Joe Napsha stories, Page 83
Retired Norwin teacher loved traveling, going to Olympics
Retired Norwin High School teacher Leslie “Les” M. Harvath had a lifelong love for the game of baseball, from playing on a Little League championship team to starring for the Norwin Knights and Duquesne Dukes that led to a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and then imparting his knowledge of...
Mother, son killed in Salem fire
A mother and son were killed in their Salem Township home early Sunday morning when fire engulfed the two-story structure, collapsing the second floor onto the first floor, a fire official said. Helen W. Staats, 84, and Davd J. Staats, 57, both of 1666 Route 819, were pronounced dead at...
Woman ID’d in fatal crash on Route 136 in Hempfield
A Sewickley Township woman has been identified as the person who was killed Friday night in a two-vehicle crash along Route 136 in Hempfield. The woman, Joann Wardzek, 58, of Wolfe Lane, was pronounced dead at the scene along Route 136 between Edna Road and Lower Lane at 8 p.m....
Man shot on Pittsburgh’s North Side
A man shot in the leg in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood early Sunday morning was hospitalized in stable condition, Pittsburgh police said. The victim was found shot on the 1100 block of Sheffield Street around 2:30 a.m., as police said they responded to a Shotspotter alert of a shooting in the...
‘The great sacrifice’: Easter reminds that story of Jesus, his resurrection remain relevant, ministers say
As the Christian world celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter, local ministers say they will remind their congregations that the events that took place almost 2,000 years ago remain important today. “There is nothing like the story of Easter and the reality of Christ’s resurrection that demonstrates God’s...
Glitch halts Allegheny County’s appointments for second covid vaccine dose
The Allegheny County Health Department plans to resume sending more second-dose appointment emails Friday morning after stopping them late Thursday because of an apparent glitch in a code in the email. The health department said it would test the email system overnight to resolve any remaining issues. When emails begin...
Route 30 near Greensburg reopens after multi-car crash shut it down for about an hour
A multi-vehicle accident Thursday night on an icy Route 30 bridge over Route 119 in South Greensburg closed of some of the road’s lanes. The closure occurred between the Route 136 entrance ramp on the eastbound lanes and the westbound ramp at the Cedar Street entrance, according to dispatches from...
Irwin-North Huntingdon-Trafford-Murrysville team wins softball championship
A group of men from the Irwin-North Huntingdon-Trafford-Murrysville areas who qualify for senior citizen status still play softball well enough to capture a world championship in a winter tournament in Florida. The HC Global Men’s 60 AA softball team took the International Senior Softball Association’s World Championship held in late...
Norwin-area happenings, April 1, 2021
Norwin School Board moves meeting site The Norwin School Board will hold an in-person meeting for the first time in a year. The board is set to hold its April 12 workshop meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Hahntown Elementary School cafeteria/gym, where the voting meeting will be held at...
Penn Township girl spreading joy in memory of her uncleVideo
A Penn Township teenager honored the memory of her late uncle, who died of covid last year, by spreading joy to the health care workers at UPMC East hospital in Monroeville and a kidney dialysis center in Hempfield. Jessica Landi, 15, of Harrison City was joined by her mother, Sharon...
North Huntingdon fish fry organizers fulfill big taskVideo
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...
Norwin-area charges filed as of April 1, 2021
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Jamie M. Cooley, 38, of Jeannette, by North Huntingdon police with conspiracy to commit...
Utility shut-off ban ends Thursday; Western Pennsylvania companies say help is available
Utility companies in the region have a unified message for delinquent customers who are in danger of having their service turned off beginning Thursday: Call now. The state Public Utility Commission’s ban on service shut-offs during the pandemic ends Thursday, and utility companies are urging eligible customers who are behind...
Ligonier area dam removed; trout stream to be restoredVideo
A 1940s-era reservoir that once held close to 7 million gallons of drinking water for the Ligonier-Laughlintown areas is empty. A New Kensington company is removing the dam — a project that eventually will allow the stream that fed the reservoir to be rechanneled so it flows freely into a...
Relief on soaring lumber prices unlikely until at least fall
The demand for lumber is outstripping supply, pushing lumber prices up and, in turn, raising the the price of a typical new home by $24,000. This “perfect storm” of factors will not let up in the short term, according to a chief economist for a national building association. “Lumber prices...
New North Huntingdon-Irwin area covid cases down slightly
The number of new confirmed covid cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin area dipped slightly from March 22 to 29, compared to the previous seven-day period, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Health. There were 47 new confirmed cases in the four ZIP codes covering most...
North Huntingdon company lands Defense Department contract for 3D printing lab
A North Huntingdon-based firm with an international reach has landed a Defense Department contract to build a 3D industrial sand and metal printing lab using binder jet technology that can make replacement parts inside a 40-foot-long shipping container that can be set up where the military needs it. The “3D...
Penn Township soldier, other veterans to be recognized for heroism at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial
A Penn Township soldier who was awarded the Silver Star posthumously for his heroic actions to save fellow soldiers 51 years ago in the Vietnam War officially will join a hall of heroes Sunday in Pittsburgh. Army Spc. 4 Larry L. Hohman of Paintertown will be inducted into the Hall...
Norwin High School closed 2 days because of covid cases
Norwin High School was closed Thursday and Friday because of a spike in positive covid cases during what was to be the first full week of in-person instruction this school year and will not reopen until April 6 because of the scheduled spring break. Superintendent Jeff Taylor announced on Wednesday...
Turnpike to close Sunday between Pittsburgh, Allegheny Valley interchanges
Traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Allegheny Valley interchange in Harmar and the Pittsburgh interchange in Monroeville will be forced to make a detour off the toll road early Sunday morning as crews remove the original Unity Trestle Road bridge in Plum Borough. The turnpike closure will begin at...
Biden to visit Pittsburgh on Wednesday
President Joe Biden plans to travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, where he is expected to unveil his vision for a massive infrastructure bill. The proposal is said to be larger than the $1.9 trillion covid relief package that the Congress passed earlier this month. Biden said in his first press...
Norwin area happenings, week of March 25, 2021
North Huntingdon polling places changed Twelve polling places are being moved to new locations in Westmoreland County for the May primary, including two in North Huntingdon. The county elections board approved the changes last month. In some cases, the previous polling places no longer wanted to participate in the elections....
Town hall meeting planned for Norwin school board candidates
Nine candidates for Norwin school board will discuss issues and field questions from voters in a town hall meeting April 26 at Norwin High School. Voters in the primary will choose four candidates for the school board. Two are incumbents — Brian Carlton and Raymond Kocak — while newcomers are...
Bushy Run Battlefield Museum to reopen April 30
The Bushy Run Battlefield Museum in Penn Township will be able to reopen on April 30, the first time since the Wolf administration shut down state-owned facilities a year ago in its efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus. The museum at the site of the August 1763 battle that...
Norwin-area charges filed as of March 25, 2021
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All individuals have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Matthew Gardone, 39, of Delmont, by North Huntingdon police with possession of a controlled...
