Joe Napsha stories, Page 88
Irwin to return to virtual council meetings
Irwin will return to virtual meetings when council conducts its business until further notice, at least until the governor lifts the limits on in-person gatherings. With little fanfare and no criticism of Gov. Tom Wolf, council voted 5-1 on Jan. 13 to return to the virtual meetings that can be...
Irwin tries to tackle $182 problem caused by Dunkin’ traffic snagVideo
Imagine paying $182 for a cup of coffee and a doughnut? Outrageous? But some thirsty motorists have been just doing that. They stop for their morning coffee and a doughnut at the Dunkin’ store along the eastbound lanes of Route 30 in Irwin. But when they exit, they make a...
Covid pandemic changes Day of Service
Like so many other activities and events over the past 10 months, the covid pandemic has impacted volunteer opportunities Monday on the National Day of Service, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Colleges and universities in the region that might have volunteer opportunities for students and staff on National...
Rostraver house damaged by fire
The cause of a fire that damaged a vacant house in Rostraver early Saturday morning is under investigation, Rostraver firefighters said. The one-story house in the 200 block of Sylvan Drive was fully involved in fire when they arrived on the scene, Rostraver Central firefighters said on a Facebook post....
Boy shot in back in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood
A Pittsburgh boy was shot in his back early Sunday morning in the city’s Beechview neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said. City police received a report at about 2:50 a.m. of the shooting in the 1100 block of Shadycrest Drive. The boy was conscious and talking. He was transported to a local...
Monroeville man killed in Penn Hills shooting
A Monroeville man died early Sunday morning after being shot numerous times in Penn Hills, according to Allegheny County police. The man, Jamal D. Pamplin, 32, was pronounced dead at about 12:25 a.m. at Allegheny Health Network Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner said. Police said they...
Forbes Road residents shocked gobbler ‘Butterball’ shot by game wardenVideo
Forbes Road residents remained stunned this weekend after a state game warden gunned down Butterball, a free-roaming, friendly turkey that some had come to consider the unofficial mascot of this Salem Township village. “People are in shock. It was a pet,” Josh Nuttall, 35, said Saturday of the dark-feathered turkey...
1 man dead, 1 in critical condition in 2 Pittsburgh shootings; victim identified
A 22-year-old Pittsburgh man was fatally shot late Friday night in the Crafton Heights section of Pittsburgh, police said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Martell Good of Crafton Heights. Medics transported him to a local hospital, where he died. Police said they received a report...
Man killed in Homewood shooting
A man was killed in a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood early Saturday morning, Pittsburgh police said. The victim, who was not identified, was found at about 2:55 a.m. with multiple gunshots in his torso and legs in the 6600 block of Frankstown Avenue, police said. Medics transported him in...
Norwin police blotter, Jan. 14
Charges filed with North Huntingdon District Judge Wayne Gongaware. All persons charged have the right to a preliminary hearing and are innocent until proven guilty or pleading guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Vincent Bracco, 40, of Glassport with possession of drug paraphernalia....
Shop with a Cop program succeeds despite pandemicVideo
The pandemic that struck the region canceled many activities, but not the holiday tradition of the Westmoreland County Shop with a Cop program. “We were able to help 804 children this year,” said Trooper Steve Limani, who coordinates the program which is in its 13th year. “There was a spike...
Penn-Trafford police blotter, Jan. 14
Charges filed with Penn Township District Judge Helen Kistler. All persons charged have the right to a preliminary hearing before Kistler and are innocent until proven guilty or pleading guilty before a judge in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas. • Madeline J. Semenko, 22, of Bovard, by Penn...
State grants $1.8 million for Western Pa. rail projects
The state earmarked about $1.8 million to improve U.S. Steel Corp.’s Union Railroad infrastructure in the Braddock area and for a rail yard project along the Monongahela River in Westmoreland County. PennDOT granted U.S. Steel Corp. $1.7 million for two projects on its Union Railroad, which serves three of the...
Democratic Women to collect for food bank, family shelter
Like so many other activitities and events over the past 10 months, the covid pandemic has affected volunteer opportunities at the National Day of Service on Monday, the national holiday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Colleges and universities in the region that might have volunteer opportunities for students and...
Downward trends continue for North Huntingdon-Irwin covid case count
The increase in covid cases in four ZIP codes covering most of the North Huntingdon-Irwin-North Irwin areas remained below 10% for the third consecutive week, based on state Department of Health data released Monday. There was a 7.8% increase in the number of confirmed covid cases in the North Huntingdon-Irwin,...
Greensburg-Salem to return to hybrid instruction; P-T middle school sports halted
Greensburg Salem’s 2,700 students will return to hybrid instruction on Jan. 19 instead of Jan. 26th, as previously announced, provided the number of positive covid cases among students and staff in each building meet state guidelines. The school district said all covid prevention and mitigation measures such as cleaning procedures,...
Sports card appraiser looking at Greensburg collection says sell valuable cards now
Collectors holding onto cards of star football, basketball or baseball players as a financial investment should consider selling them now, according to a vintage sports card and memorabilia appraiser who plans to evaluate a Greensburg-area collection this week. “Now is a good time to sell. Prices have exploded higher than...
Norwin adds 16 covid cases this week; 32 since holiday break
Norwin School District officials said they were notified of 12 more coronavirus cases among students and staff on Friday, raising the total number of cases to 32 since the holiday break began Dec. 22. Two students each from the high school, middle school, Hillcrest Intermediate, Stewartsville Elementary and Sunset Valley...
Readying for renovation in GreensburgVideo
An excavator for Vince Construction Co. of Greensburg removes the debris gutted from a five-story building at South Pennsylvania Avenue and West Second Street in Greensburg, that Westmoreland County Treasurer Jared Squires purchased last year. Squires has said the renovated building will have a dance studio on the first floor,...
Penn-Trafford opens kindergarten registration, collects charity donations
Penn-Trafford opens kindergarten registration Penn-Trafford will open its kindergarten registration on Jan. 18. Residents with children entering kindergarten in the 2021-2022 school year are asked to complete the online form between Jan. 18 and Feb. 26. The form is available at the school district website, www.penntrafford.org. P-T students raise money...
Norwin to return to hybrid learning
Norwin’s 5,300 students will return a hybrid form of learning — two days in-school and three days of remote instruction — on Monday for the first time in close to a month. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said Wednesday the district will offer the three days of remote instruction in a synchronous...
Irwin reverts to in-person meeting on Jan. 13; councilman calls state orders ‘crap’
After debating the merits of the state’s controversial orders on restricting indoor gatherings, Irwin Borough council members decided to meet in-person when they gather on Jan. 13, a reversal of the public advertisement last month that the meeting would be held in a virtual manner. Council on Tuesday decided in...
Irwin fire department proposes $1 million building
The Irwin fire department want to build a $1 million hall to house trucks, ambulances, a meeting room and possibly borough offices and police department at the site of the former Sixth Street School. Leaders of the volunteer group told borough officials this week that they hope to build a...
Irwin hires 4 police officers
Irwin Borough’s police department has added new four new officers to its ranks this week. Borough council on Tuesday approved hiring both full-time and part-time officers, in part to replace three officers who have left in the past month. Two part-time Irwin officers, Cody Stanoszek of North Huntingdon and Justin...
Harrison City centenarian to get covid vaccine when available
Joseph Cocco of Harrison City plans to get the coronavirus vaccine when it is his time. While Westmoreland County is replete with senior citizens — the U.S. Census says 23% of the population is older than 65 — Cocco is among a select group. He will be 100 when he...

