Jeff Himler stories, Page 91
Forish says he’ll remain on Latrobe Council while defending theft charges
Robert “Stuffy” Forish said he intends to continue serving on Latrobe Council while he defends theft charges relating to his previous role as treasurer of the city fire department’s Goodwill Hose Company. “The people voted me in,” Forish, 58, told the Tribune-Review prior to council’s Monday agenda session. He added...
Westmoreland Winds offer eclectic program at Hempfield Park
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra continued its Live on the Lawn outdoor summer concert series Friday with a performance by the Westmoreland Winds. In their second season, the concerts are presented at the Smail Auto Group Amphitheater at Hempfield Park. This week’s concert featured an ensemble including Tom Godfrey, flute; Renate Sakins,...
SUV crashes into Unity bank; no injuries reported
A branch of First Commonwealth Bank in Unity was damaged when it was struck by a small SUV that swerved off Route 30 early Friday evening. No one was injured, but the building on Sharky’s Drive was extensively damaged in the crash that occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to...
Family will bid farewell to fashion icon B. Smith in Scottdale ceremony
Late fashion icon and Everson native Barbara “B.” Smith will be laid to rest next to her parents Saturday in the Scottdale Cemetery. The private ceremony and interment of Smith’s ashes will be attended by family, including her younger brother, Dennis, and his four grown daughters. Smith, 70, died Feb....
Land trust seeks consultant, public input for planned Hempfield parkVideo
Swallows swoop from their perches in the former Schwarz barn to feast on insects that populate the fields of the surrounding Hempfield farm. The Westmoreland Land Trust, which now owns the property, plans to invite even more native species to enjoy the farm, along with the public. The trust’s board...
Flames spread from truck to sun room of Murrysville hair salonVideo
A parked truck caught fire early Thursday evening in Murrysville, spreading flames to the rear corner of a hair salon along Route 22 in Murrysville. While the truck, an F-150, was totaled, damage inside the salon was minimal and was limited to a sun room, according to Sardis Fire Chief...
Classic car enthusiasts show off prized vehicles for residents of Penn Township care facility
About 25 classic and antique car enthusiasts brought their prized rides to the inaugural Car Show and Cruise Thursday at the William Penn Continuing Care Campus in Penn Township. “We were looking for something different, to be able to bring the community together,” said Lauren Houston, administrator of the facility’s...
Idlewild and Soak Zone welcomes back Daniel Tiger show, extends hours on 2 days
Idlewild and Soak Zone is extending park operating hours on remaining Fridays and Saturdays in July while welcoming the return of live shows for kids and families. The family-oriented park in Ligonier Township announced Thursday it will remain open an extra hour, until 8 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays for...
Unity latest community to weigh shared-road access for ATVs
Motorists in Unity might soon share the road with all-terrain vehicles, if township supervisors give their approval. Jim Yokopenic, who lives on Bruno Road, has asked the township to allow ATV use on his road and three others nearby, in the vicinity of the village of Marguerite — Pond, Coke...
The hot dog has its day with annual deals on Wednesday
The best day of the year is here for those who dig dogs — hot dogs, that is. National Hot Dog Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, bringing windfalls for wiener lovers at regional and national restaurant chains. Sheetz has issued a promotional email to its card members, offering two...
Island-hopping theme inspires Ligonier Valley art campersVideo
Rita Haldeman’s young students are using sticks, stones, lots of paint, and even more imagination, to explore cultures and art forms from across the globe. In her 20th year teaching art camps at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art’s Ligonier Valley location, the Jeannette artist decided to take this summer’s...
Westmoreland road work to affect traffic on routes 30, 119 beginning Monday
Motorists will encounter a detour and lane restrictions in Youngwood and additional restrictions on Route 30 in Hempfield beginning Monday, as work proceeds on PennDOT road projects. In Youngwood, beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, a section of Depot Street, between northbound Route 119 (Third Street) and South Second Street, will...
Latrobe nonprofit plans week-long virtual auction, wellness series
Latrobe-based nonprofit Laurel Faith in Action is inviting area residents to take a break from the heat outside to join in a virtual Fun in the Sun online auction. Set for Monday through July 23, the fundraising event includes about 50 items up for bid. Participants also can check out...
Greensburg Salem’s potential hybrid learning model includes more time in classrooms
Greensburg Salem School District has every intention of offering students in-person instruction five days per week when classes resume Sept. 1. But, in the event covid-19 pandemic concerns force a return to a hybrid instructional model, the district has a plan that will provide slightly more time in the classroom...
Greensburg Salem hires music teacher, OKs in-house superintendent search
Greensburg Salem School Board will rely on district staff to search for a new superintendent rather than spend $15,000 for a search service offered by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. The board also hired a new instructor for the district’s music department, as provided for in the 2021-22 budget. With...
Senior housing for about 130 planned along Frye Farm Road in Unity
Thirty-five acres of former farmland in Unity soon may provide homes for the area’s growing senior population. Latrobe-area homebuilder and developer Jim Thomas is planning to construct 131 patio homes, known as Frye Farm Estates, on an L-shaped piece of ground with entrances off both Frye Farm and Beatty County...
Pa. Game Commission addressing lag in new hunting license system
Pennsylania’s system for issuing hunting licenses has experienced a slowdown. According to Game Commission officials, the new system for issuing state licenses, including antlerless deer licenses, has operated slowly during peak sales periods. One such period began Monday, when the system began accepting applications for antlerless licenses. “While the new...
Rash of scam calls prompts warning from Latrobe police, victims duped out of thousands of dollars
Latrobe police are cautioning residents not to provide personal information over the phone after learning of a rash of scam calls. Police Chief John Sleasman said his department received reports of about two dozen such scams over the preceding week. According to Sleasman, bogus callers have falsely presented themselves as...
Westmoreland commissioners blast airport authority over vote on Arnold Palmer restaurant lease
It’s been a month since the Westmoreland County Airport Authority approved a new lease for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s restaurant, but it continues to draw flak about the move from county commissioners. The new restaurant lease was approved by a 7-2 vote in June, allowing DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse to continue...
Birding tips offered at Westmoreland Land Trust workshops
Visitors who stop to smell the flowers growing on the grounds of the Donohoe Center might be surprised what they can find if they also take time to listen to and look for birds. “When we’re busy doing other things, we don’t look to see the things that are right...
Latrobe agrees to cover $34K in railway costs for Ligonier Street underpass upgrade
Latrobe Council agreed to pay about $34,000 to meet Norfolk Southern cost requirements and move forward with stalled improvements to a railway underpass on Ligonier Street. Council on Monday unanimously approved a preliminary and construction engineering services agreement with Norfolk Southern, but member Jim Kelley said his vote was “most...
Historical society program offers look back at Latrobe’s south side
Latrobe Area Historical Society will offer a closer look at Latrobe’s south side this month when it presents the program “Fourth and Fifth Wards Revisited.” This new presentation, featuring historic images, is set for July 23 and 24 and marks the return of the society’s free monthly matinees after lifting...
Unity plans promotional Steelers Week in absence of local summer training camp
Aug. 2-8 will be Pittsburgh Steelers Week in Unity, according to the township supervisors. The supervisors proclaimed the upcoming observance in the hope of attracting fans of the team, even though the players themselves won’t be traveling to the township for summer training on the local campus of Saint Vincent...
Unity eases rules for electronic conversion of billboards; petitioners lodge late objection
Unity supervisors have approved a zoning amendment meant to assist in conversion of static billboards to electronic versions. The vote came over a late objection from a man who fears fellow residents in his housing plan along Route 30 would be adversely affected. Joseph Connelly, who lives off Grayhawk Court,...
Wimmerton residents protest plan to end left turns onto Route 30 in Unity
Residents of the Wimmerton housing plan told Unity supervisors they’d rather have nothing done to alter the intersection of Wimmerton Boulevard and Route 30 than to be forced to use a nearby traffic signal to turn left onto the highway. But some would prefer having a signal installed at Wimmerton...
