Megan Tomasic stories, Page 27
Carnegie Mellon to require students receive covid-19 vaccine for fall semester
Carnegie Mellon University will require students to be vaccinated for covid-19 to the extent permissible by law, school officials announced Tuesday. The policy, which is “consistent with scientific evidence on the importance of vaccine adoption to control spread of the virus,” according to a letter posted on the university’s website,...
New dog park at Hempfield Park set to open this weekendVideo
Part of a $1.8 million project aimed at updating several aspects of Hempfield Park is set to debut this weekend. A new off-leash dog park will open Saturday following a grand opening ceremony, according to Aaron Siko, director of parks and recreation with the township. The dog park consists of...
Officials: SWAT called to Beltzhoover home for reported shots fired
Pittsburgh SWAT officers were called to the scene of a shooting in the city’s Beltzhoover neighborhood late Monday night. Police officers responded to a Shotspotter alert for 13 rounds fired in the 300 block of Curtin Avenue around 11:10 p.m., according to Pittsburgh Public Safety Spokesman Maurice Matthews. Officers located...
24 new covid cases reported in Penn-Trafford area between May 3-10
New covid-19 cases reported in the Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area have continued to decline over the past several weeks, according to data from the state Department of Health. In all, 24 new covid cases were reported between May 3-10 for the six ZIP codes covering most of the three communities. That’s compared...
Greensburg Central Catholic teacher wins national Teacher as Hero award
A Greensburg Central Catholic High School teacher was one of 10 educators across the country awarded the Teacher as Hero award from the National Liberty Museum. Erin Tiedeman, arts department head at the school, earned the designation, which recognizes outstanding educators who represent best practices in teaching while serving as...
Slow reporting from labs can hinder coronavirus response, create doubt
More than a year into the covid-19 pandemic, some virus cases identified during the first outbreak across Western Pennsylvania only recently were reported in Westmoreland County. The cases were part of a data dump on Wednesday from one lab that included cases from March 2020 to March 2021, causing the...
Hempfield Area School Board primary slate includes 9 candidates
Unlike the 2019 primary, when several Hempfield Area School Board candidates seemingly formed a unified front in a desire to end property tax assessment appeals, the nine candidates hoping to clinch one of the four open seats this year are running for a variety of reasons. The pool is made...
Above the Challenge members building cardboard mini golf courseVideo
For the past three months, Connor Watson and Aaron DeMayo have been working on turning a pile of cardboard boxes into a mini golf course. The course, which started as nine holes and quickly expanded to 18, promises to lead attendees of a June fundraiser at the Greensburg Church of...
Stanwood Elementary School students are influencers behind virtual movement project
Students at a Hempfield Area elementary school are the inspiration behind a new virtual field trip produced by a Lawrenceville-based dance group. Third graders at Stanwood Elementary School heavily influenced the virtual field trip produced by Attack Theatre that features dances reflecting artwork displayed at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art...
Bushy Run Battlefield president strives to keep history alive
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Mt. Lebanon police find that ‘suspicious’ package left in front of offices of legislator, Social Security, not dangerous
Mt. Lebanon police evacuated a building along Washington Road on Wednesday evening that houses offices for state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and the Social Security Administration after police were called to the scene of a suspicious package. According to the department’s Facebook page, police responded to 650 Washington Road...
2 men sentenced for distributing drugs in Pittsburgh’s South Side as part of DS44 gang
Two Pittsburgh men who police say were high-ranking members of a street gang that sold drugs in Pittsburgh’s South Side have been sentenced in federal court to long prison terms. Christopher Highsmith, 28, and Anthony Jetter, 32, pleaded guilty to related drug charges and were sentenced by U.S. District Judge...
Hempfield to apply for federal grant that could benefit township fire department
Hempfield leaders are looking for federal dollars that would benefit the township fire department. Supervisors have authorized the township manager to advertise for a grant writer and manager, one of the first steps as they prepare to submit an application in July for a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency...
32 new covid cases reported in the Penn-Trafford area between April 26-May 3, 2021
New covid-19 cases reported in the Penn-Trafford-Jeannette area continued to decline over the past week, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In all, 32 new covid cases were reported between April 26 and May 3 for the six ZIP codes covering most of the three communities. That’s...
Hempfield Area plans vaccine clinic for students 16 and older
Hempfield Area School District students may receive their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine during a clinic Tuesday at the high school field house. Other clinics are planned this month for students across the region. Shots of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered from 3 to 7 p.m. in Hempfield...
Remembering Westmoreland County’s glassmaking history
Glass pieces varying in color and style were spread out across a table at the Greensburg Country Club on Sunday afternoon, offering a quick peak into the history of Grapeville’s former Westmoreland Glass factory, which shuttered in 1984 after almost 100 years in business. The pieces were on display as...
Attorney General: 2 more people arrested in 2017 double homicide in Somerset County
Two more people were arrested for their involvement in a double homicide that occurred in rural Somerset County in 2017, officials with the state Attorney General’s office said. Marekus Benson and Deandre Callender are facing several charges for conspiring with two previously arrested defendants to kidnap and murder Damien Staniszewski...
Pittsburgh police: Man in stable condition after Homewood West shooting
A man is in stable condition after an early morning shooting in Homewood West, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers responded to a Shotspotter alert in the 6900 block of Kelly Street around 2:50 a.m. Sunday. Zone 5 officers who arrived on scene found a man sitting in the 600 block...
Police searching for missing, endangered man in Unity
State police are searching for a missing, endangered man who was last seen in the Wimmerton area of Unity. Martin Hussey, 72, was seen around 7 a.m., officials said. Hussey is 5 foot 11 inches and around 160 pounds. He has blue eyes and is bald. According to police, Hussey...
Kayakers take to the water for 7th annual Loyalhanna SojournVideo
Dozens of brightly colored kayaks lined a pathway at Latrobe’s Cardinal Park early Saturday in anticipation of the hundreds of boaters expected to float 9 miles down Loyalhanna Creek, ending their journey in New Alexandria. In all, about 220 people were registered to participate in the seventh annual Loyalhanna Sojourn,...
Unveiling ceremony scheduled for Eddie Coletta scoreboard at West Point
After months of fundraising, West Point Little League will unveil a new scoreboard Saturday honoring a longtime league volunteer. Eddie Coletta was 43 when he passed away after battling AL amyloidosis, a rare disease that can lead to organ failure. The scoreboard bears Coletta’s name and a famous Coletta quote:...
Signature Dishes: Ahi tuna poke bowl at Major Stokes in GreensburgVideo
This is part of an ongoing series highlighting Signature Dishes at locally owned restaurants in the region. See Trib Total Media’s new online directory of restaurants, Dine Local, at dinelocal.triblive.com. It only takes minutes for Jim Bosco to whip up what quickly has become a signature dish at Major Stokes,...
Despite decreasing covid transmission rates, Westmoreland schools still apt to shut down with positive cases
Despite school districts in Westmoreland County making strides to restore a sense of normalcy for students, they still feel the pinch of state guidelines when it comes to closing buildings because of coronavirus cases. So far this week, Hempfield, Norwin, Belle Vernon Area and Derry Area districts have been forced...
2 candidates vie for empty seat on Hempfield’s Board of Supervisors
As two new candidates vie for one open seat on the Hempfield board of supervisors, a recurring theme is piquing the interest of those running. If elected, candidates Bill Bretz and Jerry Fagert, both Republicans, are hoping to tackle improvements to the fire service, something supervisors have been working on...
Hempfield Area temporarily closes high school due to covid cases
Hempfield Area High School on Wednesday began a two-day closure after additional students tested positive for covid-19, according to district leaders. High school students will participate in remote learning today and Thursday. The decision to temporarily close the school came after district administration was informed of additional students testing positive...
