WESTMORELAND COUNTY CANDIDATES APPROVED BY STATE SENATE

Candidates to fill terms in the court of common pleas and the register of wills office were approved by the State senate on Tuesday.  The Trib reports that 43-year-old Jon Wian will take over the register of wills office from Katie Pecarchik.  Pecarchik assumed the job last September after Sherry Margetti Hamilton was demoted and forced to leave the office after a judge found her in contempt after failing to correct office issues.  Hempfield attorney Matt Schimizzi will fill the vacancy in the court of common pleas, which will return the county court to a full complement of 11 full-time judges.