North Strabane Raids Spa

June 23, 2024 4:05 am

North Strabane Township Police have arrested two people after a search warrant was executed at the Excellence Massage and Spa in the 1000 block of Park Place Drive. Police say they have been receiving complaints about criminal activity at the location. Yingying Yu and Xiu Ying Chen were arrested on prostitution charges. Police are asking that anyone with information about such activity to contact them.

North Franklin To Debut New Municipal Building

June 21, 2024 4:01 am

North Franklin Township will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony today to debut their new municipal building. The new center is located at 345 Franklin Farms Road. The building is a $4 million dollar project that is 7000 square feet. Not only will it house township offices, it will also have a multi-purpose room available for public use. The new building is situated next to the township’s 89 acre waterside park. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 11:00 this morning.

And…The Heat Goes On…

June 21, 2024 3:40 pm

((AP) – A relentless heat wave continues to bake most of the United States, with numerous areas expected to see record-breaking temperatures. Forecasters were also warning there would likely be little relief through the weekend for most areas. The steamiest conditions on Friday were expected in parts of Ohio and Indiana, where heat indexes were expected to soar past 100 degrees Fahrenheit and remain there most of the day. But the Midwest was not the only area being baked, as heat and excessive heat warnings and advisories has been issued across the northeast, the mid-Atlantic and in some western states. Millions of residents across the country have had their lives disrupted by the heat’s intensity.  (Photo:  AP)

SCOTUS Upholds Federal Gun Control Law

June 21, 2024 3:41 pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has upheld a federal gun control law that’s intended to protect domestic violence victims. President Joe Biden praised the decision, saying that “no one who has been abused should have to worry about their abuser getting a gun,” The justices ruled 8-1 Friday in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. The justices reversed a ruling from the federal appeals court in New Orleans that had struck down the law. It’s the justices’ first Second Amendment case since they expanded gun rights in 2022. The case involved a Texas man accused of hitting his girlfriend and threatening to shoot her.

Jewelry Store In Uniontown Robbed

June 21, 2024 12:56 pm

State Police in Uniontown say two suspects got away with $60,000 in jewelry during an armed robbery in South Union Township. The Kay Jewelry store at 201 Walmart Drive was robbed just before 7 p.m. Wednesday. Police say two suspects entered the store one minute before it closed and asked to see a two-karat diamond. One of the suspects showed a store employees a pistol in his waistband, state police said. They had store employees take them to a safe, where they stole 25 LEO diamonds, Neil Lane jewelry and various lab-created diamonds worth about $60,000. Both were dressed in all black, including black ball caps. One suspect had a cap with a broken heart picture with the writing “no love” in red. Anyone with information is asked call State Police Uniontown at 724-439-7111 or PSP Tips at 1-800-4PA-TIPS. All callers to PSP Tips could be eligible for a cash reward.

Cecil Pulls Gas & Oil Ordinance Discussion

June 21, 2024 5:00 am

The Cecil Township Planning Commission disappointed approximately 60 residents by pulling an agenda item at the beginning of the meeting. Residents of Lawrence and the Georgetown Estates community came out to have their views heard on a discussion regarding amendments to the township’s Oil and Gas Development ordinance. According to Planning Commission Chairman Jason Krut, Township Supervisors communicated to them that it was their preference to not have the item considered by the commission. When the announcement was made, Cecil Township Assistant Manager Jacque King announced that the planned public hearing on the ordinance on July 1 will be continued and no vote will be taken on the ordinance at the supervisors meeting that night. The Planning Commission did take about an hour of public comment on the ordinance. The main point that residents wished to express was that they would like to have a 2500 foot setback minimum from structures for well pad development in the revised ordinance. Under the current proposal, those communities would be within 1700 feet of two possible proposed pad sites. Township Supervisors Frank Egizio and Darlene Barni attended the meeting. Neither would offer an explanation as to why supervisors did not want the ordinance to be discussed. Supervisors will meet on July 1. It is anticipated that more clarity will be offered on the status of the ordinance at that meeting.

Suspects In First National Bank Robbery In Custody

June 20, 2024 2:28 am

The North Strabane Township Police Department has announced that two individuals wanted in connection with the robbery, on June 5th, at the First National Bank on Route Nineteen, have been arrested and are in custody.  Police say Brandon Scerri and Kayla Pruett, both of Wellsburg, West Virginia, were arrested on Thursday near New York City.  they say Scerri was taken into custody after robbing another bank there.  Police say the arrest was made possible by working together with the FBI, The U.S. Marshals Service, Washington City Police, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and other local police departments..  Authorities have said that they believe Scerri was the one who entered the bank and demanded money. They say the two were identified using their tattoos and driver’s license photos, along with the description of their car, a blue-colored Ford Focus.  Scerri got away with more than seventy-four-hundred-dollars in the robbery.  Scerri has also been named as a suspect in the robbery, two days earlier, of the Washington Financial Bank on Wiley Avenue in Washington.  (Photo:  North Strabane Township Police)

PONY World Series Lands New Title Sponsor

June 20, 2024 2:15 am

The 2024 Pony League World Series has a new title sponsor.  Southpointe-based Printscape has put its name on the annual tournament that brings teams from across the country and from around the world to Washington County.  It replaces Dicks Sporting Goods.  Printscape owner John Dziak called the move a “no-brainer”.  The company has been a long supporter of the tournament for years.  World Series Tournaments, Inc President and Chairman Nathan Voytek only half-jokingly said the deal is especially great given all the signage needed at Lew Hays Pony Field.  Voytek says they are “ecstatic to have Printscape on board”.  He cited their “commitment to our community and athletics”.  Printscape also has the naming rights to the Arena in Southpointe.  The Pony League World Series will be played from August 9 through the 14th.  Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula says the annual event means some $6 million in economic impact for the County with 30,000 people visiting each year.

Pennsylvania Couple Drowns In Florida

June 21, 2024 5:51 pm

HUTCHINSON ISLAND, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a Pennsylvania couple vacationing in Florida with their six children drowned after they were caught in a rip current while swimming. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office identified the couple in a Facebook post as Brian Warter, 51, and 48-year-old Erica Wishard. Investigators say the couple and two of their mostly teenage children were caught in the current on Hutchinson Island, along Florida’s southeast coast. The children broke free but the parents were unable to swim out of the current. A crisis intervention deputy is assisting the children while other family members travel to meet them in Florida.

Pirates & Sheetz Announce Jersey Patch Partnership

June 20, 2024 10:45 am

The Pirates and Sheetz have announced a multi-year partnership in which the convenience chain will serve as the team’s first jersey patch partner. As part of the agreement, the Sheetz logo will be featured on the sleeves of the Pirates home and away jerseys beginning with tonight’s game against Tampa Bay at PNC Park.  “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Sheetz and the Sheetz family,” said Bob Nutting, Pirates Chairman. “Like the Pirates, Sheetz is an iconic local brand that is a part of everyday life in Pittsburgh and throughout the Western Pennsylvania region. Sheetz is a family-owned company that shares in our strong commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others in our community. Sheetz is the perfect partner to be featured on our first-ever jersey patch.” Sheetz has more than 730 store locations and over 25,000 employees and was founded as a small family business in 1952 when Bob Sheetz purchased one of his father’s dairy stores in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After 70 years, the company serves more than 1.5 million customers a day across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.