Jeff Himler stories, Page 95
Unity awards $2M in contracts for paving, roof replacement, storm sewer project
Supervisors in Unity are tapping the township’s first-ever bond issue to finance replacing the municipal building roof, storm sewer improvements and a massive paving program that will include more than 80 roads. At their May meeting, the supervisors awarded a $121,700 contract to TRS Roofing of Williamsburg, the sole bidder,...
Greensburg Salem considers holding tax line, restoring elementary band for 2021-22
Greensburg Salem School District is looking to restore some staff positions under a proposed 2021-22 budget that would not raise real estate taxes. The board will consider the tentative $47 million budget at its May 19 meeting. Business manager J. R. Dzurica said this week that the budget will allow...
Unity votes to resume recreational partnership with Latrobe, Greater Latrobe School DistrictVideo
Unity is rejoining a regional recreation organization after several years of operating programs separately. The township supervisors on Thursday passed a resolution to form a joint recreation commission with participants in the existing Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation. Those other participants that will welcome Unity back into the fold include Greater...
Program cuts an issue in 8-way race for Greensburg Salem School Board
Cuts in programs at Greensburg Salem School District are one of the focal points of a primary campaign where three incumbents and five challengers are battling for four school board seats. Running are incumbents Lynn Jobe, Jeffrey Metrosky and Lynna Thomas along with Sara Deegan, Desmond Grace, Autumn Jevicky, Emily...
Sparks fly between 2 candidates in Greensburg Salem school board race
The vice president of the Greensburg Salem school board and a challenger are verbally sparring before Tuesday’s primary election. Jeffrey Metrosky, the incumbent, is pushing back at campaign materials attributed to Citizens Concerned About Education in Greensburg Salem. The flier endorses challenger Autumn Jevicky while criticizing Metrosky for voting in...
2-story Duquesne building evacuated as crews battle fire
Occupants were evacuated safely Wednesday night as crews battled flames in a two-story building in Duquesne, WPXI-TV reported. However, some pets may have perished, the station said. The two-alarm fire was reported just before 10 p.m. in the 400 block of Grant Avenue, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatch...
Man taken from scene of 6-hour SWAT standoff in Baldwin Township
A man was handcuffed and taken in an ambulance from the scene of a SWAT standoff Wednesday night in Baldwin Township, according to WPXI-TV. According to the station, township police said a mental health warrant was issued for the man, who barricaded himself in an apartment on McNeilly Road after...
Airport grants help with Pittsburgh International cargo expansion, Arnold Palmer Regional signs
Pittsburgh International Airport’s cargo amenities and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport’s passenger terminal got a boost Wednesday from PennDOT grants totaling more than $2.8 million. The bulk of the funding, $2.4 million, will assist the Allegheny County Airport Authority’s plan to develop expanded air cargo facilities at Pittsburgh International, including buildings...
Greater Latrobe to consider tentative 1-mill tax hike, $57.7M budget
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...
Action on restaurant lease at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport delayed until at least June
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 looking for new city secretary, finance director
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...
Brewery Bridge detour set to begin Monday in Latrobe
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...
Covid vaccination clinic set at Jeannette High School for students, community
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...
4 challengers face 3 incumbents in Greater Latrobe School Board primary
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...
Residents, pets escape blaze at Adamsburg apartment building, but 8 people left homeless
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...
No one injured as fire rips through mobile home in Hempfield
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...
1 injured in Murrysville house fire
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...
Pittsburgh police release video of suspects in graffiti tagging at Andy Warhol MuseumVideo
Pittsburgh police have released a surveillance video as they search for two suspects who recently tagged the Andy Warhol Museum with graffiti. The suspects were captured on camera early on April 13 tagging the museum on Sandusky Street, on the city’s North Side. Detectives with the department’s Graffiti Squad said...
Ligonier brings back summer concerts, reuniting bands and music lovers
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...
Mt. Pleasant Area, Yough schools to host covid vaccine clinics following similar events in Greensburg, Hempfield
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....
Paddling sojourn on Conemaugh, Kiski rivers returns after pandemic hiatusVideo
Paddlers will have an opportunity to explore the “Past, Present and Future” of a key local waterway when the Stony-Kiski-Conemaugh Rivers Sojourn returns on June 3-6, after last year’s cancellation because of covid-19 pandemic concerns. The 44-mile float downstream from Johnstown to Apollo, on mostly flat water, is appropriate for...
Covid case spike prompts remote instruction for Greensburg Salem Middle School students
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...
Luxury auction firm hits local high of $5M with Ligonier Township home sale
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...
Language long-haulers: Westmoreland men keep German skills fresh for trips abroadVideo
Benutze es oder verliere es. In other words, for those who don’t speak German: “Use it or lose it.” That truism applies to many things in life, including conversing in a foreign language. It’s what has kept two local men returning week after week, for decades, to practice their German...
Latrobe considers beefing up fire chief qualifications
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...
