Jeff Himler stories, Page 74
1 fatality reported in Butler County home fire
One person has died in a mobile home fire Saturday morning in Butler County, a county 911 supervisor has confirmed. Firefighters were dispatched at about 5:30 a.m. to the blaze in the a mobile home along Rustic Ridge Road in Summit Township, according to Bryan Powell, chief of the Lick...
Whitehall officer struck, dragged by vehicle during traffic stop
A Whitehall Borough police officer was injured after being struck and dragged by a vehicle early Saturday. The officer was conducting a traffic stop at 3:44 a.m. on Clairton Boulevard (Route 51) near Beall Drive, in the vicinity of Baldwin High School. The department posted of the incident on their...
I-70 work at Yukon, Madison exits triggers detours; Route 22 rehab to continue in Salem
Motorists who are heading east on Interstate 70 and intend to use the Yukon or Madison exits in Westmoreland County can expect to encounter detours this week as crews from contractor Trumbull Corp. work on improving the two interchanges. Closures of eastbound ramps at the exits, and resulting detours, were...
Crash injures 1, temporarily closes section of Route 8 in Shaler
One motorist was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash reported shortly after 3 p.m. Monday in Shaler, according to township police. A section of Route 8 was closed for about two hours as investigators gathered evidence at the scene in front of a McDonald’s restaurant at Pennview Street, police Chief...
Trump to rally with Dr. Oz at Westmoreland Fairgrounds
Former President Donald Trump is slated to return to Westmoreland County on May 6 for a rally where he is expected to share the spotlight with Republican senatorial candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. Earlier in April, Trump endorsed Oz in the latter’s bid to represent Pennsylvania in the Senate. Trump has...
George Washington reenactor will be featured in Fort Ligonier program
Philadelphia-area resident Dean Malissa has stepped back from serving as Mount Vernon’s principal portrayer of George Washington to emeritus status. It’s only natural that he is semi-retired from the living history role since, at 69, he’s lived two years beyond the age Washington reached. “When I was the sole portrayer...
Police seize handguns, drugs while arresting 16-year-old boy in Stowe shooting
Allegheny County Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the April 13 shooting in Stowe Township that wounded a 15-year-old boy. Lamont Charles Thomas of McKees Rocks is charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of a firearm by a minor. The shooting was reported...
Arnold Palmer airport, Adelphoi among Westmoreland recipients of $14M in state funds
Proposed expansion of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport terminal, improvements at three industrial parks and a new facility at the Adelphoi main campus in Latrobe are among seven projects in Westmoreland County set to receive more than $14 million in combined funding through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. Announced Friday,...
Pony Club, animal rescue team will be showcased at Ligonier Township event
Folks who have developed some horse sense are ready to share it with others Sunday during a season kickoff event for the Rolling Rock Hunt Pony Club. Founded in 1954, the club has about 50 members. It is one of 13 groups that helped establish the United States Pony Clubs...
Former Catholic academy in Unity could see rebirth as nature preserve
It’s been 50 years since Susan Scherff was standing in the grove outside St. Xavier Academy, huddled with the rest of the evacuated students as they watched black smoke billowing from the burning convent and chapel attached to the Catholic school in Unity. “Then it started to rain,” she recalled....
Pittsburgh man charged in October shooting that critically wounded 1 in Lincoln-Lemington
Brandon West, 29, of Pittsburgh is charged in an Oct. 24 shooting that critically wounded a victim in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington neighborhood. West was arrested by the city’s Fugitive Task Force. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, robbery, carrying a firearm without a license...
Pittsburgh police seek 15-year-old boy missing since March
Pittsburgh police are asking for the public’s help in their search for an endangered teen missing from the city’s South Side since late March. Brandon Walton Jr., 15, was last seen on March 31 in the city’s Arlington neighborhood, according to police. He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs...
Greater Latrobe gains $2K in tax settlement, considers bond refinancing
The Greater Latrobe School District will see a slight increase in revenue as a result of settling a property tax appeal. Officials hope to know by May whether refinancing some bonds could produce a substantially larger financial benefit for the district. The school board this week approved a tax appeal...
Greensburg Salem dedicates track complex to late inspirational coach Steve Snider
Coaches Nathan and Matthew Snider were on opposing sides Wednesday, April 20 as their respective teams — the Greensburg Salem Golden Lions and the visiting Hempfield Area Spartans — faced off in a varsity track meet. But before the running and jumping began, the two brothers shared a sense of...
News of Steelers’ return to Saint Vincent given immaculate reception
Briana Tomack’s phone was ringing nonstop Wednesday during her workday as president of the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Many fellow Steelers fans were calling her to celebrate the good news that the NFL team will be back in town this summer. The Steelers announced they will be...
Plant sales at Penguin Court, Compass Inn feature pollinator-friendly native species
Native plants added to area gardens and flower beds tend to require minimal maintenance, and they help support pollinators such as birds, bees and butterflies. A number of varieties of these plants indigenous to Pennsylvania and surrounding states are grown each year at Laughlintown’s Penguin Court preserve and will be...
Car club seeks sign missing from site of historic crash on Route 30 in Somerset County
July 2, 1932, was the beginning of the end for an automobile industry legend. On that day, Frederick Duesenberg, a German immigrant who helped to create the same-named line of early 20th century luxury cars, was involved in a wreck along the Lincoln Highway — modern Route 30 — in...
Greensburg Salem School District projects no tax increase in preliminary 2022-2023 budget
Greensburg Salem school officials are planning to keep taxes steady as part of the district’s preliminary 2022-23 budget. While the board won’t adopt a final budget until June, business manager Joan Wehner said initial indications are expenditures and revenues each will increase to about $48.7 million, up from $48.1 million...
Group seeks racial equality at Greensburg Salem, decries school director’s Facebook post
A newly organized community group in Greensburg Salem School District says it wants to work with the school board to combat racism and racial bias and negative effects of such on students. Several members of CORES (Communities Organizing for Racial Equality in the Schools) additionally aired related concerns at Wednesday’s...
North Huntingdon slide repairs, Penn Township pipe replacement set to detour traffic
Traffic detours are set to begin Monday for PennDOT projects in North Huntingdon and Penn townships. Crews are set to resume slide repairs in North Huntingdon. That work is expected to close a section of Guffey/Turner Valley Road, between Volk and Guffey roads, for up to 10 weeks. The marked...
Greensburg Salem School Board OKs 4-year superintendent contract with Ken Bissell
Greensburg Salem School Board has approved a formal contract with Superintendent Ken Bissell, who has been serving in that role for five months. The contract, approved this week by an 8-1 vote, extends through June 30, 2026. It will automatically renew for an additional year unless the board decides otherwise....
Saint Vincent monks hit sweet spot with handmade hot cross buns
A team of about a dozen Saint Vincent monks were working from early morning into the evening Thursday as they carried out a new tradition at the Benedictine community. Their mission: preparing nearly 1,200 hot cross buns for pickup by customers on Good Friday. The monks have been enjoying the...
Shooting in Homewood South leaves 1 in critical condition
A male victim was in critical condition as a result of a shooting Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh’s Homewood South neighborhood, according to a city Public Safety spokesperson. City police responded at about 6:45 p.m. to the 7300 block of Idlewild Street following a ShotSpotter alert and a call to 911....
Washington County contractor pleads guilty to bilking 16 victims, ordered to pay $400K
A Washington County man has pleaded guilty in Allegheny County Court to bilking 16 Pittsburgh area victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through uncompleted construction projects and payments owed to subcontractors and suppliers. Daniel Michael Bull, 39, of Washington pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of theft by...
Former Ligonier Township manager joins Latrobe in zoning post
Ligonier Township’s former manager is now on board as the new zoning and code enforcement officer for Latrobe. City council this week unanimously voted to hire Terry Carcella for the open position. “He’s highly qualified,” Mayor Eric Bartels said. “We recognize that he has significant experience.” Three people applied for...
