Jeff Himler stories, Page 60
Pleas issued for blood donations as supply suffers holiday season shortage
Regular blood donor Kayani Hull had an extra incentive to roll up her sleeve for a donation drive last week at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus. “I found out that B-type blood is pretty rare, and I have B blood,” said the Pitt-Greensburg sophomore from Verona. “It makes me...
W.Pa. LGBTQ community, allies share hope, reservations on Respect for Marriage Act
Steve Clark and Scott Smith of Scottdale traveled to Massachusetts in 2008 to be married. Hempfield spouses Patricia and Kimberly Elliott-Rentler tied the knot in 2016, after same-sex marriages were permitted in Pennsylvania. They and others in the area’s LGBTQ community see the expected passage of the federal Respect for...
Civic Empathy exhibits reveal Westmoreland history of slavery, racial justice
Pennsylvania was a haven in the decades preceding the Civil War for people seeking to escape enslavement in the South. But that wasn’t the case in Pennsylvania’s earlier years, when enslaved people and those who claimed ownership of them were part of the local population, including in Westmoreland County. The...
Visit with Santa, goats on Pleasant Unity farm to raise money for groups benefiting kids
Santa Claus will be greeting two types of kids this weekend at a holiday charity event in Pleasant Unity — the kind with shoes and the kind with hooves. Lou and Emily Surace are inviting local families and children to their farm to meet the couple’s baby goats and to...
Santa, songs add sparkle to Greensburg’s Luminary Night; public ranks wreaths for raffle
A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library was one of the highlights Thursday for children attending downtown Greensburg’s annual Luminary Night. The library served cookies and hot chocolate and offered games, music, crafts and other activities as part of its free Winter Wonderland party...
Police look for hit-and-run driver who injured bicyclist in Indiana County
State police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck and injured a bicyclist Wednesday morning in Indiana County. The cyclist, a 31-year-old Saltsburg man, was treated for moderate injuries at Indiana Regional Hospital. Police said he was riding in the area of Rose Street and Robertshaw Drive, near the...
Latrobe Holly Jolly days include tree lighting, Santa visit, Aubrey Burchell performance
Latrobe’s annual Holly Jolly festival is returning over three days this week, beginning with a revived holiday Light Up Night on Thursday. North Huntingdon singer Aubrey Burchell, who reached the semifinal round of “America’s Got Talent” this year, will be among those providing live entertainment Saturday in downtown Latrobe. After...
Greensburg Luminary Night returns with crafts, carols, Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Greensburg’s 53rd annual Luminary Night holiday celebration is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, with most activities taking place along Pennsylvania Avenue. Rows of luminaria will add a festive glow to downtown streets as visitors enjoy seasonal music, activities for kids and shopping at local stores. A Christmas tree...
3 people shot in McKeesport
McKeesport police are investigating an incident in which three people were shot Tuesday afternoon. The shooting was reported shortly before 1:45 p.m. in the 500 block of Pirl Street. McKeesport police told Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV that the wounds suffered by all three victims are considered non-life-threatening. The grandmother of...
High school junior, football player, dies after shooting Tuesday in Monessen
Officials have identified a Monessen High School student who died after being shot Tuesday evening in Monessen. Amari Altomore, 16, of Monessen died in an area hospital following the shooting at 8:10 p.m. at 649 S. 14th St., Monessen, according to a report from the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The...
Scottdale house tour will offer peek at Greystone Manor renovation
Participants taking Scottdale’s Christmas House Tour will get a peek inside a landmark residence dating back to the early 20th century that is in the midst of an extensive restoration. They’ll also have the chance to visit four other standout dwellings in the community as well as one of its...
New Pitt-Greensburg theater director brings varied background including improv, sci-fi plays
Chryss Allaback believes theater arts is one of the best fields of study to pursue at the college level. As an example, she points to the student actors and crew who recently staged a production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the Ferguson Theater at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg...
Service, generosity were among pharmacist’s contributions to Greensburg community
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes. Pharmacist John E. “Joe” Fishell worked 13 out of every 14 days at his Greensburg drug store and was on call on holidays. “There were many times he was called out...
U.S.-England World Cup faceoff draws growing soccer fan base to local viewing
Friday’s scoreless draw in the World Cup soccer match between the United States and England cost Greensburg’s Scott Fidazzo $100. Fidazzo, 25, bet the United States would win. But, he said, “It’s a fun bet. It makes watching the game more interesting.” He was among area soccer fans who packed...
Voting challenges in 5 Westmoreland precincts to delay certification
Westmoreland County Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew have pre-certified results of midterm election voting in all of the county’s 307 precincts. But when they meet Monday to consider final certification of the Nov. 8 vote — in their capacity as county election board members — they’ll be limited to...
Blue Knights expand effort to feed area families for Thanksgiving
Westmoreland County law enforcement officers were out in force last week to round up the usual suspects: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, veggies and butter — the time-honored ingredients of a Thanksgiving dinner. For the second year in a row, local Chapter I of the Blue Knights motorcycle club for active...
Salem teen, her terrier earn honors at National Dog Show
Natalia Backos and her dog, Boozer, have much in common. That includes matching pajamas and major wins at this year’s National Dog Show in Philadelphia. The 15-year-old Salem girl captured $5,500 in scholarships when she was judged as the top junior handler at last weekend’s two-day show. Under her guidance,...
Greensburg police union files suit to block change in retirement plan provider
Greensburg’s police union has filed suit in Westmoreland County court seeking to block a change to a retirement savings plan it says would violate its contract with the city. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 56 argues in the civil action filed last week that Greensburg’s planned change of provider for...
Vehicle rollover in Ligonier Township sends 1 from Route 30 scene for treatment
One person was transported for treatment following a one-vehicle wreck Monday evening in Ligonier Township, according to responding firefighters. The rollover crash with entrapment was reported at about 7:15 p.m. on Laurel Ridge, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher confirmed. Waterford and Ligonier firefighters were dispatched to the crash near the...
Officials: Verona man fatally shot on porch of Wilkinsburg home
Allegheny County police are investigating a shooting Monday afternoon in Wilkinsburg that killed a Verona man. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as 40-year-old Walter Sloan. First responders who were dispatched shortly after 4:45 p.m. found the man had been shot multiple times on the front porch...
Police seek suspect in Hempfield gift card fraud
State police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a fraud suspect in an incident last month at the Hempfield Walmart. Police said a man shown in surveillance photos they released on Monday is suspected of making a fraudulent return of gift cards at the store at about 3 p.m....
‘White Friday’ target for skiers to hit slopes at Seven Springs
Frigid temperatures brought scattered snow showers and squalls to the region late last week and provided ideal conditions for crews at Seven Springs Mountain Resort to make some snow of their own. That bodes well for the plan to open the Somerset County resort for skiing Friday, Nov. 25, the...
Greensburg kicks off holiday season with parade, window display, raffle
When units head south on Greensburg’s Main Street Saturday for the city’s annual holiday parade, they’ll pass by a scene not witnessed in about four decades. Windows at the former Troutman’s department store at Main and Second streets will be decorated for the holiday season — for the first time...
Holiday festivities kick off the season in Irwin
Area residents braved temperatures in the 30s to ring in the holiday season during the Light Up Norwin event Thursday night in downtown Irwin. Sponsored by the Norwin Rotary Club, the festivities included food, music and a tree-lighting ceremony. A parade along Main Street featured about 70 units. Kids were...
Greensburg to hold line on taxes next year, proposes nearly $13M budget
Greensburg officials plan to hold the line on taxes as part of a proposed 2023 budget totaling nearly $13 million. It will mark the 15th consecutive year the city has avoided an increase in the tax rate supporting the general fund, according to Councilman Randy Finfrock. He noted the city’s...
