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NEW FLORENCE, Pa. — New Florence Volunteer Fire Company is left reeling from the recent loss of not only its Fire Chief Keith Boring, but three auxiliary members. “We’re doing the best we can with a devastating situation, it’s never going to be the same,” President Brandon Teeter said. Amy is the wife of firefighter Bernie Sapp. She was a dedicated auxiliary member of the department and a mom to three young kids. She passed away from COVID-19 last week. Days later, her mother, Connie, and sister, Bonnie, followed. The sudden loss is why this department is coming together to...

For the first time in more than a quarter century, Westmoreland County will have a new top prosecutor. With 100% of the county’s 307 precincts reporting Wednesday morning, Republican Nicole Ziccarelli erased an early lead held by six-term Democratic incumbent John Peck and claimed the race for district attorney. Peck moved out to an early 6,000-vote lead by virtue of first 12,700 mail-in ballots reported by county election officials. Totals from votes cast in person on Election Day saw Ziccarelli steadily narrow the gap and with more than a third of the vote counted moved into the lead.

President Trump is scheduled to host a "Keep America Great Rally" at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pennsylvania around 7:00 p.m. EST.

Pride, patriotism and service are literally at the heart of Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania . A towering obelisk, topped with a statue of a World War I doughboy, looms over the traffic diamond at the heart of Main Street. Off to the right, a fountain bubbles in the midst of a spotless park featuring a Victorian-style gazebo and a gleaming black granite wall, bearing the names of about 2,000 borough residents who have served in the U.S. military. Another 103 names were just added as applications flowed in from local families looking to honor those who have served. The spirit that...

The case of a former Disney Channel actor charged in Salt Lake City with trying to entice a 13-year-old boy into having sex has now gone federal. A federal grand jury on Wednesday returned an indictment charging Stoney Westmoreland, 48, of Los Angeles, with one count of coercion and enticement. A summons will be issued for him to appear in federal court in Salt Lake City, according to the U.S. Attorney for Utah's office. Westmoreland was previously charged in 3rd District Court with enticing a minor, a second-degree felony; four counts of dealing in harmful materials to a minor, a...

A 48-year-old Disney Channel actor on a family show that films in Utah was arrested Friday after allegedly arranging online to have sex with someone he believed was 13 years old. Stoney Westmoreland was arrested for investigation of enticing a minor by internet or text, a second-degree felony, and four counts of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony, court documents state.

A Philadelphia man’s freedom from the Westmoreland County Prison on Tuesday was short-lived. Moments after Thomas Lee Williams, 36, was released from the Hempfield jail at about 6:15 p.m., police said he attacked a West Leechburg woman in the parking lot, took her sport-utility vehicle and fled with her 1-year-old grandson in the back seat. Williams crashed 2 miles away in Youngwood about 15 minutes later, ran into a wooded area and was eventually apprehended, according to county Park Police Chief Kirk Nolan. Williams was back behind bars Wednesday on $250,000 bail. Investigators will be examining surveillance video from outside...

WESTMORELAND, Tenn. - A string of mountain lion sightings across this area have left some residents on edge and now another sighting of the incredibly large cat has been caught on a trail camera. Eric Flitcroft owns about 70 acres of land on the edge of Macon and Sumner Counties. One of Eric’s friends uses some of the land to hunt and has a trail camera setup in the woods that is motion activated. Last week, Eric was looking through still images on the camera when in between images of deer and bobcats he spotted what wildlife official believe could...

Updated 10 minutes ago A flock of uninvited chickens surrounded Jeff McLaughlin and his three grandsons as they enjoyed lunch at a picnic table at Hempfield's Tastyland. The boys didn't mind. The freeloading fowl were a highlight of their trip. “We love the chickens,” said 6-year-old Liam Bitz. His cousin, Owen Shuey, 7, agreed. “I'm going to go pet one after I finish this fry,” he said. Owen tried to keep his word but the chicken had other plans, leading Owen on an unsuccessful chase around the table, much to the amusement of Owen's twin brother, Ethan. The chickens have...

*Update: NBC affiliate WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh is reporting the officer is from the New Florence Police Department. NEW FLORENCE, Pa. Police said a gunman is on the loose in the area of New Florence, Westmoreland Co., just 13 miles west of Johnstown. Sources tell 6 News an officer was responding to a domestic dispute at a house on the 100 block of Ligonier Street in New Florence. Those sources said the officer was shot and found in the yard of a burning house. State Police and many other agencies, including Johnstown Police are converging on the location. Sources told 6...

DETROIT, MI - Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson's account of being offered a full scholarship at West Point was called into question this week after the military academy said he never applied to the school. Carson admitted Friday that he never applied to West Point. Rather, the neurosurgeon from Detroit said he was informally offered a scholarship by a top U.S. Army general, but decided not to pursue it. However, The Detroit News reports that the encounter Carson was referring to, and that is described in his best-selling 1990 autobiography "Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story," does not match historical...

Report: Americans left unprepared for defense Vid at link

So here's the deal. My wife and I have been long time volunteers at the local GOP hq. and were offered a couple of tickets for a Romney campaign appearance in our county tomorrow. The details are at the link.I was not going to miss work, but my wife wanted to go in the worst way and then I found out this is going to be a fairly small gathering, 200 people or so.While not guaranteed, of course, there is at least a decent chance we will have the opportunity to ask him at least one question or give out...

Republicans authored a historic shift in Westmoreland County government on Tuesday. Charles Anderson and Tyler Courtney secured a majority on the board of commissioners for the first time since 1956. It also appears that Republicans swept all five row offices, defeating four longtime incumbents, according to unofficial election results. Two-term incumbent Controller Carmen Pedicone, potentially the last Democrat standing, lost by 262 votes to write-in candidate Jeff Balzer. "We worked so hard for this. It's just going to be a great victory. I am so happy, you don't even know," said Chairwoman Elaine Gowaty of the county Republican Committee. "I...

All but one precinct reporting now and it appears the GOP has taken control of the county commission for the first time since the Eisenhower administration.This is a county so Democrat heavy that Walter Mondale carried it during the Reagan landslide in 1984.But every row office now appears to have flipped to the GOP with only one race too close to call: The County Controller whose credentials were so good that even the county's GOP leaning daily newspaper endorsed the Democrat.

Robin Aaron thought it was the end. A ferocious storm ripped through Westmoreland County on Wednesday afternoon, leveling some houses and peeling roofs off others, tearing tops off trees and gouging the auditorium and athletic field at Hempfield Area Senior High School. As chunks of hail rained down, a churning funnel cloud screamed through Sewickley Township, leveling six homes on General Braddock Road. "I was outside taking my dogs in. I looked at the sky. It was getting real bad," Aaron said. "I grabbed my daughter and called to my son. ... We were all curled into a ball (in...

WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson plans to sit with Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss expects to be next to Sen. Mark Warner, the Democrat from Virginia. ... Others are not. “I ... believe very firmly that it is a trap and a ruse that Democrats are proposing,” Republican Rep. Paul Broun of Athens said on a radio show when asked about plans for the symbolic sit-together some Democrats and Republicans are planning for the speech. "(Democrats) want silence from Republicans ... and sitting together being kissy-kissy is just another way to try to silence...

A decade ago, Democrats dominated in Westmoreland County, holding a large voter registration edge and controlling nearly every state and county office. Fortunes have shifted so dramatically that after Tuesday's election, even Democrats have a tough time envisioning many wins in the party's future. "I don't think in the short term they can turn it around," said Tom Ceraso, a former Democratic county commissioner.

A prominent Republican congressman raised the specter Friday of a government shutdown if the GOP wins control of the House. Speaking to hundreds of activists gathered at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington for the Faith and Freedom Conference, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) urged the audience to stand with House Republicans when they go toe-to-toe with President Barack Obama. Westmoreland said his caucus — presuming it takes control of the House come November — aims to pass spending bills that Obama is likely to veto. He predicted Republicans would not be able to override such a veto, creating a standoff that...

It was a beautiful day in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Clear and sunny, mid-60's and the leaves really needed raking. Our toilet needs new insides and our washing machine is busted.But Mrs. Vigilanteman and I put it all off to volunteer at GOP Hq in downtown Greensburg, TEL 724-836-0570. The food was great, the people working there were even better. One lady from England just got her U.S. citizenship and is putting it to good use. There are people drifting in and out all day helping with phone calls, but they are still only running about 75% capacity.I hate phone solicitors,...