Jeff Himler stories, Page 99
Song, photo contests mark 50th anniversary of state Environmental Rights Amendment
Shutterbugs and tunesmiths have an opportunity to use their skills to help salute the 50th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment. The nonprofit Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation has announced a new contest as it searches for an original song that best reflects the writer’s sentiments about the landmark amendment...
License plate honors, supports services for Pennsylvania’s women veterans
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is encouraging motorists to show support for women who served in the armed forces by purchasing an “Honoring Our Women Veterans” license plate during March, which is Women’s History Month. Of the $36 cost for the special plate, $15 goes to the...
Route 30 signal upgrades in Hempfield, Jeannette could take through year’s end
Motorists on a stretch of Route 30 in Hempfield and Jeannette will have to put up with traffic restrictions for the better part of a year as PennDOT updates traffic signals at 11 intersections to assist the flow of vehicles. Work is expected to occur between 9 a.m. and 3...
Pet store Petagogy grows customer base, plans move to downtown Greensburg
Owners of a local pet supply store found a paws-itively purr-fect new location to set up shop, in downtown Greensburg. Petagogy will wrap up business April 18 at its Hempfield location, on Route 30 across from Ferrante’s Lakeview banquet facility, with plans to reopen on April 21 on Greensburg’s East...
Coroner: Mt. Pleasant man killed after rear-ending a truck in East Huntingdon
A Mt. Pleastant Township man died Tuesday when his car rear-ended a tractor-trailer in East Huntingdon. The crash occurred as Lawrence L. Savage, 46, was driving on Route 31, near Old Route 119, before 2:30 p.m., according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Savage failed to slow down for an...
2 motorists flown to hospitals after truck-SUV collide on Route 22 in SalemVideo
A woman driving an SUV and a man driving a tractor-trailer were flown to area hospitals after their vehicles collided Tuesday evening on Route 22 in Salem Township. The crash was reported before 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Route 119. All lanes of Route 22 in the vicinity were...
Loyalhanna Watershed group celebrates 50 years with Over The Hill Challenge
Those who enjoy a trek in the country can set themselves a lofty goal by taking on the Loyalhanna Watershed’s Over The Hill Challenge. The climb up the hill overlooking the association’s barn, at its farm headquarters off old Route 30 just west of Ligonier, is part of a non-competitive...
Unity supervisor: Proposed billboard rule changes fall shortVideo
Proposed amendments to Unity’s zoning ordinance are meant to make it easier to upgrade traditional billboards into electronic versions. But Supervisor Mike O’Barto argued the changes still would present too many barriers for businesses to take advantage of the outdoor advertising space. Area billboard owners also have expressed skepticism. The...
Derry Township woman, former police officer, running for district judge
A Derry Township woman who served as a police officer and deputy coroner in neighboring Indiana County hopes to succeed retiring District Judge Mark Bilik for the Derry area. Republican Janelle L. Hood, 51, is seeking both party nominations in her bid for the District Court 10-3-08 seat. “I would...
No injuries reported when truck overturns on I-70 near Madison exit
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 70 was reduced to one lane early Friday after firefighters responded to an overturned truck near the Madison exit in Hempfield. No injuries were reported and those inside the truck needed no assistance to get out, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. Firefighters responded...
Man critically wounded in Wilkinsburg shooting
A man was critically wounded in a shooting Thursday night in Wilkinsburg, according to Allegheny County police. The shooting was reported shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of Montier Street, an Allegheny County 911 dispatch supervisor said. First responders found a man with a gunshot wound to the...
Drug bust nets federal cocaine charge for Pittsburgh woman
A Pittsburgh woman was jailed on federal drug charges after a drug bust by city police Thursday in Homewood North. Monique Mathews, 25, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to court documents. City detectives arrested Matthews and seized more than 800 grams of cocaine, as well...
Bonds, scars remain 30 years after missile struck Hempfield’s 14th Quartermaster unit in Gulf WarVideo
A sudden blast jolted Neal Gouker awake. The explosion from an Iraqi Scud missile slammed him against a wall in his barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. “The place was on fire, and bullets were going off,” recalled Gouker, 50, formerly of Glassport. “For 5 miles around, there were broken windows....
Latrobe considers hardship payment plan for stormwater fee
Latrobe property owners who are experiencing a financial hardship could have more time to pay the city’s new stormwater management fee. At its March meeting, city council is expected to consider authorizing city manager Michael Gray to approve modified payment dates in hardship cases. As it stands, payment of the...
Heritage Corridor mini-grants include funding for Latrobe ‘welcome’ sign
Visitors heading north on Route 981 to downtown Latrobe could soon be welcomed by a new community sign. Latrobe’s proposed “Welcome to the neighborhood” sign is one of seven projects that have received mini-grants this year from the nonprofit Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, headquartered in neighboring Unity. The grants of...
Westmoreland Conservation District video of Unity farm receives state award
The Westmoreland Conservation District’s recent video recognizing its 2020 Conservation Farmer of the Year award winner has, in turn, won an award. The local conservation district created the video, saluting the Ralph Frye family of Pleasant Lane Farms in Unity, because covid-19 pandemic precautions prevented it from holding its annual...
Latrobe hires new code officer, plans to share service with Derry Borough
Latrobe officials didn’t have to look beyond the city municipal building to find a new code enforcement and zoning officer. City council on Monday hired Shannon Cypher Hart for the job, at a salary of $46,000 plus benefits. She was a legislative aide in former state Rep. Joseph Petrarca’s Latrobe...
Open studio, classes among in-person activities back again at Latrobe Art CenterVideo
Latrobe Art Center’s open studio finds Sue Hrubes and Peg Panasiti each dabbing pigment on a developing watercolor painting. Wielding brushes, wearing masks and facing each other from the far sides of a U-shaped table, the Latrobe artists are among a handful of regulars at the Thursday afternoon sessions now...
Pittsburgh panel to address safety for spring bird migration
Many area residents are eagerly awaiting the spring arrival of migratory birds in the Pittsburgh region. Local experts will be featured in an online forum Wednesday, offering tips to help keep these feathered friends on a safe flight path. The free program, presented by the Frick Art & Historical Center,...
Pop-up covid testing site to open in Rostraver
The Pennsylvania Department of Health will offer one of its latest drive-thru covid-19 testing sites beginning Sunday in Rostraver. The popup site will be in operation for five days, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, at the Rostraver Ice Garden, Route 51 and Gallitin Road. The free testing...
Unity planners weigh possible changes to backyard chicken regulations
Unity’s planning commission this week heard from backyard chicken advocates who want fewer township restrictions on their hobby and from other residents who say living near chickens has ruined their quality of life. The planning board listened to testimony from both sides after the township supervisors asked it to recommend...
Unity panel hears neighbor complaints, zoning appeal concerning backyard chickens
Neighbors complained about noise and odor from backyard chickens in Unity Tuesday as the owners concluded their testimony in pursuit of a zoning variance needed to keep the birds. Kristin and Jeff Kuhns are appealing a July 13 ruling by township zoning officer Harry Hosack that they can’t keep a...
Superintendent: Greater Latrobe no longer bound by strict school closure benchmarks
Greater Latrobe School District officials say they’ll have greater flexibility in assessing the need for covid-related school closures now that Westmoreland County has completed two consecutive weeks in the moderate level for community transmission of the coronavirus. According to Superintendent Georgia Teppert, the county’s return to a moderate transmission level...
Greater Latrobe OKs decrease in taxes for plaza, raises for property tax collectors
Greater Latrobe School Board has signed off on a settlement that will reduce the property tax assessment for a shopping center in Unity by 28%. It also voted to increase the compensation for two elected real estate tax collectors ahead of this year’s municipal elections. The board this week approved...
Christine Oldham set to retire as Ligonier Valley superintendent
The Ligonier Valley School Board has less than five months to select someone to succeed Christine Oldham as superintendent. The board, at its February meeting, approved Oldham’s retirement, effective June 30. Oldham said her decision to end her stint at Ligonier Valley was a bittersweet one. “I’m excited about what...
