Jeff Himler stories, Page 57
Greensburg Central Catholic alumni to be honored at auction
A Navy submarine officer, an English teacher at a school for migrant children and an attorney whose nonprofits have served thousands of children form the latest class of distinguished alumni of Greensburg Central Catholic High School. The 2023 Distinguished Centurions are: Lt. Comm. Christopher Jessel (Class of 2004) of Norfolk,...
Unity man’s extended family ties include hundreds of cousins at national Harlan reunions
Robert Harlan has 20,000 or so cousins spread across the country. Every five years, he gets to meet with several hundred of them — many of them for the first time. Since 2002, the Unity man has served on the board of The Harlan Family in America, a nonprofit group...
Greensburg firefighters plan May alternative to canceled Community Days
Greensburg Community Days festivities usually held at Lynch Field are canceled this year because of renovation work that will be underway at Kirk S. Nevin Arena. But the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department is planning an alternative Memorial Day weekend event with free admission for the public — a “Party in...
New Greensburg yoga studio’s classes differ by matter of degrees, instructional styles
Students can relax at room temperature or sweat it out at Tonified, a new yoga and fitness studio in Greensburg. Owner Tony Ranieri has drawn upon four decades in the fitness business and his more recent exploration of yoga techniques in developing the studio and in selecting its range of...
Sunday service will kick off 175th anniversary events at Greensburg’s Zion’s Lutheran Church
A difference over languages spurred the founding of Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Greensburg. “A number of people wanted to worship in the language of commerce, which is to say English,” said the Rev. Brian Chaffee, 23rd in the line of pastors who have led the congregation since Jan. 16,...
Greensburg Salem School District eyes improved website, alert system
Greensburg Salem School District plans to upgrade its website this year and offer an improved alert system for communications with local families. The district will revamp its online presence through an agreement with Finalsite, an educational technology company based in Connecticut. The school board this week approved an agreement with...
Greensburg man accused of trading explicit images with 16-year-old girl
A Greensburg man is charged with possession of child pornography, corruption of minors, criminal solicitation and related violations after he and a 16-year-old girl allegedly shared explicit images of themselves with each other. Greensburg police said Paul Michael Fogle, 37, requested in December that the girl send him photographs in...
Sewage backup prompts early dismissal at Franklin Regional Senior High
Students at Franklin Regional Senior High were dismissed from classes early Friday afternoon after a sewage backup prompted closure of the school’s bathrooms. Students were dismissed beginning at noon and teachers also were permitted to leave since bathroom facilities weren’t available, according to district Superintendent Gennaro R. Piraino Jr. Piraino...
Greensburg Salem aims to help more students claim college credits for advanced courses
About 80% of Greensburg Salem High School students enroll in courses that are eligible to receive college credits. But only about 10% of those students pay the fees associated with actually receiving those credits, district Superintendent Ken Bissell said. The district plans to use a $45,000 grant from the Richard...
Greensburg Parks & Rec plans community yard sale, family dance, egg hunt
Greensburg residents have a couple months to sort through unwanted items in their garages, attics and closets if they want to participate in the city’s inaugural community yard sale. The daylong event, organized by Greensburg Parks & Recreation, is scheduled on May 20 and is free for city residents who...
Pittsburgh police: Girl escapes possible kidnapping in city’s Bedford Dwellings
Pittsburgh police are investigating a possible attempted abduction of a girl Wednesday in the Bedford Dwellings housing development. According to police, the girl was walking home shortly before 4 p.m. when a man approached and spoke to her in the 890 block of Reunion Place. Police said the girl used...
Scrap metal spill detours eastbound Pennsylvania Turnpike traffic at New Stanton
Eastbound traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike was detoured between New Stanton and Breezewood on Wednesday evening after a tractor-trailer spilled scrap metal on the toll road, according to state police. Police said the rig’s trailer broke in half at about 5:45 p.m., spilling thousands of pounds of scrap metal in...
2 men, 1 boy wounded in McKees Rocks shooting
Two men and a boy were taken to area hospitals after they were shot Wednesday afternoon in McKees Rocks. The shooting was reported to Allegheny County 911 dispatchers shortly before 4 p.m. in the 1500 block of Chartiers Avenue. First responders found the three victims with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds to...
Five Star Trail to get improved access in Greensburg
Walkers, joggers and bicyclists in Greensburg should have an easier time getting to the Five Star Trail after improvements are added next year at several points along the recreational path. The city is partnering with PennDOT on a project that will establish a new trailhead at George Street, which parallels...
Ice storm simulation helps Westmoreland County Public Safety, partners prep for disaster
A regional failure of the power grid, widespread transportation disruptions and spotty communications. Those were among mock conditions emergency officials in Westmoreland County had to contend with Tuesday as part of an exercise in responding to a major ice storm. About 30 public safety staffers and other stakeholders gathered at...
Expanded labs, updated tech greet students at Pitt-Greensburg’s new Life Sciences Building
Natural lighting and artificial patients are among the features that have students and faculty excited about the new Life Sciences Building at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Members of the Pitt-Greensburg community got their first glimpse inside the latest addition to the Hempfield campus during an open house Monday...
Greensburg Salem School Board considers 4.7-mill cap on potential tax increase
Greensburg Salem School Board will decide Wednesday whether to place an upper limit on any potential real estate tax increase it may consider to help balance the 2023-24 district budget. The district is required by state law to abide by a cap on any tax hike unless it drafts and...
$19.5M Life Sciences Building set for debut at Pitt-Greensburg campus
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg plans to unveil its new Life Sciences Building this week, as the spring semester gets underway at the campus in Hempfield. An open house for the campus community Monday will be followed Thursday by a 4 p.m. public dedication ceremony and walk-through of the two-story...
2 injured in Route 22 wreck in Derry Township
Two motorists were injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Route 22 in Derry Township. A man and woman were taken by ambulance to an area hospital after their vehicle overturned in the wreck, according to Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine. The woman was trapped and had to be...
Man thrown from car, killed in 2-vehicle collision in Indiana County
A motorist was fatally injured when he was thrown from his car following a collision early Saturday in Indiana County. Hunter Lewis McCloskey, 25, of Buffington Township, was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene in Pine Township, according to Indiana County Coroner Jerry L. Overman Jr....
Police seek suspect in attempted kidnapping in Ligonier Township
Ligonier Valley police are searching for a motorist who is a suspect in an attempted kidnapping Sunday morning in Ligonier Township. According to police, the male driver attempted to abduct a female jogger at gunpoint shortly before 10 a.m. on Route 381 in Rector. The suspect ordered the jogger to...
Man fatally shot in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood
Pittsburgh police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man Sunday morning in the city’s Carrick neighborhood. Police were called at about 6:45 a.m. to the 100 block of East Agnew Avenue, responding to reports of gunshots. They found a man down on the street who had gunshot wounds to...
Teen girl shot in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood
A 17-year-old girl was taken to a local hospital after a shooting Saturday night in Pittsburgh’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood. Pittsburgh police responded shortly before 10 p.m. to the 6500 block of Deary Street following a ShotSpotter alert for a single round of gunfire and related calls to 911. Officers found the...
Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert announces bid for 2nd term
Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert is running for a second term. Albert launched his campaign with an announcement Saturday afternoon to a gathering of about 200 supporters and local officials at Greensburg’s Pizza Siena restaurant. Albert, 73, of New Alexandria, said he’s overcome hurdles that remained from the previous two-term...
Joe Hardy, 84 Lumber founder, dead at 100
Joseph A. Hardy III, founder of 84 Lumber and Fayette County’s Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, died Saturday, officials with his company reported. Joe Hardy died on his 100th birthday. “The Hardy family lost their patriarch and all-around great man,” said Amy Smiley, vice president of marketing for 84 Lumber Co. “Many...
