Westmoreland category, Page 629
20 residents at Westmoreland Manor test positive for coronavirus; more cases expected
Nearly two dozen people at Westmoreland Manor tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, and county officials said the number of those infected could increase in the coming days. Routine testing conducted last week identified the cases among 20 residents and two staffers, of which many appeared to be...
West Newton man pleads guilty to sex assault of young girl
A West Newton man will serve up to seven years in prison for sex crimes against a 4-year-old girl. David L. Hresko, 34, pleaded guilty Monday to the aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and child endangerment in connection with allegations made by a now 10-year-old girl....
North Huntingdon man recognized for helping keep Linn Run park trout stream cleanVideo
On a warm September morning atop a wooded ridge where only insects and a small stream break the silence in Linn Run State Park, Dennis “Denny” Hess shoveled pure limestone into the water to neutralize acid rain in the water so the insects that trout thrive upon can populate the...
North Huntingdon emergency management coordinator resigns
North Huntingdon is searching for a new emergency management coordinator after the man who held the position for 13 years resigned. Township commissioners accepted the resignation of Gene Komondor, who agreed to remain in the post until a replacement is selected, said Commissioner Zachary Haigis, board president. “I’m hopeful he’ll...
Penn Township man meant to kill himself, not police, attorney says
A Penn Township man meant to kill himself, not a police officer, when he fired shots during a 2016 standoff, his attorney told jurors Monday. Defense lawyer Jeff Monzo said Jody Martz, 56, was suffering from four bulging discs in his back, a recent knee replacement and high blood pressure...
Public to get October tour of updated Ligonier Heritage United Methodist community building
Several organizations that use the community building at Ligonier’s Heritage United Methodist Church have returned since the two-story structure received a $1.4 million update over the summer. In October, the public will get to see the revamped 1961 building. To avoid large gatherings during the covid-19 pandemic, the formal dedication...
2 Ohio men arrested on Pa. Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township with stolen gun
Two Ohio men were arrested early Friday after state police said a stolen firearm was found in the back seat of the car they were traveling in eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township. Paul Milton Hobbs, 24, and Andre Marquon Turner, 25, both of Toledo, are convicted...
Greensburg Catholic Charities to launch virtual fundraising appeal
When the global pandemic forced them to cancel their largest annual fundraiser, officials with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg decided to look online for support. A diocesan spokesman said a $50,000 goal has been set for the virtual fund drive, dubbed the Heroes of Hope Guardian Angel Appeal....
1 covid-related death added in Westmoreland, 38 new cases in 2 days
After going 28 straight days without any covid-related deaths, Westmoreland County has seen two in the past five days. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported one new death in the county Monday, bringing the total to 51 since the pandemic began in March. The state’s report also added 38 new...
Foot chase at New Stanton motel leads to arrest, drug overdose
A man state police said they chased around a New Stanton motel for allegedly driving under the influence this month was arrested Sunday. Eugene Lamar Davis, 49, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $10,000 bail. He is charged with drug possession, flight to avoid apprehension, driving on...
Police: East Huntingdon woman charged with homicide in fatal shootingVideo
An East Huntingdon woman was charged with homicide Monday in connection with the fatal shooting of her former boyfriend after police said he tried to break into her bedroom during a domestic dispute. Megan J. West, 24, told investigators she fired a warning shot about 11:30 p.m. Sunday through the...
Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department competition puts training to the testVideo
The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department brought back a long-dormant showdown between its members Sunday, reviving a friendly competition meant to get firefighters excited about training. Six teams took part in the hose laying competition at Lynch Field — one for each of the department’s five companies and one for its...
Hundreds of Trump supporters parade down Route 30Video
A convoy of hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles paraded down Route 30 on Sunday, with horns blaring, flags waving and shouts of “four more years.” The parade, and the ensuing rally at Irwin Park, was held to support the reelection of President Trump. Bruce Egan of North Huntingdon drove...
Coroner IDs man killed by train in Hempfield
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s office identified the man struck and killed by a train Saturday in Hempfield as Bryson K. Braun, 28, of Hempfield. Braun was walking along train tracks near the end of Clark Street about 4:45 p.m. The westbound train’s conductor and engineer spotted him, started to brake...
Westmoreland to award small business covid relief grants next week
Hundreds of grants to small businesses will be awarded at a special meeting this week as part of an effort spend $31.5 million in federal coronavirus relief funds, Westmoreland County commissioners said. County officials said the first $10 million of the covid grants funds will be allocated to assist small...
Volunteers come out to spruce up, restore historic nature of Delmont log house
Members of the Delmont Historical Society and volunteers held a clean-up day Saturday at the Shields Farm log house and prepared the backyard for the planting of a colonial-era garden....
Murrysville couple funds purchase, training of new police dog
Murrysville Police Sgt. Scott Kettren was not shy about his emotional state when his K-9 partner of nearly a decade, a Belgian Malinois named Argos, spent his last day with the department in May 2019. “I cried driving home that night,” Kettren said. Kettren took stock of his professional skills...
1 killed in Hempfield along Norfolk Southern railroad tracks
A person has died after being struck by a train in Hempfield. A Westmoreland County dispatcher said the incident took place around 4:45 p.m. Saturday along the Norfolk Southern tracks at the end of Clark Street. Authorities could not confirm if the victim was a man or a woman. Railroad...
Westmoreland County adds 14 new coronavirus cases
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Saturday reported 14 new cases of covid-19 in Westmoreland County. No additional deaths were reported, leaving the death toll at 50 — where it has remained since Thursday. Prior to that, the county last reported a death from the virus on Aug. 19. In...
With Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix canceled, classic motorcycles hit the road in Ligonier for charityVideo
Motorcycles new and old left Ligonier with engines roaring Saturday morning for the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix’s motorbike back roads tour. The tour is a new event this year, organized after the July cancellation of the Grand Prix because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Those of us that are on the...
Greensburg Central Catholic to mark 60th anniversary with livestreamed Mass
Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School will commemorate its 60th anniversary with a livestreamed Mass on Sept. 27. “The Mass is the greatest prayer that we can offer, and it’s through that celebration that we’re able to give back to the Lord for what he’s blessed us with at Greensburg...
Pennsylvania’s cut of $300-a-week jobless aid half gone, apply now before it’s too late, state says
A week after the Trump administration abruptly announced that hundreds of thousands of covid-19-related jobless Pennsylvanians would receive an extra $300 weekly for six weeks only rather than through the end of the year, as initially promised, the state said it already distributed almost half of its allocation. Pennsylvania sent...
DNA match 7 years later solves Unity church burglary, troopers sayVideo
Timothy Thunberg, pastor of Free Methodist Church in Unity, admitted he was alarmed when the caller ID showed an incoming telephone call from state police in Greensburg. “You never know what to expect from that,” Thunberg said. He said he never anticipated word of an arrest in a 7-year-old burglary...
Pennsylvania jobless rate drops in August, lowest since March
Pennsylvania’s economy continued to improve in August as the state regained slightly more than half of the jobs it lost since the pandemic-related economic shutdowns of March and April, with the jobless rate falling 2.2 percentage points from July to 10.3%. The unemployment rate for August is the lowest rate...
Western Pa.’s Negro Mountain retains its name despite controversy and efforts to erase it
An Allegheny Mountain ridge stretching some 30 miles from the Casselman River in southern Somerset County to Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland has been the focus of controversy as attempts continue to change a name dating to the French and Indian War. The name in question: Negro Mountain. The...
