Megan Tomasic stories, Page 18

Megan Tomasic
Megan Tomasic 724-850-1203
Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Hempfield Supervisor John Silvis appointed to 2-year term on board
A vacant seat on the Hempfield Board of Supervisors will be filled by John Silvis, a current board member whose term was set to expire in December. Supervisors during Monday’s meeting unanimously voted to appoint Silvis to the two-year position that was left vacant after former Supervisor Rob Ritson resigned...
82-year-old man killed in South Huntingdon crash
An 82-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle crash Sunday evening in South Huntingdon, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth Bacha. John W. Labasky Jr., of Sewickley Township, was pronounced dead at Excela Health Frick Hospital, Bacha said. According to a coroner’s report, Labasky was driving west on Stants Road...
Pa. Rep. Nelson, parents file suit against 4 Westmoreland school districts over mask mandate
A group of parents, along with state Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, filed a lawsuit against several local school districts alleging the state-issued mask mandate is unconstitutional. The suit was filed in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas against Hempfield Area, Norwin, Penn-Trafford and Kiski Area school districts by a group of...
Hempfield looking to staffing and incentive programs for fire department
In an effort to avoid actually hiring a firefighter, Hempfield officials want to offer money to spur volunteers to respond to emergencies and regularly report to fire stations. The goal of the staffing and incentive programs is to bolster responses from volunteers and avoid a potential morale sting of bringing...
5 vie for Hempfield Area school board
Hempfield Area voters will determine the fate of five candidates seeking four school board seats in next month’s election. The pool is made up of three incumbents, all of whom are cross-filed with both parties, and two newcomers. “I’m excited for the people that are on the board,” said newcomer...
Greensburg council race see GOP incumbents facing challenge from VOW-backed Democrats
Two Republican incumbents hope to keep their seats on Greensburg City Council as they face off against two Democratic challengers in the Nov. 2 general election. Council members Gregory Mertz and Donnie Zappone Jr. will face newcomers Ceil Kessler and Yukie King, who are both backed by Voice of Westmoreland,...
Activists continue to protest gas wells in Penn Township 
A yearslong battle against fracking in Penn Township continued Thursday when a local environmental group asked the state to deny permits for two unconventional gas wells. Fifteen members of Protect PT protested outside the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s southwest regional office on Washington’s Landing in Pittsburgh. They expressed concerns...
Job fair scheduled for open positions at Live! Casino Pittsburgh
Officials with Live! Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall are hosting a job fair next week as they work to fill several open positions. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at the casino’s recruitment center, located on the first floor of...
Report: Pennsylvania casino revenues top $415M in September
Pennsylvania casinos generated more than $415.6 million in September, a 46% increase compared to revenues generated during the same period last year, state regulators said. In all, casinos saw $130 million more in revenues last month than in September 2020, when they generated $285.5 million, according to a report from...
Hempfield school board member balks at mask scofflaws as opposition to mandate continues
A Hempfield Area School Board member left last week’s in-person meeting and joined virtually after several people in the audience were asked to wear their masks correctly. “I’m not putting up with this,” Jeanne Smith said as she left the Oct. 18 session. She later joined the meeting online. Her...
Dispatch: Coroner called to scene of multi-vehicle crash in Fayette County
The Fayette County coroner was called to the scene of a multi-vehicle crash in German Township Monday night, a Fayette 911 dispatcher said. Crews responded around 4 p.m. to 1865 McClellandtown Road for reports of the crash involving four vehicles. Information regarding any additional injuries was not immediately available. The...
A peek inside Southwest Greensburg’s new marijuana dispensary
Terri Kroh doesn’t question whether medical marijuana is beneficial. She sees it almost daily through her role as medical director at Maitri Medicinals, which is opening a new medical marijuana dispensary in Southwest Greensburg. “It’s very, very rewarding,” Kroh said. “You see so many lives changed, individuals that come in...
Gateway signage to be part of Greensburg GetGo project
Gateway signage for the City of Greensburg will be included at a new GetGo fuel station and convenience store slated to be built at the former Family Video store along S. Main Street. The project, which will be located at 531 S. Main St., consists of tearing down the Family...
Man in stable condition after being rescued from hillside in South Side
A man is in stable condition after police say he was dragged over a hillside with his vehicle Friday evening. First responders received reports of the incident in the 3400 block of E. Carson Street shortly before 5 p.m., according to Pittsburgh Public spokeswoman Cara Cruz. Witnesses told members police...
Mount Oliver man’s body pulled from Monongahela River in Pittsburgh
First responders recovered a Mount Oliver man’s body from the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh on Friday evening, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers responded to the river near the Liberty Bridge around 6:15 p.m. after they received reports that a body was spotted in the water, according to Pittsburgh Public spokeswoman...
Medical marijuana dispensary to open in Southwest Greensburg
A medical marijuana dispensary is coming to Southwest Greensburg. Maitri Medicinals will open in a strip mall located at 1075 S. Main St., near the intersection of Route 30 and Route 119. A ribbon cutting is planned Monday. This will be the third medical marijuana dispensary opened by Maitri Medicinals,...
Greensburg woman turns 103, recalls World War II service
It isn’t likely that Madeline Buchek will forget the pride she had while serving as a telephone switchboard operator in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. The Greensburg resident recalled the feeling while sitting in her home this week, just days before she celebrated her 103rd birthday with...
9 people homeless after fire erupts at home in Hempfield
A house fire in Hempfield on Wednesday evening displaced nine people, according to township fire Chief Tony Kovacic. In all, five adults and four children were impacted by the fire reported on the 400 block of Newport Drive around 6 p.m. Officials said the fire that began in the kitchen....
New roundabouts at I-70 exits spotlighted during tour
PennDOT’s ongoing Interstate 70 improvement projects were center stage this week during a tour that highlighted the importance of transportation funding. The tour took a group of state legislators, contractors and engineering consultants to several roundabouts in Sewickley Township and New Stanton while also stopping at a concrete plant to...
New Stanton Wastewater Treatment Plant solar farm goes live
A 12-acre solar farm that will power the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s New Stanton Wastewater Treatment Plant is complete. The project, located in Hempfield between Interstate 70 and Hunker-­Waltz Mill Road near New Stanton, consists of 10,950 double-sided panels that can catch light reflected from snow in the winter....
Greensburg appoints new detective within police force
Greensburg’s police department has a new detective. Patrolman Justin Scalzo was sworn into his new position during Monday’s city council meeting. Scalzo has been on Greensburg’s police force for eight years. He previously worked as a Jeannette police officer. During his time in Greensburg, Scalzo has worked as a handler...
Trout stocking begins for fall, winter 
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission began stocking trout this week in rivers, streams and lakes ahead of the fall and winter months. Trout stocking — which includes brown, brook and rainbow trout — typically begins in March and occurs year-round. This fall, stocking will largely take place throughout October,...
Report details little has changed at Pennsylvania casinos when it comes to worker diversity
A new report from state regulators shows that ethnic diversity among employees at Pennsylvania casinos hasn’t changed much in recent years. According to a report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the majority of employees across the state’s 16 licensed casinos are white, matching trends seen at the facilities for...
Rumor of threat against Plum High School unfounded, administration says
Rumors of a threat against the Plum Senior High School that spurred an investigation have no merit, a letter from administrators states. According to a letter from high school Principal Joe Fishell, several Safe2Say submissions and emails were received by the district regarding an alleged allegation that a student had...
‘Breaking the Cycle’ event aimed at bringing awareness to domestic violence 
A coalition of Westmoreland County organizers hopes to bring awareness to domestic violence through a community event at Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. The Breaking the Cycle event, held by organizers of Unity in the Community rallies, is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. It will bring together speakers like...


Editor's Picks

Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love

Washington townhouse on the market for $1,225,000
Folk legend Bruce Cockburn gives uplifting performance at City Winery
‘Champagne & Chapeaux’: Westmoreland Symphony’s annual soiree for a good cause
Jimmy Stewart’s P-51 Mustang stops in hometown for museum anniversary
More Editor's Picks >