Quincey Reese stories, Page 20
Penn Township brings back summer food truck series for 2nd year
A summer food truck series launched last year in Penn Township is returning for a second season. The series — which kicked off last week — features a variety of food trucks, games for children and a new band each night. It takes place across five Friday nights from May...
Ex-Greensburg officer still getting $5K pension payment a month after pleading guilty to drug distribution
Retired Greensburg police Officer Regina McAtee collected another $5,160 pension payment June 1, one month after pleading guilty in federal court to engaging in a methamphetamine distribution operation with the former city police chief. McAtee, 51, of New Kensington has received about $56,500 in pension payments from the city since...
Man critical after shooting in Homestead
A man was shot multiple times in Pittsburgh’s Homestead neighborhood Monday night. Allegheny County Police responded to a shooting in the 300 block of East 18th Avenue around 8:45 a.m. A man was found to have been shot multiple times and transported to a local hospital in critical but stable...
Fort Ligonier reenactors portray historical figures from across globe
About 50 reenactors portraying 18th century military units from across the globe roamed the grounds of Fort Ligonier during Memorial Day weekend as musket and cannon fire pierced the air. Revolutionary War era reenactors intermingled with French and Prussian militia units, an Austrian officer and a Hungarian soldier, said Matt...
Totteridge majority owners take full acquisition of course, continue to expand housing community
Zoltan and Patrick Cendes have helped to build 100 patio homes and 30 single-family homes in the Totteridge Golf Course housing community in Salem since becoming majority owners in 2015. This month, they acquired full ownership of the more than 500-acre property while finishing development of 30 new homes, said...
Fayette man dies after touching live electrical circuit while fixing air conditioner, coroner says
A Fayette County man died Wednesday after touching a live 480-volt open circuit while operating on an air-conditioning unit, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. James A. McGalla Jr., 33, of Fairchance was working on an air-conditioning unit when he came into contact with the open circuit, Carson said....
Greensburg Catholics to mark Corpus Christi with procession to courthouse
Parishioners at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg will celebrate a feast day Sunday with a procession from the church to the Westmoreland County Courthouse. This will be the first time Bishop Larry Kulick will lead a procession to the courthouse, a few blocks away from the church on Main Street,...
Man found in Brighton Heights with neck stab wound
A man was found with a stab wound in his neck late Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood. Pittsburgh police officers were dispatched to the 300 block of McClure Avenue around 10 p.m., according to Emily Bourne, public information officer for Pittsburgh Public Safety. The man who had been stabbed...
1 person hospitalized after McKnight Road crash; lanes closed
One person was transported to a hospital Saturday afternoon following a vehicle crash on McKnight Road in Ross. The person was driving near the 7800 block of McKnight Road around 12:45 p.m. when they crashed into an electrical pole, according to Brian Kohlhepp, public information officer for the Ross Township...
Blairsville man dead after crashing motorcycle over embankment in Derry Township
A man died when the motorcycle he was driving went over an embankment in Derry Township on Saturday morning, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. Joshua M. Haynes, 24, of Blairsville, was traveling south near 216 Derry Lane just before 9 a.m. when his vehicle left the roadway and...
State trooper receives multiple doses of Narcan after drug bust in Murrysville
A Pittsburgh man is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of narcotics following a drug bust Thursday evening in Murrysville, after which a state police trooper had to receive multiple doses of Narcan, according to court records. The trooper, who was transported to AHN Hempfield Hospital, was...
‘Liability’ to ‘tremendous asset’: How Johnstown’s Stonycreek River has gone from toxic mine drainage to recreational hub
For Jason Albert, whitewater kayaking is a form of therapy. Albert, 38, of Oak Ridge, N.J., has been kayaking since 2017. This is his first season back on the water following a two-year recovery from a car accident that hurt his back. “There’s a lot of people that have come...
‘She fought until the very last day’: Youngwood organ donor helps save 3 after overdose death
From the printer to the sweeper to the decorations on the wall, almost everything in Anna Vukovich’s Youngwood home reminds her of her daughter Jennifer. Jennifer’s comforter is still on the bed in her childhood bedroom, her purse still hangs on a hook on the wall. “Everytime I pull something...
Greensburg to outfit its police with body cameras
Greensburg council this week approved buying body cameras for its police force. It also will be developing a policy for how they will be used. When the city receives the cameras, the police department will work with Motorola to install them and expand the computer server that holds police vehicle...
Penn-Trafford eyes property tax increase, but some board members opposed
Property taxes will jump about 2% in Penn-Trafford School District unless school board members revise a preliminary 2024-2025 budget approved last week. The proposed $68.9 million spending plan is supported by a 91.75 mill tax levy in Westmoreland County, a 2-mill increase over the current tax rate of 89.75 mills....
Penn Township to vote on expanding volunteer service tax program to include Manor firefighters
Penn Township commissioners will vote this next week on a proposal to expand its volunteer service credit program to include residents who serve in neighboring Manor Borough Volunteer Fire Department. Enacted by the township commissioners in 2018, the program gives real estate and earned income tax credits to Penn Township...
‘I put five years of my life into this’: Seton Hill graduates first class of doctor of physical therapy students amid open job market
As Morgan Simkovic watched her brother receive treatment following a brain tumor diagnosis in 2010, she knew she wanted to be a physical therapist one day. Simkovic sat in on some of her brother’s physical therapy treatments at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. He completed seven months of...
Records: Former Greensburg cop received $5K pension payment on day she pleaded guilty to drug charges
Retired Greensburg police Officer Regina McAtee collected a $5,160 pension payment the day she pleaded guilty in federal court to engaging in a methamphetamine distribution operation with the former city police chief. McAtee, 51, of New Kensington has received about $51,400 in pension payments from the city since Aug. 1,...
$2.6 million winning lottery ticket sold at Murrysville Shop ‘n Save
A $2.6 million jackpot-winning lottery ticket was sold Wednesday at the Shop ‘n Save store on Route 22 in Murrysville. The jackpot winner purchased a Quick Cash ticket through the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Cash 5 program, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. The Shop ‘n Save store will receive $10,000 for selling...
Hempfield school board must close $3M deficit in next year’s budget
The Hempfield School Board will vote next week to adopt a preliminary 2024-2025 general fund budget, which includes a $3 million deficit. The proposed budget includes nearly $106.6 million in total revenues and about $109.6 million in expenditures, according to district business manager Paul Schott. This is a 0.36% decrease...
Greensburg council to vote on body-worn camera grant, event approval process
Greensburg is expected to outfit its police force with its first set of body-worn cameras. City council will vote next week to accept a $140,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to purchase 27 body-worn cameras — one for each of its police officers, said Chief...
Hempfield: Demolition plans advancing for former state prison
Nearly a year after purchasing the SCI Greensburg property, Hempfield is securing funding and establishing a timeline on demolition of the former state prison. “We are basically wrapping up demolition plans currently,” township manager Aaron Siko said. The 350,000-square-foot prison was built to hold 900 inmates and employed about 360...
Greensburg officials mum on ex-police officer’s pension after guilty plea in drug case
Retired city police Officer Regina McAtee collected at least $46,280 in pension payments before admitting her role in a methamphetamine distribution operation with the disgraced former Greensburg police chief. Now that McAtee, 51, of New Kensington pleaded guilty in federal court this week to engaging in a drug conspiracy, it’s...
‘We’re always hoping to sell out’: Greensburg Garden Center prepares annual May Mart plant sale
Every year, the Greenridge Garden Club arrives at the Greensburg Garden Center’s May Mart plant sale with hundreds of heirloom tomato plants. By the end of the sale, most — if not all — of them are gone, said club member Janet Bentz. Bentz, of Irwin, has been a member...
Hempfield sets opening date for Weatherwood Park bids
After meeting with about 12 contractors to discuss the first phase of the township’s Weatherwood Park and municipal complex projects, Hempfield plans to open construction bids May 16. Supervisors may vote on the contractors for the projects during their May 20 meeting, township Manager Aaron Siko said. “(It was) a...
