Joe Napsha stories, Page 102
Pa. Consumer Advocate: FirstEnergy can’t recover $60 million alleged bribe from customers
FirstEnergy Corp. would not be able to raise electric rates on its 720,000 West Penn Power Co. customers in an attempt to recoup what federal prosecutors say was $60 million in bribes allegedly paid to Ohio power brokers. Prosecutors allege the bribes were paid in an effort to secure a...
2nd heat wave in Western Pa. strains power grid but utilities handle extra demand
This summer’s heat has pushed the mercury to 90 degrees and higher for 11 days, prompting people to keep the air conditioners humming day and night. It has also strained the electricity lines carrying power to homes and businesses, area utility companies said. But while the system may be stressed...
Norwin to unveil reopening plan July 30
With 5,300 Norwin students scheduled to return in about a month, district administrators will inform the school board next week about how they plan to do that safely. Norwin will have “a number of contingencies and we will discuss them in detail,” said Superintendent Jeff Taylor. Those contingencies will depend,...
Irwin man charged with assaulting girl
A 37-year-old Irwin man is accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl in 2019, according to court documents. Justin M. Hartung of Ninth Street allegedly inappropriately touched the girl, who was younger than age 13 at the time, and exposed himself to her at an Irwin residence during the winter...
Norwin students named winners in photography contest
Six Norwin gifted students received awards in the Westmoreland County Gifted Network’s annual spring photography contest. In the middle school, Jacob Osterberg received an honorable mention in the Architecture category, according to the school district. At the intermediate school level, Dylan Reynolds placed second and Riley Reynolds placed third in...
Levin to open its 1st furniture, mattress outlet in Ohio
Stocked with $3 million of furnishings from recently closed Levin stores, Levin Furniture Co. said Wednesday it will open its first furniture and mattress outlet in Niles, Ohio, on July 23. The 65,000-square-foot outlet on Holland Road in the former Gander Mountain store at Eastwood Mall, will be the 19th...
New program for young Pennsylvania farmers aims to pump new blood into aging agriculture industry
Adam Mason and his wife, Katie, are in the process of buying a 106-acre farm in Allegheny Township, where they hope to raise chickens, turkeys, pigs and cattle. “It’s a dream come true,” Mason, a 35-year-old California native, said of his plans to own a farm. Mason, who is raising...
Farmers markets adjusting covid-19 restrictions
In this time of covid-19 restrictions, farmers markets have joined other businesses in modifying their operations. “We’re following the state requirements for keeping social distance and asking everyone to wear masks,” said Randy Morris, a Sewickley Township farmer who organizes the Irwin Farmers Market. About 24 vendors sell fresh produce,...
North Huntingdon sewage authority raises tap-in fee, moves offices
The North Huntingdon Municipal Authority has approved a $200 increase for tapping into its sewage system, but the sewage rates will remain the same for the fiscal year that began May 1. The tap-in fees were raised from $4,500 to $4,700 as of July 1 for each equivalent dwelling unit...
Westmoreland County rescue divers train for dangerous searchesVideo
Divers from the Greensburg Fire Department and Murrysville Medic One were honing their rescue skills Sunday in the murky waters of a Ligonier Township lake, training for that time when they will be asked to find a body or recover criminal evidence tossed to the bottom of a reservoir. “This...
Irwin to hold ‘picnic food’ festival
How does a community hold a celebration of picnic food — hot dogs, hamburgers, kielbasa, tacos and nachos — when the state’s covid-19 requirements prohibit large gatherings of people? Since people can meet virtually, but not eat virtually, the All American Picnic Food Fest in Irwin will feature food from...
Bill Mazeroski’s former Hempfield house sells for $150,000
A lineman for West Penn Power Co. in Greensburg bought the home of Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski, fitting because the house was once featured in an advertisement for the electric supplier. Nathaniel Smirga picked up the home and nearly 20 acres along Walton Tea Room Road in...
Veteran Greensburg officer promoted to police chiefVideo
Thirty-two years after he started on Greensburg’s police force, Robert Stafford now is chief of the city’s 25-member department. Greensburg Council on Monday unanimously approved the promotion. Stafford, 56, succeeds Chad Zucco, who resigned in March after four years leading the department. Stafford takes over his new role immediately. “I’m...
State says 90% of jobless getting benefits
Despite complaints from some jobless workers that they have yet to receive state unemployment benefits after months of waiting, Pennsylvania officials on Monday said 90% of the claims for benefits have been paid. Most of the remaining 10% of claims filed since March 15 have not been paid because the...
‘We know them well’: Firefighter’s parents die in Rostraver fire
An elderly couple died in a fire that destroyed their home early Sunday morning in the Rostraver Township village of Collinsburg. The husband and wife, Marie A. Oblak, 81, and her husband, Lloyd D. Oblak, 83, were found inside their home at 808 Collinsburg Road, the Westmoreland County Coroner’s office...
Rain, covid-19 restrictions don’t dampen Idlewild Park’s opening weekend crowd
While rain soaked some visitors Saturday who ventured to Idlewild Park & SoakZone in Ligonier Township, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who waited a long time for the park’s opening weekend, which was delayed because of covid-19 restrictions. “They were looking forward to coming. They’ve been coming...
Norwin forming reopening plan, to present to board later this month
Norwin officials expect to give the school board later this month a final plan for reopening the schools, and distribute that plan to students’ parents the first week of August. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he is “very confident” that students will be able to return to the school buildings in...
Man found shot to death early Saturday on Pittsburgh’s North Side
A man was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound on Pittsburgh’s North Side early Saturday morning, Pittsburgh police said. The victim, who was not identified, was found around 6:40 a.m. lying under some bushes on the 1700 block of Manhattan Street. Medics arrived shortly after and pronounced the victim...
Irwin Council: No masks, no social distancing required for public meeting
An Irwin resident this week chided borough officials for not wearing masks or maintaining proper social distancing during a council meeting. Bryan Rosatti of Cedar Street wore a mask Wednesday as he directed comments to borough officials about their failure to follow state rules for wearing masks and practicing social...
State to give fire, rescue companies $50 million in grants to cover covid-19 losses
Fire departments, rescue and emergency medical service companies can apply for state grants to pay for utilities, repairing apparatus, buying personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as cleaning and disinfecting equipment and property in an effort to stop the spread of covid-19. The state set aside $44 million for fire...
Westmoreland municipal authority OKs buying Mt. Pleasant sewage plant
Mt. Pleasant is selling its sewage plant to the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, which has agreed not to raise rates for the plant’s 3,200 customers for at least two years, officials said. The municipal authority board on Wednesday approved the deal to buy the borough’s sewage plant for $3...
$600 weekly unemployment federal check runs out at end of July
While Dylan Altemara finishes his master’s degree in human resources and looks for a job, the $600 unemployment weekly benefit boost from the federal government has been a lifesaver. “The additional stimulus money makes everybody whole,” Altemara, 27, of Belle Vernon said of the check he receives under the federal...
Plum man sentenced to 12-24 years on child porn charges
A Plum man was sentenced to 12-to-24 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to child pornography charges in Westmoreland County. Antonio R. Pampena, 37, pleaded guilty before Westmoreland Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to two counts of disseminating photos of child sex acts, 35 counts of possessing child pornography and one...
West Penn Power to spend $46 million to trim trees along power lines this year
In an effort to reduce power outages caused by downed branches and trees during summer thunderstorms, West Penn Power said it anticipates trimming trees along 2,600 miles of electric lines in its 24-county service territory, which includes all or portions of Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette and Westmoreland counties. The initiative is...
Checks stolen from Mt. Pleasant area auto dealer
State police are looking for a man they say stole checks from Mt. Pleasant Auto Sales along Route 31 in East Huntingdon and cashed a forged check for $2,970. John R. Bandemer Jr., owner of Mt. Pleasant Auto Sales, said his signature on the check was forged and the suspect...
