Jeff Himler stories, Page 77
Charges pending after Indiana County teen brings BB gun to school
A 13-year-old student is facing criminal charges after bringing a BB gun to school Friday morning in Indiana County. State police said school administrators at Homer-Center Junior-Senior High School, in Center Township, notified troopers the boy was found in possession of an unloaded Airsoft pistol with an orange tip. The...
Greater Latrobe school facilities consultant lists up to $121M in potential improvements
Architectural consultants have identified up to $121 million worth of potential improvements that could be made to Greater Latrobe School District buildings and grounds over the next decade. But that assessment is just the starting point for crafting a master facilities plan the district wants the school board to consider,...
Greensburg Salem thespians resume in-person performances with ‘Les Miserables’
Greensburg Salem returns to the theater to perform its high school musical beginning Friday, with an abridged version of “Les Miserables.” The production also can be streamed from home. “Everyone is excited to have live theater coming back,” said Sue Glowa, who is directing the musical. Because of concerns related...
1 killed, 3 injured in Fayette County crash
One person was killed and three were injured in a crash Tuesday in Fayette County, according to state police. The driver of a Kia Forte crossed over the center line of New Salem Road in Menallen around 7:30 p.m. and slammed into another vehicle, troopers said. The driver of the...
Navy Super Hornet tactical demonstration joins Westmoreland air show lineup
A Super Hornet will be joining a Viper in the skies above Westmoreland County this summer. A Navy F-18 Super Hornet jet tactical demonstration is the latest addition to the lineup of attractions scheduled for this year’s Shop ‘n Save Westmoreland Airshow, set for June 11-12 at the Arnold Palmer...
Compass Inn fireside chats will explore ‘Histories and Mysteries of Language’
If you’ve wondered whether a crayfish is a fish or who put the “nick” in nickname, the Ligonier Valley Historical Society had you in mind when planning its four-part series of programs on the “Histories and Mysteries of Language.” The series of informal fireside sessions will be held from 2...
Reinhart Foodservice plans to double size of East Huntingdon plant, add 24 jobs
Reinhart Foodservice is set to nearly double the size of its food distribution facility in East Huntingdon with the help of a state grant and a local property tax abatement program. Reinhart plans to invest more than $30 million to rehabilitate its existing 169,000-square-foot plant and construct a 155,000-square-foot addition....
Saint Vincent plans to debut new multi-purpose athletic center in summer 2023
Saint Vincent College plans to break ground this spring on an $18 million indoor athletic and recreation complex that could be ready for use by the summer of 2023. The Dunlap Family Athletic and Recreation Center, named for the project’s lead donors, will encompass 82,200 square feet under roof, including...
IUP plans tuition break for in-state undergrads, reverting back to flat-rate model
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is proposing a tuition break for in-state undergraduates beginning next fall by moving back to a flat-rate billing model. Under the plan, students who live in Pennsylvania and are enrolled in courses totaling between 12 and 18 credits per semester would pay $7,716 in annual tuition,...
2 bridge projects over I-70 to begin in North Belle Vernon, Rostraver
PennDOT is planning this summer to begin work on replacing the bridge that carries Fayette Street over Interstate 70 in North Belle Vernon. It’s among more than 140 state-owned bridges in Westmoreland County that are rated in “poor” condition, with advanced “deterioration of primary structural elements.” The Fayette Street bridge...
Latrobe zoning panel OKs plan for dek hockey rink at Legion Keener Park
Plans for reestablishing a dek hockey rink in Latrobe are one step closer to reality now that the Latrobe Foundation has received a variance for developing the recreational facility in a residential zone at the edge of Legion Keener Park. “It’s too much of a good thing for the community...
Shooting in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood sends 1 to hospital
Pittsburgh police are investigating a Tuesday evening shooting in the Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood that sent a male victim to the hospital. The shooting was reported just after 5 p.m. in the 2400 block of McCook Street. The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, was in stable condition after...
PennDOT set to replace poor-rated Mt. Pleasant Township bridge, posts plans online
PennDOT is planning to replace a bridge in Mt. Pleasant Township that is among more than 140 state-inspected spans in Westmoreland County rated in poor condition. The project on Ankney Hill Road is slated for construction from the spring of 2023 through the following fall, according to a virtual plans...
Idlewild images, history to be featured at Latrobe society meeting
The history of Idlewild Park will be featured this week during the annual membership meeting of the Latrobe Area Historical Society. Local author Jennifer Sopko will share photos and information she has collected about the popular Ligonier Township amusement park during a meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 at the...
Gifts to foundation fuel stadium, STEM upgrades at Derry Area School District
Donors are needed to help the Derry Area School District Foundation keep driving forward with projects to enhance athletics, academics and agricultural and arts programs for students. That’s the goal of the foundation’s Four A’s Initiative, a Trojan’s Spear Alumni Association effort. The initiative has raised $450,000 in charitable contributions...
Father, son charged in North Side shootings that sent 2 to hospital
Pittsburgh police have arrested a father and son in connection with Thursday night shootings that injured two people in the city’s North Side. Kurt Ianuzzo, 51, and Jake Ianuzzo, 22, both of the North Side, are both charged with three counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault as well...
Victim’s son: 9/11 family members short-changed by Biden plan for frozen Afghan funds
President Biden’s executive order meant to free up $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan funds for the benefit of the Afghan people, while leaving at least that amount to settle claims of 9/11 victims’ families in the United States, has drawn fire from one of those family members. Brett Eagleson, son...
Pitt is firing 9 staffers for failing to comply with covid vaccine mandate
The University of Pittsburgh has confirmed it is firing nine staff members for failing to comply with the university’s covid-19 vaccine mandate. “We are in the process of terminating the nine staff members who have not come into compliance,” university spokesman David Seldin said Friday. “Three faculty members continue to...
Greensburg Salem School District continues administrative revamp with technology post
Greensburg Salem School District is continuing to revamp its central administrative roles as it seeks a coordinator of technology integration and student information. The board this week agreed to advertise the position, with a starting salary not to exceed $72,000. It’s a new take on the current position of director...
Community forum set as Greater Latrobe School District develops a facilities master plan
Greater Latrobe residents this month will learn about a planning and visioning process underway at the school district and will have an opportunity to provide input toward a facilities master plan that will result from that process. A community outreach forum for the plan is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb....
Scores of bridges around Westmoreland County are rated in poor condition
Westmoreland County has 143 state-inspected bridges that are rated in poor condition and will need maintenance work, if they haven’t already been closed. PennDOT lists a bridge as being in poor condition if its deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert has a condition with a low rating. A bridge will be...
Bill Palmer resigns as Greater Latrobe school director; Rhonda Laughlin returns as appointee
Local optometrist Dr. Rhonda Laughlin is returning as an appointee to the Greater Latrobe School Board after an absence of just a few months. The board this week selected Laughlin by a 7-1 vote to fill a seat vacated by the Feb. 4 resignation of veteran school director Bill Palmer....
Jersey Jerks slated for Westmoreland airshow flyover; passenger fare set at $5K
A bird’s-eye view of Westmoreland County will be available this summer from the passenger seat of a vintage single-engine airplane — for a price. For a suggested donation of $5,000 apiece, two passengers can tag along with members of the Jersey Jerks aerial team when they complete a flyover of...
Intersecting histories of Lincoln Highway, Saint Vincent College topic for museum talk
Saint Vincent Drive serves as the main entrance to the same-named college and archabbey from modern Route 30, also known as the Lincoln Highway. The interwoven histories of the highway and Saint Vincent’s neighboring educational and monastic communities will be explored in a Feb. 12 program at the Lincoln Highway...
Spirit-Frontier airlines merger embraced at Westmoreland, Pittsburgh airports
News of a pending merger between low-cost airlines Spirit and Frontier is being welcomed at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, where Spirit is the sole commercial carrier. Officials at Pittsburgh International Airport, where both airlines offer flights, also were optimistic. “We think this is a fantastic opportunity for two great companies...

