Westmoreland category, Page 84
Lawyer for New Florence woman charged in mother’s slaying explores insanity defense
A New Florence woman will be evaluated by a psychologist to determine if she can be held criminally responsible for the killing of her mother last year. The lawyer for Melissa Sue Fox-Beacom told a county judge during a court hearing on Tuesday that questions remain about his client’s mental...
Lack of road salt deliveries prompts Jeannette mayor to declare emergency
Time is ticking for Jeannette officials to secure road salt, and Mayor Curtis Antoniak declared a public health emergency as the city’s supply dwindles. City manager Ethan Keedy said Tuesday he was checking with other suppliers after five salt orders this month totaling 500 tons have gone unfilled by Compass...
Greensburg man charged after dog’s severe infection noticed at bar
A Greensburg man was jailed over the weekend and his dog seized after police said it had a severe infection related to an improper tail docking procedure, according to court papers. The dog’s injuries were reported to authorities while Bryan J. Thompson, 56, was at Harry’s Bar Friday with the...
‘This is a big deal for Greensburg Salem’: District launches mental health program for its educators
Doug Sweitzer believes he can help transform the personal and professional lives of Greensburg Salem School District staff. A former employee of the Red Lion Area School District in York County, Sweitzer will train about six Greensburg Salem teachers in a mental health program after approval by the school board...
Independence, WVU health systems partner for newborn ICU at Westmoreland hospital
Westmoreland Hospital’s unit for newborn babies in need of intensive care now is under the management of West Virginia University Medicine’s Children’s Hospital. It’s a switch from the Greensburg hospital’s previous relationship with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Announced Tuesday, the partnership began Jan. 1 and has overseen at least...
Snow means flurry of work for road crews across Western Pennsylvania
Many, if not all, municipal road crews around the area might agree with Plum public works director Bill Binnie: “It’s like Groundhog Day.” And it’s true — snowflakes flew on a daily basis for the first 16 days of January, said Timothy Cermak, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in...
Martin Luther King’s legacy celebrated in Greensburg
Garrett Mock was born decades after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg student says it’s up to people of all ages and races to carry on the civil rights leader’s legacy. “It’s up to us to carry on the...
Westmoreland happenings: Radon awareness webinar, more
Church News • Greensburg Church of the Brethren hosts a night of fun and fellowship for individuals and groups with developmental disabilities from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays at the church, 554 Stanton St., Southwest Greensburg. Dinner is included. Participants must be accompanied by a family member or caregiver. Donations...
Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP passes torch of leadership to new generation
The torch of leadership at the Greensburg-Jeannette Branch of the NAACP has passed to a new generation. Ruth Tolbert, 75, of Greensburg, who has been the president of the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP for all but two years since 2000, opted not to run for re-election last year to another two-year term....
Westmoreland housing authority honors former chairman as it taps former Pa. Sen. Regola to lead board
Dan Wukich came to the Westmoreland County Housing Authority a quarter century ago as a disruptor. He is leaving with a plaque on the wall in a conference room that bears his name. Wukich, 86, of Penn Township resigned from the board at the end of December and was honored...
Contamination threatens recycling programs with Harrison Hills and Westmoreland Cleanways
Audrey Bensy of Fox Chapel unloaded a trunk full of flattened cardboard boxes on Friday and stacked them neatly into the public recycling bins at Harrison Hills Park. She is among a drove of people who drop off plastics, aluminum, glass and paper at the blue bins near the park’s...
Forensic pathologist: Ligonier woman found buried in Cook died by homicide
Exactly four months after the remains of a Ligonier woman were found buried on a property in Cook, a forensic pathologist has ruled her death a homicide. Amy Shipley, 45, was reported missing Sept. 13, five days after she was last seen. Ligonier Valley police and FBI Pittsburgh’s evidence response...
North Huntingdon won’t form police oversight board
North Huntingdon police department’s actions won’t be reviewed by a resident-based oversight board. Township commissioners this week rejected the concept of creating a police oversight board that would review any complaints lodged against officers. Only one of the seven commissioners voiced their support for the idea during a meeting on...
Charleroi glass plant closure delayed until April, layoffs will come in several waves
The owners of a Charleroi glass plant that makes cookware have delayed its scheduled closing for about two months until April 30, which is a move that impacts about 240 workers, according to a notice the company filed with the state. Corelle Brands LLC is moving its production from the...
Norwin director’s lawsuit: District criticism hurts electability
A Norwin School Board member revised his federal lawsuit that claims he was a victim of unlawful retaliation that violated his First Amendment rights. The suit is related to criticism by the school district and former superintendent of a post on social media. Alex Detschelt, a school board member from...
Westmoreland Intermediate Unit to host info session on special education certificate program
The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit will hold an informational session next week on the special education certification process. Slated for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22, the session is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree who is interested in pursuing a special education certificate. The program allows individuals to obtain...
Feeding the Spirit, YWCA Westmoreland to fight food insecurity
Feeding the Spirit and YWCA Westmoreland County are teaming up to raise money for people facing food insecurity. The two Greensburg-based organizations will host the “Pay-it-Forward Chili Challenge” from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 2 at Greensburg Hose Co. No. 2, 137 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Attendees will be able...
Westmoreland’s ‘librarian’s librarian’ honored
Westmoreland County’s library system is turning the page to 2025 and the woman appointed to serve as its chief traffic cop for all operations is expected to play a large role in what’s ahead. But, Melinda Tanner is no footnote to the system’s past success. She’s been credited with helping craft...
Westmoreland commissioners approve $1.7M tourism plan
Westmoreland commissioners Thursday allocated more than $1.7 million to promote and enhance tourism, with a primary focus on the county park system. Commissioners signed off on the 2025 tourism plan that is funded through 40% of the county’s hotel tax. The tourism plan this year focuses almost exclusively on Westmoreland’s...
Paid Unity fire duty crews get go-ahead after successful 6-month trial
Firefighters from the Lloydsville and Crabtree stations in Unity had a head start last year when they answered a weekday call for a car crash on Donohoe Road. “We had a crew out the door within 30 seconds, they were on the scene within three minutes, and they had the...
Here are 5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Jan. 17-19
Here are some fun things to do on this wintry weekend in Westmoreland. YMCA Family Fun Night If you’re sick and tired of the cold, take a little tropical trip at the Greensburg YMCA’s Winter Luau Party. The Family Fun Night is free for members, $5 for nonmembers or $15...
Writers sought to help fill Latrobe with poems for National Poetry Month
A little less than a year ago, Bobbie Hineline of Latrobe was strolling through the village of Saranac Lake in upstate New York, when she realized every storefront had public-facing placards bearing poetry. “In the Adirondacks, which is a big, big area, there’s a writers’ group that sponsored this project,...
Monessen fire department president charged with unauthorized use of department bank account
A former Monessen volunteer fire department president has been charged with stealing more than $30,000 from the department’s bank account over the past four years, according to city police. Stephen A. Gaydos III, 49, of Monessen, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and...
Former CEO of Mutual Aid EMS said resignation was related ‘directly to issues within the workplace’
Gene Komondor said in a statement released Thursday that he resigned as CEO from Mutual Aid EMS for workplace-related issues, not personal reasons as asserted in a news release distributed by the ambulance agency this week. “While my decision to resign was, in fact, highly personal, I did not resign...
Jeannette implements text message program to share city information
Jeannette residents can now sign up for the city’s new text message program that was approved by council this month. Anyone who wants to join should email their name and cell phone number to abeneke@cityofjnt.com. Those who sign up will start getting messages once the system is in place. Council...
