Several residents at a North Huntingdon care facility tested positive for covid-19 this month, officials announced Wednesday night.
Transitions Healthcare posted on their Facebook page that 60 residents had contracted coronavirus in October. Nine of those residents have since recovered and officials said they “anticipate and hope that 51 of the residents will be resolved of all symptoms as of next week.”
Officials at the facility, located on Barnes Lake Road, were not available for comment early Thursday morning.
According to their Facebook post, the cases were discovered following required weekly testing, a measure that was put in place as coronavirus cases in Westmoreland County began to increase. Tests were previously conducted monthly.
Authorities have not released details about what happened at either location. There is a heavy police presence in the area.
JEANNETTE, Pa. —Two people were shot along South 3rd Street in Jeannette early Tuesday evening, sources confirmed to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
Sources said one of the victims was able to get to a second location on South 5th Street.
The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening and there is currently no word on any suspects, sources said.
Police were at the scene for several hours on Tuesday. Authorities have not released details about what happened at either location.
This is a developing story. Stay with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 for updates. Download the WTAE mobile app to stay connected with breaking news.
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Voting woes continue in Westmoreland County, with the clock ticking. Leaders are now scrambling to figure out a solution as thousands of residents still don’t have their mail-in ballots that they applied for.
A company based out of Ohio, Midwest Direct, has been tasked with getting them sent, but now Channel 11 learned that county officials at the courthouse may take matters into their own hands.
Earlier in October, officials accused Midwest Direct of sending out tens of thousands of ballots later than planned. There are still questions over how many have actually gone out.
In the past, Midwest Direct has blamed the delay on mechanical issues.That confusion is forcing leaders to make some tough decisions. They are considering having county elections staff at the courthouse print and mail out ballots themselves and avoid the third-party company altogether.
A Jeannette man arrested on consecutive nights last week holding several thousand dollars and large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine was deemed to be “a danger to society” by a judge and ordered held in the county jail without bail.
District Judge Wayne Vlasic of Monessen made the notation in court documents when he refused to set a bond for Duran E. Foster, 25, on multiple drug distribution and possession charges.
Vlasic arraigned Foster after state troopers searched his Division Street home on Friday, seizing 14 bricks of heroin, more than one ounce of crack cocaine, 21 anxiety pills, multiple cell phones and $4,348.
Starting Wednesday, Oct. 21, a drop box will be stationed from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week inside the lobby of the Westmoreland County Courthouse on Main Street in Greensburg. It will remain open through Election Day.
Drop boxes at Westmoreland County Community College on Fifth Avenue in New Kensington, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity and the county’s Adult Probation office on Riverview Drive in Monessen will open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24.
On Sunday, Oct. 25, drop boxes will be available in the Student Achievement Center building at Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood, and the community college building on Mellon Road in Murrysville from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Collections will resume Saturday, Oct. 31, at the community college sites in Murrysville and Youngwood from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the drop boxes will be available at the WCCC building in New Kensington, the airport and the Monessen probation office.
“We tried to pick the four corners of the county (for drop box sites), but it was difficult,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.
Drop boxes will be anchored to the ground, monitored by two county employees and video surveillance. Voters are only allowed to leave their own ballots. County staff will be on duty to enforce that.
“We wanted the drop boxes on the weekends for people who can’t make it to the courthouse. We thought weekends were best,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli
National media outlets are eyeing Westmoreland County as a key battleground in the looming presidential election.
Both CNN and the New York Times this week spotlighted the county in reports, talking to residents and politicians about their efforts to swing the race in favor of either President Donald Trump or his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
CNN — which called Westmoreland “pivotal” for Trump — spoke with Leslie Rossi, owner of the famous red, white and blue Trump House in Unity, which features a large cutout of the president outside.
“Four years ago, my work was really hard here,” Rossi told CNN. “I had to convince them President Trump was the best choice for them. This time, I don’t have to do any of that. They’re all in.”
Went to Westmoreland County PA where @realDonaldTrump big margins helped him win the Keystone state and the WH. Now his campaign is trying to turn out even more of his base to win again. Watch/read here. Story w @bridgetmnolanhttps://t.co/qmMc0euZ5s
The vehicle hit a utility pole and the force of the crash brought down electric wires. First responders were unable to reach the victim until a crew from West Penn Power could shut down the lines.
Rescuers extricated the victim about 9:30 p.m.
The vehicle also damaged a gas meter, emergency dispatchers confirmed.
The person inside the vehicle was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time.
Stay with the WTAE mobile app for updates. Download the app now to stay connected with breaking news updates.
State and local health officials have not pointed to any events or activities as the reason behind the current surge in cases.
GREENSBURG, Pa. —
With 86 new COVID-19 cases reported Tuesday, Westmoreland County is continuing to see its largest surge in cases since the pandemic began.
The county has averaged a daily total of more than 65 cases for the past week. The state Department of Health is also reporting 35 people are hospitalized in the county, with four people requiring ventilators.
State and local health officials have not pointed to any events or activities as the reason behind the current surge in cases.
“I think people let their guard down,” said Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer for Excela Health. “I think we went through a phase where there were not a lot of positive cases, and individuals felt more comfortable being without their mask.”
Fox said right now there are no concerns about hospital capacity within the Excela Health system, adding that many cases are not severe.
“We do have less individuals requiring ventilators and intensive care units,” Fox said. “That being said, they are sick enough to be in the hospital and that’s something to be concerned about.”
COVID-19 cases have impacted more than a half dozen school districts in Westmoreland County and outbreaks are currently ongoing at Westmoreland Manor senior care center and the Westmoreland County prison.
HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — One teen is dead after a rollover crash in Westmoreland County early this morning, according to police.
Police say the crash happened just after 1 am, on Lincoln Highway in Hempfield Township. The 19 year old driver, identified as Michael Schiff from Florida, was traveling along Route 30 at a high rate of speed when he lost control while driving along a right curve under the East Pittsburgh Bridge.
Police add that Schiff went over the concrete center median divider, crashed into the raised concrete shoulder, rolled over multiple times before coming to a rest in the parking lot of an indoor golf business.
Three inmates at Westmoreland County Prison have tested positive for coronavirus, in addition to the two prison employees whose positive tests were announced Wednesday.The three inmates were from the same unit, and have been quarantined, according to the county.
Two guards at the Westmoreland County Prison tested positive for coronavirus and the Hempfield jail was placed on lockdown status Wednesday.
“The prison continues to follow all appropriate and currently recommended protocols to mitigate the spread of covid-19 to keep the employees and prison population safe,” according to a statement released by county commissioners.
Officials said both guards reported their positive tests on Wednesday. One had not been at the jail since Sept. 24 and the other was last at the facility on Oct. 3.
Wednesday’s cases were the first infections among the jail staff.
LAUGHLINTOWN, Pa. —Fire was reported at The Original Pie Shoppe on Route 30 in Laughlintown, Westmoreland County early Friday morning.The fire was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. Friday
Sky 4 with Action Cam spotted crews on the roof of the building where some smoke was coming out.There were no initial reports of any injuries.The cause of the fire has not been determined.The Pie Shoppe posted on social media on Friday that they would still be open as usual.
GREENSBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania National Guard arrived at a Westmoreland County nursing home Sunday morning to help control an outbreak of COVID-19.
RUFFS DALE, Pa. — A woman has been charged with first degree murder and criminal homicide in the shooting death of her boyfriend Sunday night inside her Westmoreland County home.
According to police, Meghan West, 29, invited Andrew Pristas, 30, to the Valley High Mobile Home Park in Ruffs Dale.
Just before midnight, the two got into an argument over something on West’s phone. She ran into a bedroom and locked herself inside. According to police, she grabbed a gun and fired a warning shot through the door.
West claims that Pristas continued to try to break down the locked door before she fired a second round into the door, which struck him.
“She went outside the door and realized he was laying there in a pool of blood, initiated a 911 phone call and she did render some medical aid,” said Trooper Steve Limani of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Greensburg Police doing a routine check of a man asleep in the driver’s seat of his car in a store parking lot Thursday wound up arresting him for illegal possession of 47 bricks of heroin, a plastic bag of cocaine, several hundred Xanax pills and multiple strips of Suboxone.
Patrolman Kerry Dieter said he also confiscated $11,996 that Brandon E. Carter, 35, of Charleroi, was carrying.
Carter is charged with four counts each of illegal possession and delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property and public drunkenness. He was ordered by District Judge Chris Flanigan held in the county prison after failing to post $50,000 bond.
Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Anti-abortion activists from across the region gathered Wednesday at Cornerstone Ministries in Murrysville as Vice President Mike Pence addressed the kick-off of the Susan B. Anthony List’s campaign to engage pro-life voters in Pennsylvania.
The visit to the large, nondenominational church marked Pence’s third appearance with the group. Long a favorite with evangelicals and pro-life voters for his anti-abortion stance, Pence previously addressed Susan B. Anthony List rallies in Florida and North Carolina.
The coroner said Kenneth W. Miller, Jr., of Salem Township, attempted to clear a table top jump when he came up short and became separated from the vehicle.
Miller was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries.
The coroner said Miller was using a helmet and proper protective gear.
Patriot Shield started operating in the warehouse in September without getting an occupancy permit or building inspection from the city. Farmers brought their hemp crop there to be dried into smokable hemp flowers, which taste like marijuana but lack the THC necessary to get users high.
Neighbors complained about the odor that emanated from the warehouse for weeks. It brought up to 200 jobs, but many workers started protesting outside of the building after not receiving paychecks.
That issue still has not been rectified, two former employees told the Tribune-Review. The state Department of Labor and Industry’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance performed an audit of the company, according to a letter obtained by the Trib. The department did not respond to a request for comment about the pay situation.
GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) — The Westmoreland County Courthouse is the ultimate place when it comes to law and order.
The Westmoreland County Courthouse is also a building full of every kind of emotion you can think of.
“It’s not unusual for emotions to be high in any of the courts actually, but it’s not common to get very physical in here,” Westmoreland County Park Police Chief Henry Fontana told KDKA’s Ross Guidotti.
There are exceptions, including what allegedly happened when 47-year-old Rhonda Cathers lost her cool outside family court. According to Chief Fontana, the victim turned out to be someone Cathers was very familiar with.
“Mom was testifying — her daughter did not approve,” he says.
Investigators say it started with harsh words exchanged, followed by Cathers charging at and attacking her mother, choking her until she was separated by law enforcement.
Chief Fontana says the victim had noticeable red marks on her neck but declined any medical attention.
Rhonda Cathers is free tonight on $10,000 bond. She’s charged with assault, strangulation and intimidation of a witness.
At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said seven of his deputies came into contact with someone who may have had covid-19 and the department was desperate for information on the availability of tests and other support.
“We reached out, but couldn’t get answers initially, so all the deputies had to be quarantined. Fortunately, no one has caught it and they’ve returned to work,” Albert said.
Over the course the last month, those questions arose again with 10 more cases of deputies possibly being exposed.
Finally, Albert said his chief deputy Roger Eckels reached out to a longtime, Dr. A. Timothy Saloom of Mt. Pleasant Township. Saloom is medical director of Integrated Acute Care Services at Somerset Hospital and volunteer director of the Fayette County Tactical Medical Team.
The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, scheduled for July 2-5 in Twin Lakes Park, has been canceled.
“It was a difficult decision for the board to make, and we waited as long as we possible could,” said Executive Director Diane Shrader. “But public safety has to come first, and there are still so many unknowns.”
A major factor in the decision was concern for the vendors.
“Our vendors come from as far as California and Florida,” Shrader said. “Would they be able to travel? Could they find hotel rooms? Could we provide for their safety?”
The festival will go on in virtual form, Shrader said. Links to vendor and band websites will be available on the festival website.
GREENSBURG, Pa. —Police are seeking the public’s help identifying a suspect after shots were fired in Greensburg Friday night.
