Jeff Himler stories, Page 105

A Hempfield man suffered minor burns to his hands while attempting to remove equipment from his burning garage Saturday morning, firefighters said. The block building, which contained woodworking equipment, was a total loss, according to Midway-St. Clair Fire Chief Rich Kepple. A township fire investigator will look into the cause...

Greater Latrobe School Board has promoted Robin Pynos to a new assistant superintendent position, as the latest step in realigning the district’s central administrative staff. The board this week approved a five-year term for Pynos as assistant superintendent for curriculum, technology and instruction as she resigned from her previous role...

Greater Latrobe School Board has agreed to a ceiling for any property tax increase it may approve for the 2020-21 school year. The board this week passed a resolution pledging to stay within the 2.71-mill maximum — the equivalent of a 3.3% increase, determined by a state index, in accordance...

State traffic safety grants announced this week will improve a signal at routes 22 and 819 in Salem and will provide flashing signs to warn motorists of a reduced speed limit next to Latrobe Elementary School. The grants of $120,000 to Salem Township and $122,000 to the City of Latrobe...

Unity Township officials are considering changing the residential zoning classification of about 20 properties along a stretch of Route 981 near the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to give owners more flexibility in developing the lots. Solicitor Gary Falatovich said township supervisors likely won’t act on the proposed revision until February...

Saint Vincent College officials on Thursday will discuss the planned development of a Student Life and Hospitality Hub, including the dining hall where the Pittsburgh Steelers eat during training camp on the Unity campus. The meeting, which will include a public comment period, begins at 9 a.m. in Room 2B,...

A Unity couple has drawn upon a shared Polish heritage to grow a thriving business making pierogies for restaurants and fundraisers. The next step Jan Rawecki and Terry Smith-Rawecki are planning is to move production of Gosia’s Pierogies from their expanded Pauline Drive garage to a larger plant they intend...

Skilled golfer John J. Konieczny Jr. continued to play the “game of kings” while stationed with the Navy in Norfolk, Va., in the early 1960s. He also played a part in one of the deadliest games in history — the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that threatened nuclear conflict between...

Ligonier-area residents who are lacking warm winter outerwear are invited to stop at the Ligonier Valley YMCA Sunday to check out garments that have been donated through the second annual Ligonier Valley Coat Drive. According to organizers of the drive, anyone who needs a coat is welcome to stop at...

A local native whose company has handled tasks for gas and oil companies, railroads and the Westmoreland County Airport Authority will take on a new assignment next week, for the city of Latrobe. Scott A. Wajdic of Youngstown is scheduled to begin work Monday as Latrobe’s new public works director....

Volunteers from Jeannette’s Elliott Group lent a hand this week as the Westmoreland Land Trust installed an updated sign at the entrance of its nature preserve along Ardara Road in North Huntingdon. The sign joins other recent improvements at the 59-acre Otto and Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve that were the...

Firefighters from Youngstown Borough and the nearby Whitney-Hostetter department often respond together to emergency calls. Under a proposed merger, they soon could be heading to other emergencies as a single volunteer company. Unity Township Supervisors this week passed a resolution supporting the merger, which was sought by the firefighters. “They...

When Mitch Schultz Jr. watched a rainbow of lights bring a holiday glow to this year’s Christmas tree at New York City’s Rockefeller Center, it added a stunning final chapter to his family’s 60-year history with a Norway spruce. “I trimmed it tons of times as it was growing,” said...

The Latrobe Area Historical Society will usher out the year with an encore presentation of a program highlighting the many facets of the town’s faith community. The slide show “Holy Latrobe: The Historic Houses of Worship” will be screened at 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the society headquarters, 416...

The Shop ’n Save Westmoreland County Airshow should be flying high once more in 2021 — after taking hiatus next year — with a return of the Blue Angels Navy jet team as the chief attraction. Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo received word Tuesday that the popular jet demonstration...

Greater Latrobe students who take the bus next school year will be transported by a new carrier, one that will save the district about $1 million. The Greater Latrobe School Board voted 7-0 Thursday to switch to DMJ Transportation Inc. of Mt. Pleasant Township, beginning July 1. Over the life...

River City Brass will join forces with student musicians for a holiday concert Dec. 13 at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Greater Latrobe band and choral students will perform along with members of the Pittsburgh brass band at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium for the Home for the...

Several members of Latrobe Fire Department’s Goodwill Hose Company No. 1 have been suspended, Mayor Rosie Wolford said Thursday afternoon. Wolford did not reveal the reason for the suspensions or specify the number of firefighters involved. Reversing recent media reports, she said the company’s operations are no longer suspended. The...

A bridge that connects Westmoreland and Indiana counties has been renamed in honor of a local Army reservist who was killed in an Iraqi missile attack during Operation Desert Storm. Gov. Tom Wolf last week signed legislation designating the Route 56 bridge over the Conemaugh River as the Specialist Beverly...

More mobile homes could soon arrive along Marguerite Lake Road in Unity. The township planning commission approved 51 additional lots at Hillside Estates mobile home park. UMH Properties of Morgantown, W. Va., plans to add the lots in three phases on a 21-acre section of the development just north of...

Carl Ross initially was rejected for World War II service because he had flat feet. But that didn’t deter the 18-year-old New Kensington native. “He just kept trying,” said his daughter, Joyce Andrews. “He tried all the branches, and nobody would take him. Then he went back to the Army...