No injuries in Greensburg apartment fire on Grant Street | TribLIVE.com

Multiple fire departments from central Westmoreland County responded to a fire that damaged four apartments Friday afternoon in Greensburg, according to 911 dispatchers.

“We had a lot of damage,” Greensburg Fire Chief Tom Bell said. “The homeowners are both alive and we got two cats out as well.”

The call initially came in as a tree on electric utility wires near a residence on Grant Street. West Penn Power crews were called, but it developed into a fire about 2:30 p.m., according to a dispatch supervisor.

Source: No injuries in Greensburg apartment fire on Grant Street | TribLIVE.com

Fire damages several floors of home in Jeannette

Fire damaged several floors of a home in Jeannette, Westmoreland County.

The fire broke out shortly after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Good Street.

Crews shut down several blocks of the street as they responded to the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Source: Fire damages several floors of home in Jeannette

Derry man charged with having heroin, fentanyl at Westmoreland County Prison | TribLIVE.com

Jason Michael Thomas, 31, of Derry, is charged with drug possession and contraband.

Detectives said Thomas was being processed at 1:20 a.m. Sept 15 at the Hempfield jail prior to arraignment on charges stemming from a domestic assault in a vehicle filed by North Huntingdon police. He was carrying his shoes and walking to a cell when authorities said he dropped a bundle of stamp bags.

Source: Derry man charged with having heroin, fentanyl at Westmoreland County Prison | TribLIVE.com

Fire erupts in the middle of a Westmoreland County street

A fire broke out in the middle of the street in Rostraver, Westmoreland County late Sunday.

The Rostraver Central Fire Department said the fire broke out in a catch basin next to a gas pipeline on Wildwind Drive.

No injuries reported from the scene.

Source: Fire erupts in the middle of a Westmoreland County street

PSP: Greensburg man killed in motorcycle crash on Route 30; 2 others arrested for DUI | WJAC

State police in Greensburg say a 44-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash along Route 30 in Westmoreland County Friday.

Troopers say Allen Wallace was traveling westbound, at a high-rate of speed, and collided with an SUV, causing him to be thrown from the bike and into a guardrail.

Investigators say Wallace was pronounced dead at the scene and the occupants of the SUV reported no injuries.

Troopers add that two other motorcyclists, who were riding with Wallace at the time of the crash, were arrested for DUI-related charges.

Anyone in the area of RTE 30 and Beatty County Rd on 3/12/21 at 20:58 hours that witnessed the crash involving a motorcycle and vehicle please contact Tpr Vinkler at 724-832-3288.

Source: PSP: Greensburg man killed in motorcycle crash on Route 30; 2 others arrested for DUI | WJAC

Coroner called to two-vehicle crash in Youngwood, Westmoreland County

County emergency dispatchers said the crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. at Racetrack and Wilson Fox roads in Youngwood.

Youngwood Fire Chief Lloyd Crago said an SUV was driving north on Racetrack Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle rolled over, came back onto the roadway and collided with a van that was going southbound.

The coroner’s office pronounced the driver of the SUV, 88-year-old Elizabeth Anderson, of Hempfield Township, dead at the scene.

State police in Greensburg and the coroner are investigating.

Source: Coroner called to two-vehicle crash in Youngwood, Westmoreland County

Man dies after being hit by two vehicles in Westmoreland

A 39-year-old man died Saturday night after he was hit by two vehicles in Westmoreland County, according to the county coroner’s office.

Timothy A. Strobel, of Hempfield, was the only person on his all-terrain vehicle driving south on Route 819, the Westmoreland coroner’s office said. Mr. Strobel went off the west side of the roadway before 9 p.m., hit an embankment, and his vehicle flipped over into the southbound lane.

Source: Man dies after being hit by two vehicles in Westmoreland

Westmoreland jail inmate charged after detectives say she swallowed drugs in cell | TribLIVE.com

A Westmoreland County Prison inmate is accused by county detectives of swallowing four stamp bags of suspected heroin she had in her cell after being committed there earlier this month, according to court papers.

Elizabeth June Cramer, 35, of Greensburg, is charged with contraband and tampering with evidence.

A fifth stamp bag recovered in Cramer’s cell by corrections officers was marked “Chucky,” which has been linked to drug overdoses and deaths around the region, according to court papers.

Source: Westmoreland jail inmate charged after detectives say she swallowed drugs in cell | TribLIVE.com

Man leaves trail of drugs after trying to run away from Greensburg police

GREENSBURG, Pa. — A 20-year-old Turtle Creek man was arrested and faces multiple drug and escape charges after police said he left a trail of cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia while running from officers in Greensburg,

According to our partners at TribLive.com, John Stenhouse was arrested in an alley behind a home in the 600 block of South Main Street. Police from Greensburg, South Greensburg and Southwest Greensburg boroughs chased him on foot, and during the pursuit, officers saw Stenhouse drop 13 plastic baggies of cocaine, crack, marijuana and about a “brick” of heroin, 50 stamp bags.

Officers had to shock Stenhouse with a Taser to get him under control.

Source: Man leaves trail of drugs after trying to run away from Greensburg police

2 stores close at Westmoreland Mall; prom and formal wear store opens | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland Mall officials confirmed that Littman Jewelers shuttered this month, and a women’s clothing store is set to close.

Littman, a national jewelry chain, was located on the first floor across from the former Sears wing and the wing that now houses Live! Casino Pittsburgh. Christopher & Banks, on the first floor near JCPenney, also is set to close, according to signage posted at the store.

Source: 2 stores close at Westmoreland Mall; prom and formal wear store opens | TribLIVE.com

No one injured in partial collapse of vacant Rostraver warehouse | TribLIVE.com

No one was injured in the partial collapse of a warehouse building late Friday afternoon along Tyrol Boulevard in Rostraver.

No one was in the building at the time, according to Rostraver Police Sgt. Ron Naylor. He said the building once served as a potato chip warehouse but had not been used for some time.

Naylor said the building is in poor condition, was acquired by operators of the nearby Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill and was slated for demolition.

Source: No one injured in partial collapse of vacant Rostraver warehouse | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland County man charged with carrying unlicensed firearm at airport | TribLIVE.com

Security agents caught the third gun in nine days – and the second this week – at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday, Transportation Security Administration officials said.

Security officers stopped a Westmoreland County man at the security checkpoint after they spotted a .38-caliber handgun in the man’s carry-on bag.

Allegheny County Police discovered the man, identified in court records as Richard Santone Sr., did not have a license to carry the gun.

Santone, of Hannastown, is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, court records show.

It was the second time this week TSA agents stopped a traveler trying to take a gun through security in their carry-on.

Source: Westmoreland County man charged with carrying unlicensed firearm at airport | TribLIVE.com

Despite vaccine, Redstone Highlands reports covid spike at Greensburg facility | TribLIVE.com

About 1,000 employees and staff members at Redstone Highlands’ three skilled nursing facilities have their first and, in some cases, second doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

With the facilities on their way to being protected, president and CEO John Dickson said it was a shock to learn the virus made its way back in. An outbreak of covid-19 was reported in the Greensburg center, where 15 residents and three staff members tested positive during the past week. One resident died.

“This has been surprising to us,” Dickson said.

Source: Despite vaccine, Redstone Highlands reports covid spike at Greensburg facility | TribLIVE.com

Greensburg woman charged with endangering children, drug possession after traffic stop | TribLIVE.com

A Greensburg woman pulled over early Tuesday for driving erratically during a snow storm without functioning headlights was later arrested by city police and charged with illegal possession of crack cocaine and heroin.

Sarah K. Walters, 28, also was charged with child endangerment because, police say, she had two young children, ages 3 and 5, in her van who were not secured in child safety seats and left a third child, 8, at her apartment unsupervised during the trip.

Patrolman Henry Fontana Jr. said the incident began at 12:41 a.m. on the 700 block of Highland Avenue when he noticed Walters’s van with improperly working headlights having trouble navigating the snow-covered road. He pulled her over in the Nature’s Way parking lot, according to police reports.

Fontana said, when he questioned Walters, he saw two children not properly secured in child safety seats and discovered Walters in possession of suspected crack cocaine, heroin and devices to ingest the drugs.

“Through investigation, it was determined that Walters left a third child, an 8-years-old girl, at home and unattended as she drove to a Greensburg residence to purchase crack cocaine and heroin,” Fontana wrote in court documents.

Source: Greensburg woman charged with endangering children, drug possession after traffic stop | TribLIVE.com

Man found with gun inside of Live! Casino in Westmoreland County

A Greensburg man is charged with carrying a firearm without a license after he was found to have a gun inside of Live! Casino in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.

State police said it happened after Kenneth Czarnecki, 21, was already banned from the casino for 24 hours for bringing a prohibited weapon inside.

Police said Czarnecki returned Tuesday morning, before that ban was over, and was spotted with a loaded pistol magazine in his waist band.State police said as Czarnecki was removed from the casino floor he was discovered to be concealing a gun.

Investigators said Czarnecki did not have a valid conceal carry permit, as it had been revoked.He faces a preliminary hearing later this month.

Source: Man found with gun inside of Live! Casino in Westmoreland County

Pennsylvania Game Commission Investigating Illegal Dumping Of TVs In Westmoreland Co. – CBS Pittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating the illegal dumping of TVs in Westmoreland County.

In a Facebook post, officials say the illegal dumping was learned of on Friday near Millwood Road in Derry Township. The investigation revealed the TVs were recently dumped prior to them being discovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Southwest Region at 724-238-9523 or the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-888-PGC-8001.

Source: Pennsylvania Game Commission Investigating Illegal Dumping Of TVs In Westmoreland Co. – CBS Pittsburgh

Route 380 reopens after police situation in Washington Township, Westmoreland County

Route 380 in Washington Township, Westmoreland County, has reopened following a police situation on Tuesday night.

Police and the SWAT team were called to Route 380 at Camp Nancy Road just before 10:30 p.m.

There were no initial reports of any injuries.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has checked with police to learn more.

Source: Route 380 reopens after police situation in Washington Township, Westmoreland County

New videos explain recycling at Westmoreland Cleanways center in Unity | TribLIVE.com

If you’re not sure what electronics you can recycle at Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling, the Unity-based nonprofit has a video for you.

As Westmoreland Cleanways Executive Director Ellen Keefe notes in one of four new informational videos posted on the organization’s website, among the most frequent calls received at its center near Pleasant Unity are inquiries about recycling televisions and computers.

Keefe points out that Pennsylvania law prohibits landfill disposal of computers, computer printers and keyboards, televisions and any other electronic device with a screen measuring more than 5 inches. But those items are accepted at the Cleanways center.

“We’re one of the very few places that will take them,” Keefe said. “People don’t think about how to get rid of this stuff until they have to. It’s a constant question and a constant educational necessity.”

“There’s no limit on size or quantity that you bring in,” Keefe says of the television sets accepted at Cleanways.

She noted there’s no charge for recycling a TV as long as it’s intact. If the TV has been disassembled or its casing is broken open, a handling fee will apply because of the potential for release of toxic materials in the sets — the reason why they can’t be placed in landfills.

“I was driving home and saw a TV sitting out on the curb with someone’s garbage,” she said, despite the law banning the sets from landfills.

There are some electronics Cleanways won’t accept, such as stereo speakers and music CDs. A complete list of the various items that can be dropped off at the center for recycling can be found on the nonprofit’s website at westmorelandcleanways.org.

Source: New videos explain recycling at Westmoreland Cleanways center in Unity | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland County sees lowest number of new reported covid cases since October | TribLIVE.com

There were 52 new covid-19 cases reported in Westmoreland County on Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

That number represents the lowest amount of new reported cases this month and the least since Oct. 11, when 52 cases were also reported.

Tuesday’s figures bring the seven-day covid case count to 776, which is the lowest the seven-day case count has been since Nov. 11 when it was 670.

Source: Westmoreland County sees lowest number of new reported covid cases since October | TribLIVE.com

Winter Storm Watch Upcoming For The Week Ahead, Weather Could Create ‘Nearly Impossible’ Travel Conditions

A winter storm watch in our region will go into effect from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning.

The affected areas include Westmoreland Ridges and Fayette Ridges, including the cities of Ligonier, Donegal, Champion, Ohiopyle,
Terra Alta, Rowlesburg, Hazelton, Davis, Thomas and Canaan Valley.

From 2 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Tuesday, the watch will be in effect; however, a winter weather advisory could be issued by that time.

NWS Pittsburgh says that potential ice from the expected snow, sleet and freezing rain could lead to power outages and tree damage. They anticipate that the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes could be impacted by the weather conditions.

“Travel could be nearly impossible,” the NWS Pittsburgh wrote in its alert on Sunday morning.

Source: Winter Storm Watch Upcoming For The Week Ahead, Weather Could Create ‘Nearly Impossible’ Travel Conditions

2 Hempfield fire departments to merge, 1 station to close | TribLIVE.com

he Luxor Volunteer Fire Department station near Twin Lakes Park in Hempfield will close as part of Luxor’s merger with nearby Bovard fire department.

With only three members on its force, Luxor Chief Mike Errett said the move is necessary to provide adequate fire protection for the community.

“Overall, it’s going to be better fire service for the community, that’s how I honestly feel,” Errett said. “That’s intentionally what we all want. That’s just hard to do with minimal people.”

When the Luxor station closes, equipment and funds will be split between Bovard and the Hannastown Volunteer Fire Department, Errett said. The property, which was split between two parcels, is owned by the Luxor Volunteer Fire Company and Relief Association.

Source: 2 Hempfield fire departments to merge, 1 station to close | TribLIVE.com

Jeannette man arrested on drug charges after foot chase in city | TribLIVE.com

Rashaad Ricardo Shepard, 41, is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bond.

City police and agents from the state Attorney General’s office said they used a confidential informant this week to make a controlled buy from Shepard at his Columbia Court home. Officers were watching Shepard’s home at 5 p.m. Wednesday while a search warrant was being prepared when they saw him get into a pickup truck and travel a couple blocks to a store, according to court papers.

When police converged on the truck, they said Shepard fled on foot, attempting to hide in some brush behind a South Seventh Street home and running onto Bullitt Avenue. Officers used a Taser on the front stoop of his home and took Shepard into custody, according to court papers.

In a wallet he was holding, investigators reported finding the money used during the controlled buy. Officers retraced his route from the store and found 31 stamp bags of suspected heroin and almost 4 grams of crack cocaine, both of which appeared to have been recently dropped on the ground. Police said they seized two scales and plastic bags from his home.

Source: Jeannette man arrested on drug charges after foot chase in city | TribLIVE.com

Counting of lost ballots underway in Westmoreland County | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland County elections officials Wednesday morning started counting more than two dozen provisional ballots cast in November but just recently discovered by staff during routine inspections of voting equipment.

Elections bureau staffers, serving as appointed members of a reconstituted provisional board, reviewed and qualified 20 ballots cast in North Huntingdon and one from Avonmore. Four ballots were rejected for being submitted by unregistered voters.

The North Huntingdon ballots, cast at the United Methodist Church on Coulterville Road, were discovered Dec. 28. Four additional ballots were found last week that were cast in Avonmore Borough, according to Elections Bureau Director JoAnn Sebastiani.

“They were inadvertently not reviewed (in November),” Sebastiani said of the Avonmore ballots.

Source: Counting of lost ballots underway in Westmoreland County | TribLIVE.com

Ambulance crews responding to large number of overdoses across Fayette, Westmoreland counties

GREENSBURG, Pa. — Ambulance crews have been responding to a substantial amount of overdose calls in Fayette County and across parts of Westmoreland County. Officials believe there could be a “bad batch” of drugs behind the problem.

“When a batch of bad substance comes into your area, normally it is in bulk so we don’t see one overdose here, one here, isolated. We start to see multiple calls in the same area,” said John Duke with Brownsville Ambulance Service.

In the last 24 hours, medics responded to over a dozen calls related to suspected drug overdoses and people under the influence. From the Connellsville area to Fayette City and Saltlick Township, at least three of the overdoses were deadly. Duke said the behavior of the people under the influence has been concerning.

“Combativeness. Walking around town with no shirt or pants on. Just stuff that’s totally off the wall and out there,” he said.Officials said while it’s dangerous to the people taking the substances, it’s also taxing on the crews who respond.“We all staff based on our call volume and what we can substantiate financially and when this additional call volume comes on, none of us are prepared for it,” Duke said.He’s putting out a warning about the drugs, especially after three people died.“Time still matters. If you have signs or symptoms of anything, call us. Let us get you the treatment you need,” Duke said.

Source: Ambulance crews responding to large number of overdoses across Fayette, Westmoreland counties

Treasure Hunt jackpot shared by three tickets, one in Westmoreland Co.

Three winning Treasure Hunt tickets, one of which was sold in Westmoreland County, will split a jackpot prize of $180,000, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The winning tickets were drawn Dec. 31, and the three matched all five numbers drawn to win individual prizes of $60,000.

The Westmoreland County ticket was sold at Chum’s Country Market on Mt. Pleasant Road, Ruffs Dale, while the other two tickets were sold in Berks County and Philadelphia.

More than 54,900 other Treasure Hunt tickets won prizes in the drawing. Players should check every ticket, every time, according to the lottery.

Source: Treasure Hunt jackpot shared by three tickets, one in Westmoreland Co.

California man being held without bail after Hempfield incident | TribLIVE.com

A California man is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison without bail after state police accused him of taking a vehicle from a relative in North Carolina and was found in Hempfield Thursday.

Lorenzo Watson, 39, of Oakland, Calif., is charged with receiving stolen property and drug possession.

Source: California man being held without bail after Hempfield incident | TribLIVE.com

Uncounted ballots discovered among Westmoreland County voting equipment | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland County elections officials disclosed Monday that 21 uncounted provisional ballots submitted at a North Huntingdon voting precinct on Election Day were discovered last week among computer equipment used at the polls in November.

Elections bureau staffers found the unopened ballots during a routine inspection of voting machines stored at the department’s Greensburg warehouse on Dec. 28.

JoAnn Sebastiani, the county’s elections director, said additional precautions had been enacted ahead of the Nov. 3 election that were designed to prevent the misfiling of ballots returned to the courthouse from the precincts, but those measures were unsuccessful.

“Unfortunately, the judge of elections did not follow instructions,” Sebastiani said.

Source: Uncounted ballots discovered among Westmoreland County voting equipment | TribLIVE.com

Westmoreland Co. Man Charged After Allegedly Fighting 3 Police Officers During Welfare Check – CBS Pittsburgh

NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. (KDKA) — A Westmoreland County man has been charged after he allegedly fought three police officers who came to his home for a welfare check.

For Jake Ruffing, living in his North Huntingdon apartment hasn’t been much fun.

For North Huntingdon police, a recent visit to the dwelling proved a challenge as well.

According to police, they showed up at the Central Highway address to check on 23-year-old Kevin Shouse. Investigators say Shouse greeted the officers while swinging an 18-inch machete.

Source: Westmoreland Co. Man Charged After Allegedly Fighting 3 Police Officers During Welfare Check – CBS Pittsburgh

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