Westmoreland category, Page 15
Murrysville lawyer accused of bilking elderly client dies from self-inflicted gunshot
A suspended Murrysville attorney who was accused of stealing $312,000 from a client died Wednesday, four days after authorities said he sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound as they tried to arrest him on theft charges. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Robert C. Klingensmith, 61, of Murrysville died...
‘Hershey’ filming brings back horse and buggy days to Ligonier
On a typical day, shoppers can be seen walking in and out of the unique shops around the Diamond in Ligonier. But on Wednesday, most of the stores were closed and the mulch-covered streets were filled with horses, buggies, antique cars and actors dressed head-to-toe in early 1900s clothing. It...
U.S. Rep. Deluzio hopes Trump-Musk rift sinks Trump’s budget
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, said he hopes Thursday’s social media spat between President Trump and his former senior adviser Elon Musk prompts senators to rethink Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “Folks might be surprised that Elon Musk agrees with me: this is a bad bill,” Deluzio said...
Judge dismisses ex-Norwin director’s lawsuit
A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit from a former Norwin school director and his wife, who claimed they were victims in a political dispute with another ex-school board member in 2020 and 2021. Brian and Margaret Carlton of North Huntingdon failed to state a claim against Norwin, the Westmoreland...
Canada geese being treated at Youngwood rehab center after suffering fishing line injuries
Six Canada geese, including two who lived at Twin Lakes Park, have been treated in recent days at a Youngwood wildlife rehabilitation organization for injuries related to discarded fishing line. The severe injuries are typically the result of fishing line being wrapped tightly around their legs, said Beth Shoaf, executive...
2 new faces expected to join Hempfield Area School Board
Two new faces are expected to join the Hempfield Area School Board next year, and two incumbents will return for another term, according to primary election write-in results posted Tuesday. Newcomers Lindsay Stevens and Daniel Graft and incumbents Scott E. Learn and Jerry Radebaugh won both the Republican and Democratic...
2 Western Pa. recovery nonprofits seek donations to continue sober space at Stage AE
Janice Olson considers herself living proof that it’s possible to have fun at a concert while sober. But for people in substance-use-disorder recovery, the heavy presence of drugs and alcohol can take the focus away from enjoying performances by a favorite musician. Olson, director of operations at Hempfield-based recovery nonprofit...
Educators debate Pa. House proposal to set flat cyber charter tuition rate
New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck is encouraged to see the state House education committee move on legislation to set a flat tuition rate for cyber charter schools. The district spent $3.3 million this past school year on tuition for 167 students who live in the area to attend one of...
Westmoreland’s municipal primary tiebreakers set for Friday
Four ties that occurred in the May 20 municipal primary will be broken at noon Friday in the Westmoreland County Courthouse. There will be marbles drawn to break the ties, said Scott Ross, election bureau director. Deborah Vernon and Cynthia Adams tied for the Democratic nomination for Arnold council with...
Export family creates trust to fund new borough building
A family with Export roots wants to build the borough a new municipal center to host council meetings, provide offices for borough officials and create community meeting space. Two generations of the Orlic family have called Export home for much of their lives. Brian Orlic, of Penn Township, has worked...
Passenger testifies Bruce Alvarado was shooting at police after 2023 car chase
Amber Barkhamer wanted out of the stolen Jeep Patriot. Police were chasing the SUV with their sirens blaring and lights flashing while Bruce Alvarado, 40, stayed on the road, dodging other motorists and weaving in and out of traffic, she testified Tuesday. “He said he wasn’t going to jail today,”...
Latrobe caretaker accused of assaulting woman
A Latrobe woman’s caretaker was jailed Monday for allegedly pulling the woman’s hair to lift her out of a wheelchair and then dropping her onto the floor, where she hit her head, Latrobe police said. Nicole M. Crusan, 48, allegedly mistreated the 71-year-old stroke victim, who was on the floor...
Crabtree Sunoco store sells $1M scratch-off ticket
A Latrobe-area man is $1 million richer thanks to spending $20 on a $1 million-winning “Jackpot” scratch-off ticket at a Crabtree store last month. “They (sales clerk and winner) were both excited that he won” on May 25, said Tim D’Aurora, owner of the Crabtree Gas & Co along Route...
Ligonier streets take on period look, with movie cameras set to roll for ‘Hershey’
Portions of Ligonier’s central Diamond and adjacent West Main Street will take on a new old look in the days ahead as the crew of “Hershey” arrives to shoot footage for the independent film about the founder of the Pennsylvania chocolate company. During the location shoot, which begins Wednesday and...
Historic Salem park seeks donations to offset storm damage, celebrate 80th anniversary
While other families were grilling in the park for Memorial Day, Anita Jackson-Lowe was looking for ways to clean up her park. Jackson-Lowe is president of the Fairview Park Association, a nonprofit that owns the historic Salem property that was once home to the state’s first and only Black-owned amusement...
Trial opens in shooting of Monroeville police officer after 2023 chase
A couple of seconds after a lengthy police chase ended in a collision with a stolen Jeep Patriot, Monroeville Patrolman Craig Huhn came under gunfire. “By the second gunshot, I could identify that I was being shot at,” he testified Monday. The SUV collided with the Ford Explorer patrol unit...
Hempfield Area finance committee wrestles with $172K deficit ahead of budget vote
Hempfield Area will still need to cover a $172,000 gap before passing a final budget for the 2025-2026 school year later this month. The school board held its final public hearing on its $114.5 million budget Monday evening. It approved May 19 a proposed final budget with a 4.35-mill tax...
Mine safety offices in Pa. pulled from list of DOGE closures
All four mine safety offices in Pennsylvania that were scheduled to have their leases terminated have been pulled from a list of federal government offices to be closed as part of extensive cost-cutting measures. Mine Safety and Health Administration offices in Hempfield, Marshall Township, Waynesburg and Frackville in Schuylkill County...
Police: Missing Greensburg woman returns home
A Greensburg woman has returned home after being missing for nearly two days, according to Police Chief Charles Irvin. Lisa Slavnik, 48, returned home Tuesday night. Irvin said she appeared to be safe. Police would not release any other details. No one answered the door at Slavnik’s house Wednesday morning....
Penn State students at closing campuses juggle staying the course or jumping ship
Penn State New Kensington fit the bill for 19-year-old Angelina Da Vila. “Originally, I wanted to go to Penn State,” she said. “I wanted to be in the city, but not go to such a big school. I still wanted that small-school atmosphere, and New Kensington sounded like one of...
Annual Mammoth Fest in Mt. Pleasant draws thousands of families to Westmoreland County park
Michelle Liprando of Harrison City watched as her daughter, Sienna, spun around and around and around on a motorcycle merry-go-round at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township Sunday. It became a familiar sight — the young girl went on the C&L Shows’ ride quite often during Westmoreland County’s annual Mammoth...
Westmoreland happenings: Strawberry festivals, cheese tasting, blood drive, more
Church News • Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, 4600 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, will host a community Pentecost picnic June 8 at the church. A worship service will be at 10 a.m. and the picnic will be afterward. There will be a bounce house, activities for all ages, an obstacle course and...
Murrysville attorney wounded by self-inflicted gunshot during arrest, police say
A suspended attorney had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Murrysville office as police tried to take him into custody on theft charges, according to authorities. A search warrant was served around 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the office of Robert C. Klingensmith on Old William Penn Highway just outside...
Closures and detours announced for Ligonier movie filming
There will be a number of road closures, detours and street restrictions in the heart of Ligonier this week to allow for filming of the movie, “Hershey.” Here are the areas that will be affected. Municipal Lot A, at Church Street and Route 711, will be closed for parking from...
Intersection improvements begin on Route 286 near Murrysville-Plum border; other roadwork announced
Delayed construction is beginning at the intersection of Route 286 and Saltsburg Road in Murrysville, near the Plum border, according to Plum officials. Canonsburg-based Olympus Energy paid for temporary traffic improvements last year as part of its Hermes fracking well pad project, built nearby on the Murrysville-Plum border off Logan’s...
