Jeff Himler stories, Page 21
Morning Roundup: 2 women shot in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 25: 2 women shot in Allentown Two women were wounded in a shooting Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood. One of the women was shot in the arm, the other was shot in the abdomen, according to Pittsburgh...
Tributes to doughboy, fire department part of Mt. Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival
Erik Greenawalt plans to head to Mt. Pleasant on Friday, the first day of the town’s three-day Glass & Ethnic Festival, with colored chalk in hand. It’s the third time the North Huntingdon man known as The Chalking Dad will be part of the celebration, creating a sidewalk art image...
Pittsburgh man charged in death of father at their home in city’s Overbrook neighborhood
A Pittsburgh man has been arrested and charged in the death of his father Monday at their home in the city’s Overbrook neighborhood. City police charged Christopher Hudak, 28, with criminal homicide in the death of 63-year-old James Hudak, who was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple stab wounds...
Westmoreland County Transit Authority cites ridership drop, flexibility in switch to smaller buses
Westmoreland County Transit Authority plans to replace 10 large commuter buses with smaller, more nimble versions that will both better navigate small city streets and match what has been declining demand. The authority approved the purchase of 33-seat buses that are fueled by compressed natural gas from California-based manufacturer Gillig....
Driver of car arrested in Dormont deadly crash into motorcycle
Police have arrested the driver of a car that crashed into a motorcycle late Saturday in Dormont, killing the man who was riding it. Allegheny County police identified the driver of the Ford Taurus as Saul Rivera-Ramirez, 25, of Etna. He is charged with homicide by vehicle and lack of...
Morning Roundup: I-70 crash in South Strabane sends 7 to hospitals
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Sept. 23 I-70 crash in South Strabane sends 7 to hospitals A Sunday afternoon crash involving four vehicles on Interstate 70 in South Strabane sent seven motorists to area hospitals. Four patients were flown by medical helicopter as...
Fall fashions focus of Women in NAACP event in Hempfield
The Greensburg-Jeannette Women in the NAACP (WIN) fall fashion show and luncheon will be held Oct. 5 at Live Casino Pittsburgh at Westmoreland Mall, the second year the annual event has welcomed guests at the Hempfield venue. About 100 people turned out for last year’s event. Co-chairperson Ruth R. Tolbert...
Lowber field day gives area students hands-on knowledge of mine drainage problem
Greater Latrobe senior McKenna Brackney recalled visiting an acid mine drainage treatment system near Saint Vincent College when she was in grade school. She took a more hands-on approach during her Friday trip to a similar passive wetland treatment site in Sewickley Township. Brackney was among about 140 area high...
Greensburg Salem seeks school spirit posts on Instagram
Greensburg Salem is among area school districts entered in a “Friday Night Lights” competition, vying for prize money offered by T-Mobile. Supporters can help the district’s attempt to claim a $5,000 prize by taking a school spirit photo and posting it on Instagram by Sept. 20. The post should have...
Students, parents say new Greater Latrobe Senior High schedule cut kids’ access to extra help
Administrators this year cut back on flexible time that was built into the schedule at Greater Latrobe Senior High after they say too many students abused the midday period intended for club activities or extra help with academic subjects. But students and parents told the school board this week the...
Greater Latrobe using workout classes to ease athletes’ after-school schedules
Alex Tatsch appreciates the fact he now can get home from his practices with Greater Latrobe’s Wildcats football team in time to eat dinner before 7 p.m. “Getting done earlier just makes your life so much easier,” the Penn State-bound senior linebacker and running back said of his after-school commitment...
Scottdale Fall Festival marks milestones with expanded activities
An expanded exhibit of wild animals, a renewed emphasis on parade floats and a display revealing Scottdale’s past are just part of the town’s annual fall festival set for Friday through Sunday. Organizers say the enhanced activities mark two milestones: the 50th anniversary of the festival and the 150th anniversary...
Greater Latrobe OKs $1.7M artificial turf replacement for high school fields
Greater Latrobe School District will replace artificial turf on two athletic fields at its high school campus at cost of $1.68 million. Through a state bidding program, the school board this week awarded the work to The Motz Group of Cincinnati, which has been maintaining the turf for the past...
Bigfoot will have big presence at Derry Railroad Days
Bigfoot will play a big role at this year’s Derry Railroad Days Festival. Activities — including presentations by those who have researched the cryptid and a bus tour of local areas where sightings have been reported — will add a new dimension to this weekend’s annual festival in downtown Derry...
Coroner: Body recovered in Cook Township was woman missing from Ligonier Borough
The remains of a woman last seen Sept. 8 were recovered from along a rural road Tuesday in Cook Township. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson on Wednesday identified the body as that of Amy R. Shipley, 45, of Ligonier. He said her body was discovered about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday on...
North Huntingdon cancer survivor’s nonprofit offers support, resources to other patients
The Celebration Circle online support group for cancer patients became smaller Aug. 1. That’s when participant Kathy Casey, 66, of New Kensington lost her four-year battle with the disease. Her husband, Bill, credits the support group co-founded by North Huntingdon resident and cancer survivor Lori Ball with giving his wife...
Huge steel cone shipment expected to disrupt traffic across region
A 150-ton steel cone destined for a Braddock steel plant is expected to halt and delay traffic Tuesday as it winds its way along several major traffic arteries in the region, including Route 22 in Westmoreland County and routes 48 and 130 in Allegheny County. The super load is 160...
Latrobe nonprofit buys former chiropractic building, plans demolition, redevelopment
A former Latrobe chiropractic office and adjoining house condemned by city officials in April could give way to a new use if a local nonprofit’s plans come to fruition. Latrobe Community Revitalization Program purchased the property at 1207 Ligonier St. in late August for $28,000. Jarod Trunzo, executive director of...
Man accused of attempted arson in Saltsburg home
A Saltsburg man is accused of attempting to set a fire in a home in that Indiana County borough. State police said Casey Kern Bush, 46, fled from the home at 714 Salt St. before troopers arrived to check a report of a disturbance involving the suspect shortly before 12:30...
Pittsburgh mother charged with carjacking, holding her children at knifepoint
A Pittsburgh mother is accused of holding her two children at knifepoint Thursday when city police tried to arrest her on charges related to a carjacking. Police said they found Gwendolyn Gilmore, 48, holding a small dagger — with her 4-year-old son on her back and her 10-year-old daughter sitting...
Unity supervisors give solicitor ‘clean slate’ to address ATV use, reject resident’s proposal
A debate in Unity Township about how residents should be able to use all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes on their property remains unresolved after the township supervisors on Thursday rejected a resident’s proposal that would have eased restrictions. The supervisors voted 2-1 to nix a proposed ordinance amendment submitted by...
Ligonier Township posts emergency closure of bridge near Wilpen
A problem discovered during an inspection prompted an emergency closure Wednesday of the Ramsey Road bridge near the Ligonier Township community of Wilpen. Township manager Michael Strelic said township road crews had been keeping an eye on the decades-old steel grate span across Hannas Run and patched the bridge deck...
Piping seminars, sheepherding demo join Ligonier Highland Games
Scottish dogs will have their day at the Ligonier Highland Games, back for the 65th year on Saturday. After an absence of some years, a popular sheepherding event will return to the Idlewild & Soak Zone grounds. There are plenty of other returning favorites, including traditional Celtic dances, a national...
Ligonier Valley School Board members accused of interfering in special education investigation
Ligonier Valley School Board President Don Gilbert has accused four fellow board members of interfering in a district investigation into a 2023 incident that left a high school teacher with severe injuries. The teacher was injured in an encounter with a special needs student. Authorities did not file charges in...
Westmoreland air show drew about 30K each day to Unity airport
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is still flying high three weeks after the annual air show that attracted massive crowds to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity. While the net revenue from the two-day event has yet to be calculated, Gabe Monzo, the authority’s executive director, told members Tuesday that...

