Joe Napsha stories, Page 60
15-year-old boy killed in Homewood shooting
A 15-year-old boy died after being shot in the head early Wednesday evening in the Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood, according to police and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Police found Dayvon Vickers of Pittsburgh injured when they responded to a call after four gunshots were fired shortly after 6 p.m. in...
Man fatally shot in Mt. Washington
A Pittsburgh man was fatally shot in the head Wednesday evening on Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh police said. Micah Stoner, 23, was found on Kingsboro Street near Pasadena Street shortly before 6:15 p.m. City police said Stoner was transported to UPMC Mercy by medics. He was pronounced dead there, according to...
Westmoreland coroner hires first full-time female deputy
A Southmoreland High School graduate who worked in a Minnesota medical examiner’s office has been hired as the first full-time female deputy coroner in Westmoreland County — which first elected a coroner in 1774, according to historical records. Cara Shaffer, 30, was hired to fill the vacancy left by the...
Westmoreland County hires firm to reduce inmate recidivism
Westmoreland County Prison inmates with three months remaining on their sentences may have the opportunity to participate in a program beginning in May that is aimed at improving their chances of successfully reentering the world — and keep them from returning to jail. The program, to be conducted by Peerstar...
Monessen program to explore Italian Jews, history and persecution
The flight of Jews from Spain to Italy — and, ultimately, to places like Western Pennsylvania — is a largely unknown tale. An Italian-Jewish historic program this weekend in Monessen, which has been two years in the making, intends to shed light on this part of international and local history....
Irwin officials to review plans for housing project
Plans for a four-story, 50-unit senior living apartment building next to Norwin Public Library will be publicly unveiled this week. The Westmoreland County Housing Authority is scheduled to present plans for Grand View Senior Residences to the Irwin Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 30. The panel offers recommendations...
Norwin area: Photos with Easter Bunny, library meeting, more
Pet Friends plans photos with Easter Bunny Pet Friends of Irwin is planning a photos with the Easter Bunny event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 3 at the Mayor Dan Rose Park, Main Street, Irwin. A $10 donation is asked for each digital emailed photo. All proceeds benefit...
Penn-Trafford area: Bingo, blood drive, more
St. Barbara Parish to hold bingo St. Barbara Parish, 111 Raymaley Road, Harrison City, will host its monthly bingo at 6:45 p.m. April 5. Paper packages start at $27. Doors open 5 p.m. Monitors and number boards are used for the players’ convenience. There will be a must-go jackpot. The...
Norwin hears more claims that critical race theory is being taught
The issue of how Norwin teaches students about race relations and whether some of that instruction could be categorized as a lesson in critical race theory was rehashed again at this week’s school board meeting, with conservative critics vehemently arguing against such teaching. About 10 speakers complained about what they...
Brother’s Brother supplies donated from Pittsburgh reach Ukraine
A shipment of crucially needed medical and wound care supplies from Pittsburgh to war-torn Ukraine made it to an alternative destination Friday as Russian missiles hit an aircraft maintenance facility in Lviv in western Ukraine. “It was important for us to get it done and to help those people it...
Palmer airport still seeking $7 million for terminal expansion
Expansion plans for the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport terminal have been stuck in a holding pattern the past several months because of a $7 million shortfall in funds needed for the $21 million project, an airport official said. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority has received commitments for about $14 million...
Diesel price rise a pain at pump and consumer’s pockets
If the sight of over $4.30 a gallon for regular gasoline is cringeworthy, imagine $5.50 — or more — and having to fill a 150-gallon tank. Warren Horton has faced such a dilemma recently, including Tuesday when he stopped in Western Pennsylvania to fuel his big rig hauling a stacked...
State aid combats sexual assault, harassment by raising awareness
State-funded programs to combat sexual harassment and violence on campus through education is paying dividends, state education officials were told Friday at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. The programs are raising awareness through plays, speakers, activities, workshops and frank discussions, according to Seton Hill officials. In a 45-minute roundtable discussion,...
Amazon drops plans for Churchill warehouse
After more than 50 hours of public hearings and debate lasting some eight months last year, Amazon announced Thursday it was pulling out of its proposed massive warehouse project at the former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park in Churchill. Amazon said in a statement that it has decided not...
Norwin area: Mulch sale, egg hunt, more
Mulch sale with home delivery is offered Boy Scout Troop 284 of Irwin is holding a mulch sale fundraiser, with bags to be delivered in the 15642 zip code area the first two weekends of April. Black, brown and red mulch is available in 2 cubic feet bags for $4.50...
Penn-Trafford area: Musical, magician, more
Trafford Middle School offers ‘Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.’ The Trafford Middle School Drama Club will perform the musical “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” at 7 p.m. March 25 and 26 at 2 p.m. March 27 in the middle school along Route 993 in Trafford. The cast includes Chloe Stack as Ms....
Norwin, North Huntingdon consider wage hikes for summer workers
Facing challenges in hiring summer workers, North Huntingdon Township raised the wages for its summer laborers, and the Norwin School District is considering doing the same. Township commissioners this week unanimously approved raising the wages of summer employees from $11 an hour to $15 an hour. The township needed to...
Norwin debate continues in regards to systemic racism, critical race theory
The disagreement over whether a Norwin High School lesson on racism in the United States was an example of critical race theory laid bare a split over what to teach about race relations in 21st-century America — including whether systemic racism exists in a country that has laws intended to...
Sutersville honors fallen warriors with street signs
Like so many other small towns and villages that dot Westmoreland County, Sutersville has a memorial to those residents who served in the military. Unlike many other small towns, however, Sutersville has gone a step further and has honored its war dead not only with a star by their name...
Irwin to consider Oak Street parking restrictions
Irwin officials are expected to discuss a proposed ordinance next month to help residents on Oak Street find open parking spaces in front of their homes, which are located across the street from businesses. Borough council could consider a residential-only parking ordinance for the eastern side of the street, between...
Trafford Post Office to remain at site; no replacement for one in Wendel
The post office in Trafford is staying where it is, despite the building being sold, but the U.S. Postal Service has not been able to find a suitable site for another office in the West Hempfield village of Wendel. The post office in Trafford will remain at 411 Cavitt Ave.,...
New Westmoreland chamber leader seeks to expand outreach efforts
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce’s new president said he wants the chamber to be more involved in the community, working with different nonprofits and assisting businesses and people in need. “It’s about supporting the business community and helping them with their employment issues,” said Dan DeBone, 55, of Murrysville,...
‘Sneetches’ help N.C. students teach Norwin kindergarteners through Read Across America exercise
A Read Across America exercise for a kindergarten class at Norwin’s Stewartsville Elementary School took on a special meaning Friday when high school students from Charlotte, N.C., read a Dr. Seuss book to them. “I think it was great. It was very nice,” said Emma Sartori, a student in Nicole...
Missing Armstrong man found in Allegheny River
The body of a New Bethlehem man missing for a few months was found Thursday morning at Lock 8 in the Allegheny River, the Armstrong County Coroner said. The victim, Shawn Hilliard, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene in Washington Township, the coroner said. The cause of death is...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison for dealing heroin
A Pittsburgh man who had been orchestrating a major heroin ring was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison, the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh said. Donald Lyles Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in September in federal court in Pittsburgh to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute the...
