Westmoreland category, Page 94

Hempfield Area School District is considering additional metal or weapons detectors for its buildings, but options to safeguard its schools could depend on staffing levels and training, members of the new security committee said. At the committee’s meeting this week, board member Mike Alfery said the group is considering renting...

Christopher Treasure told a Westmoreland County judge on Thursday he stole $380,000 from his 75-year-old mother to dull the pain of personal loss. Those losses — the deaths of his father and son — caused him to spiral, Treasure said before pleading guilty to one felony theft charge. Prosecutors said...

A Monessen man will serve more than five years in federal prison after his conviction on drug charges, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan announced Thursday. Daniel Smith, 41, was part of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine between June 2020 and July 2021, which involved residents of Brownsville as well as Chicago,...

Jeannette plans to hold the line on its property tax rate for 2024. City manager Ethan Keedy said the $6.15 million budget is balanced without a tax increase. Council was expected to tentatively approve the spending plan Thursday in advance of a final OK next month. Work on the budget...

The Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild will bring a twist on a Shakespeare classic to the stage this weekend for the first time in about two decades. The drama guild will perform “Romeo and Juliet: Together and Alive At Last,” a story about two middle school students, Anabell and Pete,...

A Jeannette City school board member was fined $500 for violating the state Ethics Act, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said. Mark Gogolsky violated the state’s Ethics Act when he filed deficient statements of financial interests between 2016 and 2020 by failing to disclose all reportable sources of income, according...

Bruna Vesco Leonard had a few video chats with her 25-year-old daughter on the evening of June 9. Brianna Lartz was visiting a friend in Jeannette, and they were getting ready to eat dinner. Hours later, Leonard was panicked to hear about a shooting at the friend’s home. Leonard said...

Butler Health System’s losses almost doubled in the fiscal year ending June 30, according to newly released financial documents. The system, which in January merged with Excela Health to create Independence Health System, lost $43.3 million in fiscal year 2023. Butler Health reported $22.8 million in losses in the fiscal...

A boil-water advisory has been extended as the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County awaits the results of a third precautionary test following a water main break in Ligonier Township on Sunday. Spokesperson Matt Junker said the latest water sample was taken Wednesday and tests take about 24 hours to get...

Westmoreland County Democratic leaders had high hopes but few expectations with regards the handful of county races on Tuesday’s ballot. While Republicans maintained control of county government, the more than 31,000 votes received by an underfunded and untested candidate who was on the campaign trail for just two months signaled...

When Mike O’Barto learned of Greater Latrobe school board’s multimillion-dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039, he said he thought it was “ludicrous.” The district will proceed with the plan after 19 months of study, review and public comment, with an expected cost between $182 million and $198...

When John Petrarca saw the number of write-in votes in the Greater Latrobe school board election for four-year seats, he said it was “hard to believe.” Nearly half of the 22,259 total write-in votes cast in Tuesday’s election in Westmoreland County were done so in the two races for Latrobe...

Members of the bipartisan “We aRe Norwin” slate of candidates will form a majority on Norwin School Board, according to unofficial election results. All five members of the slate were leading in unofficial vote tallies from Tuesday’s election. Tim Kotch Sr. led with 11.2%, and Nina Totin came in second...

Those who have served in the armed forces will be recognized during the following Veterans Day programs: • WCCC The Center for Healthcare Solutions and Unity in the Community will hold a free Veterans Suicide Prevention Walk and Human Services Fair Friday on the main campus of Westmoreland County Community...

A Hempfield man is behind bars after state police said he raped a girl over the summer, according to court papers. Bryan D. Rockmore, 32, was arrested Tuesday on charges of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child and indecent assault of a person younger than 13....

Murrysville will make some changes in the way the municipality designates some of its tax millage, according to a 2024 budget proposal. The $15.6 million budget, first presented at council’s Nov. 1 meeting, represents a 1.34% increase over 2023, finance director Jacie Milchak said. “The (property) tax rate will remain...

Fundraisers • Westmoreland Historical Society will sponsor a free candlelight open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at Historic Hanna’s Town, 809 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg. Refreshments will be served by the fire in Hanna’s Tavern. Lanterns will light the path to the Westmoreland History Education Center Museum...

No one was hurt in a fire at an abandoned house Wednesday morning in East Huntingdon. East Huntingdon Second Assistant Chief Chris Brinker said six people were squatting inside the two-story house and made it out safely. The house, on Mt. Pleasant Road, is just outside Scottdale and close to...

(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...

Republicans will retain control of the Westmoreland County board of commissioners. Incumbents Sean Kertes and Doug Chew were reelected Tuesday to second terms in office and will continue to serve as the board majority along with Democrat Ted Kopas. Democrat Lisa Gephart finished fourth. With all 307 precincts reporting, Kertes...

Three newcomers and two incumbents prevailed in Tuesday’s election for four-year seats on the Franklin Regional school board, according to unofficial vote tallies. With 100% of the vote, unofficial results showed Deb Bucciero (16%), Scott Weinman (15.8%), Vince Azzolina (15.3%), John Fallat (14.8%) and Joshua Zebrak (14.2%) as the top...

Here are results from several of Tuesday’s contested races in Westmoreland County, according to unofficial vote tallies. Export district judge Longtime assistant district attorney Judi Petrush beat out Murrysville attorney Robert Klingensmith in the election for Export district judge, where longtime Judge Charles Conway will retire at the end of...

The Democrat slate of candidates dubbed “We aRe Norwin” took the lead in a race for five seats on the Norwin School Board, according to unofficial vote totals. With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday, Tim Kotch Sr. led with 11.2%, and Nina Totin came in second with 10.7%. Heath Shrum,...

Frank Gazze topped a field of six candidates vying for five seats on the Greensburg Salem School Board Tuesday night with 19.4% of the votes cast with all precincts reporting. He was followed by candidates Robin Beckadic-Savage, with 17.36%; Tyler Courtney, with 17.32% ; Brian Conway, with 17%; and Kacey...

Incumbent Robb Bell won the race for Greensburg mayor with 58.52% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Challenger G. Domenic Spino garnered just over 41% of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Bell, 67, a Democrat, is completing his second term as mayor, a role that includes voting on...