Jeff Himler stories, Page 81
Man taken to hospital in critical condition after Duquesne shooting
A man was in critical condition after a Monday night shooting in Duquesne, Allegheny County police said. The shooting was reported to Allegheny County 911 dispatchers shortly before 10 p.m. in the 500 block of Grant Street. First responders found a man suffering from a gunshot wound inside a vehicle....
McKees Rocks man struck and killed by train in Homestead
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a passing Norfolk Southern train Monday afternoon in Homestead. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Monterey Markee Woodson, 49, of McKees Rocks. The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. along railroad tracks behind the 400 block of East Eighth...
Scottdale crash sends at least 1 to hospital
At least one person was flown to an area hospital following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning in Scottdale, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. The wreck was reported at about 11:45 a.m. on Porter Avenue. Additional details weren’t immediately available....
Kim Ward shares reports of covid-fueled burden on hospitals, but opposes vaccine mandates
Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, addressed reports from health system officials about the “dire situation” hospitals across the state are facing as they are being overburdened by a heavy volume of covid patients. The officials have noted the vast majority of covid patients who are being admitted to their...
Man flown to hospital after being struck by car in Jeannette
A man was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after being struck by a car Monday morning in Jeannette. The crash occurred at about 6:15 a.m. on the Claridge-Elliott Road, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. The man, who is in his 50s, was struck near the Elliott Group...
Film-friendly atmosphere, ideal locations bring director back to W. Pa. for ‘The Pale Blue Eye’
A rich history, varied landscape and welcoming community have drawn director Scott Cooper back to Southwestern Pennsylvania to film his upcoming adaptation of “The Pale Blue Eye” for Netflix. “It’s an incredibly pleasant place to shoot,” said Cooper, “and it works exceedingly well for the 1830s Hudson Valley.” Cooper and...
Revamped Latrobe zoning sets sign limitations, guidelines for charging stations
Limitations for business signs in windows and on sidewalks and guidelines for electric vehicle charging stations are among new additions to Latrobe’s zoning ordinance. The zoning update, approved this month by city council, is the result of a monthslong review of the ordinance with assistance from consultants with Scenic Pittsburgh....
Proposed tax credit program could spur development at Pennsylvania airports
Planners at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport are looking to a future that could include businesses opening along the old runway. Pennsylvania legislators are considering a new program that could help entice companies to move their operations to the airport in Unity or to any of 121 other airports across the...
Trolleys were mass transit mainstays in Westmoreland Co. for half-century
Many Westmoreland County residents rely on public buses to get around. Electric-powered trolleys — or streetcars — previously provided that function from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. “Greensburg was one of the earliest communities to have this innovative form of mass transport,” Robert Van Atta noted in...
Wilkinsburg shooting victim dies 11 days later; suspect now charged with homicide
A man who was shot Dec. 6 in Wilkinsburg has died. Sirdorian Turner, 54, of Wilkinsburg, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital after he was shot in the 700 block of Wood Street, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Initially in critical condition, he was pronounced dead early...
Shots fired in Penn Hills as police set up a perimeter
Penn Hills police established a perimeter around Dollman and Mount Carmel roads and began searching the area around 10 p.m. Friday after responding to a call for shots fired, according to police Chief Howard Burton. Burton said officers initiated the search when they arrived at the scene and believed that...
Port Authority’s 2022 fares include 25-cent hike for pre-paid riders, flexible pass policy
Beginning Jan. 1, the Port Authority of Allegheny County will raise the single-trip fare for prepaid riders and ConnectCard users by 25 cents, to $2.75. Other changes in the new year will provide those same riders a three-hour window for unlimited free transfers while allowing greater flexibility for pass holders....
Ligonier area provides props as ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ film crew arrives at Compass Inn
Staff at Fort Ligonier and the Laughlintown Antique Mall will be watching carefully when a locally filmed Netflix movie becomes available for viewing. There’s a chance items from either of those sites could make an appearance in “The Pale Blue Eye,” a period murder mystery that is being shot at...
Westmoreland Airport Authority looks to save $185K through bond refinancing
Westmoreland County Airport Authority expects to save about $185,000 by refinancing bonds issued in 2014. The board Tuesday locked in a rate of 1.58% for refinancing slightly more than $5 million in bonds with Chase Bank, which presented the best of six proposals, according to authority consultant Jay Wenger of...
Greater Latrobe returns to mask-optional policy by 6-3 vote
Greater Latrobe School Board on Tuesday voted 6-3 to revert to a mask-optional policy for students, staff and visitors at district schools. The decision comes in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling last week that overturned the Department of Health mandate for wearing face coverings in schools. Opponents...
Covid cases create ‘desperate’ situation at Westmoreland hospitals
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the omicron variant of covid-19 has eclipsed delta in terms of transmissibility, rising caseloads have created a “desperate” situation at local hospitals, according to the medical director of Westmoreland County’s 911 center. In an email addressed Monday to all county...
Latrobe keeps taxes steady as part of $6.7M budget
Latrobe property owners won’t have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay their city tax bill next yer. City Council has adopted a final 2022 general fund budget totaling $6.7 million while holding real estate taxes at 21.3 mills. An additional .2-mill tax, also unchanged, helps support Adams Memorial...
Half dozen affordable residences coming to Latrobe’s Mary Street
Greensburg-based Homes Build Hope is nearing completion of six new affordable residences in Latrobe that should be ready to rent early next year. Guardian Construction of Export and several subcontractors are installing carpet and countertops and completing painting in the pair of two-story triplex structures on a formerly blighted section...
Unity holds taxes steady, eyes $1.2M federal funding boost for 2022
Unity Supervisors this week adopted a final 2022 township budget of $9.1 million that holds the line on taxes and includes a second year of supplementary federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. Supervisor Mike O’Barto cited ongoing property development for allowing the township to keep its real estate tax...
Greensburg Salem parents speak out on school safety, board president’s Facebook post about Kyle Rittenhouse
Greensburg Salem parents have raised concerns about school safety following a recent middle school incident and a board member’s Facebook post referencing the Kyle Rittenhouse homicide case in Wisconsin. Speaking at the December school board meeting this week, Valerie Stillwagon criticized district administrators for not informing herself and other parents...
PennDOT: Route 981 improvement project fully funded with injection of $30M
PennDOT has designated an additional $30 million for the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project, completing the funding needed to construct Route 981 corridor upgrades and realignment between Norvelt in Mt. Pleasant Township and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. Announcement of the funding this week follows a Nov. 12 groundbreaking...
Greensburg Salem pledges to stay within maximum 3.9-mill tax hike for 2022-23
A reorganized Greensburg Salem School Board has agreed to hold any potential tax increase it may consider next year to the a 3.9-mill maximum allowed by the state without special dispensation. The pledge doesn’t mean, however, that real estate taxes will be increased for the 2022-23 school year, district officials...
Art, crafts, music draw visitors to Lincoln Highway museum’s holiday open house
Ed Behen had long wanted to visit the transportation-themed Lincoln Highway Experience museum along Route 30 in Unity Township. “My history teacher always talked about the Lincoln Highway when I was in high school in 1975,” said Behen, who moved to the township two decades later. He seized on the...
Greater Latrobe School Board eyes tax appeal settlements, $6K revenue boost
Greater Latrobe School District expects to increase its annual revenue by more than $6,000 by resolving tax squabbles over four properties. At its regular Dec. 14 meeting, the school board will consider settling the four tax appeals, each resulting in a revenue gain for the district. “While they’re not windfalls,...
13 flags dedicated at Arnold Palmer airport in tribute to fallen U.S. service membersVideo
When a memorial to fallen U.S. service members was being installed more than a month ago at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, airport authority member Don Rossi saw a spontaneous addition to the V-shaped formation of 13 flags. “I drove by, and I saw two bouquets of flowers,” Rossi said. “That’s...
