Jeff Himler stories, Page 52
Dinner to benefit 2nd phase of Hannastown playground improvements
Organizers are planning an April 29 dinner to raise funds for a second phase of improvements at a community playground in the Hempfield village of Hannastown. The inaugural fundraising dinner will feature an Italian menu including salad, bread and dessert. It will be served from 1 to 5 p.m. at...
25 artifacts in new Westmoreland exhibit illuminate county’s diverse 250-year history
A key to a landmark Greensburg mansion and an 800-pound tower bell are among items that will help unlock Westmoreland County’s past for those who view a new county historical society exhibit. “Westmoreland 250! Celebrating our Story with 25 Objects” had its official debut Saturday at the society’s Westmoreland Education...
Westmoreland holds photo contest to mark county’s 250th anniversary
Westmoreland County is inviting amateur photographers to focus on images that help tell the county’s story as Westmoreland celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. Oct. 27 is the deadline for submitting entries in the county’s anniversary photo contest, which offers cash prizes for the top three images in each of...
Greensburg Y swimmer, gymnasts capture titles in state, regional competitions
A Greensburg YMCA swimmer captured a top title at the organization’s recent Pennsylvania championship meet while Greensburg Y gymnasts placed at a regional event. Kaitlyn Stetchock, a sixth grade student in Hempfield Area School District, claimed a state title in the 11-12-year-old division 200-meter breaststroke at the YMCA state championships...
5K, family races, mindfulness-aligned activities slated in event at Hempfield Park
Interactive activities for all ages and two types of races will be featured during the inaugural Dr. Spino Kids Day on April 29 in Hempfield Park. Slated from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event is organized by G. Domenic Spino, a former family therapist, and will include area human...
Police seek owner of valuables found in Sheetz restroom in Indiana County
Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the owner of several valuable items found Monday at an Indiana County Sheetz. Several antique coins, including U.S. Indian Head pennies, and pieces of jewelry, including a diamond ring, were among contents of a camera case found in the men’s restroom of a Sheetz gas...
Work to close roads in Ligonier, Fairfield, Mt. Pleasant townships, county covered bridge
Road closures are slated to begin Monday in the Ligonier Valley and in Mt. Pleasant Township as state road and bridge projects get underway. PennDOT announced traffic restrictions also will be enforced as work begins on bridges in several Westmoreland County communities. The closures will affect sections of Route 271...
Greensburg Salem parent calls for change after teacher caught reading racial slur aloud in classroom
A Greensburg Salem High School parent is calling for change after a substitute teacher voiced a racial slur while reading aloud to her classroom from the 1937 John Steinbeck novella “Of Mice and Men.” The incident happened March 24 in a 10th-grade language arts class. According to parents, the moment...
Tractor-trailer flips, injures 1 on I-79 in Washington County
One person was injured Wednesday afternoon when a tractor-trailer carrying cardboard overturned on Interstate 79 near the I-70 interchange in Washington County. State police said the rig was traveling north on I-79 around 3:45 p.m. when the driver lost control around a bend in the road near mile marker 34...
PBS documentary producer Rick Sebak to conclude Pitt-Greensburg Writers Festival
Pitt-Greensburg has tapped public television documentary producer and narrator Rick Sebak to deliver the keynote speech Friday to conclude the school’s Writers Festival. Sebak’s presentation, set for 8 p.m. in Ferguson Theater, is free and open to the public, as are all festival activities. Pitt-Greensburg digital storytelling students Caitlin Cruser,...
Pennsylvania Turnpike lanes reopen after eastbound crash near New Stanton
Eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike reopened Wednesday evening more than two hours after a tractor-trailer overturned just east of the New Stanton interchange. The crash occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. According to New Stanton fire Chief Rob Cammarata, no one was injured when...
Volunteer ‘victims’ needed for disaster drill at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Officials at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport are in need of volunteers to serve as “victims” in a disaster drill planned for May 10 at the Unity airport. The 6:30 p.m. drill will be held on the airport’s old runway and will simulate an aircraft crash, according to airport manager Moe...
Vee Neal Aviation proposes growth with flight school, aircraft hangar at Unity airport
Vee Neal Aviation is looking to grow its commercial aviation operations at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, with expanded aircraft hangar space and a flight school. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport in Unity, on Tuesday granted Vee Neal development partner Jodaron Realty an exclusive two-year option to...
Greensburg councilman: Utility work to disrupt traffic near GetGo construction site
Motorists in Greensburg should be prepared for traffic disruptions Tuesday and Wednesday, on a section of South Main Street, according to city Councilman Donnie Zappone Jr. Zappone said flaggers will be controlling traffic on Main Street, at the intersections of Euclid Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Street, as West Penn Power...
Greensburg hires new police chief, looks to rebuild trust after former chief’s arrest
Charles Irvin said one of his tasks as Greensburg’s new police chief will be to restore the community’s trust in the department following the January arrest of his predecessor on federal drug charges. City council on Monday unanimously approved promotion of Irvin, an 18-year veteran of the force, from detective...
2 Greensburg traffic signals targeted for improvements
Greensburg will upgrade two of the city’s oldest traffic signals at Main and Clopper streets and at Fourth Street and Westminster Avenue. “These signals are some of the oldest and most inefficient in the city,” Greensburg planning director Jeff Raykes told city council at its April agenda meeting. Public works...
Preliminary Greensburg Salem School District budget keeps tax rate steady
Greensburg Salem School Board had a first look Wednesday at a proposed 2023-24 district budget based on holding the school real estate tax at its current level. That initial budget includes estimated expenses of nearly $49.5 million and revenue of $48.8 million, for a shortfall of $612,420, equal to the...
Westmoreland 250: Centennial banquet, bicentennial week are among past milestones
As 2023 comes to a close — and with it, the 250th anniversary of the founding of Westmoreland County, it’s a good time to look back at previous events and recall some of the notable celebrations. The county marked its centennial by holding a banquet replete with champagne toasts and...
Work on Westmoreland bridges to restrict traffic in Penn, Oklahoma boroughs
Short-term lane restrictions will be in place next week for PennDOT bridge preservation projects in Penn and Oklahoma boroughs. Nighttime single-lane restrictions are slated between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday on Route 66 (First Street and Oklahoma-Apollo Bridge), between Sheridan Road and Kiski Avenue in Oklahoma. Traffic...
Power slowly restored after severe storms strike Western Pa.
Power is being restored for several thousand households affected by Wednesday night’s severe storms that rolled through the Western Pennsylvania. Duquesne Light said it has no outages to report as of 5:20 a.m. Thursday. Late Wednesday night, Duquesne Light reported about 2,500 customers were without power, with Ross and O’Hara...
Anonymous report of active shooter temporarily locks down Mt. Pleasant Area school
Mt. Pleasant Area Junior-Senior High School was locked down for more than an hour Wednesday morning as authorities responded to a report of an active shooter at the school. Superintendent Timothy Gabauer said school administrators received a Safe2Say message shortly after 10 a.m. indicating there was “an active shooting in...
May 29 a ‘beautiful day’ for inaugural charity 5K honoring late Greensburg Salem coach
Longtime Greensburg Salem track and cross country coach Steve Snider was known for his inspirational approach and positive outlook, viewing, in his own words, every day as “a beautiful day.” The beloved coach, who also taught physical education and health in the district for 36 years, will be remembered on...
Greensburg unveils design for Spring Avenue Park revamp
Greensburg resident Luis Sanchez and his family are eager to try out updated amenities planned at Spring Avenue Park, which faces the front door of their Menoher Way home. “It’s going to be really good for so many kids,” Sanchez said. That includes his 10-year-old daughter, Gianna, who has fun...
Sinkhole closes road in North Huntingdon; PennDOT announces detour
A sinkhole resulted in closure of a section of road in North Huntingdon Monday night. PennDOT officials said Paintertown Road is closed between Bickerstaff Road and Penn Woods Drive until further notice. Motorists are being directed along a detour following Station Street, Morris Avenue, Nike Site Road, Route 130 and...
April programs promote growth of backyard butterfly habitats in Westmoreland
Spring’s arrival brings two programs to Westmoreland County to guide backyard gardeners in selecting plants for their property that are attractive to the senses and to migrating butterflies. The staff of the Penguin Court preserve in Laughlintown on Tuesday will lead a virtual program on creating a “Monarch Waystation,” or...
