Jeff Himler stories, Page 64
1 man dies after shooting in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood
A Pittsburgh man died at a local hospital after a shooting Saturday morning on Lakewood Drive in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood. Carrington Keys, 41, of Pittsburgh died from gunshot wounds to the head at Allegheny General Hospital, according to the Allegheny County medical examiner’s office. City police responded at about 4:30...
Mt. Washington shooting sends 1 to hospital; 2 in custody
Pittsburgh police took two people into custody following a shooting Friday night in the city’s Mt. Washington neighborhood that sent one person to a local hospital. Officers found a female victim with multiple gunshot wounds when they responded at about 10 p.m. to a home in the 70 block of...
Officials urge preparedness, insurance coverage in wake of Westmoreland flooding
More than 80 homes in Unity and Hempfield townships were damaged on Aug. 5 when a storm dumped 5 inches of rain on the area, causing flash flooding. But only four of those dwellings were covered by flood insurance, according to state Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield. That local statistic punctuated...
Pitt-Greensburg to display art, honor alumni, hold festival during Blue & Gold Homecoming Celebration
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will honor outstanding alumni, showcase campus and local art and host festival activities during its annual Blue & Gold Homecoming Celebration continuing through Saturday. The art show is underway at Millstein Library on campus. Running through Oct. 7 on the library’s second floor, it...
Shaler road to shut down for school’s homecoming parade
Police in Shaler say motorists should be aware of a road closure on Saturday related to the Shaler Area School District homecoming celebration. The homecoming parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will proceed south on Mt. Royal Boulevard, from Morewood Road to Campbell Place. Mt. Royal will be closed...
1 airlifted following fiery wreck in Hempfield
One person was airlifted for treatment following a multiple-vehicle crash Friday night on Arona Road in Hempfield, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. Firefighters from four companies responded to the crash that occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of West Lake Drive. They extinguished a fire that...
Libertarian candidate for governor brings campaign to Unity
Matt Hackenburg didn’t plan to run for governor. But, he said, when his Libertarian Party nominated him, he decided, “I have a message to spread, and it’s my duty to do so.” Hackenburg, 37, an avionics engineer and National Guard veteran from Bangor, favors decriminalizing all drugs and prostitution. He...
Greensburg Salem gears up for homecoming with pep rally, bonfire, games
. Greensburg Salem High School prepared for Friday’s homecoming festivities with a pep rally and bonfire Thursday on the school grounds in Greensburg. Community members joined students in enjoying grilled treats, baked goods and performances by the school marching band and cheerleaders. Activities included yard games, an inflatable obstacle course,...
1 killed, 1 injured in head-on, wrong-way crash on Route 30 in Hempfield
One person was killed and another injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night on Route 30 in Hempfield that state police said involved a driver who was going the wrong way. Lauren Prenatt, 55, of Hempfield was pronounced dead at Westmoreland Hospital after the crash, according to the Westmoreland County...
Traffic to shift on Route 28 interchange ramps for PennDOT project
Motorists on Route 28 can expect traffic restrictions at the Cheswick/Springdale (Exit 12) interchange beginning at 6:30 a.m. Friday and lasting all day. Crews from Swank Construction Co. will mill the northbound interchange ramps and then will perform similar work on the southbound ramps. The ramps will remain open, but...
Greensburg Turkey Trot registration begins; YMCA partners with race committee
Registration is open for Greensburg’s annual Turkey Trot, set for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24. This year, the race committee is partnering with the Greensburg YMCA, which is helping with pre-race operations and promotion of the Thanksgiving Day 5K run/walk. The Y also is among multiple community nonprofits that will benefit...
Community, students rally around undefeated Hempfield Area as Friday football game nears
One of the hottest tickets in Westmoreland County this week is for a seat in Spartan Stadium, where Hempfield Area’s 4-0 football team will host 3-1 Penn-Trafford on Friday night. On Wednesday morning, a long line of students at Hempfield Area Senior High waited to purchase tickets from Karen Sternick,...
Fall allergies share symptoms with covid; ragweed a leading trigger
A stuffy, runny nose could be a sign that your body is coping with a flu or covid-19 infection, or it could be an overreaction to an allergen. The maturation of pollen-packed plants like ragweed means the fall allergy season has arrived in Western Pennsylvania. “If you have nasal congestion,...
Loyalhanna Watershed Brewfest returns on Saturday with new fall date
The Loyalhanna Watershed Association’s annual Brewfest, now in its third year, has moved from the summer to the fall. The event, set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday , will feature live music and specialty beverages from area breweries and distilleries. It will be held on the western outskirts of Ligonier, in...
Games, obstacle course, pep rally await public at Greensburg Salem homecoming bonfire
The public is invited to a homecoming bonfire Wednesday at Greensburg Salem High School. Set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the school’s gravel parking lot, the event is sponsored by the Student Council Association. It is meant to heighten community and school spirit in advance of the varsity football...
Roe v. Wade upset raises hopes for those attending March for Life in Harrisburg
The Supreme Court decision in June that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and ended the right to an abortion at the federal level has energized area residents who are planning to attend Monday’s Pennsylvania March for Life in Harrisburg. Many who have made arrangements to participate in...
Southwest Greensburg church picnic will benefit first responders
First responders will be celebrated Saturday at the Greensburg Church of the Brethren’s second annual community picnic. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the church grounds at 554 Stanton St. in Southwest Greensburg. The Southwest Greensburg police and fire departments and Mutual Aid Ambulance Service...
Weekend to bring ideal conditions for region: balmy temperatures and dry skies
The last weekend of summer is arriving in the Pittsburgh region with weather conditions ideal for enjoying outdoor activities. The National Weather Service in Moon has forecast dry skies and balmy temperatures without an excess of humidity. Highs in the low- to mid-80s are expected at about 5 p.m. both...
Greensburg Salem School Board solicits proposals for facilities study
Greensburg Salem School Board took a first step this week toward a districtwide building feasibility study, voting 6-3 to seek proposals from prospective consultants. If one is approved, the consultant also could help manage the district’s capital projects over multiple years. Superintendent Ken Bissell noted it’s been at least three...
Monroeville cruiser damaged responding to crash
A Monroeville police car was towed from the scene of a one-car crash early Friday after being damaged by resulting debris. Monroeville Police Chief Doug Cole said no one was injured at about 12:45 a.m. when the car crashed into a utility pole in the 4600 block of William Penn...
Former McKeesport teacher faces more sex charges
Police on Wednesday filed additional sex charges against a former McKeesport Area middle school teacher who already was accused of sexually assaulting several boys. The new charges against Eric Vincent Fairman, 26, of Pleasant Hills, relate to his former role as a basketball coach and involve two players, according to...
Brentwood man charged in shooting that wounded boy, man in Hill District
Pittsburgh police arrested a Brentwood man for allegedly shooting a man and a 3-year-old boy in the city’s Hill District Wednesday night during a domestic dispute. Davont Spencer-Johnson, 24, was arraigned Thursday on two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault, one count of robbery, four counts of endangering...
Somerset County tunnel restrictions slated overnight on Pennsylvania Turnpike
Motorists can expect single-lane, bi-directional traffic through the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Allegheny Tunnel in Somerset County beginning Thursday night. Officials said the westbound lanes of the tunnel are set to close at 8 p.m. Thursday, with all traffic switching to the eastbound lanes until 6 a.m. on Friday. The traffic shift...
Wilkinsburg man dies after crashing motorcycle
A Wilkinsburg man died after crashing a motorcycle early Thursday. Philip Price, 38, lost control of the motorcycle shortly after 2 a.m. on Penn Avenue at Princeton Boulevard in Wilkinsburg, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The medical examiner’s...
Pittsburgh police seek woman missing since Sunday
Pittsburgh police are searching for a woman who has been missing since Sunday. Deborah “Debbie” Bailey, 44, is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds, police said. She has black hair with a silver streak, possibly worn in a short ponytail. Police said Bailey, who could have dementia,...

