Jeff Himler stories, Page 38
Greensburg merchants offer parking, bingo prize incentives for Small Business Saturday
Visitors who shop in downtown Greensburg this Saturday, which is Small Business Saturday, will be invited to try a chance for a bingo prize as they search for holiday gifts. If they make a purchase at one of nearly 50 participating businesses, they’ll also get a break on parking. The...
Greensburg cafe marks decade of serving coffee, pastry, building community
Co-owner Tommy Medley bonded with customers of the White Rabbit Cafe and Patisserie when it opened in 2013, and that hasn’t changed as the Greensburg eatery marks its 10th anniversary today. Medley estimates as many as 30% of his customers are regulars who have been coming throughout the past decade...
Plans for new hazardous waste landfill near Yukon suspended after EPA report
MAX Environmental Technologies has halted its plan to reapply for a permit to add a new hazardous waste landfill at its site near Yukon. The Upper St. Clair-based company is instead focusing on compliance issues federal regulatory officials identified following an inspection of the facility in March. A report issued...
Election loss ends 40-year run as Fayette County coroner for Dr. Phillip Reilly
Sudden, unexpected deaths and grieving families have been the concern of Dr. Phillip E. Reilly for four decades. Next month, the 89-year-old Democrat will end his 40-year tenure as Fayette County’s elected coroner, having lost to a Republican challenger in the Nov. 7 election. “You put a priority on the...
South Union chiropractor poised to assume coroner’s office in Fayette County
When chiropractor Bob Baker was asked to run as a Republican candidate for Fayette County coroner, he said, “I felt like it was my Christian duty to give back to the community. I decided this is something I could do.” According to the unofficial tally, Baker is slated to carry...
Greensburg seeks grant for solar roof at fire hall, plans to hold line on taxes in 2024
Greensburg Council has approved a tentative 2024 budget that will keep property taxes at 27.05 mills next year. But city spending on several potential capital projects won’t be determined until spring, including a proposed new fire hall roof that could tap the sun’s energy. Council is considering a balanced budget...
Excela pays $10M to settle suits by 2 cardiologists, doctors’ attorney says
Excela Health is paying $10 million to settle civil suits brought by two cardiologists who formerly held staff privileges at the health system’s Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, according to an attorney representing the doctors. In the suits that were dropped Tuesday in Allegheny County Court, Drs. George Bou Samra and...
Greensburg holiday parade to kick off with later start time
Greensburg’s annual holiday parade is set for Saturday, with a later start time than usual. City council member Sheila Brumley said the parade will begin at 4:30 p.m., to encourage participants to include holiday lights in their entries. She advised those who are arriving by vehicle to see the parade...
Postal Service reducing number of Greensburg collection boxes, cites limited use
Two of four blue outdoor mail collection boxes likely will be removed as early as this week along Greensburg’s South Pennsylvania Avenue, across the street from the post office. Some residents have expressed concern about the removal of the boxes, which was indicated with 30-day notices posted on the boxes...
Outgoing Greensburg planning director worked to make office more ‘approachable and welcoming’
Greensburg is looking to beef up its planning and development office next year by adding a code enforcement supervisor. It also will be searching for a new planning director, as Jeff Raykes resigned from that role effective Friday. Raykes, who joined the city staff in 2019, is leaving to focus...
Award-winning Hunker artist explores ‘Woman and Variations’ in WCCC exhibit
The creative works of Hunker artist Stephanie Oplinger are featured in the exhibit “Woman and Variations,” running through Dec. 1 in the Science & Innovation Center Gallery on the main campus of Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood. In her LinkedIn profile, Oplinger notes she works in a surrealistic style,...
Donated funds, labor set Revolutionary War soldiers’ service in stone in Derry Township
The identities of Revolutionary War soldiers buried near Old Salem Community Church in Derry Township have been fading into history as time and weather ravage their headstones. A campaign led by the Derry Area Historical Society, to rescue those veterans from obscurity, saw progress Saturday. Volunteers organized by society member...
Crafton police seek missing teen
Crafton Borough police are looking for a 16-year-old boy who has been missing since Thursday. Mikah Morrison, who is considered endangered, did not return after leaving a note for his parents saying he was going out at about 8 p.m. Thursday, police said in a Facebook post. The teen, who...
Fire in Greensburg townhouse sends man to hospital
A Greensburg resident was hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out Saturday at his home on Odinwood Court, according to Greensburg fire Chief Tom Bell. Firefighters found the soot-covered man outside the townhouse when they responded to the call at about 9:30 a.m., Bell said. The man had...
Eagle Scout adds Little Free Library to Hempfield demonstration garden, 2 other sites
Visitors to Hempfield’s Donohoe Center now can dip into a free book while birds and bees dip into nectar and pollen at the adjacent demonstration gardens. The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, in partnership with Ligonier Eagle Scout Jesse Glenn, recently unveiled a Little Free Library display next to the...
Groundbreaking geneticist, Hempfield grad to kick off annual Greensburg Turkey Trot
A longtime runner and Hempfield Area graduate whose work on a rare genetic disorder has helped a young girl begin to walk will be returning home on Thanksgiving Day to officially start the Greensburg Turkey Trot race co-founded by his father. Dr. Caleb Bupp, 41, a medical geneticist living in...
Greensburg Salem promotes athletic director to assistant high school principal
Frank Sundry will return to the role of an assistant principal Monday, after being promoted to that job at Greensburg Salem from his current post as the district’s athletic director. The school board this week approved Sundry as assistant high school principal, at a prorated salary of $85,571. The assistant...
Southmoreland High unveils display honoring district military veterans
Glen E. Nicholson peered for a few moments at the contents of a shadow box displayed on a wall of the Southmoreland High School student union. He soon found what he was looking for: a dog tag inscribed with the name of his son and fellow Army veteran, Glen S....
Police say man who shot Monroeville officer was wanted for stealing ex-girlfriend’s Jeep
A Clairton man charged with shooting a Monroeville officer Friday while leading police on a chase in a stolen Jeep was wanted for allegedly stealing it Oct. 23. Monroeville police have charged Bruce Alvarado, 38, with the theft of the Jeep Cherokee from his former girlfriend during an argument with...
Greensburg to consider $290K in recreation upgrades, paving projects
Greensburg wants to continue improvement of its parks and playgrounds and resurface two deteriorating streets with about $290,000 in federal community development block grant funds. City council is expected to vote Monday on the planned uses of the funding, which is administered and approved by Westmoreland County officials. The funding...
3 incumbents, 2 newcomers claim Greensburg Salem School Board seats
Frank Gazze topped a field of six candidates vying for five seats on the Greensburg Salem School Board Tuesday night with 19.4% of the votes cast with all precincts reporting. He was followed by candidates Robin Beckadic-Savage, with 17.36%; Tyler Courtney, with 17.32% ; Brian Conway, with 17%; and Kacey...
Greensburg Mayor Robb Bell wins reelection bid
Incumbent Robb Bell won the race for Greensburg mayor with 58.52% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Challenger G. Domenic Spino garnered just over 41% of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Bell, 67, a Democrat, is completing his second term as mayor, a role that includes voting on...
Incumbents lead race for 2 seats on Greensburg council
Sheila Brumley led the race for two seats on Greensburg council Tuesday night with 36.1% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Randy Finfrock and Carrie Hamley received 34.86% and 28.27% of the vote, respectively, according to unofficial returns. Brumley, 53, is an appointee who was her first full elected...
State police identify woman’s body found in Westmoreland pond
State police have identified a woman found Monday in a pond in Westmoreland County, but they’re not releasing it until her family has been notified. Troopers responded just before 10:40 a.m. to a report of a body floating in a pond in the area of 202 Broadview Road in New...
Fire displaces man from Herminie home
A fire marshal is investigating the cause of a blaze that extensively damaged a single-story home Monday afternoon in the Sewickley Township village of Herminie. No one was injured in the fire reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 30 block of Fifth Street, according to Herminie fire Chief Joe...
