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Westmoreland category, Page 35

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Westmoreland County’s go-to man Greg McCloskey calls it a career
During the summer of 2021, Westmoreland County commissioners were in a bind. They had just fired the county’s election bureau director following what they said was ongoing mismanagement. The deputy director had been fired months earlier. So commissioners turned to longtime public works director Greg McCloskey to assume the election...
Westmoreland commissioners pass no tax hike budget, spar over county’s financial future
Westmoreland County’s Republican commissioners defended a 2025 budget that increased spending in several key categories and carries a more than $9 million deficit. The shortfall is being covered through a dwindling surplus fund bolstered by a 32.5% tax hike approved last year. The new budget maintains the current county property...
Salem approves 55,000-square-foot Westmoreland Food Bank expansion
The Westmoreland Food Bank cleared another hurdle on the way toward a planned expansion that will double the size of the nonprofit’s food cooler, receiving approval from Salem supervisors to proceed. “We’re expanding by about 55,000 square feet and it’s being funded through (federal American Rescue Plan) funds through the...
Hempfield nixes plan for ‘fire tax,’ maintains 3-mill tax rate for 35th straight year
For the 35th consecutive year, the millage rate in Hempfield will stay at 3 mills in 2025. Township supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved the $17 million spending plan for next year. The millage rate has been unchanged since 1990. “We are pleased to provide a balanced budget going into 2025 with...
Berk’s Menswear store sees changing of the guard after 4 generations
After 30 years operating a family-owned fine men’s clothing store in North Huntingdon and several years working for others in the retail industry, Bruce Berk knew it was time to take a break this year — a decision that ended four generations of family ownership. Berk of Penn Township sold...
‘Nothing more than a traffic jam’: Penn Township residents dread interchange, loss of quiet community
Anita Lipinski has lived in her Four Seasons Lane home in Penn Township all 55 years of her life. Growing up, Lipinski remembers there was only one other home on the street — now a quiet sanctuary for a handful of homeowners. Woods that separate her narrow, gravel road from...
Residents of Mt. Pleasant personal care homes to start returning hours after gas leak
Residents of two personal care homes in Mt. Pleasant were evacuated because of a gas leak Wednesday evening and were starting to return to the facility shortly before 10 p.m. Westmoreland County Public Safety reported people in the Harmon House and Amber House along South Church Street had to leave...
Youngwood man to serve probation, house arrest for drug sales in two fatal overdoses
A Youngwood man was ordered Wednesday to serve 10-years on probation for his role in two overdose deaths. Frank Bogley, 72, pleaded guilty in April to felony counts that included two charges of drug delivery resulting in death and related offenses in connection with Feb. 1, 2020, death of 39-year-old...
MAWC opens talks to buy, run Gilpin water and sewer systems
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County officials will open negotiations to take over operations of a small water system in Gilpin, Armstrong County. Gilpin supervisors this week solicited an offer from the county authority to purchase or operate the township’s water and sewer systems service. On Wednesday, the authority said it...
Westmoreland happenings: Blue Christmas services, wrestling tournament, more
Church News • A Blue Christmas service for those who are mourning or find themselves depressed or anxious will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1120 Harvey Ave., Greensburg. A Christmas carol sing-along and indoor bonfire will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 22. Hot chocolate and...
Westmoreland Commissioners say overdue courthouse upgrades call for $2.2M generator purchase
A backup generator to keep the lights on during power outages at the Westmoreland County Courthouse will cost about $2.2 million. Commissioners are expected this week to approve a contract to purchase a new backup generator for the Greensburg courthouse complex. Officials say it’s needed to ensure continued operations at...
Anchor Hocking workers could get $7 hourly raise, $500 bonus to move from Charleroi to Ohio
Anchor Hocking workers who agree to move from Charleroi to Ohio could get a $7 hourly pay raise and a $500 bonus as the company shifts its Corelle Brands operations away from the Mon Valley. The company is delaying closing its Charleroi plant from mid-February until April, said James Watt,...
Westmoreland County to offer $1.5K to $2.5K incentives for each new broadband installation
Westmoreland County is offering cash to broadband providers to connect homes and businesses to high-speed internet. County leaders announced an incentive program in which broadband companies could receive between $1,500 to $2,500 for each new customer they connect as part of the federally funded Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program,...
Becki Pellis to lead Greater Latrobe School District in interim as superintendent search begins
Greater Latrobe School District administrator Becki Pellis will take on the additional role of interim superintendent on Jan. 1, as the school board begins a search for the successor to retiring Superintendent Mike Porembka. Board members voted unanimously at a special meeting Tuesday to give Pellis the additional role and...
Witness intimidation charges related to Rostraver shooting will go to trial
Anthony M. Hairston wasn’t using Facebook to intimidate a witness against him in a Rostraver fatal shooting, his attorney argued Tuesday. Hairston had asked his girlfriend post pictures of the witness’ statement to police on his Facebook page but he was only thinking about strategy as his homicide trial was...
North Huntingdon man accused of charging for lacrosse camp that wasn’t held
A North Huntingdon man was arrested last week on state police accusations that he took money from three people who registered their children for a lacrosse training camp but never held the event. Christopher Langlais, 46, who also lists a Monroeville address in court records, is charged with taking $2,350...
Jailed Latrobe attorney’s law license suspended
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court this week formally issued a temporarily suspension order barring Latrobe attorney J. Allen Roth from practicing law. Roth, 70, has been in jail since early November when he was charged with theft and fraud in connection to accusations he stole $31,000 from a client’s bank account and...
Community rallies around Penn-Trafford junior diagnosed with leukemia
Nicole Cianciotti had driven only about 4½ miles from UPMC Children’s East when she got the call that her son Braeden’s left lung collapsed. The 17-year-old Penn-Trafford junior — Nicole’s oldest of six children — sat next to her in the passenger seat Nov. 22, seemingly unaware of the battle...
Rosendahl’s owner looking for options as Irwin leaders defend eviction to make way for renovations
A week after he was told Irwin chose not to renew its lease of the Main Street building where the borough’s offices are on the second floor, Rosendahl’s Appliance Center owner Gary Proctor said he’s still trying to figure out what he’s going to do. Rosendahl’s is a fixture in...
Westmoreland juvenile detention center eyes expansion in 2025
Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center could double its capacity this spring, officials said Monday. Eight juveniles were housed at the Hempfield facility, filling every available bed. It reopened in March after a series of issues included staffing shortages and critical state inspections that prompted county officials to temporarily shut down...
New guards hired at Westmoreland jail as inmate population rises
Westmoreland County’s Prison Board on Monday approved the hiring of nine new corrections officers to ensure the facility remains fully staffed heading into 2025. Warden Steve Pelesky said the additional guards were needed to rebound from several resignations and retirements of staff in recent months. The facility employs more than...
Former state trooper charged with stealing from Home Depot stores
A former state trooper was arrested Friday on police accusations that he stole $2,000 worth of merchandise from two Home Depot stores. Investigators said John Robert Tamewitz, 59, of Penn Township removed stickers from online orders he picked up in-store, put the stickers on other merchandise and took the items...
Line upgrades impact November sewage overflow in Delmont, Salem
Delmont officials made the next partial payment last week on the borough’s large-scale, state-mandated sewage project, putting just more than $267,000 toward an collection point on Christy Road and the relocation of a sewage line in Salem. The pressurized sewage line along with a gravity sewage line runs through the...
Herminie man charged with arson in September fire at his residence
State police believe a Herminie man set the house where he was living on fire during an argument, according to court papers. Timothy James Gillin, 50, was arrested last week on arson and related charges. In court papers, a state police fire marshal said witnesses reported Gillin left the house...
‘Anything you want’: Granddaughter of Elizabeth Pollard, troopers connect again for toy spree
Serenity Pollard had a big smile on her face when she dropped two Barbie dolls into her shopping cart. She beamed when she grabbed toys featuring cartoon character Bluey off a shelf at the Hempfield Walmart Monday. The 5-year-old girl’s grin was contagious as she pedaled a bicycle around the...


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Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love

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Folk legend Bruce Cockburn gives uplifting performance at City Winery
‘Champagne & Chapeaux’: Westmoreland Symphony’s annual soiree for a good cause
Jimmy Stewart’s P-51 Mustang stops in hometown for museum anniversary
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