Westmoreland category, Page 682
Harrison City woman serves as ‘Miss Smiling Irish Eyes’ as Pittsburgh cancels annual paradeVideo
A Penn-Trafford graduate was looking forward to walking in the annual Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, but officials canceled Saturday’s event as a precaution for the spreading coronavirus. “I am disappointed, but I know that the city and the (St. Patrick’s Day Parade) committee is...
Delmont may raise sewage rates to keep pace with consent ordersVideo
Delmont officials will advertise for a $6.50-per-month sewage rate hike to keep pace with changes required in the borough’s consent order agreement with state environmental regulators. Council voted unanimously to advertise for the rate hike, and likely will vote on it at next month’s meeting. The borough is a party...
The college that almost wasn’t: WCCC marks 50 yearsVideo
Fierce opposition took aim at its approval and controversy dogged its first years, but the college that almost wasn’t marked its 50th anniversary on Tuesday. From its start as a night school in rented classrooms at Jeannette High School, Westmoreland County Community College has expanded to serve nearly 5,000 students...
Municipal authority laborer sues power companies after cutting into unmarked power line
A Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County laborer in a lawsuit filed against West Penn Power and First Energy claims he was injured when he cut an unmarked electrical line during water line repairs last year in Delmont. Michael Obney, 39, of Hempfield contends he sustained electrical burns on his hands...
Cops: Unity man charged with locking 9-year-old in closet now accused of hitting child
A Unity man awaiting trial with his wife for allegedly locking their 9-year-old son in a closet and nailing it shut was charged Tuesday with simple assault for allegedly striking the child in a separate incident. Shawn Waulk, 32, was charged by state police with simple assault after the youth...
Westmoreland 911 quizzes callers about coronavirus as county prepares outbreak plan
Callers to Westmoreland County 911 are being asked if they have potentially been exposed to the coronavirus or are experiencing any symptoms of the illness. Operators on Tuesday started questioning callers seeking assistance for breathing issues or other respiratory symptoms if they’ve been to the countries hit hardest by the...
Arnold Palmer airport to introduce paid ‘premium’ parking option
Travelers driving to the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport soon will be able to park closer to the terminal — for a fee. Airport officials plan to offer “preferred overnight parking” in the day parking lot directly in front of the terminal, charging $10 per day for the prime spots. They’re...
Harvard Glee Club cancels Saint Vincent College concert due to coronavirus
The Harvard Glee Club’s free March 16 performance at Saint Vincent College has been canceled, due to travel restrictions for Harvard University students and faculty. The Saint Vincent communications and public relations office shared this announcement from the club: “Regretfully, the Harvard Glee Club announces that it will not be...
Cops: Man charged with Greensburg burglary is suspect in 20 others
Greensburg Police canvassed pawn shops and precious metal stores between Unity and Monroeville, leading to the arrest Monday of a 30-year-old man who may be responsible for 20 daylight burglaries since last fall, according to court records. James E. Dickant Jr. of Greensburg was arrested at the Rodeway Inn in...
Westmoreland prison stepping up actions to prevent coronavirus
Would-be visitors to the Westmoreland County Prison are being asked to stay home if they’re not feeling well amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus, according to Warden John Walton. Anyone trying to visit an inmate at the Hempfield jail who is coughing or sneezing in the lobby will be...
1 freed after 2-vehicle crash in Murrysville
One person was freed Tuesday morning from the wreckage of a two-vehicle crash on Route 380 in Murrysville, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Traffic was affected on the highway near Greensburg Road after the 7:48 a.m. crash. The two vehicles were traveling in opposite directions, a dispatcher said. Firefighters...
Amphitheater construction in Jeannette nearing completion
An amphitheater under construction in Jeannette is nearing completion. Mandy Zalich, director of Westmoreland Community Action, said the project should be done in the next couple of months. The amphitheater will be managed by Jeannette officials. “Hopefully, it’ll be a way for the city to generate funds to support” the...
Hempfield and Greensburg Salem students win 1st place at culinary competitionVideo
Students from Hempfield and Greensburg Salem high schools brought home the top prize after participating in a ProStart competition, which focuses on restaurant management and culinary skills. Kassie Miller of Hempfield, who studies culinary arts at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, along with Kelly Gillis, a Greensburg Salem student,...
Parents urge tighter security checks for volunteers at NorwinVideo
Parents say Norwin School District should tighten its policies and procedures for volunteers undergoing background checks after it was discovered that a man who worked with the middle school musical pleaded guilty to corruption of minors in Fayette County. “My concern is that this person was brought in (to the...
Invisible Man Brewing gets Greensburg grant for startup costs
Invisible Man Brewing will receive $4,760 from the City of Greensburg to help cover the architectural and design fees that went into its South Pennsylvania Avenue building. The brewery opened in October. Council unanimously approved the grant Monday under a program that provides money to cover “soft costs” for new...
Greensburg Salem teams sweep pasta bridge competition at Saint VincentVideo
Greensburg Salem School District swept the top three spots in Monday’s 14th annual Pasta Bridge Engineering Competition at Saint Vincent College. Juniors Adam Nichols, 16, and Kevin Burkhardt, 17, both of Salem Township, took first-place honors when their model bridge, crafted from various types of pasta and glue, stood up...
Greensburg says farewell to 3 longtime employees, including police chief
Greensburg is saying “so long” to three longtime employees. Police Chief Chad Zucco’s last day will be March 30. Zucco, who announced his retirement last month, is stepping down after 22 years in the department, four of them as chief. He accepted a job as chief operating officer of Gaskey...
South Center Avenue in New Stanton reopened after vehicle crash
Part of South Center Avenue in New Stanton was closed Monday night after a two vehicle crash, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The road was closed between Pine Drive and Bridge Street. It reopened around 9:45 p.m. At least two people were transported to the hospital by the Mutual...
Norwin students propose using app to combat roadway litter; win region award
A team of Norwin High School students devised a cost-effective, safe and innovative way of curbing litter along the state’s highways. It also proved to be award winning. The students — John Christian, Joshua Gubanich, Jordan Loy and Elias Mignogna — propose using a specially designed smartphone app called PALS...
$10K bond request denied for man accused of raping 12-year-old who later gave birth
A Westmoreland County judge on Monday rejected a bond request from a Connellsville man awaiting trial on charges of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2013. Prosecutors say the girl gave birth to the man’s child nine months later. Shawn Melville, 42, was charged last year with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse,...
Ahead of coronavirus, Saint Vincent College bumps up safety measures in dining areas
Saint Vincent College is bumping up safety measures in dining areas as a precaution against coronavirus, officials said Monday. College spokesman Jim Berger said there are no suspected cases at the school located near Latrobe. “In the interest of precaution and in an effort to reduce the number of frequently...
Sewickley man sent to prison for sexually assaulting 2 mentally disabled women
A Sewickley man will serve up to four years in prison for sexually assaulting two mentally disabled women at his home in 2018. Wayne E. Smith, 75, pleaded guilty Monday to forcing the women, ages 23 and 24, to have sex — acts they were unable to consent to because...
Cops: Murrysville man accused of nearly hitting policeman and dog in fleeing car
A 19-year-old Murrysville man, who police say almost hit a police officer and police dog Magnus while trying to flee a traffic stop, was arrested within an hour on multiple criminal charges. Zachary J. Jackson was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Saturday when several municipal police officers went to a residence...
First defendant in Youngwood murder cases pleads guilty, gets 15 to 30 years in prison
Matthew Genard was weeks away from a fresh start in Florida when he was brutally stabbed to death during a drug-related robbery more than two years ago in Youngwood. Genard’s eldest sister told a Westmoreland County judge on Monday that the family’s youngest sibling was ready to turn his life...
Murrysville’s Morosini Reserve will become an ‘Enchanted Forest’ in May
It might seem a little strange for officials from the Westmoreland Conservancy – which focuses on science-based programming – to host a hunt for fairy houses and troll dens. “Just like with any myth, there’s a little grain of truth,” said conservancy President Shelly Tichy. “The ‘fairies’ are the insects...
