Jeff Himler stories, Page 90
College-age crew takes on trail tasks at Forbes State ForestVideo
Before the week is out, Bill Repko’s crew will have hauled, shoveled and raked crushed sandstone along about 700 feet of a mile-long trail near the summit of Laurel Ridge. Guided by the retired Greater Latrobe school teacher, the team of five area college students is wrapping up improvements to...
Greensburg Salem eyes covid mask recommendation, not mandate
The Greensburg Salem School Board is considering a health plan that would recommend, but not mandate, masks for all who enter district school buildings. At this week’s board discussion meeting, there was passionate debate about the proposed mask policy, including the choice of wording. The board is expected to take...
Officials identify Mt. Lebanon man killed in suspected double murder-suicide
Officials on Wednesday released the name of a man killed along with his wife nearly a week earlier in a suspected double murder-suicide in Mt. Lebanon. John Tratras, 66, died in the shooting incident at about 2:40 a.m. Thursday in the Gilkeson Road home he shared with Ana Tratras, 59,...
Westmoreland Airport Authority director new head of state aviation council
Westmoreland County Airport Authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo has been selected to lead a statewide industry organization. Monzo is the new president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania and will oversee the organization’s various committees. He has served on such panels for more than three decades. Part of his mission...
Fallen Heroes Run will honor 14th Quartermaster reservists killed by Iraqi missile
Motorcyclists are invited to visit Hempfield on Saturday to “ride for a reason” — honoring the ultimate sacrifice 30 years ago made by 13 members of the local Army Reserve 14th Quartermaster Detachment. The third annual Fallen Heroes Run, organized by nonprofit Operation Vet NOW, will begin at 10:30 a.m....
Majority of Spirit flights canceled Monday at Westmoreland, Pittsburgh airports
Numerous Spirit Airlines flights at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport were canceled Monday, mirroring problems at other airports the low-cost carrier serves. The Florida-based airline issued a statement indicating the problem was triggered by a series of “weather and operational challenges” over the weekend. It said rumors...
Unity supervisors weigh zoning request for proposed school bus terminal at airport
Unity supervisors are expected in August to rule on zoning approval sought for a proposed school bus terminal at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. Earlier in July, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority provisionally approved a 5-year agreement with DMJ Transportation, for storing 30 buses and other smaller vehicles next to the...
Youngwood animal shelter, anxious canine benefit from Eagle Scout projectVideo
Rhyann craves attention. When left by herself, she has taken out her frustration on office doors and chairs. The 10-year-old pit mix has been a resident for about two years at the Youngwood shelter of Animal Friends of Westmoreland. Because of her severe separation anxiety, she has been through a...
Arnold Palmer airport offers 2 round-trip tickets in Steelers Week promotion
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority will be giving two travelers a free ticket for a southern trip as part of a Steelers Week promotion beginning Monday in Unity and Latrobe. Visitors to the authority’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport may enter for a chance to win a round-trip ticket to any...
Latrobe adds extra day, downtown activities to banana split celebration
This year’s planned banana-themed festivities in Latrobe have grown to include a second day of activities. The Downtown Latrobe Banana Split Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. The day will include live entertainment, activities for kids and, of course, helpings of the frozen...
Loyalhanna Watershed’s Harvest Dinner features outdoor picnic setting for 2nd year
Loyalhanna Watershed Association will hold its annual Harvest Dinner outdoors for the second year in a row. Compared to past indoor, chef-prepared meals, the outdoor a la carte format Saturday, Aug. 7, allows more people to attend while maintaining social distancing during the pandemic. “We had over 250 people last...
Latrobe, Unity residents and businesses invited to enter Steelers Week decorating contest
Residents and business owners in Latrobe and Unity are being challenged to show how they “Bleed Black and Gold” in a decorating contest that will be featured as part of a Steelers Week promotion Monday through Aug. 6 in the two neighboring municipalities. Sunday is the deadline to register for...
Greater Latrobe OKs mask-optional plan for 2021-22 school year by 6-3 vote
Greater Latrobe School Board has voted 6-3 against requiring face coverings for students or staff when a full schedule of in-person classes begins Aug. 30 for the 2021-22 school year. According to the district health and safety plan, recommended by Superintendent Georgia Teppert at a special Tuesday meeting, face coverings...
National Night Out police outreach returns in Mt. Pleasant, other communities
Mt. Pleasant’s Night Out will be back Aug. 3, after a year off because of pandemic restrictions, and organizers expect the event to be bigger, and better, than ever. It’s part of the National Night Out campaign that is held on or around the first Tuesday in August in many...
First Commonwealth set to reopen Unity branch that was struck by SUV
First Commonwealth Bank’s Unity branch will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday, ending a temporary closure caused when an SUV crashed into the building early Friday evening. No injuries were reported in the wreck that occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. along Route 30 at Sharky’s Drive. Brian Schultheis, chief of the...
Latrobe wants to raze 3 dilapidated houses, eyes county funding program
Latrobe hopes to tap a Westmoreland County grant program to help demolish three vacant, dilapidated houses. The funding originates with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered by the county redevelopment authority. If approved, it would require a $250 local match for demolishing a house the...
Civil War communications spotlighted at Hanna’s Town encampment, reenactments
Five cannons, 10 presenters, a regimental band and a working telegraph station will help bring the mid-19th century back to life during a Civil War battle reenactment and encampment Saturday and Sunday at Historic Hanna’s Town. Hempfield resident Bob Sidley is helping to organize the weekend event as a member...
Forish says he’ll remain on Latrobe Council while defending theft charges
Robert “Stuffy” Forish said he intends to continue serving on Latrobe Council while he defends theft charges relating to his previous role as treasurer of the city fire department’s Goodwill Hose Company. “The people voted me in,” Forish, 58, told the Tribune-Review prior to council’s Monday agenda session. He added...
Westmoreland Winds offer eclectic program at Hempfield Park
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra continued its Live on the Lawn outdoor summer concert series Friday with a performance by the Westmoreland Winds. In their second season, the concerts are presented at the Smail Auto Group Amphitheater at Hempfield Park. This week’s concert featured an ensemble including Tom Godfrey, flute; Renate Sakins,...
SUV crashes into Unity bank; no injuries reported
A branch of First Commonwealth Bank in Unity was damaged when it was struck by a small SUV that swerved off Route 30 early Friday evening. No one was injured, but the building on Sharky’s Drive was extensively damaged in the crash that occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to...
Family will bid farewell to fashion icon B. Smith in Scottdale ceremony
Late fashion icon and Everson native Barbara “B.” Smith will be laid to rest next to her parents Saturday in the Scottdale Cemetery. The private ceremony and interment of Smith’s ashes will be attended by family, including her younger brother, Dennis, and his four grown daughters. Smith, 70, died Feb....
Land trust seeks consultant, public input for planned Hempfield parkVideo
Swallows swoop from their perches in the former Schwarz barn to feast on insects that populate the fields of the surrounding Hempfield farm. The Westmoreland Land Trust, which now owns the property, plans to invite even more native species to enjoy the farm, along with the public. The trust’s board...
Flames spread from truck to sun room of Murrysville hair salonVideo
A parked truck caught fire early Thursday evening in Murrysville, spreading flames to the rear corner of a hair salon along Route 22 in Murrysville. While the truck, an F-150, was totaled, damage inside the salon was minimal and was limited to a sun room, according to Sardis Fire Chief...
Classic car enthusiasts show off prized vehicles for residents of Penn Township care facility
About 25 classic and antique car enthusiasts brought their prized rides to the inaugural Car Show and Cruise Thursday at the William Penn Continuing Care Campus in Penn Township. “We were looking for something different, to be able to bring the community together,” said Lauren Houston, administrator of the facility’s...
Idlewild and Soak Zone welcomes back Daniel Tiger show, extends hours on 2 days
Idlewild and Soak Zone is extending park operating hours on remaining Fridays and Saturdays in July while welcoming the return of live shows for kids and families. The family-oriented park in Ligonier Township announced Thursday it will remain open an extra hour, until 8 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays for...
