Jeff Himler stories, Page 76

Greater Latrobe School District officials have recommended that the school board include a 1-mill property tax hike when it approves a proposed 2021-22 budget at its May 25 meeting. District business administrator Dan Watson suggested the tax increase, to 85 mills, to help cover an expected shortfall of $345,000 in...

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is delaying any decision on the future of the restaurant space at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport until its next meeting, rescheduled for June 15. In April, the county commissioners urged the board to entertain competitive bids to operate the airport’s upper-level dining area, currently leased...

Latrobe is searching for a new city secretary and director of finance and administration. City manager Michael Gray declined to discuss the departure of Roxanne Shadron, who recently held the dual positions. Two people had applied for the vacancy as of Monday, Gray said. He said the city will allow...

Motorists heading into downtown Latrobe via Ligonier Street should be prepared for a detour beginning Monday at the northern entrance to the city. Southbound traffic across the Loyalhanna Creek is slated to cease for several months as work proceeds on rehabilitating the Brewery Bridge. Work is beginning on the downstream...

Jeannette City School District will play host to a covid-19 vaccine clinic Thursday for older students, their families and other community members. The clinic is set for 1 to 5 p.m. in the high school gym. Doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered by Hayden’s Pharmacy. According to Superintendent...

Seven cross-filed candidates are vying for four seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board. Among those seeking nominations in the May 18 primary are incumbents Bill Palmer, Heidi Kozar and Cathy Sarraf. Steven LoCascio is not pursuing a second term. The field of challengers includes Ryan Scarton, Andrew Repko, Tom...

A fire investigator is looking into the cause of a Friday evening fire that extensively damaged an Adamsburg house containing three apartments. An outdoor grill may have been involved, as flames spread from a rear porch into the two-story house, according to Adamsburg Fire Chief Donald Thoma. Thoma said the...

A woman was left homeless Friday afternoon when flames spread through her mobile home in Hempfield. No one was reported injured in the fire, which occurred at the Sliver Dolphin Mobile Home Park. The woman who lives there wasn’t home when a maintenance man reported the fire just after 1...

One person was injured when a fire broke out Thursday evening at a home in Murrysville. The fire was reported just before 8 p.m. on Foxwood Court, with flames initially showing from the basement. Everyone inside was able to get out of the house, but one person suffered from smoke...

The return of Ligonier’s Sunday evening band concerts is music to trumpet player Jay Copenhaver’s ears. The New Stanton man is looking forward to performing twice this summer in Ligonier’s Diamond Park, after missing any appearance there after last season’s concerts were canceled. Copenhaver is set to play the Diamond...

Hayden’s Pharmacy will conduct covid-19 vaccine clinics at additional Westmoreland County schools after administering doses of the Pfizer vaccine to several hundred recipients Tuesday at Greensburg Salem Senior High. A voluntary clinic on Thursday at Mt. Pleasant Area School District will be available only to students age 16 and older....

Students at Greensburg Salem Middle School will receive remote instruction at least until Thursday following a recent spike in covid-19 cases. Superintendent Gary Peiffer said the decision was made after five positive cases were reported late last week. “We already had 49 students quarantining at the middle school who were...

An owner looking to unload a multimillion-dollar home, in an area where such properties are the exception, might consider holding an auction to avoid taking a major loss on the investment. Several such palatial estates in the Ligonier Valley recently changed hands through the services of Platinum Luxury Auctions, a...

Latrobe Council is looking to spell out training requirements for the fire chief position, as part of a review and update of various city ordinances. The ordinance currently mandates only that a chief candidate have at least 10 years of firefighting experience, including five years of continuous service with Latrobe’s...

Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting that wounded a male victim Friday night in the city’s Westwood neighborhood. The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition with gunshot wounds to his leg, according to a Public Safety spokesman. The sound of shots in the 1600 block of...

Travelers will be required to wear face masks inside airports and on planes, buses and trains through Sept. 13. The mask mandate, in place since the beginning of February, was set to expire May 11. Transportation Security Administration officials said Friday the new extended timeline is consistent with covid-19 guidance...

The destination marketing organization for Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties, is spotlighting the “Power of Travel” during National Travel and Tourism Week, held during the first week of May. Ligonier-based GO Laurel Highlands also will welcome visitors during two open house events, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday...

Students at Greater Latrobe Senior High received kisses when they entered the school on Valentine’s Day last year. Members of the school’s Aevidum Club handed out Hershey’s Kisses chocolate candies as a gesture of caring and inclusion for their fellow students. The holiday can be a sad one for some,...

Derry Area School District on Tuesday began a two-day closure of its high school/middle school complex triggered by covid-19 cases. In a letter posted on the district website, Superintendent Eric Curry reported, as of Monday, there were six positive covid cases at the secondary building over the past 14 days....

Communities throughout Pennsylvania are stepping up efforts to control stormwater runoff that can contribute to erosion and can affect local streams. Property owners who attend a May 14 program in Hempfield will get tips on how they can do their part, by better managing the stormwater on their land. Hosted...

Two grants totaling $285,000 brought a local nonprofit closer to developing the Westmoreland County War on Terror Healing Garden and Memorial Plaza at Twin Lakes Park. Westmoreland County Veterans of the War on Terror Inc. announced Monday it received a $10,000 Green Gift to Celebrate Earth Day grant from Noble...

Residents’ complaints about recreational vehicles and trailers hogging on-street parking spaces prompted Latrobe Council to look at amending its parking regulations to prohibit the practice. At its May 10 meeting, council is expected to consider an ordinance change that would keep such vehicles from taking up street parking except for...