Jeff Himler stories, Page 78
Small plane makes emergency landing at Arnold Palmer airport; no injuries reported
No injuries were reported when a small plane made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff Monday morning at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The chartered plane carrying nine passengers and three crew members experienced smoke in the cockpit about 20 miles into its flight, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of...
Hempfield vehicle-pedestrian crash sends 1 to hospital
A vehicle-pedestrian crash in Hempfield sent one person to a local hospital early Friday. Hempfield firefighters responded at 12:30 a.m. to the collision near the AHN Hempfield Neighborhood hospital, at Route 30 and Agnew Road, according to Hempfield Deputy Fire Chief John Storey. He said an adult was taken by...
Student-managed cafe opens in restored Latrobe bakery building
A downtown Latrobe building where residents once stopped to get pastries is the city’s newest spot for coffee, tea and sandwiches. Rachelle’s 15650, a cafe operated by students from nearby Saint Vincent College, will have a grand opening from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the former Mailey’s Bakery,...
Power outages, flooding hit Southwestern Pa. as storm brings freezing rain, snow
About 2,600 First Energy customers in Allegheny County and 17,400 in Washington County were without power at noon Friday after a winter storm moving through Southwestern Pennsylvania transitioned from freezing rain and sleet to snow. An additional 6,000 Duquesne Light customers also were in the dark, the utility reported just...
From rain to sleet to snow, Pittsburgh region endures winter storm
PennDOT has ordered commercial vehicles off the interstates in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Parkways East, West and North and Route 28 as of late Thursday afternoon. That’s because of the storm that coated roads with a wintry mix of freezing rain, ice and sleet, according to the National Weather Service in...
Pedestrian hit and killed by vehicle in West Mifflin
A Pittsburgh man died after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday night in West Mifflin. Andrew Byrne, 61, was struck by a vehicle in the 1100 block of Lebanon Road shortly before 6:45 p.m., authorities said. He was pronounced dead at 7:45 p.m. after being transported from the scene to...
Saint Vincent walks attract birdwatchers in fair or foul weather
The rough “chip” of the cardinal and the “potato chip, potato chip” call of the American goldfinch were among sounds that pierced the winter sky Wednesday morning during a bird walk at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve in Unity. Before leading a group of about 15 Saint Vincent College students...
2 men charged with abuse of corpse as missing woman’s body found in Washington County
Two men are charged with abuse of a corpse and other violations related to the discovery Tuesday of the body of a Washington County woman who was reported missing on Jan. 19. The suspects — Matthew Shashura, 24, of Vestaburg, and Christian Panyko, 44, of Washington — also were charged...
Van crashes into house, sends 1 to hospital in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood
One person was taken by ambulance for treatment at a local hospital after a van crashed into a house Tuesday night in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood. The crash occurred just after 11 p.m. in the 300 block of Parkfield Street, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman. The driver of the...
Allegheny County preps for winter storm, offers online info for reporting problem roads
Allegheny County plans to have 32 trucks on the road to deal with snow, ice and freezing rain that is expected to hit the region by early Thursday, the county’s Department of Public Works said Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Moon issued an advisory calling for at least 3...
Water gushes from Stanwix Street garage in Pittsburgh
Water gushed down the floors of a Pittsburgh parking garage Wednesday morning on Stanwix Street near Fort Duquesne Boulevard. An Allegheny County 911 supervisor confirmed emergency crews were sent to the scene shortly before 3:30 a.m. WPXI-TV reported that water was continuing to pour down the building and onto the...
Man charged with attempted break-ins of occupied car, Bethel Park police station
An Arkansas man was jailed after Bethel Park police say he attempted to break into an occupied car at the South Hills Village mall and later tried to break into a secured area of the police station. The mall incident occurred on Saturday, when police say Rodrick Hatten, 30, of...
Police: Charges pending after 2 altercations at Penn Hills High School
Penn Hills police expect to file charges stemming from two altercations Monday afternoon at Penn Hills High School. Two people were involved in an altercation inside the school at about 2:30 p.m., shortly before dismissal time, according to police Chief Ronald Como. He said another altercation involving at least one...
Western Pa. under storm watch for snow, ice beginning early Thursday
Parts of Western Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh metro area, are under a winter storm watch that could deliver 3 inches or more of snow and sleet beginning early Thursday. The National Weather Service in Moon has issued the advisory for a period from 1 a.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Friday....
Crash in Mt. Pleasant Township sends 1 to hospital
One injury was reported in a wreck early Tuesday in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. One occupant was taken to a local hospital after a vehicle struck a guardrail and overturned, the dispatcher said. The crash happened about 1 a.m. on Route 31 near Brady’s...
2 victims stable after shooting outside Greensburg bar; suspect sought
Two men injured in a weekend shooting outside a downtown Greensburg bar remained in stable condition Monday as city police continue to search for a suspect who fired on them. According to police, the gunfire happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday outside the Rialto Bar and Bistro on West Otterman...
Johnstown man charged with disorderly conduct at North Apollo supermarket
Kiski Township police arrested a Johnstown man on charges including disorderly conduct Saturday evening at a North Apollo supermarket. According to police, Ryan Fredericks, 27, was going down the aisles of Held’s Shop ‘n Save taking bites out of food items then returning them to the shelves at about 8:30...
Officials: Mattress fire caused evacuation of Pittsburgh’s Roosevelt Arms apartments
A resident smoking in bed resulted in a mattress fire that led to the evacuation late Sunday of the Roosevelt Arms high-rise apartments in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Reported at around 11:30 p.m., the fire was contained to an apartment on the 10th floor of the 14-floor...
Derry Township looks to complete 1 stormwater pond, open bids for 2nd
Derry Township expects this spring to complete construction of a retention pond next to the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center while planning another nearby to help control flooding along Sulphur Run in the township and neighboring Latrobe. Once completed, the pond near the CTC will take in stormwater from...
2 hopefuls seek appointment to vacant Latrobe Council seat
Latrobe Council will consider filling a vacancy in its ranks at its Feb. 14 meeting. Appointments to standing committees also will be considered, as council looks to organize a special panel to review a study for proposed streamlining of the city fire department. Two men who are involved in other...
Engineering expert: ‘Poor’ ratings don’t mean Westmoreland bridges are unsafeVideo
A collapse is the most dramatic outcome in a bridge’s lifespan. But it’s just the potential worst-case scenario for the 143 state-inspected bridges in Westmoreland County that are rated in poor condition and are likely to need attention sooner or later, if they haven’t already been closed. PennDOT lists a...
Depot Street detour to begin in Youngwood
A key block of Youngwood’s Depot Street will be closed beginning Monday as work continues on reconstructing the Route 119 corridor in the borough. Depot will be closed between Third Street, which carries northbound traffic on Route 119, and Fourth Street, which has the southbound lanes, while crews complete drainage...
Zoning panel clears way for 2nd group home in Unity
Community Options’ plan to open a second group home for special needs residents in Unity has won approval from the township zoning hearing board. The board voted 3-2 Tuesday to grant a special exception for the home designated for up to two residents on McClellan Drive in the Charter Oak...
Pittsburgh man charged with mid-December shooting at Waterworks mall
A Pittsburgh man has been charged in a Dec. 14 shooting that caused panic at The Waterworks mall and damaged an occupied car parked outside Walmart. John Hayden, 21, is charged by Pittsburgh police with aggravated assault, propulsion of missiles, criminal mischief, a firearms violation and two counts each of...
Westmoreland residents capture photo awards in Pa. Parks and Forests Foundation contest
Latrobe resident Clare Kaczmarek’s affinity for area parks is reflected in the photos she takes at the scenic locations. It also has translated into multiple wins in an annual photo contest conducted by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. An image Kaczmarek snapped of snow-covered structures and evergreens at Laurel...
