Julia Maruca stories, Page 17
Catering pioneer James Stratigos of North Huntingdon dead at 86
James Stratigos of North Huntingdon was always busy. The caterer, who died Tuesday at the age of 86, was a generous person and a hard worker who loved to help others, according to his son, Harry Stratigos. As head of Stratigos Catering, the family business he founded in 1957, Mr....
Pollution, weather, climate change all affect start, severity of allergy season
April showers bring May flowers, but those blooms can bring sneezes and sniffles along with itchy, watery eyes. As the region heads into the summer months, tree and grass pollen coupled with other irritants are ushering in suffering for those affected by allergies, according to local experts. Tree and grass...
Westmoreland officials talk train derailment contingency plans with expert
Since the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train filled with hazardous materials in Ohio earlier this year, the looming potential of a similar disaster has weighed heavily on the minds of local leaders whose communities are traversed by trains every day. Thirty-eight Norfolk Southern train cars jumped the tracks Feb....
Hempfield Area high school project heads into bidding phase this summer
The $128 million revitalization project at Hempfield Area High School will take another step forward this summer when the district accepts construction bids and awards contracts. In an update sent to parents this week, district officials noted the project’s phased construction is set to begin in August and end in...
Tax increase included in draft Hempfield Area budget
A 2.3 mill real estate tax increase that’s included in a proposed 2023-24 budget will be used to cover expenses associated with rising health insurance rates, updated curriculum, and hiring school police officers in Hempfield Area School District. The proposed spending plan was adopted Monday by Hempfield’s school board. The...
Show me the money: Teachers, education experts advocate for financial literacy
Ligonier Valley financial literacy teacher Martin Hickey often hears from students about how his classes have impacted their lives, but one response from a former pupil sticks with him. “One of the kids I had in my class, I happened to see him in the street … and he goes,...
Ligonier Valley dance canceled, citing bad student behavior
A middle school dance scheduled for Friday night was abruptly canceled at Ligonier Valley Middle School because of student “disrespect and misconduct,” according to a letter sent to parents. The letter, signed by middle school Principal Paulina Burns, said that students’ behavior at recent events “has fallen short of our...
Excela-Butler health system sees further financial losses
The merged Butler and Excela health systems reported losses of more than $62 million over the nine-month period ending March 31, according to disclosure reports released this week. The combined health system, which laid off 13 manager-level staff members in March, officially formed from Excela Health and Butler Health System...
Shapiro talks mental health, budget plans with Hempfield Area High School students
Hempfield Area High School students talked about school start times, stress, mental health, class workload and free breakfast during a Wednesday visit from Gov. Josh Shapiro. The governor listened to the students’ suggestions on ways to improve their education experience during a roundtable discussion in the high school library. Shapiro...
Trafford mock council meeting gives students the reins on local government
Though she’s no stranger to attending municipal meetings, the view of the Trafford borough council looked a lot different to Penn-Trafford junior Ally Moraca from up in the council seats. Moraca, 17, is the first member of the borough’s Junior Councilperson Program. She has spent the year attending Trafford council...
Planned Hempfield park could see construction later this year
Construction on a planned park along Route 30 near Mount Pleasant Road in Hempfield might start this fall if all goes as expected. Township supervisors committed to funding the first phase of the Weatherwood Community Park, a 14-acre park on 42 acres of land paralleling US-30 off Weatherwood Lane, for...
Detecting cancer earlier: Doctors celebrate, discuss change in mammogram recommendations
A new recommendation for mammograms could speed up the timeline for breast cancer screening. It also might improve the chance of saving lives, according to local medical experts. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent volunteer panel of medical experts, changed its previous policy last week to advocate for...
Police searching for Pittsburgh man charged with sexual assault
The Allegheny County Police are looking for a Pittsburgh man accused of sexually assaulting a man in Ingram back in February. Raymond Covington, 37, is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, and simple assault. Police investigators identified Covington as responsible for an assault, after a victim called...
Latrobe man killed in motorcycle crash identified
A 79-year-old man died in a motorcycle crash on Route 981 near Latrobe on Friday afternoon, according to the Westmoreland County coroner. Bruce Santella of Latrobe was traveling southbound on a 2011 Harley-Davidson Triglide when his bike hit the center median, causing him to lose control, according to Coroner Tim...
Ligonier Township man accused of threatening Pa. Game Commission officer
A Ligonier Township man is charged with terroristic threats and felony aggravated assault after he was accused of threatening to shoot a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer. Marc Wallace, 56, is accused of being confrontational with and threatening to shoot Warden William Brehun. According to the criminal complaint filed by Ligonier...
Annual health fair in Unity livens up wellness, safety education
The excited shouts and laughter of third graders filled the halls of Charter Oak Church as students from four area school districts gathered Wednesday to learn from local health care professionals and community members at the annual Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Children’s Health Fair. The event, which began in...
Revised Hempfield middle school redistricting plan approved
Hempfield Area School District now has a final answer to where students will attend middle school next year, after approving a revised plan for redistricting. The plan defines where students will go to school in the wake of a February vote to condense the district’s three middle schools into two...
Security measures upped at Hempfield after threat concerns
Students at Hempfield Area School District will continue to be screened with metal detectors before entering school buildings. The decision was made after a student last week reported seeing a threatening message in a bathroom that referenced guns. The screening and other security measures began Friday. According to an email...
Pond cleanup removes plants from Penn Township fishing spot — for a cause
The waters of the Penn Township Municipal Park pond look clearer than ever after a coalition of volunteers and public works crews came together this week to remove plants from its depths. Using a pitchfork and some of his son-in-law Jimmy Rudick’s homemade tools of wood, pool noodles and rake...
Former Pa. state trooper pleads guilty to federal child porn charges
A former Pennsylvania state police trooper has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. Sean Ryan McKenzie, 38, of Perryopolis, Fayette County, was arrested in March 2022 and charged in federal court last May. He pleaded guilty on Friday, May 5, 2023. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McKenzie attempted to...
15 vie for 5 seats on Hempfield Area school board
Fifteen candidates are competing in this spring’s primary for five open seats on the Hempfield Area school board. Candidates said they are running for office for myriad reasons, including concerns over the ongoing high school expansion project, debate over appropriateness of library books and materials and a desire for more...
Hempfield spring craft show to gather at athletic complex
The annual Hempfield Spring Craft and Vendor Show will gather local vendors and craft enthusiasts to the township this Saturday to benefit Hempfield’s parks. The event runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hempfield Township Athletic Complex, 220 Forbes Trail Road. According to Marissa Haynes, interim director of parks...
As covid health emergency ends, tracking methods change, too
When home covid tests first became available, they were flying off the shelves and customers often struggled to find them. Now at Mainline Pharmacy’s Harrison City location, home covid tests are available, but kept behind the counter. Erica McClain, pharmacy tech, said people come in to ask for them “every...
Hempfield book acquisition, challenge regulations advance for future vote
Parents in Hempfield Area School District remain divided over whether books that some deem objectionable should be taught in the classroom or available in the library. The school board this week advanced a policy that has been in the works for about a year that could be adopted in June....
Decision on Hempfield middle school redistricting postponed until May
Parents of Hempfield Area middle school students will have to wait a little longer to get concrete answers on where their students will attend classes next year, as the school board postponed its vote this week on an updated redistricting plan until May 8. Under the first proposal approved in...
