Jeff Himler stories, Page 108
Greensburg’s Backyard Games give kids needed exercise, interactionVideo
Ten-year-old Benjamin Brown didn’t like being picked for the same team as his 6-year-old brother, Drew. But there were more than a dozen other area kids for the Greensburg boy to play with in a game of Capture The Flag on Friday evening at Greensburg’s Lynch Field. The city’s recreation...
Greater Latrobe eyes HVAC ionization devices to combat covid-19 virus
Greater Latrobe School District is considering investing in a technology that would use building ventilation systems to curb the coronavirus. Proposed installation of Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization devices would cost about $450,000, according to Kurt Thomas, the district’s director of facilities, operations and planning. He said about 150 devices would be...
Unity Township Municipal Authority to begin office security upgrade
Work is set to begin next week on security improvements at the Unity Township Municipal Authority office near Pleasant Unity. Marmat Inc. was awarded the project contract, at a cost of $96,545, and is expected to start by adding an emergency exit at the rear of the building. According to...
Western Pa. nonprofit turns to public for diaper donations during pandemicVideo
Anna Joyner is hoping to collect 5,000 diapers by next week, and she got at least halfway to her goal on Thursday. The Greensburg resident is the outreach coordinator in Westmoreland and Fayette counties for the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, an organization started eight years ago to help get diapers...
Greater Latrobe encourages kids to take advantage of free school meals
Children in the Greater Latrobe School District students can get two free meals a day through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Greater Latrobe joined other area school districts that are taking advantage of the meal program. Picking up where a similar effort ended in June, the pandemic-prompted program provides...
Latrobe zoning review moves forward, creek erosion project on hold
Latrobe is moving ahead with a comprehensive review of the city’s zoning ordinance but will have to wait until next year to repair erosion along Loyalhanna Creek. City council this week finalized an agreement with Scenic Pittsburgh to serve as a consultant in the zoning review, at no cost to...
Greater Latrobe eyes late September return to classroom for high school studentsVideo
Students at Greater Latrobe Junior High and Senior High School will have the option of returning to in-person classes five days per week beginning Sept. 28. The school board this week voted 6-2 to switch to that educational plan, from a hybrid combination of in-person and online instruction that has...
Homes Build Hope scales back Latrobe housing project to fit available funding
A local nonprofit is keeping alive its plan for new affordable housing in Latrobe by scaling back the size of the project and pursuing a new source of funding. City Council this week approved a revised land development plan submitted by Homes Build Hope for a proposed nine-unit housing development...
Auto parts store eyed at former WCCC site in Latrobe
An O’Reilly Auto Parts store is proposed to take the place of Westmoreland County Community College’s former Laurel Education Center in Latrobe. City Council on Monday approved a land development plan for the proposed store at 17 Lloyd Ave., a point along Route 981 southwest of Loyalhanna Creek. Work at...
State grants awarded for 13 historic preservation projects in Pittsburgh region
Renovations of landmark Pittsburgh buildings are among 13 projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania that have been awarded funds though the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant program. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission this week announced 52 of the preservation grants, totaling $2.6 million, for projects in 24 counties. Nine approved projects in...
Officials probe death of Hempfield man found over embankment behind his home
A 76-year-old man who hadn’t been seen in three days was found dead Friday afternoon over an embankment behind his Hempfield home. Foul play isn’t suspected, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Ken Bacha. He said the man’s name wouldn’t be released, pending notification of next of kin, and the cause...
Neighbors concerned about traffic, blasting at proposed Unity limestone quarryVideo
Nearby Unity residents let Hanson Aggregates know they’re concerned about the heavy truck traffic and blasting that would be associated with a limestone quarry the company hopes to develop. The Connellsville company is seeking township approval of a site development plan as well as state permits for operating on underground...
Unity seeks grants for handicapped-accessible play equipment, paving village streets
Unity’s latest wish list of projects includes handicapped-accessible playground equipment outside the township office complex and paving streets in three villages. The supervisors on Thursday agreed to submit those four prioritized projects for potential funding through 2021 Community Development Block Grant dollars made available by the federal Department of Housing...
Plans displayed online for bridge replacement over Route 30 in Hempfield
PennDOT is proposing to replace a bridge in Hempfield that dates from the 1960 opening of the Route 30 bypass around Greensburg. Because of social distancing guidelines related to the covid-19 pandemic, plans for the East Pittsburgh Street bridge project won’t be displayed in the usual in-person open house format....
State grant will help stabilize historic New Florence iron furnace
The Ligonier Valley Historical Society plans to use a state grant to help preserve a 19th-century hot-blast iron furnace in New Florence. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Laurel Hill Furnace produced 750 tons of metal during its first year, 1855, and continued in operation for about a...
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival joins list of pandemic-related cancellations
The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival annually draws about 80,000 visitors to its South Huntingdon “kingdom,” but not this year. Organizers canceled this year’s festival, citing health and safety concerns related to the covid-19 pandemic and state guidelines that limit large gatherings. Featuring games, shows, a horseback joust and vendors that offer...
New Stanton mayor Ronald Echard, dead at 68, remembered for civic involvement
When visitors and residents in New Stanton admire the town’s new holiday lights this year, in large part, they’ll have Ron Echard to thank. Echard, who most recently served as mayor, is credited as a driving force behind the planned holiday display — along with his wife, Linda, who serves...
Arnold Palmer airport begins final phase of runway widening, suspends flights
A final push to complete improvements to the runway at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport was set to begin Tuesday night, with the airport suspending all flights for more than two weeks to accommodate construction. Spirit Airlines, the Unity airport’s sole commercial carrier, is expected to hit the pause button on...
Scottdale places shuttered swimming pool up for auction
A Scottdale landmark where generations of local kids learned to swim is on the auction block. Online bids are being accepted for the borough-owned swimming pool building through 4 p.m. Oct. 7, on the Municibid website. Constructed in the early 1970s by the local YMCA, the brick-and-block building is located...
Public input sought on reinventing former Ligonier Beach pool
Ligonier Township officials have scheduled a second meeting, with pandemic precautions in mind, to take public input on proposed recreational reuse of the former Ligonier Beach entertainment site. The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept. 26 in the open garage bay of the township building to...
Thousands of supporters pack Unity airport, nearby roads, to hear Trump campaign speechVideo
Traffic was backed up for miles on the roads approaching Arnold Palmer Regional Airport on Thursday evening as thousands of Trump supporters turned out for the president’s campaign appearance near Latrobe. The president spoke in a hangar at L.J. Aviation, at the airport in Unity, but a viewing screen was...
Arnold Palmer airport travelers advised to arrive early while President Trump stumps on Thursday
President Trump’s campaign stop Thursday evening at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport isn’t expected to create turbulence for the scheduled commercial flights. Still, with the president’s 7 p.m. appearance expected to attract 2,000 or more people in his bid for reelection, those expecting to board an outbound Spirit Airlines flight are...
Airport grants cover upgrades of Arnold Palmer runway, Pittsburgh International air systems
Federal grants will allow Arnold Palmer Regional Airport to wrap up its runway improvements this year and will replace aging units that control the temperature on planes parked at Pittsburgh International Airport. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced this week the approval of more than $1.2 billion in...
Youth-run food stand proposed along West Newton trail
Travelers along the Great Allegheny Passage trail may soon be able to stop in West Newton for a roast beef sandwich or a “woagie.” The latter sandwich is a version of a hoagie that is a favorite at the town’s Waypoint Youth and Community Center. Chris Morse, the center’s CEO,...
Southwestern Pennsylvania women to be honored for contributions to conservation
A statewide group that advocates for clean energy is honoring 11 women from Southwestern Pennsylvania who have contributed to conservation efforts and environmental causes. PennFuture will recognize recipients of its annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards during a virtual ceremony from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 8. The ceremony was...
