Jeff Himler stories, Page 137
Keystone Park sewage suggestion: Spread cost among Derry Township authority customers
Many, but far from all, who attended an informational meeting last week voiced support for a proposed project that would extend public sewer lines and a recreational trail through Derry Township, from New Alexandria to Keystone State Park. The problem supporters of the project are faced with: How to pay...
Greensburg bridal salon joins gown giveaway for service members
Military service members and first responders who are planning to tie the knot will have a chance to walk down the aisle in style without busting their budget, thanks to Operation Wedding Gown. Greensburg’s MB Bride & Special Occasion is partnering with national nonprofit Brides Across America to offer free...
Marco’s Pizza closes, Family Video winding down operations in Latrobe
Marco’s Pizza restaurant in Latrobe closed Monday, and the adjacent Family Video store is set to end operations by the end of June. The phase-out of the two related stores is a result of the sale of the property they share on Depot Street, according to Stephanie Miller, assistant manager...
Greater Latrobe bids superintendent farewell with tuneful tributeVideo
Greater Latrobe School Board provided Superintendent Judith Swigart a glowing sendoff Tuesday at her final public meeting with the school directors before her July 31 retirement. The tributes to Swigart’s nearly 11-year tenure leading the district included remarks by school board President Eric Hauser, a standing ovation, an impromptu vocal...
More drama surfaces as Greensburg woman’s lease of ‘Dance Moms’ studio ends
Filming for season 8 of Lifetime channel’s “Dance Moms” has concluded, but a different drama is unfolding behind the scenes at the Penn Hills dance studio where Abby Lee Miller became a reality TV star. A rift has developed between Miller and a former dance student who has leased the...
Greensburg police warn of ransomware attack on businesses
Greensburg police are advising area businesses and residents not to open unfamiliar or suspicious emails after reporting that several local businesses were subjected to ransomware attacks on Tuesday. One business in the city was among those that had files corrupted and encrypted in the attack, police said. Hackers requested that...
Greater Latrobe OKs 1-mill tax hike, $57M budget
Greater Latrobe School District property owners will pay an additional 1 mill of taxes to help support a 2019-20 district budget of $57 million. The board this week adopted a final version of the spending plan by a 7-1 vote, with Merle Musick absent. Board member Michael O’Barto cast the...
3 killed in Fayette County crash
A man, a woman and a 4-year-old child were killed Tuesday afternoon when their pickup truck collided with a tri-axle truck along Route 21 in Fayette County, state police said. Officials weren’t able yet to identify the victims, but Fayette County Coroner Phillip Reilly indicated they were related, including an...
Supporters fear for Keystone Park project, plan informational meeting
Supporters of a project that would extend public sewage service and a recreational trail to Keystone State Park plan to meet next week in an effort to keep the underfunded project from being canceled. The informational meeting, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the New Alexandria Community Center,...
Homemade food a highlight of Latrobe firefighters’ fair
Latrobe Fire Department’s Goodwill Hose Company No. 1 will holds its annual fair Monday through Saturday at the fire station, at Alexandria and Oak streets. The event, held from 5 to 11 p.m. each day, has been a Latrobe tradition for more than a century. It includes bingo, games and...
Fort Ligonier board names former trustee interim director
A former member of the Fort Ligonier Board of Trustees has been named interim executive director of the historic site and museum in Ligonier. Henry C. Scully, 59, will move into the role Monday, working alongside current director Annie Urban, who is set to leave July 31 to become executive...
Unity clears way for dance studio formerly run by ‘Dance Moms’ star to move to Crabtree
Unity supervisors have granted a conditional use for the former Carbone’s Restaurant, clearing the way for the building’s owner — DeFabo Properties — to lease a portion of the building as a dance studio. Appolonia Leake, a graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Saint Vincent College, is looking to...
Unity supervisors consider GetGo move to former Arnold Palmer dealership site
The site of the shuttered Arnold Palmer Motors dealership along Route 30 in Unity soon may be active again. Township officials are considering a plan by Giant Eagle to move its GetGo convenience store and gas station from Mountain Laurel Plaza, just to the west along the highway’s eastbound lanes,...
Ceiling section falls, injures man in Derry Township apartment
A man was taken to a local hospital when a section of ceiling fell on him late Thursday in an apartment building on Lincoln Avenue in Derry Township. Bradenville fire Chief Mark Piantine said a three-foot-square piece of ceiling fell down in a “freak accident,” striking the man in a...
Wireless service in Unity villages to get boost
Residents in the Whitney area who have trouble with internet and cell phone connections could see improvement through a broadband service provider’s plan to install several “booster” antennae. The Unity Township Supervisors on Thursday approved a franchise agreement allowing ExteNet to install the wireless boosters at six sites in and...
Vehicle flips in Mt. Pleasant Township, sends man to hospital
A 45-year-old man was injured when his vehicle overturned Thursday evening in Mt. Pleasant Township. The crash was reported shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Fry Hollow Road, just off Route 819. The man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, according to a Westmoreland County emergency dispatch supervisor. Traffic...
Study: Pennsylvania in lower half of states for life expectancy
Pennsylvania ranks in the lower half of states in life expectancy, and is in third place when measuring the rate of drug overdose deaths, according to a new study. “Life Expectancy In Every U.S. State,” released this week by SeniorLiving.org, is based on reports issued last year by the Centers...
Greater Latrobe eyes upgrade of 3 softball fields
Greater Latrobe School District is considering upgrading three softball fields at a cost of nearly $38,000. Used by the district and community teams, they include a junior high competition field at Rotary Park in Youngstown and fields at Baggaley and Mountain View elementary schools. Business administrator Dan Watson said the...
Westmoreland Airport Authority director eases back into work while recovering from transplant
Executive Director Gabe Monzo on Tuesday participated in his first Westmoreland County Airport Authority meeting since undergoing a liver transplant April 9. “We’re glad to have you back,” said authority Chairman Don Rossi. “I’ve been through a lot the last six months. It’s been quite the experience,” Monzo said. But,...
Arnold Palmer airport HVAC update set, runway widening options eyed
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is expected to get updated heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment this summer, but planned widening of the airport runway won’t begin until September, at the earliest. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority on Tuesday approved contracts for both projects at the Unity airport. McCarl’s Preferred Service...
Latrobe council considers proposal for alcohol sales at banana split fest
Organizers of Latrobe’s Great American Banana Split Celebration want to sell alcoholic beverages at the annual festival — a proposal city council could vote on by early July. Isaac McDaniel, director of the Aug. 23-25 event for the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, told council members the idea...
Latrobe parking garage to get summer repairs
It’s been seven years since Latrobe’s municipal parking garage received any major attention, but that’s set to change this summer under a contract council approved Monday for repairs to the structure. Pullman-Services submitted a low bid of $68,692 to address deteriorating items in the garage situated between Weldon and Spring...
Latrobe, Derry Township pursue study of flooding along Sulphur Run
Latrobe and Derry Township are jointly pursuing a federally-funded hydraulic study that could help identify the best methods for controlling flooding in the Sulphur Run watershed that crosses through the neighboring municipalities. Heavy rainfall last June 20 triggered flooding of the stream that damaged businesses at the Lincoln Road Plaza...
Latrobe looks for new finance director, promotes veteran mechanic
Holly Peton attended her last Latrobe Council meeting Monday in the roles of city secretary and director of finance and administration. Peton, who joined the office staff in December 2017, ends her work for the city on Tuesday as she moves on to other employment. “I’m moving on to another...
Forbes State Forest tour will focus on management of Fayette division
Tuesday is the deadline to register for a free tour Saturday in the Braddock Division of Forbes State Forest. Organized by the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association, the ninth annual field trip to the state forest is set for 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and is open to the public....
