Jeff Himler stories, Page 24
Historical society mines Derry area’s coal mining past for living history program
Miners, their wives, child laborers and patch town store operators all had a part in the history of coal in the Derry area. “There were so many mines in this area,” said Donna Showalter, a Derry Area Historical Society board member. “Just about everybody who has lived in this area...
Steelers arrive at training camp armed with snacks, songs
When rookie Steelers tackle Troy Fautanu prepares for 10:30 a.m. training camp practice at Saint Vincent College, he may be cranking up Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love.” “It’s probably my shower song,” he said Wednesday as he moved into Rooney Hall for the team’s annual summer camp. “It’s a...
Lincoln Highway museum Family Night offers food, games, ukulele music
The Lincoln Highway Experience museum is partnering with Ligonier’s American Legion Auxiliary for a Family Night evening of food and fun on the museum lawn along Route 30 in Unity. The open-air event is set for 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, weather permitting. Planned to appeal to younger families,...
Latrobe garbage fees could skyrocket in next waste contract
Latrobe residents could see their garbage collection rates nearly double for bag collection and go up by more than 60% for others if the lone bid for waste removal is accepted, according to city manager Terry Carcella. County Hauling of Rostraver was the only company to submit an early bid...
Greensburg woman charged after children found living amid mold, feces
A Greensburg woman has been charged by city police with simple assault and endangering the welfare of children after a relative accused her of harming three children in the household and investigators discovered filthy conditions in the woman’s home. The investigation of Katie Atkinson, 23, of Greensburg, began with a...
Latrobe area readies for influx of Steelers fans as training camp returns
When black and gold colors fill the lobbies of Latrobe-area hotels and out-of-state license plates become more commonplace in local parking lots, it’s a sign that the Steelers and their legion of devoted fans have returned to their summer home. The three-week period when the Steelers hold training camp at...
Latrobe begins to clear pests from Main Street apartment building declared unsafe
Latrobe officials have taken the initiative to begin ridding a condemned apartment building of pests, but they’ve ordered that the six-story structure remain uninhabited until other safety concerns are addressed. Local human service organizations helped tenants of the apartments at 333 Main St. find other accommodations after the city condemned...
18th century Braddock coat of arms slated for auction
An English auction house will accept bids on a coat of arms belonging to Gen. Edward Braddock, an ill-fated British military leader during Southwestern Pennsylvania’s involvement in the French and Indian War. Painted in oil on canvas, the heraldic design dates from the mid-18th century and is about 10 inches...
Hempfield motorcycle crash sends 1 to Monroeville trauma center
One person was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville following a motorcycle crash Friday night in Hempfield. Spokesman Shawn Penzera said the patient was in stable condition during the transport by Mutual Aid Ambulance Service. The crash was reported at about 9:15 p.m. at Walton Tea Room Road and Everglade...
Police: Pittsburgh garbage truck hits, injures woman in wheelchair
A woman in a motorized wheelchair was taken by ambulance for hospital treatment after being struck by a city garbage truck Friday in Pittsburgh. The woman, who suffered a “serious compound leg fracture,” was alert and talking after the crash, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson Cara Cruz. The collision...
1 taken to Pittsburgh hospital after crash into Mon River in Washington County
A motorist was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital Friday after being rescued from a vehicle partially submerged in the Monongahela River in Washington County. The vehicle ended up in the river after crossing railroad tracks along Route 88 in Speers, according to a Washington County 911 dispatch supervisor. Charleroi firefighters...
Kids power through pedal pull at Sewickley Township fair
Kids ages 3-11 competed in the pedal tractor pull Thursday at the Sewickley Township Community Fair. Sitting astride toy tractors with pedals placed appropriately for their ages, they used foot power to pull a weighted sled as far as they could down a 30-foot track. Each year, owner Mike Baker...
Youngwood town hall to address veterans’ health care concerns; new clinic plans noted
Representatives from the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System will field questions and concerns from area veterans at an upcoming meeting in Youngwood. Plans are underway for a new veterans outpatient medical clinic in Westmoreland County. The outreach event set for Tuesday at the town’s fire hall includes a town hall...
Community embraces Latrobe couple grieving daughter’s loss in crash; fundraising underway
The community has rallied in support of a Latrobe couple following a vehicle crash that claimed the life of their 5-year-old daughter and injured the mother and another child. Multiple fundraising efforts are underway by family, friends and coworkers of Noah Wingrove and his fiancee, Tori Jones. Their daughter Natalie...
Ramp work at I-70 interchange to interrupt Route 51 traffic in Rostraver
Motorists can expect to be temporarily halted in their travels along Route 51 Thursday in Rostraver. PennDOT has advised that intermittent traffic stoppages are slated to occur between 6 a.m and 5 p.m. on the stretch of highway between Concord Lane and Route 981. As part of ongoing reconstruction of...
Families bond with animals, each other at Derry Township Agricultural Fair
Addison and Emma Heeter’s sisterly bond will be tested Thursday when they go head to head, showing their dairy and beef cattle at the Derry Township Agricultural Fair. It’s a test the 19-year-old identical twins have always passed since they began showing animals at local fairs when they were 4....
Indiana County health care lawyer to open luxury personal care home in Unity
A high-end personal care home model introduced seven years ago in Indiana County is coming to Unity, with the planned opening of The Fountains at Latrobe senior living complex by year’s end. Construction is underway on the first phase of the facility, which will include 22 assisted living rooms on...
6 people escape East Huntingdon mobile home fire unharmed
Three adults and three children escaped unharmed after fire broke out on the porch of their mobile home Friday night in East Huntingdon. Homeowner Janice Prolenski said all of the family members were inside the residence when a Holiday Court neighbor banged on the window to alert them that the...
Llamas are back at Derry Township fair, along with a new generation of handlers
This is the year for llamas and the local folks who love them. Count among them 2-year-old Rodeo and his handler, McKenna Gettemy, 15, of Unity. “I think he’s super-chill,” the teen said of her shaggy partner in local fair show rings. “He doesn’t kick when you touch his back...
Greater Latrobe considers adding lanes as part of Memorial Stadium track update
Greater Latrobe School District is considering widening its track at Memorial Stadium as part of a proposed update of the running surface. The school board has agreed to work with architectural consultant SHP on a plan that could include expanding the track in Latrobe from six lanes to eight lanes....
Ligonier Valley School District looks to upgrade baseball field for spring season
Ligonier Valley School District is in the home stretch of preparing for a major upgrade to its high school baseball field. The district wants to have the revamped field ready for batters to take their swings at a relocated home plate by spring. The direction of the field will be...
Latrobe’s lone police dog, Zeus, to retire as city opts to end K-9 program
Zeus’ crime-fighting days soon will be over. Latrobe Council voted this week to retire the city police department’s sole police dog and to terminate its K-9 program. City officials said the timing is right for both moves because the German shepherd is more than 8 years old and Latrobe’s police...
Penn Township teen killed in storm cleanup accident was Eagle Scout
The Penn Township teenager who died Thursday after a tree fell on him was an Eagle Scout known for his volunteerism, friends and family members said. Jacob Lazar, 18, was killed about 11:30 a.m. at the Trafford Sportsman’s Club along Winchester Road, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. Lazar...
Motorcyclist flown from Hempfield crash on Route 136
A motorcyclist was flown to an area trauma center following a two-vehicle crash Friday morning in Hempfield. A passenger vehicle also was involved in the wreck reported shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Route 136 at Bus Garage Road, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Route 136 was closed to...
Closures slated for road work in Mt. Pleasant Borough, Township
PennDOT on Monday, July 8 plans to close a section of Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township as work continues on the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project. The closure — between Fox Run and Hecla roads — and a resulting detour are expected to be in place until late July....
