Norwin Star category, Page 84
Norwin students test Tinkers Run; water quality good
The water quality in North Huntingdon’s Tinkers Run is pretty good, based on the results of tests Norwin High School’s environmental science students recently conducted. The water in the stream flows into Brush Creek and averaged 84.82 on the water quality index, “which puts the water quality in the good...
Irwin chief emphasizing community policing; add part-time officer
Irwin police have been taking steps to get out of their patrol cars and mingle with residents and will continue to emphasize community policing, the chief said Wednesday. “The community is noticing” those efforts, Chief Dan Wensel told Mayor William Hawley and borough council. When Wensel was promoted to chief...
Butler boys, girls dominate at WPIAL Class AAA team finals
As Butler runner C.J. Singleton neared the finish line, the junior wondered how close his nearest 800-meter challenger was, so he took a quick glance behind him. “You’re usually not supposed to look back,” he admitted afterward. But it’s understandable. Butler’s top runners rarely had anyone out in front of...
North Huntingdon man accused of smuggling 18 heroin stamp bags in his buttocks
A 41-year-old North Huntingdon man was charged by detectives Wednesday after they claim he attempted to smuggle heroin into the county prison by hiding 18 stamp bags in his buttocks. Jeremiah B. Reynolds of Larimer was charged by county Detective James Williams this week with illegal possession of a controlled...
North Huntingdon police accuse Irwin firefighter of setting vacant mobile home fire
An Irwin firefighter is charged with arson after police say he sent a Snapchat message to some fellow firemen alerting them to be ready for a call moments before an abandoned mobile home was set ablaze April 27. Shawn R. Mann, 25, of North Huntingdon was arraigned on charges of...
North Huntingdon mom’s diseases puts her among ‘Millions Missing’Video
A North Huntingdon mother of four is among about 2 million Americans part of a group — “Millions Missing” — that no one wants to join because it means having chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple complications she has had to deal with for about 25 years. “When I walk, my...
Philadelphia man jailed without bond after North Huntingdon drug arrest
A Philadelphia man who was arrested after police seized two bricks of suspected heroin in a North Huntingdon drug sting was denied bond Tuesday when he could not provide officials with a verifiable address, according to court records. District Judge Wayne Gongaware also noted that Rysheid M. “Cheese” Baldwin, 39,...
Norwin OKs 5-year sports medicine pact with Excela Health
Excela Health Medical Group of Greensburg will continue to provide sports medicine services for Norwin’s athletes for the next five years. The school board approved the $210,00 contract with Excela on Monday after asking Allegheny Health Network, Excela and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center last month to resubmit bids...
Rate of new covid cases in North Huntingdon, Irwin areas falls below 1%, as of May 10
The weekly rate of new covid cases fell below 1% for residents in the four ZIP codes covering the North Huntingdon-North Irwin-Irwin area, the smallest increase since October, according to state Department of Health data released Monday. There were 28 new covid cases in the area reported from May 3...
Man jailed in fatal overdose case accused of new drug charges following New Stanton arrest
A 48-year-old man being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond in connection with a fatal overdose of a North Huntingdon woman was charged with additional drug-related complaints stemming from his arrest in New Stanton,according to court documents. Jason A. Lewis, 48, of Boston, was arrested May 3 by...
No contest in Irwin primary for mayor, council
Irwin residents voting in the primary will not have to agonize over who to vote for in the Democratic and Republican nominations for council or mayor because all the candidates will win in the May 18 primary, barring a strong write-in campaign. Mayor Bill Hawley decided not to run for...
Eastern area real estate transactions for the week of May 9, 2021
Churchill Estate of Claraine King sold property at 436 Woodland Hills Drive to Kevin Alfaro for $258,000. Edgewood Robert Spagiare sold property at 109 Dewey St. to Eric and Angela Holtzman for $480,000. Forest Hills Thomas Murphy Jr. sold property at 311 Barclay Ave. to HD Acquisitions LLC for $90,000....
Norwin notebook: Turcovski, fellow Knights athletes shine at WCCA meet
The Westmoreland County Coaches Association Track and Field Championships usually are pretty good to Norwin’s athletes. This year’s event, conducted May 1 at Latrobe, was no different. Jordyn Turcovski took home track MVP honors for the girls after winning the 100- and 200-meter dash events with times of 12.87 and...
Norwin baseball finds ways to finish the job
Close games aren’t always a bad thing, especially when you find ways to win them. Highly touted Norwin knows a little something about razor-thin baseball games this season. The Knights, ranked No. 1 in the WPIAL and No. 4 in the state in Class 6A, had played in six one-run...
Upper St. Clair baseball clinches playoff spot with gutsy win over Norwin
Senior Max Mandler pitched the final two innings and delivered a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Upper St. Clair came back twice to beat Norwin, 6-5, and finally clinch a WPIAL baseball playoff berth. “All you can ask your kids to do is give 100...
Norwin school board candidates emphasize mental health, budget, transparency
School district spending and keeping students safe are among issues raised by the nine candidates seeking nominations for four seats on the Norwin School Board in the May 18 primary. The race features two incumbents, two separate teams of candidates and two candidates running independently of the others. All of...
North Huntingdon commissioner, predecessor face off in GOP primary
Republican voters in North Huntingdon’s Fourth Ward will see two familiar names on the township commissioners ballot in the May 18 primary. It will be a replay of the 2017 primary and general election, only the roles will be reversed because Brian Blasko, then the challenger, now is the incumbent...
Norwin team wins county Envirothon competition
A group of Norwin High School students took first place in this year’s Westmoreland County Envirothon, which was held virtually for the first time in 35 years. The Norwin team will compete in the Pennsylvania Envirothon, which also will be held virtually, over a period of several days this month,...
Well-traveled Spanish teacher at Norwin honored with global educator award
A Spanish teacher at Norwin who established the Global Scholars Program at the high school has been recognized by a statewide language organization as furthering intercultural understanding and global competence in students. “This recognition has only been possible with the contributions that all Norwin educators have made in their daily...
Fun-loving Norwin softball team blanks Hempfield to clinch section titleVideo
When Norwin softball players were told by their coach, Brian Mesich, that an umpire wanted them to “tone it down” on the field, they seemed taken aback. They weren’t sure what that meant, exactly. “They don’t want us to have fun, I guess,” one player said. “So let’s have extra...
Norwin baseball team blanks Hempfield, clinches tie for section title
The Norwin baseball team clinched at least a tie for the Section 2-6A title Wednesday behind a strong pitching performance from Jake Bazala and timely hitting. Bazala blanked Hempfield into the sixth inning, and Zach Potthoff came in for a save as Norwin won 3-0 on a cool, damp day....
Irwin man gets 15 years for role as ringleader of gang’s drug operation
An Irwin man who led a large-scale drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania will serve 15 years in prison. Christopher Highsmith, who was responsible for the distribution of 1,000 to 3,000 kilograms of heroin and fentanyl, pleaded guilty to a single count of drug conspiracy in September before U.S. District...
Irwin woman accused of falsifying police documents, claiming to be male officer in insurance claim investigation
An Irwin woman was arrested Wednesday after authorities said she claimed to be a male police officer to an insurance investigator and falsified several documents relating to a claim, according to court papers. Sharon K. Powell, 49, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft, criminal use of a communication facility,...
On the Move: Promotion for Irwin woman, scholarship for Norwin senior
Irwin native Bethany Dressler, who lives in Erie, was promoted to account manager for HUB HDH, a global insurance broker with offices in Erie. Dressler, a Norwin High School graduate, has worked at HUB for seven years. Its regional headquarters is in downtown Pittsburgh. She previously was enrollment coordinator. Dressler...
Brother of North Huntingdon overdose victim charged in her death
The brother of a overdose victim in North Huntingdon was one of two men arrested Monday on charges of helping his sister buy a dose of heroin-fentanyl that killed her Jan. 12, according to court documents. Forrest G. Piper Jr., 49, of West Newton, the brother of Iona J. Runkle,...
