Jeff Himler stories, Page 141
High school band to kick off Ligonier Diamond concerts
Ligonier Valley High School’s Concert and Jazz Bands and Percussion Ensemble are scheduled to perform May 26 in Ligonier’s Diamond Park, kicking off the town’s 70th Annual Summer Band Concert Series. Sponsored by the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce, the concerts are held at 7 p.m. Sundays at the park’s...
Meetings set for economic study of Laurel Highlands water improvements
Efforts to improve water quality in local streams create an estimated annual economic benefit of $278 million in the Loyalhanna Creek watershed. That’s according to the preliminary draft of a regional study, “Valuing Clean Water,” that looks to calculate such a figure for 21 sub-watersheds within the Loyalhanna-Conemaugh and Youghiogheny...
Somerset County crash kills Berlin man
A Berlin man was killed in a one-car crash Monday night in Somerset County. Travis Gage Beeman, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene on Brotherton Road in Brothersvalley Township, state police said. Beeman was driving north at about 11:14 p.m., north of Wills Church Road, when his Chevrolet Camaro...
Model train tour includes Latrobe, Derry Township stops
Seven stops, three of them new additions, are on the itinerary for the Ligonier Rail Road Association’s May 18 tour of local model railroad layouts. The association operates a rail museum in the restored Darlington Train Station in Ligonier Township. It decided not to hold a tour last year when...
Westmoreland airport director returns home after liver transplant
Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo reached a milestone in his recovery from a liver transplant when he returned to his home in Unity Monday. “It’s nice to be home,” Monzo said via telephone Tuesday afternoon. “Everything’s going good.” Though he is tired, he said, “I’m feeling really...
Ligonier Valley museums set date for free admission
The history and culture of eastern Westmoreland County will be on display at no charge Sunday as part of the annual Ligonier Valley Free Museum Day. Visitors will be welcomed with free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at six participating museums along the Route 30 and Route 711...
Westmoreland County visitor center at New Stanton hopes to drive tourism, repeat tripsVideo
Visitors headed north on Route 119 from the New Stanton exits of Interstate 70 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike have enjoyed a choice of coffee, chocolates or both at two businesses where the Garden Center Restaurant once stood. Now they’re able to learn about a host of other choices the area...
New Kensington re-enactor at home in Hanna’s Town
John Hans Philip Clingenschmidt served in an early Westmoreland County militia unit. Now, his great-great-great-great grandson is doing the same. Thomas Klingensmith, 64, of New Kensington is an ensign in the Independent Battalion Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, better known as Proctor’s Militia. The re-enactment group is modeled on a unit of...
Active West Newton retiree had passion for Croatian roots
Michaelene Nohavicka was full of life, and the life she lived was a full one. “Even at 70, she was still going like crazy,” said her daughter, Beth Lengvarsky. Retirement, following a series of careers, found Mrs. Nohavicka still a dynamo of energy. A driving force at the former Yukon...
‘Harry Potter’ among selections for Westmoreland youth orchestra concert
The Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra program will present its spring concert May 8 at Seton Hill University’s Performing Arts Center in Greensburg. Admission is free for the 7:30 p.m. program at 100 Harrison Ave. The WYSO Philharmonia will present arrangements of Respighi’s “Ancient Aires and Dances,” the last movement of...
‘Friendly fire’ painting joins Fort Ligonier’s Washington galleryVideo
Renowned artist and Ligonier native Chas Fagan has painted portraits of all the U.S. presidents, including George Washington. Friday evening, he unveiled a more active impression of Washington — as a 26-year-old Virginia colonel faced with “friendly fire” in a French and Indian War engagement near Fort Ligonier. Fagan presented...
Storm topples trees, rips off roof in Derry Township
A storm that swept through the area Friday afternoon felled trees and power lines near Keystone State Park in Derry Township and ripped part of the roof off a home on Keystone Park Road. Residents were present when the sub-roof and shingles were torn off a ranch house near the...
Kecksburg UFO, Bigfoot researcher to speak at Latrobe library
UFO and Bigfoot researcher Stan Gordon of Greensburg will share his knowledge about “Strange Encounters of Pennsylvania” May 4 in Latrobe. Gordon will present his illustrated lecture at 2 p.m. in Adams Memorial Library, 1112 Ligonier St. He’ll discuss the alleged 1965 crash-landing of an Unidentified Flying Object in 1965...
Dry Ridge club plant sale to benefit Greensburg area charities
Dry Ridge Garden Club of Greensburg will hold its annual plant sale May 4 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hempfield. Open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event will feature hardy perennials, annuals, vegetables, a bake sale and a basket auction. Lunch also will be available. This...
Greensburg Diocese awards honor local, international charitable works
This year’s recipients of the Greensburg Diocese’s Catholic Charities’ Salt and Light Awards are being recognized for helping those in need at home and abroad. Barbara Zucconi of Rostraver, who received the Humanitarian honor Thursday at the 21st annual Communities of Salt and Light Award Dinner, organizes the Christmas Angel...
McDonald’s to hire more than 10,000 workers in Pennsylvania
McDonald’s and its franchisees expect to hire about 10,650 workers at its roughly 1,000 Pennsylvania restaurants for the summer season. That includes 450 new hires in Allegheny County, according to the company. Job seekers can visit McDonalds.com/careers to learn more and to apply to a restaurant near them. In addition,...
Storm water fee proposed for Latrobe property owners
Latrobe is the latest area municipality to consider charging property owners to help meet tougher storm water management mandates. Michael Gray, the interim city manager, wants council members to consider establishing a user fee. A first step, he said, would be an aerial survey to determine an “equivalent residential unit”...
Latrobe considers pay hike for school crossing guards
Crossing guards at Latrobe Elementary School could see their first wage hike in more than a decade if city council approves. According to Latrobe officials, the four guards will continue to be stationed at two streets on either side of the school, Cedar and Cherry streets, but the city is...
Red Cross to hand out smoke alarms in Carrick, West Newton
The West Newton area and Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood are among nine Pennsylvania communities where the Red Cross intends to distribute free smoke alarms through May 11. Partnering with area fire departments and businesses, the nonprofit plans to use community volunteers to help distribute 2,850 smoke alarms door-to-door to nearly 1,200...
South Greensburg police look for car that critically injured pedestrian
South Greensburg police are looking for the car that struck and critically injured a pedestrian Friday night in the 1500 block of Broad Street. The crash happened at about 7:30 p.m. near DeGennaro’s Restaurant, where staff indicated the man, whom police didn’t identify, had dined before he was struck. Police...
Misaligned Donegal bridge deck will be replaced
Crews will tear out and replace part of a new bridge deck in Donegal Township beginning May 6 because it was placed at the wrong elevation last year. The bridge carries County Line Road over Roaring Run, at the border of Westmoreland County and Saltlick Township, Fayette County. It is...
Man rushed to hospital after being struck in South Greensburg hit-and-run
A man was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run Friday night in South Greensburg. The incident occurred after 7:30 p.m. on Broad Street in front of DeGennaro’s Restaurant and Lounge, which the man had patronized immediately before being struck. South Greensburg...
Boy struck by pickup in Brentwood, undergoes surgery for injuries
A 7-year-old boy was in critical condition at a local trauma center after being struck by a pickup truck Thursday in Brentwood, according to Allegheny County police. The collision was reported at 5:16 p.m. on Route 51 at Town Square Way. The boy was struck by a Ford Ranger while...
Jeannette man stopped with loaded gun at Arnold Palmer airport checkpoint
A Jeannette man was stopped at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s security checkpoint over the weekend while trying to board a flight to Orlando with a loaded handgun, TSA officials announced Thursday. A .380-caliber handgun loaded with six bullets was detected in the man’s carry-on bag, according to the Transportation Security...
Greater Latrobe hires consultant for superintendent search
In a less-than-unanimous decision, the Greater Latrobe School District will spend money to hire a consultant to conduct its search for a new superintendent. The school board this weekvoted 5-2 to hire Templeton Advantage of Newport, Perry County, to search for candidates to succeed Judith Swigart, who is set to...
