Jeff Himler stories, Page 56
Design in final phase for Route 981 upgrade between Palmer airport and Pleasant Unity
Design work is moving ahead for improvements to the Route 981 corridor between Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and Pleasant Unity as construction advances on upgrades farther south, between Mt. Pleasant and Norvelt. PennDOT said the northernmost of three sections of the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project is in the final...
Man struck by vehicle in Rostraver, flown to hospital
A man was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital after he was struck by a vehicle Friday evening in Rostraver Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The wreck was reported shortly after 7 p.m. at Fellsburg and Fells Church roads. The vehicle that struck the man...
Diocese of Greensburg TV show gets new channel
A quarterly television program produced by the Diocese of Greensburg is switching broadcast channels, from WTAE-TV to WPXI-TV. The next episode, a “Faith and Food” edition, is set to air at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 19 on WPXI Channel 11 and will be repeated on the channel on Feb. 26. The...
Work on Youngwood’s Depot Street to trigger detour
The intersection of Depot and Third Streets in Youngwood will be subject to intermittent closures beginning Monday as crews work to construct sidewalks and curb ramps that comply with federal standards for handicapped access. The work is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through the...
Greensburg eyes left-turn lane, gateway sign as work moves ahead for Main Street GetGo store
Crews continued work this week to demolish the former Family Video store in Greensburg and move earth at the site to prepare for construction of a new GetGo convenience store and gas station. The store is expected to occupy about 5,500 square feet along South Main Street, near the intersection...
Greensburg Salem School Board recognizes sophomore handler for dog show achievements
A 7-year-old dog and his devoted young handler grabbed the lion’s share of the attention at this week’s Greensburg Salem School Board meeting. Superintendent Ken Bissell presented the winning team of sophomore Natalia Backos and her Parson Russell terrier, Boozer, with a certificate of commendation for their accomplishments in the...
Greensburg Salem biology teacher in running for STEM award; online voting ends soon
Today is the final day to vote online for Greensburg Salem High School biology teacher Andrea Redinger, who is in the running for Women in STEM Mentor of the Year honors at Thiel College. Redinger, a 20-year veteran of the Greensburg Salem faculty, is competing against two other instructors from...
Ohio motorist charged with DUI, fleeing, accused of swerving toward Latrobe police car
An Ohio motorist is charged with fleeing from police and resisting arrest after police said his car swerved into a Latrobe patrol car’s lane. Jovaughn Emmanuel Lathern, 44, of Youngstown, was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware and was released on $20,000 unsecured bond following a chase along Lincoln Avenue...
Greensburg remains mum on city probe of police following chief’s arrest, resignation
Greensburg officials aren’t yet ready to comment on their plan for moving the police department forward nearly two weeks after the force’s former chief, Shawn Denning, was arrested on federal drug charges. The city launched its own internal probe after an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration resulted in Denning’s...
Greensburg appeals injunction sought by police union to block retirement plan switch
Greensburg has appealed a preliminary injunction the city’s police union was awarded to block the city’s transfer of an employee retirement savings plan to a new provider. The case also remains active in Westmoreland County Court, where Judge Harry F. Smail Jr. is slated Tuesday to hear arguments from the...
Greensburg Salem club collects feminine hygiene products
The thought of what women leave behind when they escape from an abusive relationship has moved a Greensburg Salem High School freshman to collect feminine hygiene products. Rubee Stillwagon’s concern for those women is what led to “Go With The Flow,” a donation drive set for 10 a.m. to 4...
Greensburg officials: member of police force placed on desk duty
A member of the Greensburg Police Department has been placed on desk duty, city officials said. The police employee wasn’t identified in a statement issued Thursday by city solicitor Zachary Kansler on behalf of Mayor Robb Bell. The move comes as the city is conducting an internal investigation prompted by...
South Greensburg church team recognized for recycling program
Recycling is a matter of faith as well as good citizenship for a group of volunteers at St. Bruno Parish in South Greensburg. The Creation Care Team’s drop-off recycling program for materials including metal cans and glass containers has been embraced by local residents. The effort also has garnered praise...
Greensburg YMCA plans job expo to remedy staffing shortage, curtailed programs
The Greensburg YMCA is planning a Job Expo on Wednesday to help fill available openings ranging from child care teachers to lifeguards and custodians. CEO Suzanne Printz said the nonprofit organization is looking to hire about 50 people as it copes with staff shortages that have been a problem since...
Ex-Greensburg police chief resigned upon arrest on federal drug charges
Shawn Denning is out of the Greensburg police station and off the city payroll. Mayor Robb Bell confirmed Thursday that Denning “resigned immediately” as Greensburg’s police chief when he was arrested Tuesday at City Hall on federal drug charges. Denning, 41, of Delmont is accused of acting as a go-between...
Winter storm rips into mobile home, topples trees, wires in Derry Township
Wednesday’s winter storm ripped through Derry Township during the afternoon hours, toppling trees and utility lines and damaging buildings. Areas of the township were pummeled by high winds roaring down from Derry Ridge to the east, said Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. “We had a lot of trees and wires...
Greensburg police chief’s arrest shocks community
Federal drug charges filed against Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning caught community members by surprise Wednesday. Westmoreland County Park police Chief Henry Fontana, who worked 22 years as a Greensburg police officer and detective, had no indication Denning was being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. “I’m as shocked as...
Morning Roundup: Pittsburgh detectives look for missing 72-year-old
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023: Pittsburgh detectives seek missing 72-year-old Detectives with the Pittsburgh police Special Victims Unit are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing 72-year-old man. Melvin Wilson was last seen at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday in...
Greensburg police chief out, charged with drug distribution
Greensburg Police Chief Shawn Denning is off the job after he was arrested by federal officials who claim he was the go-between for interstate drug deals, even providing menus and prices of available substances. Denning is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and three...
Greensburg Salem senior organizes Holocaust Museum Remembrance Night
Greensburg Salem senior Lillian Gatons learned something disquieting during an elective course at the high school on the Holocaust. “People are starting to think the Holocaust wasn’t real and aren’t learning about it,” she said. “That made me want to create a night dedicated to people who lost their lives...
Morning Roundup: Police say Sewickley man stole postal truck, drove wrong way on I-79
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023: Police say Sewickley man stole postal truck, drove wrong way on I-79 Pennsylvania State Police say a postal worker from Sewickley stole a mail truck from Allegheny County and drove it into Greene County, leading...
3 injured in Braddock shooting
Three people were injured after being struck by gunfire Sunday morning in Braddock, according to state police. The shooting was reported at about 2:30 a.m. in the 800 block of Braddock Avenue, police said. The three victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment and were reported to be in...
Morning Roundup: Crash injures 1, shuts McKnight Road lanes for hours
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023: Crash injured 1, closes McKnight Road lanes At least one person was injured following a crash Monday morning that left all northbound lanes closed to traffic on McKnight Road in Ross for more than four...
Pittsburgh police take 4 suspects into custody after South Side standoff
Four male suspects wanted on warrants were taken into custody Monday morning by Pittsburgh police following a standoff at a home in the city’s South Side. The incident began shortly before 1:30 a.m. when police said they spotted one of the suspects on a deck of a residence in the...
Area couples wait longer to adopt from pandemic-curtailed pool of newborns
The stars were aligned when Rob and Samantha Lauricia added a baby boy, Sal, to their family last February. After a little more than a year of preparation and paperwork, the Irwin couple became eligible to adopt a child on Jan. 19, 2022. When they welcomed Sal into their home...
