Jeff Himler stories, Page 128
Ligonier Township ride, ‘ghost bike,’ honor cycle crash victim and stress road safetyVideo
A “ghost bike” placed in front of a tree on Route 30 in Ligonier Township will stand as a temporary memorial to a Hempfield man killed Oct. 1 when his bicycle was struck by a car at the site as he was riding up Laurel Mountain. Friends and family of...
Patron taken to hospital after car backs into Greensburg’s Szechuan Garden restaurantVideo
A patron dining at Greensburg’s Szechuan Garden suffered apparently minor injuries when a car backed into the front of the Chinese restaurant Sunday afternoon. The driver, a Greensburg woman, and a pet dog that was riding in her Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle weren’t injured in the wreck shortly before...
Strip District shooting suspect arrested; Pittsburgh police file additional charges
A man wanted in an Aug. 1 shooting in Pittsburgh’s Strip District is in the Allegheny County Jail charged with additional gun and drug-related violations. Authorities apprehended Treysaun Lockett-Tillman, 21, on Friday after U.S. marshals spotted him walking into a home on Joslyn Drive in Penn Hills. He was placed...
Man wanted in Florida surrenders after standoff on Pittsburgh’s North Side
A man wanted on a felony warrant in Florida was taken into custody after a three-hour police standoff that began Saturday night on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The incident began about 10:30 p.m. when Pittsburgh officers spotted a stolen vehicle parked outside a residence in the 3200 block of Lecky Avenue,...
Indiana County man killed in farming accident
An Indiana County man was fatally injured Friday afternoon when his jacket became caught in farming equipment. Leonard Mark Johnston, 57, of Creekside, was pronounced dead in a field off Johnston Road in Washington Township, Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman said. He attributed the death to multiple blunt trauma. Johnston...
Jeannette fest celebrates ethnic traditions, town’s resurgenceVideo
Visitors to Saturday’s fourth annual Ethnic Food and Fall Festival in Jeannette got a sampling of what the town has to offer gastronomically and culturally. “Part of our mission is to build awareness of our town,” said Donna McCullough, secretary of the Jeannette Business Association, which organized the festival. “We’re...
Flagger struck in South Huntingdon work zone, taken to hospital
A flagger was struck by a car Saturday morning in a construction zone on Route 31 in South Huntingdon, state police confirmed. Emergency crews responded about 8:30 a.m. to the site near the on-ramp to eastbound Interstate 70, a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. The injured woman was able to...
3-vehicle crash in Indiana County kills 1, injures 3
A Creekside man was killed and three others were injured in a three-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Indiana County. Robert Daniel Riddle, 61, died of blunt force trauma to the chest, Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman said. Riddle was taken by ambulance to Indiana Regional Medical Center, where he was...
Man stable after shooting at Bloomfield home
A man in his 30s was in stable condition after being shot in the leg early Saturday in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh police said. The man told police he and his girlfriend were at a residence in the 4500 block of Friendship Avenue when another man came to the door. Once the...
What’s in a name? High school stadiums, fields honor football standouts, coaches and supportersVideo
A football field, by any other name, would still measure 100 yards from end zone to end zone. But there are individuals, and stories, behind many names attached to local varsity gridirons and the stadiums that house them. Offutt Field in Greensburg and Weller Field in Ligonier are named for...
Trap shooting team gets go-ahead at Greater LatrobeVideo
Greater Latrobe School Board this week authorized formation of an intramural trap-shooting team. The proposed team, for students interested in shooting at clay targets, eventually could compete with others already established at Norwin and Connellsville, but possibly not in its first year, said Greater Latrobe Athletic Director Mark Mears. “We...
Public invited to Latrobe 4th of July planning session
The committee preparing Latrobe’s 2020 4th of July Celebration is inviting public input to its first official planning meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the city council chambers. “Anybody that wants to come, it’s open to the general public, the council, the mayor,” said Latrobe Fire Chief John...
Latrobe police get new 5-year contract, praise for arrests
Latrobe Council approved a new five-year labor agreement with the city’s police union. Covering more than a dozen officers, but excluding the police chief, the new contract will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2024, and includes annual wage increases of 2.25%, according to city manager...
Program looks at history of firefighting in Latrobe
The 140-year history of organized firefighting in Latrobe is the topic of a new slide show the Latrobe Area Historical Society will present this week. The program is set for 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at the society headquarters and museum, 416 Weldon St., Latrobe. Doors will open at 9...
Superintendent: Laurel Highlands bus driver fired after failing alcohol test
A Laurel Highlands School District bus driver has been fired after failing an alcohol test, according to school officials. Laurel Highlands Superintendent Jesse T. Wallace III said he was told the driver failed a random test conducted on Friday by the driver’s employer — district transportation contractor First Student. “I...
Former Army chief to speak at fundraiser for Westmoreland War on Terror monument
Retired Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who served as the Army Chief of Staff from 2007 until his 2011 retirement, will deliver the keynote address to those attending a dinner Nov. 1 in Hempfield that will raise money for the planned Westmoreland County Veterans of the War on Terror monument....
Route 30 eastbound reopens after 2-car crash in Hempfield
Eastbound traffic on Route 30 resumed just before 10 p.m. Monday, about 90 minutes after it was shut down for a two-vehicle crash in Hempfield. Rescuers shut down traffic at the Route 119 intersection while crews responded to the wreck reported just after 8:30 p.m. near the Cedar Street exit,...
Indiana County woman dies in Derry Township wreck
A one-car wreck Monday afternoon in Derry Township claimed the life of the driver, an Indiana County woman. Cleo E. Free, 76, of Burrell Township, was pronounced dead at about 2 p.m. in the emergency department of Excela Latrobe Hospital, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Kenneth Bacha. He attributed the...
Property rights of way topic for Westmoreland Woodlands group
Owners of area wooded lots will have a chance to brush up on their properties’ rights of way during a dinner and program set for Thursday in Hempfield. Sponsored by the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association, the program will be held in the Westmoreland Conservation District headquarters, in the barn behind...
Friday festivities kick off Fort Ligonier Days’ diamond anniversaryVideo
Visitors to Friday’s opening of the 60th annual Fort Ligonier Days celebration in downtown Ligonier were greeted by 18th century reenactors, live music, an array of festival fare and crafters from 15 states. The event, which continues through Sunday, marks the anniversary of a 1758 battle that saw the British...
Parenting expert Dr. G offers Latrobe audience advice on raising kids in age of technologyVideo
Dr. Deborah Gilboa admits some of the parenting advice she offers elicits raised eyebrows — especially her warning against routinely tracking children with a phone app. Popularly known as Dr. G on her website and on daytime talk shows, the Squirrel Hill family physician, mother of four sons and parenting...
Missing Rostraver woman found dead along trail
A Rostraver woman who was reported missing Tuesday was found dead Thursday morning. The body of Dina Kotlar, 48, was found about 8 a.m. in a wooded area along a trail, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Kotlar’s death was a suicide, Allegheny County Police Lt. Andrew Schurman...
Unity supervisors approve plan for GetGo store along Route 30
Giant Eagle’s proposal for relocating and expanding its GetGo store in Unity moved a step forward Thursday as the township supervisors gave final approval of a site plan for the convenience store and gas station. Pat Avolio, director of development for Giant Eagle, said the supermarket chain wants to construct...
Latrobe seeks new city manager, public works head as Michael Gray resigns
Latrobe is seeking applicants for two positions — city manager and public works director — as the man who holds both titles has tendered his resignation. Michael Gray said he submitted his resignation Monday for personal reasons. City council is expected to act on the resignation Tuesday , with Gray’s...
Greater Latrobe eyes $1M gym roof replacement
Greater Latrobe School Board on Tuesday will consider spending a little more than $1 million to replace the roof on the senior high school’s upper gym wing. The board also is expected to vote on replacement of the sound system in the school’s gym and swimming pool and on expansion...
