
Ligonier Country Market plans crafters’ return, new night event
Craft vendors will set up shop again at the weekly Ligonier Country Market beginning June 6. “(Their return) signals the next step in us returning the market to full operation in light of the pandemic,” said LCM executive director Cari Frei. “Offering everything from handmade jewelry and wood crafts to...
