Joe Napsha stories, Page 76
Westmoreland County housing director defends senior project for Irwin
Irwin will benefit financially from a proposed $14 million, 50-unit apartment building for low-income senior citizens, according to the county’s housing director. “We’re really heavily invested in Westmoreland County. We’re really heavily invested in Irwin Borough,” Michael Washowich, executive director of the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, told borough officials. Washowich...
Goodwill to open new store in Salem; job fair slated
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania plans to open a new location in a Route 22 plaza in Salem, an area where the nonprofit has seen growth in both shopping and donations, a spokesman said. The store will be about five miles from an existing Goodwill store at the Franklin Plaza in...
Route 30 reopens in North Huntingdon following car fire at auto repair shop
A fire Tuesday night at an auto repair shop Route 30 in North Huntingdon closed both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the busy highway, police said. Route 30 was closed between Route 48 and the Ardara Road intersection in the western end of the township. It reopened shortly after...
Greensburg YMCA to hold meeting on future plans
The Greensburg YMCA, which reopened on June 14 after having been closed since September, plans to provide its members and general public with an update on its operations during two town hall meetings on July 27. The YMCA staff, board members and directors will offer insight into its plans for...
Westmoreland water authority GIS system recognized
A geographic information system that locates and monitors the status of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s infrastructure was recognized with a national award. “There is so much more we can do (with the GIS), that we could not do five, six years ago,” said Thomas Ceraso, the authority’s assistant...
Chase Bank plans Irwin branch along Route 30
A New York-based national bank is planning to build its first full-service branch in Westmoreland County along Route 30 in Irwin at the site of a former Greek restaurant. A contractor is demolishing Andros Restaurant at 9399 Route 30, for JP Morgan Chase Bank National Association, which purchased the ½-acre...
County housing authority project in Irwin raises concerns
Irwin officials are expected to get an update from the head of Westmoreland County Housing Authority on Wednesday on plans for a four-story apartment building for senior citizens, a project that has sparked concern among local officials and criticism on social media. Michael Washowich, authority executive director, said he plans...
Sun sets on long career at family-owned Greensburg restaurant
The sun set in late May on the long restaurant careers of Robert and Anna Jo Noviello, owners of a popular Greensburg restaurant that had been in the family for three generations. The Noviellos sold the Sunset Cafe at South Urania Avenue and Laird Street to Ronald and Angela Mellinger...
Storage building burns in Murrysville
A metal equipment storage building at a Murrysville farm was destroyed by fire Friday afternoon. No one was injured in the fire at the farm on Hills Church Road, but several farm vehicles were inside the building when it caught fire, said John Bohince, chief of the White Valley fire...
Norwin area: ‘Woofstock,’ library programs planned; code enforcement officer sought
Pet Friends to host ‘Woofstock’ concert Pet Friends will be hosting its annual Woofstock benefit outdoor concert from 2 to 9 p.m. July 31 at Quinn Brewing Co., Banco Business Park, 2000 Commerce Loop, 1061 Main St., North Huntingdon. The fundraiser will feature local bands: Soulios, The Rust Project and...
Penn-Trafford area ‘On the Move,’ July 8, 2021
Lt. Jeremy Mock, a Navy logistics officer, recently participated in Exercise Phoenix Express 2021. The 16th iteration of the North African maritime exercise involving 11 nations was held from May 17 to 28, in Tunisia and throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Mock, a Penn Borough native, is 1997 Penn-Trafford High School...
South Greensburg gets grant to improve traffic signal
South Greensburg will get a new traffic signal at the borough’s busy intersection of Broad Street and Huff Avenue, the result of a $237,270 grant from the state. The existing traffic signal is old and outdated and there is a need for the newest signal technology, said Jaime Peticca, borough...
Vehicle fire slows turnpike traffic near Donegal
An empty FedEx truck traveling eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Donegal and New Stanton exits was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon, Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief Jerry Lucia said. Both eastbound lanes of the tollroad were closed until the fire was extinguished, Lucia said. The incident occurred about three...
Irwin Sunoco station owner seeks liquor license OK
The new owner of a Sunoco convenience store-gas station along Route 30 in Irwin is seeking approval from borough officials to permit him to transfer a liquor license from Scottdale in order to sell alcohol at his station. Irwin council has scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. July 14...
Used car prices jump as new car production dropsVideo
Those looking to buy a late-model car, truck or sport utility vehicle may suffer from sticker shock when they see the price of used vehicles, which the U.S. government’s consumer price index calculates have risen by about 30% since May 2020. “It’s all about the inventory. There’s a high demand...
Police seek help tracking alleged tattooed thief from Westmoreland Mall
State police at Greensburg are asking for help in identifying a tattooed man who allegedly stole about $100 in merchandise Friday from a store in the Westmoreland Mall along Route 30 in Hempfield. Three shirts were stolen from Zumiez in the mall about 2:30 p.m. by a man who had...
ATI, Steelworkers reach tentative pact
Specialty steelmaker Allegheny Technologies Inc. reached a tentative contract Friday with its striking steelworkers, which could end a walkout that began March 30, if ratified by those on strike. The tentative contract with the United Steelworkers and the 1,300 ATI employees at nine plants was reached after three days of...
Pennsylvania: All adults fish for free on Sunday
For those who don’t have a fishing license, but would like to try it, the state Fish and Boat Commission is offering adults the chance to fish for free for Sunday. While people don’t need a fishing license Sunday, all other fishing regulations, including season and creel limits, still will...
North Huntingdon event to promote auditing 2020 vote in Pennsylvania
A state senator who traveled to Arizona to see a private company recount votes in the presidential election that Donald Trump lost is scheduled to speak to a group in North Huntingdon on July 18. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, is planning to speak at the Audit The Vote...
Norwin class reunion, neuropathy support group planned
Norwin Class of 1961 to hold reunion The Norwin Class of 1961 will hold its 60th reunion from 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Manor Valley Golf Course, 2095 Denmark-Manor Road, Penn Township. For more information or to register, contact Allan Martin, 724-864-1140, or norwinclass1961@aol.com. Neuropathy support group...
Chicken barbecue sale, neuropathy support meeting set
Manor Lions Club to sell barbecue chicken The Manor Lions Club will sell a one-half barbecue chicken meal for $8, beginning at 11 a.m. July 10 at the parking lot of Roberts Roofing Co., 89 Harrison City-Manor Road, along Route 993. The meal includes applesauce, roll, cookie and a drink....
Worker at Irwin’s Lamp Theatre back after long layoffVideo
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
‘Shocking’ study at Linn Run to help pave way to healthier habitat for trout to thriveVideo
It was a stunning scene this week in a section of Linn Run in eastern Westmoreland County. Volunteers with the Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited sent 300 volts into the stream, stunning fish in the high-quality coldwater fishery to study the trout habitat. A few wild brook trout, some...
Area jobless rate down slightly; labor force shrinking
The Pittsburgh region lost 10,700 workers from the seven-county labor force in May and is 31,000 below May 2020 during the covid restrictions on the economy, a problem that continues to plague the region, according to economic data the state released Tuesday. “The labor force is not showing any rebound...
Longtime Greensburg firefighter dies
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered state flags at all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds in Westmoreland County to fly at half-staff in honor of a longtime Greensburg firefighter who died over the weekend. Richard A. Fry, 77, was found in his vehicle June 24 after participating in the Mt. Pleasant...

