Jeff Himler stories, Page 85
Unity OKs plans for restaurant drive-thru, car lot expansion
Plans for an Eat’n Park restaurant drive-thru window, a used car lot expansion and a bed and breakfast in Unity all have received thumbs-up from the township supervisors. Township planning director Merle Musick told the supervisors at their meeting this week that Eat’n Park Hospitality Group plans to reduce the...
Furnishings, collectibles up for auction at Ligonier’s closed Campbell House B&B
Dolls, stuffed animals, glass bells and a musical clock are among collectible items bearing the famous Campbell’s soup brand logo that will hit the auction block Saturday as people can bid on the contents of Ligonier’s closed Campbell House Bed & Breakfast. After suffering a health setback in February, owner...
Single-lane squeeze on Route 119 in Youngwood included in PennDOT traffic alerts
A long-term lane restriction in Youngwood is set to begin Monday, along with a brief road closure in Mt. Pleasant Township and a traffic restriction in West Newton, according to PennDOT. Traffic in Youngwood will be limited to a single lane on a section of Fourth Street (Route 119 southbound),...
Unity supervisors disappointed with slim response to Wimmerton intersection plans
Supervisors in Unity aren’t ready to make a decision on potential changes to the Wimmerton Boulevard intersection with Route 30 after only about 14% of residents in the adjacent housing development weighed in on plans for the project. According to Supervisor Ed Poponick, 56 people out of about 400 who...
Pair arrested in fatal shooting April 9 in Sheraden
Authorities have charged two men in the April 9 shooting death of an 18-year-old man in Pittsburgh’s Sheraden neighborhood. Detectives with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force arrested Jamil Malik Lee, 21, of Upper St. Clair, and Jahli Woods, 20, of McKees...
Vehicle crashes into house in Derry Borough; medical helicopter summoned
A medical helicopter was summoned for one patient after a vehicle crashed into a house Thursday night in Derry Borough, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatch supervisor. The wreck was reported just before 10:30 p.m. in the 200 block of West Owens Avenue. The Derry Volunteer Fire Company responded...
Vandergrift WWII veteran, French Legion of Honor recipient dies
A Vandergrift veteran whose World War II service earned him the French nation’s highest honor has gone to his final reward. Paul P. Petrarca, 99, died Wednesday surrounded by his family. He served with the Army Air Corps after graduating from Vandergrift High School in 1941. In 2020, he received...
Latrobe OKs library sidewalk repair, seeks police technology grant
Latrobe Council seeks to improve access to the city’s public library while it pursues funds for upgrading technology used by the police department. City council this week awarded a $5,845 contract to low bidder McMahon Construction for replacement of a sidewalk located between a city parking lot along Chestnut Street...
Dozens of dogs, cats removed from Carrick home; most in good condition
Most of the dozens of dogs and cats removed Wednesday from a hoarding situation in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood are in good condition, according to the organization that has taken charge of their care. Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh assisted Pittsburgh Animal Law officers and Pittsburgh Animal Care and Control in...
Smart Growth Partnership marks 20 years of community planning efforts in Westmoreland
Entrances to the Coal and Coke Trail in southern Westmoreland County have new solar-powered lighting, Smithton has gained a kayak and canoe access point along the Youghiogheny River, and New Kensington has seen 36 businesses open in the past 21 months. All are outgrowths of the Smart Growth Partnership of...
Rapid covid testing coming to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Outbound passengers flight soon will be able to undergo rapid covid-19 testing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The pre-departure testing, which is by appointment only and is not covered by medical insurance, should be available to commercial passengers in about two weeks, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the...
Greater Latrobe OKs superintendent’s retirement, promotion of assistant
Greater Latrobe School District’s top administrative leaders passed the baton this week, as the school board approved Superintendent Georgia Teppert’s retirement and promoted Assistant Superintendent Michael Porembka to succeed her. The transition will happenat the beginning of 2022, with Teppert departing on Jan. 3 and Porembka picking up where she...
Hanna’s Town celebrates season with Fall Family Day, living history
Autumn is time for enjoying the bounty of the fields and thrilling to the mysteries that await in the gathering darkness will take center stage at Historic Hanna’s Town, just in time for Halloween. A variety of historic demonstrations and outdoor activities are planned during Fall Family Day, 11 a.m....
Leadership shifts on Westmoreland airport authority board
Janice Smarto will lead the Westmoreland County Airport Authority board, filling a role formerly held by Paul Puleo — one of two board members jettisoned by a recent 2-1 vote of the county commissioners. The authority “will move forward. We’re here to serve the county and make the best decisions...
Historical society program explores Latrobe’s claim to pro football first, bid for Hall of Fame
Fall’s arrival brings a resurfacing of traditional football rivalries. That makes it an appropriate time for the Latrobe Area Historical Society to revisit some key football rivalries that have played out off the field — including competing claims to “firsts” in the sport’s early years. The society again will present...
Greater Latrobe alumna heads firm helping Air Force soar above maintenance challenges
A Greater Latrobe alumna has gained recognition for founding a 100% woman-owned company that is helping the Air Force update its maintenance process. Milissa Pavlik, a member of the Class of 1993, has 25 years of experience in Department of Defense contracting. Drawing upon that background, she founded PavCon in...
PennDOT plans to pave and patch roads in Cook, Donegal and Mt. Pleasant townships
PennDOT is conducting the following work on roads in Westmoreland County this week, weather permitting: Base repairs will take place on Torrance Road in Derry Township. Pipe replacements will take place on Route 982 in Mt. Pleasant Township. Bridge maintenance will take place on Yukon Road in Sewickley Township. Sign...
North Huntingdon church offers blessings for pets, support for animal rescue groups
The Rev. Brenda Barnes gave kisses, and got some, after delivering her Sunday sermon. The pastor applied a kiss, as well as anointing oil, to animals that were cooperative, as she conducted the annual Blessing of the Pets from noon to 2 p.m. at the pavilion of New Hope Presbyterian...
Hit-and-run crash in East Pittsburgh results in driver’s death
A hit-and-run crash Saturday in East Pittsburgh left a Monroeville man dead, state police said. James Haberfield, 72, was pronounced dead at about 4:45 p.m. at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. as Haberfield was driving south...
Police arrest suspect in death of woman found in Beaver County field
State police arrested a Beaver Falls man in the death of a woman whose body was found Wednesday in Beaver County. Police charged John Westley Johnson Jr., 68, with criminal homicide in the death of Sharon Benyo, 46, of Beaver Falls. Benyo’s body was discovered Wednesday morning in an open...
Land Trust road ramble will give motorists scenic tour through Westmoreland
Area motorists who want to explore the county’s scenic byways will have that opportunity during the upcoming Westmoreland Ramble road rally. Organized by the Westmoreland Land Trust, Sunday’s event will raise money for the nonprofit as well as raising awareness of the properties it protects for their cultural, historical, ecological,...
Agencies stress awareness of domestic violence, offer help to victims in Westmoreland
Area residents who find they’ve become the target of domestic violence or other abusive behavior don’t need to suffer in silence. Westmoreland County’s Blackburn Center operates a 24-hour hotline (888-832-2272) that provides crisis counseling to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and other types of violence and crime. “Anyone can...
Fort Ligonier Days draws crowds for parade, crafts, food, historyVideo
Keith Hall lives in Wexford, and his family hails from the Derry area. But his heart belongs to Ligonier — at least during the latter town’s annual Fort Ligonier Days festival. Hall staked out a prominent spot along Saturday’s festival parade route. He sported a green-and-purple kilt, representing his Scottish...
Duquesne shooting sends man to hospital
Allegheny County Police are investigating a shooting late on Friday that left a man injured in Duquesne. Just before 11:30 p.m., county 911 dispatchers were notified of shots fired in the 0 to 100 block of Miller Avenue . First responders learned shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday that an 18-year-old...
Greensburg Salem adds 2 elementary teachers, expands instructional assist for students
Greensburg Salem School Board has added to its elementary faculty to reduce class sizes for kindergartners. The district also is looking to expand instructional staff who provide extra assistance to struggling students. The board hired three elementary teachers this week. Two were faculty additions prompted by large kindergarten classes at...
