Joe Napsha stories, Page 78
Johnstown native’s mob book chronicles ‘3 men from Greensburg’ in gambler’s death
What do “three men from Greensburg” have to do with a small-time Johnstown gambler whose body was found floating behind the Conemaugh River Dam in Derry Township some six decades ago? The three unidentified men were fingered by an aging Johnstown gangster — “Rip” Slowmason — as the possible murderers...
Greensburg YMCA set to reopen its doors
The Greensburg YMCA will reopen to members June 14. In late September, it closed most of its facilities because of covid-related restrictions and because fewer members returned after the facility reopened last summer. “Our reopening will be a slow process until we’re able to hire necessary staff,” said Suzanne Printz,...
Volunteers sought to remove flags at West Newton Cemetery
Volunteers are needed Saturday to remove the more than 350 U.S. flags that were installed last month to honor local veterans for the 27th Annual Avenue of Flags at the West Newton Cemetery. Those interested in helping are asked to meet at the cemetery office on Vernon Drive at 9...
Norwin baseball star’s initiative reaches out to pregnant women
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...
North Huntingdon business celebrates good times with outdoor signsVideo
A North Huntingdon couple has created a business of spreading joy through creating customized outdoor signs for events such as birthdays, family events, graduations for high school classes and individual students. “We’re in the joy industry. Everything we do with our signs brings joy,” said Nick Benevento, who co-owns Yardobrations...
Giant Eagle worker supports state push to raise minimum wage to $12 an hour
When Sandy Zilen started working at the Giant Eagle supermarket in Harrison City, her wages were nowhere near the $13 an hour she now earns — and not even close to the $7.25 minimum wage in Pennsylvania. But, Zilen, who lives in the Claridge section of Penn Township, said she...
Western Pa. barbers split over helping President Biden promote covid vaccines
If President Biden wants Greg Henderson to preach the gospel of getting a covid vaccine to his customers who come in for a haircut, he’s going to have to find another barber to deliver that sermon. “I really don’t want to promote it. It’s kind of personal,” said Henderson, who...
Part of former Troutman store sold; apartments planned
An Arizona-based real estate investment firm bought part of the vacant seven-story building in downtown Greensburg that formerly housed A.E. Troutman Co. department store with plans to convert it into 57 apartments. Urban Communities Steel Valley LLC of Phoenix told city officials it wants to create “multi-family workforce apartments” in...
Pittsburgh region adds 15,200 jobs in April, but 80K short of pre-pandemic level
The seven-county Pittsburgh region added 15,200 jobs in April, raising the total to about 1.11 million — which is almost 142,000 more than the pandemic-restricted economy of a year ago, according to new state labor-force figures. The region saw nonfarm jobs rise to 1,111,700 as 6,500 more construction jobs were...
Covid spread slowing in North Huntingdon, Iwin area
The weekly spread of covid in the North Huntingdon-North Irwin-Irwin area has slowed to a trickle, with just 15 new cases from May 24 to June 1, according to state Department of Health data released Tuesday. There was only a .4% increase in the rate of new covid cases from...
Rain changes, but doesn’t dampen Norwin graduationVideo
Persistent rain in the afternoon and evening forced Norwin to move its graduation ceremonies into the high school gymnasium, but the adjustment didn’t dampen the 90-minute ceremony for the 406 seniors who make up the class of 2021. Lily Jarosz was the valedictorian and Quinn Kubistek was the salutatorian. Cullen...
P-T to hold covid vaccination clinic on June 3
Excela Health of Greensburg will conduct a covid vaccination clinic for Penn-Trafford students age 12 and older as part of its fall athletic physicals at the Penn-Trafford High School in Harrison City. The clinic will take place June 3 from 8 a.m. to noon. The clinic also is open to...
Trafford to hold Memorial Day parade
A Memorial Day parade with marching bands, antique cars, fire trucks and floats is planned for Trafford Borough beginning at 10:30 a.m. Monday. Ceremonies will be held at Trafford’s Veterans Memorial Park at Edgewood Avenue and Fifth Street. The American Legion Post 331 is sponsoring the parade and all cars...
Route 22 crash in Derry Township shuts down highway
A crash on Route 22 in Derry Township on Thursday evening closed all westbound lanes between Route 982 and the Indiana County line at Blairsville, according to the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety. The two-vehicle crash was reported at 8:20 p.m., a Public Safety supervisor said. New Alexandria firefighters...
Pittsburgh police investigate shooting in city’s Allentown neighborhood
A teen was found shot Thursday night in the city’s Allentown neighborhood. According to Pittsburgh Police, officers responded around 9:30 p.m. to a Shotspotter alert for five rounds fired on the 700 block of East Warrington Avenue. Officers found the 17-year-old, who was taken to a hospital in serious condition....
Police seek suspects in Mt. Oliver homicide
The Allegheny County Police homicide unit and Mt. Oliver police are seeking assistance in identifying the suspects in the May 19 shooting death of a man and the wounding of two others. Police on Thursday released a video of the suspects just prior to the shooting at 12:12 a.m. May...
Collectibles convention set for Irwin
Vendors and collectors who want to sell or display their items can do so at a mini-convention for collectors and admirers from noon to 5 p.m. July 11 at the Shidle Lodge, 417 Main St., Irwin. The Collectible and Retro Lovers convention, nicknamed CARLcon, will feature various collectibles items —...
Penn-Trafford area happenings: Chicken barbecue, reading program and more
Manor Lions to hold chicken barbecue to raise money for pediatric cancer The Manor Lions Club will hold its “Jerry Nedley Memorial Chicken BBQ for Pediatric Cancer” at 11 a.m. June 12 in the Roberts Roofing parking lot, Route 993, Manor. The meals will be $8 for a half-chicken, roll,...
Greensburg firefighters to hold community ‘day’ at Lynch Field
Greensburg is not having its traditional community days festival, which typically stretches four days around the Memorial Day holiday because of covid-related restrictions, but the city’s volunteer fire department is organizing a one-day festival this year at the end of July. In an effort to provide a bright spot during...
Norwin wants state OK to replace snow days with remote learning
When the weather outside is frightful next winter, Norwin officials want students to snuggle up to their iPads and study instead of sled riding and playing in the snow during normal school time. The school board granted permission for the district administration to apply to the state Department of Education...
Traffic control device for Route 30 intersection in North Huntingdon likely a moot point
Some residents living along a lane intersecting Route 30 in North Huntingdon want a sensor installed on a pole to detect oncoming traffic on the busy highway to make it safer for drivers to avoid an accident. Commissioner Eric Gass said residents are requesting a study of the Cherry Lane...
Weekly spread of covid slows in North Huntingdon-Irwin area, as of May 24, 2021
The weekly spread of covid in the North Huntingdon-North Irwin-Irwin area was below 1% for the third consecutive week, according to data the state Department of Health released on Monday. There were 24 additional confirmed cases of covid from May 17 to 24, just a .7% increase in the spread...
Pa. to resume job search requirement for unemployment benefits
Beginning July 18, Pennsylvania’s unemployed workers again will have to prove they applied for two jobs per week to continue to receive jobless benefits, a state labor official said Monday. Unemployed workers also must register for job search services with the PA CareerLink offices. The requirements were suspended last year...
Colonial reenactor brings new life to Bushy Run Battlefield museumVideo
A Pittsburgh man with a lifetime passion for history has taken a job at a pivotal battlefield in the region’s colonial history. “My hope is that people will come back to the Bushy Run. We want people to experience this, to come into this building (museum) who had never been...
Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen Zappala Sr. remembered for distinguished public service
Former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala Sr. was remembered for his distinguished legal career and public service. Zappala, a Collier resident, died Friday. He was 88. Zappala went from a private law practice to Allegheny County planning development director to county solicitor, an Allegheny County judge in...
