Westmoreland category, Page 704
Munhall man accused in Ligonier Township attempted homicide captured in Pittsburgh
A Munhall man accused of shooting at a woman in Ligonier Township was arrested Tuesday at the Allegheny County courthouse when he showed up for a hearing. Ligonier Valley police have been looking for Michael Harris, 29, since the Nov. 11 shooting. Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus...
Monessen mayor faces civil complaint over actions at January council meeting
When Monessen Mayor Matt Shorraw this month attended his first meeting in roughly 20 months, resident Ronald Mozer asked him, “Why should we even pay attention to what you’re doing here today, after missing 40 meetings?” Mozer paid plenty of attention, though, and now wants a Westmoreland County judge to...
Greensburg bicycle theft victim helps police ID suspects
A Greensburg theft victim’s personal sleuthing after his electric bicycle disappeared off a downtown street the day after Christmas resulted in criminal charges being filed against a city man this week. Dalton J. Shepard, 20, was charged with receiving stolen property by city police Lt. Rob Jones in connection with...
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau releases destination guide
If you’ve got some free time and enjoy exploring the Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties region, the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau is releasing a free, 72-page brochure packed full of ideas for everything from winter fun to dining, hiking to history. The bureau’s 2020 Destination Guide serves to promote the...
Comedy fundraiser to benefit Westmoreland Heritage Trail, nearing 5th phase
As Westmoreland Heritage Trail officials begin prep work for the trail’s fifth phase, they are also gearing up for an annual fundraiser to offset the cost of trail maintenance. This year’s Comedy Night will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 15 at Colton Hall in Penn Township’s Claridge neighborhood....
Norwin adds 5 college courses for students
Norwin High School students will be able to choose from five new courses next school year, allowing them to earn college credits from two universities and Westmoreland County Community College, as well as save money in the future. The school board Monday approved the new College in High School courses...
Report: Greensburg development snarled in red tape
Regulations governing construction and development in Greensburg are riddled with red tape, unnecessary complexity, redundancies and contradictions, according to a new city-commissioned report. The planning department wants to change that as soon as possible, planning director Jeff Raykes said. Greensburg hired planning consultant Denny Puko, who wrote a 25-page report...
Kennametal closes Carbidie plant in Hempfield; 60 jobs lost
Kennametal Inc. closed its Carbidie plant in Hempfield a few months earlier than it stated in its initial plant closing announcement last year. The plant along Arona Road closed at the end of last year, said Christina Sutter, a spokeswoman for the company, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh with corporate...
Greensburg to amend legal documents after former police chief disputes retirement account
Greensburg will amend its responses to two lawsuits because of concerns by former police chief Walter J. Lyons, who said the documents gave an inaccurate account of his 2016 retirement. Lyons is not a part of either suit, but he was mentioned in both. Former planning director Barbara Ciampini and...
Latrobe Historical Society to revisit centennial through archival film
Rock ‘n roll had its first major impact about 65 years ago, with the release of the Elvis Presley single “That’s All Right (Mama).” Also in 1954, doctors began a mass trial vaccination of children against polio and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. That...
Jury selected in trial of Penn Hills man accused in deadly Jeannette shooting
Opening statements are expected to begin Tuesday in the murder trial of a Penn Hills man accused of killing a man in Jeannette. A 12-member jury and two alternates were seated Monday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse to hear evidence in the case against Darrelle Tolbert-McGhee, 30. He is charged...
County commissioners leaning toward reopening Westmoreland’s 2020 budget
Westmoreland County commissioners said Monday they still plan to reopen the county’s 2020 budget in hopes of nixing a 2.4% property tax increase, but they concede there isn’t much time left to do so. State law allows a newly constituted board of commissioners to recast budgets approved by the previous...
Solar co-op schedules Westmoreland meetings, seeks members
A nonprofit that organized solar power co-ops in Allegheny and more than a half dozen other Western Pennsylvania counties scheduled three informational sessions for prospective members of a similar co-op that is forming in Westmoreland County. Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania set the first meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at...
Scottdale man given house arrest in fatal crash involving crane truck in Pine
A 72-year-old Scottdale man accused of texting on a cellphone minutes before the 43,500-pound crane truck he was driving crashed into three other vehicles on Route 910 in Pine, killing a Sewickley man, reached a plea deal Monday. Charles Hunter will be on house arrest and probation for causing the...
Police seek man accused of removing welder, equipment from Unity store
State police in Greensburg are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who entered a farm supply store in Unity and left without paying for several hundred dollars worth of welding equipment. Troopers said the theft occurred Dec. 28 when a white male, wearing a denim shirt and...
Jeannette man accused of choking cop serving him with mental health warrant
A Jeannette man who spent time in jail for unlawfully restraining his mother is accused by police of choking an officer who was taking him into custody on a mental health warrant, according to court papers. Neal M. Hubish, 39, also tried to grab a Taser from a Jeannette officer,...
Police: Charges pending after 2-year-old seen using vaping device on video in St. Clair
Charges of child endangerment are pending against two people who police said allowed a 2-year-old boy to use a vaping device while they were baby-sitting him in St. Clair Township. A video of the New Florence boy using the device was recorded Thursday and posted to Snapchat, Trooper Cliff Greenfield...
Police: Delmont man claimed to be a firefighter as he tried to rob house
A Delmont man remained in jail Monday after police say he tried to rob a house over the weekend while identifying himself as a firefighter and medical personnel. Charles Beiter, 33, is accused of forcibly entering a Mt. Pleasant home Saturday evening. He admitted to police that his plan was...
Latrobe runner knows it’s never too late to get moving
Darlene Upson was 53 years old the first time she ran in a footrace. After crossing the finish line five miles later, she swore she’d never do it again. “I couldn’t walk for three days,” the Latrobe resident said. “I said to myself, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me —...
State police investigate video of child with vaping device
Charges are pending against two people who appeared in a video giving a 2-year-old a vaping device, according to state police in Indiana County. Police reported that two suspects and the child have been identified. The Troop A, Indiana Criminal Investigation Unit is aware of a video and is investigating...
Fire damages home in Jeannette
Firefighters were called Sunday afternoon to a blaze at a building in Jeannette, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The fire was reported at 4:28 p.m. on the second floor of a home along South 12th Street. No injuries were reported....
Truck flips on railroad tracks in South Huntingdon, 2 people inside
A truck apparently flipped over on a set of CSX railroad tracks on Sunday afternoon in South Huntingdon Township, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The incident was reported at 4:35 p.m. along Sutersville Road. Rail traffic was being affected in that area. Two people who were inside the truck...
Pro, amateur skiers take to rails, ramps in Seven Springs competition
Skiers known for competing in the Olympics and X Games took to the rails this weekend at Seven Springs in a competition organized by Pittsburgh native and professional freeskier Tom Wallisch. The Steel City Showdown pit the professional and amateur competitors against each other on rails and ramps built at...
Wind advisory expires for part of region, unseasonably warm temperatures to remain
A wind advisory expired Sunday morning, but the area will continue to see unseasonably high temperatures throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service in Moon Township. The highest wind gust was reported at Butler County Airport with 56 mph, according to the weather service. Meteorologist Jenna Lake said...
Final cause of fatal Pennsylvania Turnpike crash could be years awayVideo
Families could have to wait up to two years before they know what caused a fatal tour bus crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike — a slow process prolonged because the National Transportation Safety Board has other crashes under investigation and only a single laboratory to process evidence for incidents across...
