Jeff Himler stories, Page 80
Proposal would cap potential Greater Latrobe tax hike at 3.57 mills
Greater Latrobe School Board is considering placing a cap of 3.57 mills on any district property tax increase it could consider for 2022-23. Business administrator Dan Watson has recommended the board adopt a resolution at its Tuesday meeting to signify it will stay within that maximum figure, in accordance with...
Latrobe’s City Brewery adds warehouse space, jobs at RIDC Westmoreland
City Brewery has signed a five-year lease for a warehouse and distribution site at RIDC Westmoreland, where it expects to add 50 to 60 jobs. Those positions will be in addition to 250 at the City Brewery plant in Latrobe, according to company officials. The move to the East Huntingdon...
Salem teen displays 4-H leadership, square dancing skills at Pennsylvania Farm Show
Pennsylvania’s 4-H program has broadened Olivia Jumper’s horizons throughout her childhood. Now, as president of the 4-H State Council, the Salem teen is dedicated to making others aware of the program’s benefits. That included delivering a speech during last weekend’s opening of the Pennsylvania Farm Show. “I talked about how...
Former Ligonier Borough building set for auction block; firefighters plan to bid
Those who attend the Jan. 29 auction of the former Ligonier borough building on Fairfield Street can expect to see members of Ligonier Volunteer Hose Company No. 1 on hand. “Our hope at this point is to try to buy the building at that auction,” Ligonier fire Chief Corey Blystone...
Police: Student causes disturbance, lockdown at Indiana Area Senior High
An Indiana Area Senior High student’s rampage caused a brief lockdown of the school Wednesday and is expected to result in charges, according to state police in Indiana County. Police said patrol units responded shortly after 12:30 p.m. to a report of a 17-year-old girl engaging in “repeated tumultuous behavior”...
Cheeses made in Unity honored with 2 Pennsylvania Farm Show ribbons
Pleasant Lane Farms’ quark variety was one of the big cheeses at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show, garnering a first-place ribbon in this weekend’s competition. The spreadable cheese produced in the Unity dairy farm’s creamery was judged best in the soft cheese category on Saturday. Pleasant Lane’s Gouda took second-place...
PennDOT looks to start major projects on I-70, Route 981 in Westmoreland
The latest in a series of interchange improvements along Interstate 70 and a long-discussed upgrade of the Route 981 corridor north of Mt. Pleasant are among major projects PennDOT plans to tackle in Westmoreland County this year. Officials with Uniontown-based PennDOT District 12 said they expect to move forward with...
Greensburg Salem officials see shift to smaller enrollment class as a plus for district athletics
Greensburg Salem’s Golden Lions will compete against teams from schools with smaller enrollments beginning next fall, a move down that school officials say should be a good one for district athletics. Greensburg Salem will drop from Class 4A to 3A in football, Class 6A to 4A in boys basketball and...
Diet-conscious couple offers healthy meals to go at new Latrobe storefront
Healthy eating has long been a way of life for Kaitlin and Ricky Weiers, and now it’s their local business venture. The spouses will hold a grand opening from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the new storefront location of R. Klean Meals, 1307 Ligonier St., in Latrobe. The Derry...
Latrobe moves forward with surveillance, video upgrades, underpass rehabVideo
Latrobe officials this year are taking steps to move forward with several improvements, including boosting surveillance capabilities downtown and videoconferencing technology in council chambers. City Manager Michael Gray told council Monday he is set to review agreements with the Latrobe Foundation for sharing costs of new surveillance cameras to be...
Unity auditors raise pay for supervisors/roadmasters to $31.40
Unity supervisors are planning an aggressive road paving program this year, and they will be earning more as they oversee that work in their dual roles as roadmasters. Township auditors Ed Saxton and Gus Matta on Tuesday granted the three supervisor/roadmasters a raise of $2.40, bringing their hourly pay to...
Hempfield-based rescue group foots medical bills to promote senior dog adoptions
Bones takes arthritis medication twice a day to relieve pain in his legs, while Bruce relies on pills to help control his seizures. Those ongoing medical problems didn’t prevent respective owners Makayla Losteter and Jessica Sullenberger from welcoming the older dogs into their homes, but a program recently introduced by...
State police: New Year holiday crashes up, citations down from 2019-2020
Crashes and related injuries and deaths in Pennsylvania were up this New Year’s holiday weekend compared with the same three-day period in 2019-20, before the pandemic had an impact on travel, according to state police. The number of arrests across the state for driving under the influence stayed nearly the...
Derry native killed in 1993 battle of Mogadishu in line for Army’s Distinguished Service Cross
A Derry native, who was killed in action 28 years ago while serving in Somalia, is in line to posthumously receive the Army’s second-highest decoration. Sgt. First Class Earl Fillmore Jr. was 28 on Oct. 3, 1993, when he was fatally wounded in the battle of Mogadishu while fighting his...
Latrobe’s New Year to-do list includes truck purchase, video upgrade, member appointment
Latrobe will begin the new year by seeking applicants for a council vacancy. At a combined reorganization and voting meeting on Monday, council will welcome two newly-elected members, Ann Amatucci and Bridget DiVittis. It also will see councilman Eric Bartels take over the duties of mayor, selected by voters to...
2 workers hurt after truck falls off lift at Fayette County car dealership
Two employees were injured when they were struck by a falling truck Wednesday at a Fayette County car dealership. The incident happened just before 3 p.m. at the Tri-Star Chevrolet dealership in North Union Township, according to a Fayette County 911 supervisor. The workers were flown to an area hospital...
Switched on Christmas: Collector exhibits vintage holiday lights at Ligonier libraryVideo
Tiny bubbles at the holiday season may bring New Year’s Eve champagne toasts to mind. Don Lachie delights in bubbles of a different type — ones that are enjoyed by viewing instead of imbibing. Christmas tree lights that bubble instead of twinkle came into vogue in the late 1940s and...
Police: 6 adults wounded in Christmas Eve shooting in Swissvale
Allegheny County Homicide detectives are investigating a shooting that wounded six adults Friday afternoon in Swissvale. County 911 dispatchers were notified of the shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. in the 7300 block of Schoyer Avenue. All those wounded were taken to area hospital in various unspecified conditions, police said. Police...
Police: Multiple wounds send man to hospital following gunshots in Pittsburgh’s Woods Run
A man suffered multiple gunshot wounds as Pittsburgh police responded Friday afternoon to reports of shots fired in the city’s Woods Run neighborhood. The man, who was shot in the lower back and legs, was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman....
Indiana County woman sentenced to up to 5 years in prison on heroin plea
An Indiana County woman has been sentenced to serve up to 5 years in state prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver or sell less than a gram of heroin. Senior Indiana County Judge William J. Martin imposed the 2- to 5-year sentence Thursday on Lori Wisor,...
Motorcycle crash injures 1, restricts traffic on Route 30 in Hempfield
Eastbound traffic on Route 30 was reduced to one lane for about 45 minutes following a motorcycle crash Friday afternoon in the vicinity of Westmoreland Mall. One of two occupants on the motorcycle reportedly suffered a head injury in the 1:30 p.m wreck, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch...
West Mifflin man killed Thursday in 2-car Monroeville crash
A West Mifflin man was killed in a two-car crash Thursday in Monroeville, officials said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as James Adams, 77. He was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m. Thursday. about 45 minutes after the crash occurred at the intersection of Mosside Boulevard and...
School business manager set to move from McKeesport Area to Greensburg Salem
Greensburg Salem School District’s gain in its business office will be a loss for the McKeesport Area School District. The school board has hired McKeesport Area business manager Joan Wehner. The board this week unanimously approved a five-year contract for Wehner, extending through June 30, 2026, with a prorated starting...
Greensburg Salem Giving Tree blossoms in winter with gifts for students in need
If all goes as planned, Greensburg Salem students who receive holiday presents through the district’s Giving Tree program won’t realize how the gifts ended up under their trees. At the middle school, only coordinator Barb Garofola, who is the student council adviser, knows the identities of the 81 students who...
Holiday travel on Pennsylvania Turnpike expected to jump by 40% over last year
Officials predict more than 5.4 million motorists will take to the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the 2021 Christmas and 2022 New Year’s Day holidays, approaching pre-pandemic travel figures. “Our holiday traffic projections are coming close to matching those of 2019 with an increase of 40% over last year,” PA Turnpike CEO...
