Jeff Himler stories, Page 136
July 4 parade flyovers planned in Latrobe, Brentwood with WWII-era planes
An added level of excitement can be found in the skies above two area Fourth of July parades. Weather permitting, David Kahley of Greensburg and fellow pilot Dr. James Koch of Virginia plan to fly in close formation above parades in Brentwood and Latrobe. Each will pilot a restored World...
Family of flesh-eating bacteria victim urges caution in the water
Former Charleroi resident Carolyn “Lynn” Fleming liked to read, play word games and take trips to the beach. Unfortunately, a June 14 visit to Coquina Beach near Bradenton, Fla., with family members visiting from Pennsylvania, proved fatal when she stumbled, fell in the water and suffered a cut on her...
Keystone State Park bald eagle sightings part of regional resurgence
Eleven registered participants are planning to spend the first part of their Independence Day holiday on a morning paddling excursion Thursday on the lake at Keystone State Park. They’re hoping to spot two bald eagles that have been seen at the Derry Township park in recent months, as well as...
Westmoreland Historical Society library reopens at new centerVideo
Celebrities may turn to the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots” for help in tracing their family trees. People from all walks of life who are searching for information about their ancestors can once more take advantage of a local resource — the Westmoreland Historical Society’s Calvin E. Pollins Memorial...
Route 981 detour ahead as PennDOT plans to replace Latrobe bridge
A section of Route 981 in Latrobe will be closed for a few days, beginning July 12, so crews can remove a bridge over Unity Run and replace it with a box culvert deck. Route 981 (Lloyd Avenue) will be closed to traffic between Wimmerton Industrial Park and Linden Street....
Police seek man who robbed Unity BP gas station
State police are searching for a man who robbed a Unity gas station at gunpoint early Friday. The suspect brandished what appeared to be a small-caliber, semi-automatic pistol, pointing it at least twice at the cashier at the BP station, which is located between the eastbound and westbound lanes of...
Weather Service: High winds, hail a threat for northeastern Allegheny
The National Weather Service in Moon Township has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 7:45 p.m. Friday for northeastern Allegheny County. Locations impacted include Russellton and Curtisville sections of West Deer and McCandless, Hampton and Pine townships. The service reported a severe thunderstorm over Gibsonia at 7:22 p.m. The storm...
Ligonier golfers have drive to preserve D-Day legacyVideo
A former Latrobe resident’s love of golf and his regard for one of the most heroic acts of the Greatest Generation combined Friday to bring more than 100 men carrying golf clubs from all directions to Ligonier Township. The skirling sounds of the Laurel Highlanders pipes and drums and the...
N.J. man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting West Newton girl
A New Jersey man is charged with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl who went missing from her West Newton home Tuesday. Andrew X. Carnegie-Blackman, 23, of Highland Park, was arrested Thursday on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, criminal sexual contact and two counts each of sexual...
Latrobe 4th fest marks half century, heads for leadership transition
Spectators lining downtown Latrobe streets on Thursday to watch the annual 4th of July Celebration parade will have to wait until the end of the procession to view this year’s grand marshal. The celebration’s 30-member organizing committee, including longtime Chairwoman Carol Greenawalt of Latrobe, will collectively fill that honorary role,...
Pa. Turnpike expects 3.5% rise in Fourth holiday travel
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials expect more than 6 million motorists will travel on the toll road over an extended Independence Day holiday beginning Friday and continuing through July 7. Lower prices at the pump are a likely factor in that predicted traffic figure, which represents a 3.5% jump from the same...
Army, community bands join forces for Blairsville concert
The U.S. Army 28th Infantry Division Band based in Torrance will share the bill with the Blairsville Community Concert Band for a joint concert Thursday in Blairsville. The bands will perform separately and in combination, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Park amphitheater at West Market and Water...
Run/walk to set stage for Latrobe Fourth festivities
Preliminary activities for the annual Latrobe Fourth of July Celebration will head into the home stretch Friday, with the event’s 5-mile run and 2-mile walk. Beginning and ending at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium, the event is set for 7 p.m., rain or shine, with registration starting at 5 p.m. along Irving...
River search for missing West Newton teen called off after no results
A search of the Youghiogheny River near West Newton was called off late Tuesday night after crews did not find a teen who ran away from her home in the borough that afternoon. Firefighters from West Newton and Collinsburg deployed boats to the river after dogs from the Greensburg bloodhound...
Giant Eagle proposes expanded Unity GetGo with beer sales, car wash
Giant Eagle wants to sell beer and wine as well as add a drive-through car wash as part of an expanded GetGo convenience store proposed in Unity. Supervisors likely will vote on a conditional-use zoning approval at their July 18 meeting, township solicitor Gary Falatovich said. Giant Eagle made the...
Latrobe to allow alcohol sales at banana split festival
Visitors who are 21 or older will be able to buy and drink alcoholic beverages at this year’s Great American Banana Split Celebration in Latrobe. City Council on Monday agreed to allow vendors selected by event organizers to serve beer and wine at two designated locations along Main Street on...
2 state troopers, prisoner injured during trip to prison in Indiana County
Two state troopers and a prisoner were injured Monday afternoon on their way to the state prison in Indiana County. The troopers, who are assigned to the Indiana County station, and the prisoner, a 20-year-old man, suffered minor to moderate injuries inside the troopers’ unmarked patrol vehicle just before 12:30...
Greensburg woman accused of shouting racial slurs at group outside her apartment
A Greensburg woman is accused of directing racial slurs toward a group of people gathered outside her Eastmont Drive apartment. Greensburg police charged Fallon Eckenrode, 25, with ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct in the incident they say happened just before 10 p.m. on June 19 in the 700 block...
Pennsylvania Lottery struggles to attract bets on virtual sports games
The Pennsylvania Lottery has more than 1,850 outlets with screens displaying virtual animated football and auto races. The odds of finding someone watching a bet play out on the simulated sports action is pretty low. With a few exceptions, lottery licensees in the region report few customers are spending their...
Latrobe man, 82, honored for decades as firefighter, crossing guardVideo
Latrobe Elementary students experienced some major changes this past school year. Midway through the academic calendar, they started attending classes in a new school on Ligonier Street, several blocks away from the building it replaced. Though the surroundings shifted, familiar faces at the school remained — including crossing guard John...
Hempfield beef spread joins farmland preservation program
Westmoreland County’s Heinnickel family has added a new section of its multi-farm holdings to the state’s agricultural conservation easement purchase program. The family’s 39-acre Luxor Farm in Hempfield was among 47 farms, covering 3,561 acres in 21 counties, added this month to the farmland preservation program. The program taps federal,...
Dollar General to move into closing Latrobe video store
Dollar General is preparing for a move in Latrobe — one that will take it a block and a half from its current location on Ligonier Street to the building at Depot and Alexandria streets soon to be vacated by Family Video. Spokeswoman Angela Petkovic said Dollar General plans to...
New Stanton interchange repairs will detour traffic headed to Youngwood
PennDOT is preparing to transition to a new phase and a new detour in its ongoing update of concrete pavement and lighting at the Route 119 and Toll Route 66 interchange in New Stanton. Crews are expected by next week to reopen the ramp used by motorists heading from northbound...
Greater Latrobe OKs salary bump for facilities director outside of public vote
Greater Latrobe School District’s recently approved 2019-20 budget includes a one-time salary adjustment of nearly 8% for Kurt Thomas, the district’s director of facilities, operations and planning. The additional pay hike for Thomas, based on his abilities, was discussed as a budgetary item during a Feb. 26 school board retreat,...
Latrobe car cruise to benefit city police
A car cruise tonight in Latrobe will raise funds to assist the city’s police force. The E C Cruisers Car Club event is set for 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lil’ Cruisers Favorite Food and Ice Cream, 702 Industrial Boulevard. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 50...
