Jeff Himler stories, Page 115
Greater Latrobe sets graduation options, plans survey to prep for fall instruction
Greater Latrobe School District is holding out hope for a belated commencement ceremony for the high school Class of 2020. But district officials note those plans, and options for instructing remaining students next fall, will depend on the status of the covid-19 pandemic. A survey is planned to solicit district...
Athletic director steps in to head troubled Latrobe wrestling programVideo
Greater Latrobe School Board went to the top of its athletic staff to set a new course for the district’s troubled wrestling program. The board this week named its athletic director Mark Mears to also serve as wrestling coach, taking leadership of a program rocked in January by hazing allegations...
Greater Latrobe eyes worst-case 2.7-mill tax hike
Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District could see a 2.7-mill increase in real estate taxes under a tentative 2020-2021 budget of nearly $57.2 million approved this week by the school board. District business administrator Dan Watson said the potential hike to 84.95 mills would add $73 to the...
Western Pa. task force intent on training dogs to sniff out covid-19Video
More than 100 dogs and handlers from throughout the region were put through their paces this month as they vied for the opportunity to join in the battle against the covid-19 pandemic. During sessions in Youngwood and Imperial, a panel of trainers evaluated the dogs’ ability to sniff out hidden...
Derry Area to bid seniors farewell with lunch, parade
Derry Area School District’s traditional breakfast for graduating high school seniors couldn’t be held this year because of social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, members of the Class of 2020 are invited to a drive-through farewell luncheon on Friday. It will be followed by a parade through the...
Latrobe church schedules free meal take-out
Holy Family Catholic Church in Latrobe will offer free take-out meals on Thursday. Dinners will be available from 5 p.m. until about 100 have been distributed at 1200 Ligonier St. The menu includes ham barbecue sandwiches, hobo beans, cole slaw and cake. Church volunteers wearing masks and practicing social distancing...
Surprise parade helps Hempfield teen mark milestone birthdayVideo
Kolby Liston is fascinated by fire trucks and loves parades. Those two elements came together Sunday afternoon to provide the Hempfield teen a memorable 18th birthday celebration. Arranged by his sister Katelyn Larsen of Youngwood, about 50 vehicles driven by first responders, friends or relatives delivered birthday wishes and gifts...
Pittsburgh police look for SUV that struck girl in Larimer
Pittsburgh police are looking for a sport utility vehicle that struck and injured a 14-year-old girl early Sunday in the city’s Larimer neighborhood. The driver of the white, four-door SUV didn’t stop after hitting the girl at about 12:10 a.m. in the 6400 block of Frankstown Avenue. Police said the...
Latrobe police to accept unwanted medications
Those who want to safely dispose of unwanted medications may bring them to a drug take-back collection Tuesday morning at the Latrobe City municipal building. Latrobe police will conduct the event from 9 to 11 a.m. at a table near the building’s front entrance, at 901 Jefferson St. Medications may...
Alcosan given OK for $2 billion plan to reduce sewage overflows into waterways
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is cleared to proceed with a $2 billion plan for reducing storm water and sewage overflows now that it has court approval of a related consent decree with federal and state environmental officials. Alcosan on Friday announced the U.S. District Court approval of the modified...
Figure in probe of teacher Rachael DelTondo’s homicide charged with killing Aliquippa man
A man linked to the investigation of an Aliquippa teacher’s unsolved homicide is charged with killing a man Friday in that Beaver County city. State police allege Sheldon Devant Jeter Jr., 22, of Aliquippa, is responsible for the shooting death of Tyric Pugh, 30, also of Aliquippa. State police were...
Unity rally participants want fewer covid-19 restrictions, more open businessesVideo
More than 100 people took part in a rally Saturday in Unity to express frustration with Gov. Tom Wolf’s remaining covid-19-related restrictions on businesses. Many, but not all, of the demonstrators wore face coverings, which are recommended by officials to control the spread of the coronavirus. Receiving honks from many...
Pittsburgh hospital flyover to salute those on front line of covid-19 pandemic
The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is planning a flyover of several Pittsburgh-area hospitals Tuesday afternoon in honor of covid-19 front-line responders. Two aircraft, piloted by airmen from the 171st Air Refueling Wing at Pittsburgh International Airport and the 193rd Special Operations Wing at Middletown, are slated to appear in formation...
1 critically wounded in shooting on Pittsburgh’s North Side
A male victim was in critical condition after he was shot early Saturday on Pittsburgh’s North Side, according to city police. The victim was found with multiple gunshot wounds after police responded to a ShotSpotter notification around 1:40 a.m. in the 300 block of West Burgess Street in Perry South....
Unity seeks grant for fishing pier, OKs extra work on restroom upgrade
Unity officials are seeking a state grant to pay for part of planned improvements at the lake next to the municipal building on Beatty County Road. Supervisors on Thursday agreed to apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for about $54,000 to...
Restaurant owners take issue with covid-19 rules, but aren’t ready to break them
Area restaurant owners have seen their sales slashed while restricted to takeout or delivery service during the covid-19 pandemic. But several say they don’t intend to go beyond guidelines of the governor’s phased plan for restarting the economy, because of the risk of penalties and out of consideration for their...
Airport authority awards Arnold Palmer taxiway project, eyes terminal, parking expansions
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority has selected Derry Construction Co. to modify three taxiways as part of the runway widening project at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The work won’t proceed until the authority receives approval of needed funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. The firm submitted the sole bid of...
Arnold Palmer airport eyes return of direct flights to, from Orlando
Positive customer response to restored air service between Orlando, Fla., and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, by way of Pittsburgh International, is expected to bring direct round-trip flights back next month from Westmoreland County to Florida. Spirit Airlines launched a circular Orlando-Pittsburgh-Unity route on May 3 — nearly a month after...
Business rally for loosening covid-19 restrictions set for Saturday in UnityVideo
A small-business rally is planned Saturday in Westmoreland County to urge less stringent restrictions from Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to phase in segments of the state’s economy curtailed during the coronavirus pandemic. About 60 small-business owners and supporters braved unseasonably cold temperatures Monday night outside Sharky’s Cafe on Route 30...
Giant Eagle presents recipes, videos from 4 celebrity chefs
Giant Eagle has teamed with four culinary celebrities to offer free online recipe demonstrations. Supermarket officials said the demonstrations are meant to help area residents prepare budget-conscious meals while staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The cooking series includes: • Buddy Valastro, host of “Cake Boss,” leading a “Kids’...
Latrobe awards contract for long-awaited Mary Street paving
Plum-based Tresco Paving is slated to resurface deteriorating Mary Street and some intersecting streets and alleys in Latrobe this summer in a project that was delayed for several years while city officials awaited funding. Council on Monday approved Tresco’s low bid of $156,976. City manager Michael Gray said the project...
Blaze destroys garage, equipment at Murrysville home
Flames destroyed a garage and equipment stored inside Friday afternoon in Murrysville. No one was injured in the blaze reported after 4:30 p.m. at a home in the 4000 block of Bulltown Road. Sardis Fire Chief Cody Paiano said an adjacent outbuilding sustained some exterior charring but no interior fire...
Flags headed to Westmoreland County veterans’ graves, with help of local groups
Seven pallets of graveside flags were distributed Friday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg to veterans groups, which are to place them in area cemeteries in time for Memorial Day, according to county Veterans Affairs Director Matt Zamosky. Members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and the Westmoreland County...
Reopened campgrounds see rush of guests while observing social distancingVideo
Families anxious to get away from it all after weeks under Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home orders have flocked to the area’s privately owned campgrounds. Still, they haven’t escaped from social-distancing guidelines in force as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. While camping facilities at state parks aren’t set to open...
Open-business rally proposed in Unity to urge easing of covid-19 restrictions
Local restaurant and small business owners anxious to see covid-19 restrictions eased in order to welcome back patrons plan to rally this month along Route 30 in Westmoreland County. Jamie Huemme, co-owner of Sharky’s Cafe in Unity, and township Supervisor Mike O’Barto are organizing the rally. They plan to hold...
