Jeff Himler stories, Page 126
Westmoreland board certifies county election results; Kopas shut-out official
The Westmoreland County Board of Elections on Wednesday certified results of Nov. 5 state, county and school races, with no change in winners from initial, unofficial returns. In the county commissioners’ race, each of the four candidates was credited with some additional votes, but incumbent Democrat Ted Kopas remained shut...
PennDOT needs more snow plow drivers in Westmoreland County
PennDOT needs to hire another 25 seasonal snow plow operators in Westmoreland County, with early winter weather on the horizon. It currently has 13 on the roster. About 100 seasonal plow drivers normally are hired to help treat and clear roads throughout District 12 — including Westmoreland, Fayette, Greene and...
Latrobe OKs 2-year contract, $75K salary for new city manager
Latrobe will pay its new city manager $75,000 a year, council members publicly divulged Monday in ratifying John Antinori’s hiring and setting terms of his employment. Council unanimously approved a two-year contract for Antinori, who was named at council’s Nov. 12 meeting to fill the vacant manager post. City officials...
Recent Mt. Pleasant Area grad, newlywed loses battle with childhood cancer
Friends, family and many supporters are mourning the death of Brady Hunker of Mt. Pleasant Township, who lost his battle with a rare childhood cancer. Hunker, 18, who married his high school sweetheart, the former Mollie Landman, this summer after receiving his diploma in June from Mt. Pleasant Area Senior...
Arnold Palmer runway widening to begin at night thanks to $1.5M FAA grant
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority got some more help from the federal government to widen the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Late last week, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a grant of up to $1.5 million for the runway improvement, supplementing $11.1 million in federal dollars previously approved for...
Derry Township dancers to perform in Disney World show in early December
Students at a Derry Township dance studio will get a behind-the-scenes look at Disney World next month when they perform in two production numbers at the Orlando theme park. The Dance Alley will send 29 dancers, ages 7 to 18, to the park Dec. 6-8. They auditioned to join 800...
Trafford Legion to serve community Thanksgiving meal
Trafford American Legion Post 331 is preparing to serve a Thanksgiving Day dinner for residents in the community who may not have anywhere to go for a meal on the holiday. The dinner is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at 216 Cavitt Ave., Trafford, and will include turkey,...
Fr. Paul Taylor notes technology’s impact as he settles into presidency at Saint Vincent College
Fr. Paul Taylor, who took on the role of 18th president of Saint Vincent College in July, said the college must stay current with advances in technology — in the resources and in the courses it offers its students. “We face ever-changing needs for our students and alumni,” Taylor said...
Donations, volunteers needed for random holiday gift giveaway around Latrobe, Greensburg
Faith Forward Ministries is seeking volunteers and donated items to help it carry out its Random Gifts of Kindness holiday project. The Latrobe-based nonprofit human services organization intends to spread holiday cheer by handing out donated presents to random recipients on Dec. 17 in the Latrobe and Greensburg areas. The...
Latrobe’s Holly Jolly Christmas features Santa, gingerbread house contest
Gingerbread will be a featured ingredient in this year’s annual Holly Jolly Christmas in Latrobe. A gingerbread house contest is part of the downtown event, to be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7. Also, children will have the opportunity to make a gingerbread cookie craft, an activity...
Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley chamber office returns to downtown LatrobeVideo
The Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce marked its recent return to downtown Latrobe with a grand opening celebration for its new office and visitors center. The Wednesday evening event coincided with a Business After Hours gathering at the chamber’s Neighborhood Visitor and Information Center at 811 Ligonier St....
Vietnam veteran was devoted to country, fellow service members
The two years Skip Hornbake spent with the Marines during the Vietnam War were just the beginning of a life of service. “He never stopped serving his country,” said son Thomas Gauthier. “He always felt he had to give back, donate time, money and anything he could. He would always...
Recalled Breakstone’s cottage cheese may contain plastic, metal pieces
Kraft Heinz Foods has recalled 9,500 cases of its Breakstone’s cottage cheese because the product might contain pieces of red plastic and metal. The company said it issued the voluntary recall after a consumer reported finding a piece of red plastic in a container of the cottage cheese. According to...
Latrobe dance academy teens to perform in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Nineteen members of Latrobe’s Laurel Valley Academy of Dance will show off their moves next week before a national television audience watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The local teen dancers were among about 600 selected from studios and schools across the country to join the parade lineup as part of...
Unity rings in holiday season with senior luncheon, tree-lighting
Unity Township will kick off the holiday season Dec. 6 with a luncheon for seniors and an evening tree-lighting ceremony. The luncheon, open to area residents age 50 or older and their guests, will be served at noon at Giannilli’s II restaurant on Route 30 westbound, just west of the...
Members sought for Westmoreland solar co-opVideo
A nonprofit that organized solar power co-ops in neighboring counties is looking to do the same in Westmoreland County. Solar United Neighbors initiated more than 200 solar co-ops across the country, including two in Allegheny County, one in Indiana County and another that operates in both Beaver and Butler counties....
Unity holds tax line for 2020, looks to increase reward in arson investigation
Unity supervisors said they intend to hold the line on township taxes under a $7 million budget proposed for next year. The township’s general real estate tax, which is set to remain at 2.2 mills, is expected to generate about $630,000 in revenue. A separate 2-mill tax that supports local...
Driver injured when rig overturns along I-70 in South Huntingdon
Emergency crews were preparing to fly a truck driver to a trauma center for treatment after his rig crashed over an embankment Thursday night along Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon. The eastbound tractor-trailer carrying empty plastic containers overturned as it descended the embankment that separates the interstate from Davis Road,...
O’Barto to start work as Unity roadmaster before returning as supervisor
Mike O’Barto, approved by Unity voters to return in January to his previous role of township supervisor, will resume his former appointed job — township roadmaster — more than a month earlier. Chairman John Mylant and fellow supervisors Ed Poponick and Tom Ulishney, who ended his term on the three-member...
Tax settlement sets reduced $6.5M value for Unity Lowe’s store
Greater Latrobe School Board this week agreed to settle a tax assessment appeal by Lowe’s Home Centers, which operates a store at the Wildcat Commons plaza in Unity. The settlement reflects a new fair market value of $6.5 million for the Lowe’s property, compared to a previous value of $7.2...
Greater Latrobe adds curriculum, software support position
Greater Latrobe School District is looking to fill a newly created position in the central administration office. The school board this week approved creation of the role of curriculum and software services assistant, the latest move in a realignment of staff and shifting of workloads in the central office. In...
Westmoreland Historical Society unveils artifacts at new education centerVideo
Fashions, furniture and artifacts from the past are among items the public will get to explore Friday when the Westmoreland Historical Society holds an open house at its recently opened education center on the grounds of Historic Hanna’s Town. The center has been opening in phases at the Hempfield historical...
Excela Westmoreland Hospital spreads kindness with cardigans for newborns
A half dozen babies born at Excela Westmoreland Hospital this week were dressed in pint-size cardigans for the trip home with their families. It was part of the hospital’s celebration of Wednesday’s World Kindness Day, which encouraged all to don sweaters reminiscent of the iconic cardigans worn by beloved children’s...
Latrobe seeks grant to shore up Loyalhanna embankment, eyes 2020 budget
Latrobe officials are hoping a state grant will offset some of the city’s cost for repairing an eroded embankment where Unity Run empties into Loyalhanna Creek. City council on Tuesday agreed to apply for a $151,282 grant through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. If approved, it will...
Latrobe hires local native, former IBM manager as new city manager
Latrobe Council selected a local native with management experience at New York City firms as the next city manager. Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to hire John Antinori of Unity, a 1983 Greater Latrobe graduate, for the vacant post, pending agreement on a contract. Councilman Gerald Baldonieri was absent. City...
