Jeff Himler stories, Page 45
Westmoreland summit participants share tales of homelessness, ideas for addressing problem
Anthony Taylor was homeless several years ago, which meant sleeping on an older brother’s couch. In addition to stable housing, he lacked medical benefits and a car. Now, the Latrobe man has a driver’s license and works as a facility attendant at the Union Mission, a Derry Township shelter for...
Man accused of assaulting girl in Indiana County found living in truck in Armstrong County
A man wanted in Indiana County on a charge of indecent assault of a juvenile was apprehended by state troopers Thursday in Armstrong County. Police said Mark Allen Juart, 36, whose last known address was in Indiana, was found living out of a truck and using the fictitious name Michael...
Bridge work set to restrict traffic on Route 711 in Donegal Township
Motorists in Donegal Township will encounter daytime traffic restrictions on a section of Route 711 beginning Monday, according to PennDOT. A single-lane closure will be in effect between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 18 between Chestnut Ridge and Snyder roads. PennDOT said flaggers will control traffic while...
Antique dealers, fire equipment to greet downtown Greensburg visitors
Vintage values will await shoppers in downtown Greensburg Saturday during the annual Antiques on the Avenue event. A mix of about 40 antique dealers from Westmoreland, Allegheny and Somerset counties will be set up from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three locations along South Pennsylvania Avenue, including the Pitt-Penn...
Shared memories of simpler times sustain strong ties for North Huntingdon’s final Class of ’58
Some guys ventured out for late-night drag racing while the girls stayed inside for pajama parties. On Friday nights, nearly everybody turned out for the North Huntingdon High School Bulldogs football game, followed by a sock hop in the gym. “It was a fun time,” said Alice Goodlin. “We didn’t...
Missing girl, woman found safe, Pittsburgh police say
A woman and a girl repored missing separately in July have been located and are safe, Pittsburgh police said on Thursday. • Special Victims Unit detectives said Aniyah Davis-Stackhouse, 12, had last been seen on July 24. • Dominque Durrett, 27, had last been seen on Monday, July 31 in...
Fort Ligonier, West Overton join forces for whiskey tasting, sales honoring Arthur St. Clair
Visitors to Westmoreland County’s historic Fort Ligonier soon will be able to toast one of the county’s founding officials with a limited-edition whiskey issued in collaboration with West Overton Distilling. In celebration of the county’s 250th anniversary and in homage to early political and military leader Arthur St. Clair, the...
Indiana County fan preserves Steelers history, 1 news clipping at a time
Ed Griffith’s wife, Joyce, rarely has to wonder where he is. The Indiana County man’s daily routine includes hanging out in his basement man cave, adding to the more than four decades of news clippings he has saved to document the Steelers and other favorite regional sports teams and figures....
Greensburg eyes elimination of off-street parking requirement to spur downtown development
Greensburg officials are considering eliminating off-street parking requirements for downtown businesses to spur development. City Solicitor Zachary Kansler is drafting a proposal to change parking guidelines because the requirements are “one of the biggest impediments to development,” he said. The planning commission will review the proposed changes Aug. 23. Authors...
Missing Indiana County woman found
A Marion Center, Indiana County woman who was reported missing yesterday has been located and is safe. Sheila M. Rowley, 60, was located early Thursday morning, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department bloodhound team and a state police aviation patrol unit joined in the search Wednesday...
Boy in stable condition after shooting in Stowe, Allegheny County Police say
A boy was in stable condition after he was shot Wednesday evening in Stowe Township, according to Allegheny County Police. The shooting was reported to county 911 dispatchers shortly after 7 p.m. near Sixth and Ridge streets. First responders found the boy shot in the arm, police said. He was...
Head’s up: Towering statue at Greensburg auto repair shop gets full face-lift
It was literally a tall order, but a local artist, a forklift company and staff of an auto repair shop combined efforts to make sure an iconic lumberjack stands head and shoulders once again above motorists driving along Route 119 in Greensburg. Standing more than 20 feet tall, the fiberglass...
Railroad maintenance to trigger detour for motorists in Sewickley Township
A section of Lowber Road in Sewickley Township will be closed beginning Monday as crews from CSX Transportation perform maintenance on a railroad crossing. Depending on weather conditions, the road is set to close at 7 a.m., between Sutersville and Cool Springs roads. The closure is expected to continue through...
New program for tots supports playing, learning at Greensburg Hempfield Area Library
Carson Anderton donned a pint-sized lab coat and, for a short time, became Dr. Mario, a character from the Super Mario Brothers video game universe. The 3-year-old Penn Township boy also has explored the diversion to be found in a play toolbox and has bonded with another tot over toy...
Paving to restrict southbound Route 119 traffic in Youngwood
Paving of a section of Fourth Street in Youngwood will result in a single-lane restriction beginning Tuesday for motorists headed south on Route 119 through the borough. Depending on weather conditions, the lane restriction is expected to be in place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 4....
Hempfield bike run, memorial display will honor service members killed post-9/11
Tributes to those who have died as a result of military service since 9/11 will be featured Aug. 5 as part of a Fallen Heroes Run and Military Appreciation Day in Hempfield. The fifth annual motorcycle run organized by Monroeville-based nonprofit Operation Vet NOW is dedicated to the memory of...
Summit set to seek strategies for reducing homelessness in Westmoreland County
Shelters in Westmoreland County were providing a roof and a bed for 74 homeless people in January, an increase from 56 people a year earlier. Those figures need to be expanded to represent all local people who are struggling with housing instability, according to Toni Antonucci, a committee member of...
Greensburg WWII veteran braved armed foes, harsh jungle conditions with Merrill’s Marauders
(Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes.) Walter Krautz Greensburg 1919-1986 Walter Krautz survived the jungle, but the sacrifices he made during a World War II mission behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia didn’t end once he was...
Pittsburgh police arrest suspect in double stabbing in East Liberty
Pittsburgh police have arrested a suspect in a double stabbing Friday afternoon in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood. The stabbings were reported at 3:15 p.m. in the 6400 block of Centre Avenue. One female victim, who had superficial wounds to her arm, provided officers a description of a female suspect...
Ligonier Valley police justified in fatal shooting of man with machete, DA says
Police were justified in their fatal shooting of a man armed with a machete in a July 2 domestic incident in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said Friday. Westmoreland County detectives said Robbie Thomas Saunders, 59, aggressively approached two Ligonier Valley Police Department officers and was...
Police: Trafford man arrested during ‘ride-out’ at Pittsburgh airport
A Trafford man who was wanted on a warrant was arrested early Friday after a stolen license plate was discovered in his vehicle at Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County police said. Dashawn Evans, 41, was charged with receiving stolen property and multiple traffic citations after police arrived at the airport...
Johnstown couple charged in death of man whose body was found in Indiana County
A Johnstown couple has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a man whose body was discovered July 14 along an Indiana County road. State police have charged Justin Allen Green, 41, with homicide and robbery in the death of Daryl Vincent Lee Jr., 44, of Johnstown. Green...
West Nile virus found in Allegheny County mosquitoes
Mosquitoes collected by the Allegheny Health Department in Mt. Oliver Borough and in the nearby Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Beltzhoover and South Side Slopes have tested positive for West Nile virus. The infected mosquitoes were collected on July 11 as part of the department’s Vector Control Program. County health officials said...
GetGo sets opening date for downtown Greensburg store
GetGo has set Aug. 16 as the planned opening date for its new Cafe + Market convenience store and gas station that is nearing completion on Greensburg’s South Main Street. Constructed on a lot formerly occupied by the closed Family Video store, just north of Euclid Avenue, the GetGo store...
Pennsylvania Turnpike motorists to be hit with 5% toll hike next year
Pennsylvania Turnpike travelers will see a 5% toll hike in January, continuing a 15-year trend of annual rate increases by the Turnpike Commission. The new toll rates are scheduled to take effect Jan. 7, equaling the most recent percentage increase, imposed earlier this year. Next year, the most common toll...
