Westmoreland category, Page 92
Donations are lagging as deadline approaches for Unity restaurant’s holiday dinner drive
As the deadline approaches for the Sharky’s Café holiday dinner drive donations are less than they were in previous years, the co-owner of the Unity restaurant said. “The community always seems to pull through,” Sharky’s co-owner Jamie Huemme said. The deadline for the 5th annual drive is Dec. 18. As...
Rosendahl’s owner upset Irwin officials won’t renew lease in order to make borough offices accessible
A fixture in downtown Irwin for nearly a century is being booted from its Main Street building to make way for municipal offices accessible for those with disabilities. Borough council this week decided not to renew the lease of Rosendahl’s Appliance Center when it expires March 31 so the administrative...
Yough teacher uses love of running to raise money for drug prevention
A Yough High School teacher who recently ran in the New York City Marathon has not only used her sport to stay healthy, but to raise money for drug prevention programs — a cause that hits home for her. Jessica George, 44, of Unity began running in 2017 as a...
East Huntingdon man to serve up to 20 years in prison for sexual assault of child
A former custodian and janitor at the Mt. Pleasant Area School District will serve at least eight years in prison after being sentenced this week for repeated sexual assaults of a child over a 10-year period. Jeffrey D. Miller Jr., 50, of East Huntingdon was charged last year with eight...
Randy Glick retires as Derry police chief; borough seeks talks for school policing contract
Derry Borough is searching for a new police chief after the town council this week accepted Randy Glick’s retirement resignation. The borough also is entering negotiations with officials at Derry Area School District in an attempt to reach a new agreement for the police to provide coverage at the school...
Crafted vintage beaded ornaments bring bling to Christmas for local collector
He calls them Fauxberge. They’re blinged-out Christmas ornaments that had their height of popularity half a century ago and have become a passion of collector Patrick Hubert of Mt. Pleasant Township. Hubert employs the punny term to describe the holiday decorations because some of the finest examples pay tribute, in...
MAWC says inventory finds 3% of water system has lead service lines
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials said they suspect just 3% of its water system contains lead service lines and have started to notify impacted home and business owners of its findings. An inventory of the system’s more than 123,000 customers revealed more than 4,000 properties could be serviced by...
Westmoreland’s fired deputy purchasing director testifies courthouse boss initiated alleged theft scheme
Westmoreland County’s former deputy director of purchasing told a judge her boss said he and his five department employees were authorized for additional pay in August 2023. Kristen Coyne claimed she didn’t learn those pay hikes had actually been rejected by county officials until both she and her boss were...
Drones, SWAT team used in standoff with Greensburg man wanted on assault warrant
A Greensburg man wanted on aggravated assault and other charges forced a SWAT team to enter a Perry Avenue residence to arrest him Thursday. Tyler Schultheis, 34, was wanted on a warrant issued Wednesday listing charges of aggravated assault, strangulation, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint, according to court records. A...
Barn burns at Critter Country in South Huntingdon
An icy wind whipped across an empty, snow-dusted field off Route 981 in South Huntingdon on Thursday afternoon as flames punched through the roof of a barn at Critter Country Animal Farm. At least a dozen fire trucks and ambulances lined Route 981, blockading the roadway for about an hour...
Mt. Pleasant police investigate reported shooting
Mt. Pleasant Borough police are investigating a Thursday morning shooting downtown that caused Ramsey Elementary School to be locked down. A man entered the Sunoco convenience store on West Main Street around 11 a.m. and told employees that someone had shot at him as they were in the area of...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Dec. 13-15
’Tis the season for hot tunes, winter traditions, Swiftie fun and more this weekend in Westmoreland County. Shake off your week and head out to some of these events. Community Light Up Night Visit Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary School’s campus to view its dazzling lights display Friday night. This event...
Reporter recounts search and recovery of woman who fell into Unity sinkhole
Last week crews launched a search and rescue mission for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who fell into a sinkhole after going out to look for her pet. Pollard was searching for her cat Dec. 2 behind Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity when he ground gave way beneath her, and she fell...
Outgoing Greater Latrobe superintendent preparing to leave at end of December
Mike Porembka’s final day as superintendent of Greater Latrobe School District is set for Dec. 31. The school board is expected at a meeting next Tuesday to accept Porembka’s resignation and select an administrator to lead the district in the interim while a search is underway for his successor. In...
Legislation aims to address post-traumatic stress among first responders
In February 2023, Sardis Volunteer Fire Company Chief Joe Paiano Jr. entered a burning house in Salem Township to rescue an 11-year-old boy. The boy was among three people pulled from the fire, but he died of his injuries a few days later. The incident affected Paiano in a way...
About 600 children paired with police officers for $75K Christmas shopping spree
Serenitie Johnston basked in the makeup aisles at Unity Walmart Wednesday, gathering up a lip plumper, red lipstick and brightly colored eye shadow palette. “This way!” the 11-year-old girl exclaimed as state police Lt. Lauren Spallone followed behind with a full shopping cart. While Serenitie was in her element, Spallone...
Greensburg approves $13M budget that includes 3.3% property tax hike
Property tax bills will increase 3.3% to fund a 2025 Greensburg budget that was approved this week by a divided city council. Aside from a 1-mill tax approved by voters in 2017 that is designated for the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and a 1-mill charge that since 2022 is designated...
Lawyer says attempted murder charges against East Huntingdon man a result of police cover-up
The lawyer for an East Huntingdon man wounded in a shootout with police said Wednesday attempted murder charges filed against her client are nothing more than an attempt by officers to cover up what she called a botched investigation. Defense attorney Jill Devine said James R. Miller Jr., 62, rejected...
Murrysville Medic One, Mutual Aid to assist in aftermath of Saltsburg-based ambulance service closure
Two Westmoreland County ambulance services are helping to pick up the slack after Saltsburg-based Lifestat EMS abruptly closed its doors this week. Citing financial constraints, the Indiana County ambulance station terminated its services after 36 years Saturday night, according to a statement it released Tuesday. “This difficult decision comes as...
Jeannette puts wheels in motion to replace 21-year-old dump truck
Jeannette council is expected to vote Thursday on the purchase of a new dump truck, but it likely won’t be available until next winter. “The need for replacing this 5-ton truck is a necessity now,” said city manager Ethan Keedy. Mayor Curtis Antoniak said the truck is 21 years old....
Latrobe OKs hikes for real estate transfer tax, gaming device fee
Latrobe has agreed to increase its real estate transfer tax and the annual fee it charges for some mechanical devices as city officials continue to fine-tune the proposed $7.4 million 2025 budget. Council members this week unanimously backed City Manager Terry Carcella’s proposal to double the realty transfer tax to...
Westmoreland happenings: Cookie walk, lunch with Santa, Advent Mass, more
Christmas Events • Charter Oak Church, 100 S. Second St., Jeannette, will host a free open house and Christmas Family Fest from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at church. There will be music, refreshments, an outdoor firepit, games and prizes. Details: Cindy, 724-527-3639. • A free Lunch with Santa...
Major upgrades to be completed next year at Jeannette’s Ebara Elliot Energy, company says
Ebara Elliot Energy is undergoing major electrical upgrades at its U.S. headquarters in Jeannette. Once work is completed next year, Ebara Elliott Energy will be able to test compressors and electrical equipment up to 100 megawatts, placing its testing capacity among the largest in the world, said company spokeswoman Meagan...
Hempfield Area police chief set to retire, former Jeannette police chief to take his place
After a decade serving as police chief for Hempfield Area School District, Len Lander will retire from his post. Former Jeannette police Chief Shannon Binda will take the reins in the new year, following a vote by the school board Monday. Lander was a state police trooper from 1991 to...
Monday’s Union Restaurant reopens after playing ‘vital’ role in Elizabeth Pollard search
At 3 p.m. Tuesday, the atmosphere in Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity was positively serene compared with the same hour last week. A handful of customers chatted at the bar while two others sat in the restaurant waiting for one of Monday’s popular pizzas. The previous Tuesday, the main downstairs...
