Megan Tomasic stories, Page 53

Megan Tomasic
Megan Tomasic 724-850-1203
Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Fort Allen teachers, students raise money during Kiss a Goat event
Three Fort Allen Elementary School teachers had the chance to kiss Chuck Norris — the goat. Students and teachers on Jan. 31 raised more than $900 for Relay for Life of Greensburg through their Kiss a Goat for a Cause fundraiser paired with the annual pie-a-teacher in the face event,...
Census, community groups work to accurately count Hispanics in Western Pa.
Spanish music played in the streets of Beechview as a restaurant worked through its lunch crowd. Spanish-language signs advertising products filled the windows of the Las Palmas IGA Market on Broadway as customers of all ethnicities filtered in and out, purchasing authentic Mexican food. English and Scotch-Irish immigrants settled the...
Business owner was a staple in Mt. Pleasant community
Stanley Yanuck became such a staple in the Mt. Pleasant community that customers nicknamed him “the chief.” “I think just by being the boss we just all started calling him ‘the chief,’” Yanuck’s son, Michael, said. For 46 years Yanuck operated Diamond Auto Parts along Route 819 in Mt. Pleasant...
2 Hempfield seniors awarded full tuition to Saint Vincent College 
Two Hempfield Area High School seniors will received full rides to Saint Vincent College. Brennen Novotney and Jacob Rzempoluch won the Unity Township college’s 39th annual Wimmer Scholarship Competition, which awards students with four-year, full-tuition scholarships. Christina Andrae, associate director of admission at the college, presented the scholarships to Novotney...
Pittsburgh police: Cab passenger shot in Bedford Dwellings
A passenger on a Z-Trip ride was taken to the hospital in critical condition Wednesday evening after a shooting, according to Pittsburgh police spokesman Maurice Matthews. Officers responded to the 3900 block of Bigelow Boulevard shortly after 7 p.m. after receiving 911 calls that a man had been shot. According...
New lingerie store coming to Westmoreland Mall
After myriad closures at Westmoreland Mall, a new store is set to open. Aerie, a lingerie and intimate apparel store, will open this spring in the former PacSun location, according to a sign posted outside the store. PacSun, an Anaheim, Calif.-based clothing store catering to teens and young adults, closed...
Rita’s Italian Ice in Hempfield will not reopen, owners looking for new location
When Brian Meador closed the doors of his Rita’s Italian Ice restaurant in Hempfield at the end of last season, he didn’t know it was permanent. “It was very sudden,” said Meador, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Susan. “It was something we didn’t anticipate.” The Hempfield Rita’s location...
Former Jeannette man loved family, city history
Edward Slonecki would often joke that he was “the man,” but that’s exactly what he was to his sons. “We never really had a need for anything because my father and my mother were both there to love us and support us,” Chad Slonecki said. “If he wasn’t there to...
Police: Father of 4-month-old unintentionally shot child
State police reported they believe the father of a 4-month-old child unintentionally fired a shot in an Indiana County apartment, hitting his son. According to police, the 21-year-old father fired a shot from a 9mm handgun while inside an apartment at 42 College Lodge Road in White Township, striking the...
West Hempfield Elementary School recognized for Veterans Day program 
Teachers at West Hempfield Elementary School were awarded a plaque from AMVETS deeming their Veterans Day program excellent. The program drew several veterans — who were related to students — to the school for breakfast and a music show. “I was stunned,” said Rege Riley, former National Commander for AMVETS....
Route 711 in Ligonier reopens after crash Sunday morning
Part of Route 711 in Ligonier Township was closed due to a multi-vehicle crash, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. There were four or five vehicles involved in the crash. No injuries were reported. Route 711 was closed in both directions between Two-Mile Run and Slater Road....
Police investigating after 4-month-old boy shot in Indiana County
State police are investigating after a 4-month-old boy was shot at an Indiana County apartment. According to police, officers responded to College Lodge Road in White Township for reports of a shooting shortly before 6:20 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived on scene, they found the child had suffered a gunshot...
Police arrest man accused of robbing Hempfield Walmart
State police have arrested a man who they accuse of robbing the Hempfield Walmart last week. Christopher John Hilty, 31, of Greensburg was arrested Saturday and charged with robbery and other offenses. He is being held at the Westmoreland County jail. Police said Hilty entered the Walmart at Greengate Circle...
Crashes, slick roads reported as region gets inch of snow
Almost an inch of snow fell across the Pittsburgh region overnight into Sunday morning, causing some slick road conditions, according to the National Weather Service. “It was expected,” said NWS meteorologist Myranda Fullerton. “We anticipated snow basically last evening through the overnight hours. We had more snowfall north of Interstate...
Westmoreland municipalities banding together before census
A little less than a year after the Westmoreland County Complete Count Committee was founded, officials are gearing up efforts to help municipalities prepare for the upcoming census. “It’s federal funding; it’s state funding; it’s representation in Congress. The census number plays into all of that and we want Westmoreland...
Westmoreland County residents attend concealed carry seminar, obtain gun permits 
As presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg prepares to air an $11 million Super Bowl commercial touting gun control, more than 100 Westmoreland County residents who want to legally carry a gun in public came out Saturday to learn how. About 120 people from across the county attended a “concealed carry” seminar...
Police: Man in stable condition after North Side shooting
A man was transported to the hospital in stable condition after a shooting in the North Side early Saturday morning. Officers responded to the 2600 block of Perrysville Avenue around 1 a.m. in response to a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire, according to Pittsburgh police spokesperson Chris Togneri. Police also received...
Hempfield supervisors, school board members discuss possible collaborations
Growth across Hempfield was a main topic Wednesday when members of the Hempfield Area School Board and township supervisors hosted a joint meeting for the first time in years. “This meeting is an opportunity for the township and the school district to come together and begin to discuss future growth...
Trout in the Classroom program going swimmingly in Hempfield 
Proudly displayed fish artwork isn’t all that students at West Hempfield Elementary School have to show off. First through fifth graders are raising almost 200 rainbow trout through the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom program. The local curriculum was implemented by art teacher Matt Clark as a way to incorporate...
Delmont councilman announces bid for 14th Congressional seat
A Delmont councilman announced his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in the 14th Congressional District. Bill Marx, 43, a Democrat, announced his decision to run during a Greater Westmoreland County Labor Council meeting this week, according to his Facebook page. He confirmed his intention to run for the...
2 killed in Fayette County crash
Two people were killed in a head-on collision in Fayette County Tuesday afternoon, according to state police. John Snyder, 68, of Scottdale, and Tiler Guth, 24, of Vanderbilt, were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Officers responded to the incident shortly before 2:45 p.m. Tuesday along Route 201 in...
Wind advisory issued for parts of Westmoreland, Fayette ridges
Wind gusts up to 50 mph could be felt in parts of the mountain ridges in Westmoreland and Fayette counties tonight. According to an advisory from the National Weather Service, winds will be between 25 and 35 mph until 10 p.m. Gusts could blow around unsecured objects, cause tree limbs...
Annual Sports Cards and Collectibles show returns to Westmoreland Mall
More than 40 vendors selling sports cards and other memorabilia have taken over Center Court at Westmoreland Mall for the weekend. The annual event, which has been going on for more than a decade, gives interested parties the opportunity to buy, sell and trade cards, wax products, action figures, gaming...
Schools, churches, non-profits to receive aid for promoting census in Westmoreland County
Schools, churches and local nonprofit organizations interested in promoting the census will have a little help soon from the Westmoreland County Complete Count Committee. Aimed at collecting an accurate countywide count, the committee is offering mini-grants of up to $1,000 to help with necessary resources and training for an organization’s...
Hempfield to roll out memorial benches, trees
Hempfield residents soon could have a new way to commemorate loved ones. The township’s parks and recreation department plans to sell memorial benches and trees that can be placed in parks and at facilities across the township. “It will be an opportunity for families to commemorate loved ones whether they...


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