Megan Tomasic stories, Page 10
Hempfield is latest district to face book ban challenge
As a frenzy of book challenges rocks the nation at an unprecedented rate, local school districts are facing heightened scrutiny over which texts are made available in their libraries. This week, a Hempfield Area School District committee will review a policy that determines how school materials are reevaluated after two...
Federal judge orders New Kensington landscaping company to pay $150,000 in back wages, penalties
A New Kensington landscaping company has been ordered to pay $150,000 in back wages and penalties after an investigation found the employer denied overtime pay to its workers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the investigation found that Shurina Brothers LLC did not pay employees time-and-a-half for overtime hours...
Penn Hills woman pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $76,000 from Pittsburgh firm
A Penn Hills woman has pleaded guilty in federal court after prosecutors say she embezzled just under $75,800 from Pittsburgh-based Gleason & Associates. Jennifer R. Snider, 52, of Hulton Road, worked at the company as a comptroller in 2019 and 2020 when she allegedly embezzled the funds, said U.S. Attorney’s...
Hempfield School Board decides to tear down existing high school to its bare bones, building up from there
Hempfield leaders are moving forward with a multimillion-dollar project that will involve tearing down the high school to its structural system and replacing everything as new. School board members voted 8-0 Tuesday night to overhaul the 66-year-old building rather than renovate the existing structure or build a new school. Board...
West Point fire department making strides, but Hempfield officials to keep probation in place
Hempfield’s West Point Volunteer Fire Company still is failing to respond to calls, but other factors are starting to improve, township leaders said. So far this year, West Point failed to respond to 33 out of 55 service calls. That’s a 60% failure rate. While those numbers remain an area...
Hempfield Fire Department could get new digs in old municipal authority building
The former municipal authority building in Hempfield could soon have new life as supervisors consider converting the facility into a headquarters for the township’s fire department. Under initial plans, the Woodward Drive building would become the first station constructed for the Hempfield Fire Department, putting those in leadership positions under...
Sessions to get underway to shape a better Greensburg
Input from Greensburg residents is key to successfully updating the city’s 14-year-old comprehensive plan, city leaders said as they prepare for public sessions to begin this week. The sessions, broken into three rounds, will give community members an opportunity to weigh in on the project and suggest any improvements needed...
Hempfield leaders approve rezoning of former Cherry Creek Golf Course
Hempfield supervisors this week granted a zoning change that could pave the way for residential development at the former Cherry Creek Golf Course. The zoning status will change from agricultural to suburban residential for about 100 acres of the golf course, which closed in 2015. While site plans for possible...
Hempfield Girl Scout receives national honor for coming to grandfather’s aid after serious fallVideo
When Ashley Bensur found out her grandfather had fallen 10 feet from a balcony at his Hempfield home the morning of July 11, 2020, there was no doubt in her mind that she had to help. Rather than waiting to hear an update on his condition, Bensur, then 12, tagged...
Former NFL player Will James honored for service in Fayette County
A former NFL player whose nonprofit has helped underserved youth in Fayette County for several years is being recognized by the community for his years of service. Will James, a 1997 Laurel Highlands graduate who went on to play for several NFL teams, was given the February “Face” title in...
Need a government permit? In Greensburg you’ll soon be able to do it online
Greensburg’s planning and development office soon will be more easily accessible as several processes traditionally completed at city hall move online. Members of city council this week unanimously approved an agreement with OpenGov, a California-based company that creates software and services for government agencies. In Greensburg, residents and developers will...
Gamblers at Live! Casino Pittsburgh donate to charities through ‘Giveback’ boxes
More than $21,000 was donated to Westmoreland County charities during the second quarter of 2021 through Live! Casino Pittsburgh’s donation boxes. In all, the Westmoreland County Marine Toys for Tots program received more than $11,945, and Greensburg’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 33 received almost $9,670. Two donation boxes, known...
Laurelville Retreat Center hosts backyard birding event just weeks after fire in maintenance facility
Despite a fire destroying a maintenance facility at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant this month, almost 70 people gathered at the dining hall Sunday afternoon for a presentation on backyard birding. The lunch and learn on backyard birding taught attendees how to identify birds in the region, where to...
Police make arrest following Coraopolis shooting
A Coraopolis man has been arrested after, police say, he shot another man in an apartment in the 900 block of Sixth Avenue early Sunday morning. The man who was shot is in critical condition, officials said. Coraopolis police responded to the apartment around 4:45 a.m. Sunday. They found a...
Terry Ranieri Memorial Scholarship Fund to distribute first Hempfield Area awardVideo
The legacy of the late Terry Ranieri, a staunch supporter of the Hempfield Area marching band and beloved community member, will live on through a scholarship fund. The Terry Ranieri Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide a qualifying Hempfield band member with $1,000 to help cover college expenses. The first scholarship...
North Huntingdon church helps girls find the perfect prom dress — for freeVideo
More than 100 girls sifted through racks of tulle and silk in many hues Saturday morning at Norwin Christian Church, searching for their perfect prom dress. The Dressed in Joy event transformed the North Huntingdon church into a boutique featuring rows of donated dresses, piles of high-heeled shoes, jewelry and...
Hempfield Area School District looks to add hundreds of Chromebooks; repair costs drop
Laptop repairs are down this year in the Hempfield Area School District. That’s a drastic change from last school year, when officials shelled out thousands of dollars to fix scores of portable computers. Between the start of the school year and Feb. 18, the district paid nearly $24,000 to repair...
Renovate or build a new school? That’s the question being posed in Hempfield Area
Officials with the Hempfield Area School District are gearing up to make a decision next month on whether they will renovate or build a new high school. School board members this week unanimously voted to retain PNC Capital Markets LLC as underwriters once a project is chosen and hired Krakoff...
Dispatcher: 2 firefighters injured while battling garage fire in North Huntingdon
Two firefighters were injured while battling a garage fire Monday in North Huntingdon, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The fire was reported at about 7:20 p.m. at 2005 Tomco Lane. According to the dispatcher, a firefighter from Circleville Volunteer Fire Department was taken to the hospital with chest pains....
Greensburg becomes 8th municipality to join Westmoreland SWAT team
Greensburg is the latest municipality to join a special response team largely made up of police officers from the Alle-Kiski Valley, ultimately expanding the program from northern parts of the county to a more centralized region. City officials unanimously signed off on an ordinance authorizing Greensburg police officers to participate...
Pa. casinos landed $393M in revenues for January, state records show
Revenues at Pennsylvania casinos continued a gradual decline last month, a trend seen across the state since the record-breaking month of November, state regulators said. In all, more than $393.1 million was recorded in January, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That’s a $39.3 million decrease from November, when...
Candidates being accepted for Greensburg’s Hometown Hero Banner project
Greensburg is once again honoring local veterans and first responders through the Hometown Hero Banner project. The program — a coalition by the Greensburg Community Development Corp., city of Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg — is a way to honor local military and non-military heroes by displaying photos on decorative banners...
Greensburg Hose Company No. 1 planning first Spring Vendor Show
After successfully hosting their first car cruise last year, members of the Greensburg Hose Company No. 1 have their sights set on a new event. The Spring Vendor Show is planned for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 21 at the McLaughlin Drive station. The event will feature 36 vendors...
Man falls to his death while working in Churchill
A 45-year-old man died after falling from a tree in Churchill on Friday afternoon while working, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The man was identified as Heath Barr of Ellwood City. According to a medical examiner’s report, Barr died at UPMC Mercy hospital after falling from the...
Live! Casino hosting job fair, accepting applications for dealer school
Officials at Live! Casino Pittsburgh are hosting another job fair to recruit for several open positions while also accepting applications for their free dealer school. The job fair is scheduled for Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. at the casino’s recruitment center in...
