Joe Napsha stories, Page 13
Butler hospital authority bonds fall to ‘junk’ status
Financial problems continue for the former Butler Health System’s Clarion and Butler hospitals, with a national credit rating agency downgrading its bonds to junk status, indicating it has a negative outlook and would be a risky investment. Fitch Ratings on Dec. 3 lowered the Butler County Hospital Authority’s bonds issued...
Deadline nears for registering for state health insurance coverage for 2025
The 430,000 Pennsylvanians who use Pennie, the state-operated marketplace for health insurance, must make a decision by Dec. 15 which plan they want in 2025. Pennie is an option for those meeting federal poverty income guidelines and it gives people the chance to be able to get affordable health care...
2nd Amtrak route to New York City included in new PennDOT rail plan
The state wants to know what people want in passenger and freight railroad service, funding, safety and economic development during the next five years. The input PennDOT receives will become part of a 2025 rail plan that will serve as a guide for state and federal investments over the next...
Mt. Pleasant area family racking their way to pool championships
The family that shoots pool together stays together, according to the Barnharts of Mt. Pleasant. The Barnhart family — Roy Barnhart, 76, his son, Kevin, 51, and his grandson, Kevin Jr., 23 — are an integral part of the eight-member Bridgeport Rack Runners team in Bullskin, Fayette County. Their squad...
‘It keeps my brain sharp’: 88-year-old Norwin library staffer reflects on decades-long career
At 88, Marge Vessalo could have been retired decades ago. But the North Huntingdon resident has no plans to give up her one-day-a-week job at the Norwin Public Library in Irwin. “Retire from the library? Probably never. I think that it is good for the brain,” said Vessalo, who started...
Vandergrift sisters make National Adoption Day a family affair
It was a family affair Wednesday for Vandergrift sisters Kelly and Nicole Dunmire, who created new families on National Adoption Day in Westmoreland County, giving two children a loving home and stability in their lives. “I prayed for what was best for Katerina. I prayed for what was in her...
Norwin High School girls play football for fun fundraiser
Girls from Norwin’s four high school classes squared off Tuesday in two flag football games that pitted freshmen against sophomores and juniors against seniors. Teams competed for bragging rights and for fun, all in the name of raising money for gifts for needy children. What was the third annual Norwin...
More than 100 veterans receive Thanksgiving meal through Norwin Elks program
Duane Myers of Hempfield was beaming Monday morning as he held pumpkin pies as part of the distribution of a Thanksgiving meal for veterans. Myers was among those who received the food at the Norwin Elks in Manor. The 94-year-old Myers was a Navy frogman during the Korean War. He...
Filling the void: major mine subsidence project set for Belle Vernon area
When Tom Wilson was growing up in North Belle Vernon some 60 years ago, he and his friends would sometimes sneak into the opening of an abandoned mine, searching for fossils or some buried treasure. Fast forward six decades, and Wilson has signed up for a state project to fill...
PUC OKs smaller West Penn Power, Columbia Gas rate hikes
Customers of West Penn Power Co. will be hit with a rate hike beginning next year, and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania customers will see their natural gas bills rise starting Dec. 14. The price hikes, though, will be less than the region’s two utilities initially requested, according to the state...
Shuttered DoubleTree hotel in Monroeville has new owner, will host church services, pastor says
The shuttered DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in front of the Monroeville Mall has a new owner, and a local church plans to move its ministry there, the pastor said Thursday. Two Trees Global LLC, a real estate company affiliated with Grace Life Church, closed on the purchase of the former...
Strawpump’s low fire rating prompts intervention from other North Huntingdon fire departments
Two North Huntingdon fire departments will split the Strawpump fire district in the eastern end of the township because of the department’s poor insurance rating that has caused homeowners in that area to see their property insurance bills jump. The township commissioners Wednesday approved the plan devised by North Huntingdon’s...
Need for English as Second Language education growing in Westmoreland schools
Westmoreland County’s ever-diversifying population is having an impact in public schools, where a growing number of students do not speak English as a native language and educators are facing increased demands as they to try to help bridge the language gap. “The number of English Learners (students whose native language...
Thanksgiving meal in Unity American Legion for veterans
Veterans and military personnel can share a Thanksgiving meal from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Post 982 at 158 American Legion Rd., in Unity. The program is open to all area veterans and active-duty military personnel, including members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Reserves....
$30M North Huntingdon sports complex that would host Riverhounds revived by commissioners
North Huntingdon may end up leasing township property to developers who want to build a $30 million sports complex, but the township’s solicitor will craft the agreement. The commissioners last week voted to have township solicitor Bruce Dice draft a proposed lease that will be reviewed by commissioners before being...
Some Norwin school board members want to scale back $30M project for stadium, auditorium
Norwin School District will move forward with improvements to its football stadium and high school auditorium, but some school board members are lobbying to scale back costs, which could exceed $30 million. The school board Monday authorized a Mt. Lebanon architecture firm to develop bids for the project. DRAW Collective...
Former Tribune-Review editor ‘Jim’ Yadamec loved journalism — but his family even more
John “Jim” Yadamec was a longtime newspaper editor, sports editor and outdoors columnist for three newspapers who loved being a journalist and loved spending time with family and friends even more. “I gained a lot of respect for him. He was an excellent model of a journalist,” said Bob Broderick...
Irwin council gives fire department extension to use former school property for new $1M station
The Irwin Volunteer Fire Department will get more time to try to build a new fire hall and ambulance base at the site of the former Sixth Street School in the borough. Irwin council Wednesday directed Zachary Kansler, borough solicitor, to prepare the deed for the former school property at...
Fundraiser slated for North Huntingdon Wreaths Across America
The North Huntingdon chapter of Wreaths Across American will auction items and hold a raffle in its efforts to raise about $51,000 to buy 3,000 wreaths for veterans buried at the Union, Immaculate Conception and Long Run cemeteries in North Huntingdon and Irwin. Crafters and vendors will be selling various...
Hempfield’s Powerex gets $1M in state aid for growing semiconductor operations
The state has awarded $1 million to a Hempfield company that produces semiconductors, adding more government support to help add jobs and manufacturing capacity. Powerex Inc., located near the Westmoreland County Community College, will be able to increase production and hire 25 or more employees as a result of the...
School bus crash in North Huntingdon
A Norwin School District bus was involved in crash Tuesday afternoon in North Huntingdon that closed Lincoln Way at Five Pines Road, township police said. The school bus did not have any student passengers, said Lauren Steiner, district spokeswoman. Injuries were reported, but no one was taken for medical treatment,...
Norwin football stadium project could cost more than $25M
It could cost more than $25 million to demolish Norwin stadium and design and build its replacement, an architect told school officials Monday. The stadium’s concrete grandstand would be replaced with aluminum bleachers, a new press box, expanded restrooms and new turf. It will cost about $21.8 million for the...
Environmental groups appeal Slickville pipeline project permit
Two environmental groups are appealing the state’s approval for a nearly 14-mile natural gas pipeline through Bell, Loyalhanna and Salem townships, claiming the project would contaminate the environment and pose a hazard to wetlands. Protect PT of Penn Township and Three Rivers Waterkeeper of Pittsburgh filed a joint appeal last...
Vertiports for drones proposed for Arnold Palmer Regional, Johnstown airports
Airport officials in Westmoreland and Cambria counties envision creating a facility for a drone that could deliver cargo, fly passengers or transport a patient to a hospital in an electric-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically, just like a helicopter. “The possibilities are endless. We have all the...
Incumbent Leslie Rossi retains seat in Westmoreland state House race
Garnering nearly 70% of the vote, Republican state Rep. Leslie Rossi will keep her seat representing Pennsylvania’s 59th District, according to unofficial election results. With all of the district’s precincts reporting, Rossi, a Unity Republican who has served in the state House since May 2021, collected 69.68% of the votes...
