Jeff Himler stories, Page 39
Southmoreland High unveils display honoring district military veterans
Glen E. Nicholson peered for a few moments at the contents of a shadow box displayed on a wall of the Southmoreland High School student union. He soon found what he was looking for: a dog tag inscribed with the name of his son and fellow Army veteran, Glen S....
Police say man who shot Monroeville officer was wanted for stealing ex-girlfriend’s Jeep
A Clairton man charged with shooting a Monroeville officer Friday while leading police on a chase in a stolen Jeep was wanted for allegedly stealing it Oct. 23. Monroeville police have charged Bruce Alvarado, 38, with the theft of the Jeep Cherokee from his former girlfriend during an argument with...
Greensburg to consider $290K in recreation upgrades, paving projects
Greensburg wants to continue improvement of its parks and playgrounds and resurface two deteriorating streets with about $290,000 in federal community development block grant funds. City council is expected to vote Monday on the planned uses of the funding, which is administered and approved by Westmoreland County officials. The funding...
3 incumbents, 2 newcomers claim Greensburg Salem School Board seats
Frank Gazze topped a field of six candidates vying for five seats on the Greensburg Salem School Board Tuesday night with 19.4% of the votes cast with all precincts reporting. He was followed by candidates Robin Beckadic-Savage, with 17.36%; Tyler Courtney, with 17.32% ; Brian Conway, with 17%; and Kacey...
Greensburg Mayor Robb Bell wins reelection bid
Incumbent Robb Bell won the race for Greensburg mayor with 58.52% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Challenger G. Domenic Spino garnered just over 41% of the vote, according to unofficial returns. Bell, 67, a Democrat, is completing his second term as mayor, a role that includes voting on...
Incumbents lead race for 2 seats on Greensburg council
Sheila Brumley led the race for two seats on Greensburg council Tuesday night with 36.1% of the vote with all precincts reporting. Randy Finfrock and Carrie Hamley received 34.86% and 28.27% of the vote, respectively, according to unofficial returns. Brumley, 53, is an appointee who was her first full elected...
State police identify woman’s body found in Westmoreland pond
State police have identified a woman found Monday in a pond in Westmoreland County, but they’re not releasing it until her family has been notified. Troopers responded just before 10:40 a.m. to a report of a body floating in a pond in the area of 202 Broadview Road in New...
Fire displaces man from Herminie home
A fire marshal is investigating the cause of a blaze that extensively damaged a single-story home Monday afternoon in the Sewickley Township village of Herminie. No one was injured in the fire reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the 30 block of Fifth Street, according to Herminie fire Chief Joe...
Greensburg planning for possible pedestrian, biking improvements
Greensburg is poised to create a plan for helping people get around town more easily — on foot, on bicycles or in wheelchairs. Following through on a recommendation of the recent Shape Greensburg comprehensive plan, the city is expected to hire a consultant to develop an active transportation plan by...
Fatal fires prompt Greensburg campaign to distribute free smoke alarms
Three recent fatal fires in Greensburg have prompted the American Red Cross to partner with local firefighters Saturday to offer free smoke alarms to residents who may not have the means to purchase or install them unaided. To be included in the smoke alarm distribution, taking place between 11 a.m....
Pitt-Greensburg Veterans Week celebrates women ‘breaking barriers’ in military
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will highlight area women who saw military service in conflicts spanning three-quarters of a century during Veterans Week activities planned Saturday through Nov. 10 at the Hempfield campus. The theme for the week is “75 years of breaking barriers.” It marks the time that...
2 tractor-trailers crash on Turnpike, block eastbound lane near New Stanton
No injuries were reported when two tractor-trailers crashed Wednesday evening in the eastbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike east of New Stanton. The crash was reported at about 8:45 p.m. near mile marker 77. Eastbound traffic remained restricted to a single lane at about 10 p.m., according to turnpike spokesperson...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in Derry borough, township
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Vehicle, cash stolen in 2 robberies on same night at Bloomfield, Shadyside businesses
Pittsburgh police are investigating whether there is a connection between two armed robberies that occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday in the city’s adjacent Bloomfield and Shadyside neighborhoods. In the first robbery, in the 4700 block of Baum Boulevard, a man forced the staff at Mercedes-Benz of Pittsburgh into the...
‘War of the Worlds’ tops Halloween double bill of Pitt-Greensburg science fiction plays
An attack by Martian invaders, dramatized for anxious listeners 85 years ago, will be staged beginning Tuesday as part of a Halloween double bill of science fiction radio plays at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The Pitt-Greensburg Theatre Company will perform Orson Welles’ “The War of the Worlds” and...
Pitt-Greensburg professor’s latest book shares musings during breast cancer battle
When Lori Jakiela saw a scanned image of the cancer growing in her breast, it looked like tiny grains of white rice. “They were lining up in a particular way that made the doctor very concerned,” she said. That was four years ago. But, the rice association stuck in her...
Greensburg Salem to use $1.7 M in pandemic funding for HVAC upgrades at 3 schools
Greensburg Salem will tap pandemic recovery funding to restore and expand air conditioning at three of its schools, at a cost of close to $1.7 million. District officials are also considering other capital improvements that could be made with about $2 million in remaining money from the Elementary and Secondary...
Greensburg Salem School Board race features 3 incumbents, 3 newcomers, 5 open seats
Three incumbents and three newcomers are vying for five seats on the Greensburg Salem School Board in the Nov. 7 general election. Those seeking to join the board are Justin Aion, Kacey Byrne-Houser and Tyler Courtney. Incumbents on the ballot are: Brian Conway, who is seeking a second term; Robin...
Film screening next in 75th anniversary observance of deadly Donora smog disaster
It was 75 years ago when a deadly smog settled over the Washington County mill town of Donora. Over five days — Oct. 27-31, 1948 — the heavy smog killed 20 people in Donora and in nearby Webster, across the Monongahela River. In the weeks that followed, the death toll...
Kovach retiring as district executive after 37 years with PennDOT District 12
Area highway and bridge projects were tracked primarily with paper documents when Bill Kovach signed on in 1986 as a civil engineer and construction inspector with PennDOT District 12. Now, as he prepares to retire Friday as the district executive, the staff he has led is beginning to shift to...
Incumbent Democrats, Republican challenger vie for 2 Greensburg council seats
Greensburg residents voting Nov. 7 to fill two seats on city council will have a choice among incumbents in Democratic nominees Sheila Brumley and Randal Finfrock and Republican challenger Carrie Hamley. Brumley, a 2020 appointee seeking her first elected term, and Finfrock, who is completing his fourth term, are jointly...
Economic development among issues in Greensburg mayoral race
Democrat Robb Bell said he is seeking a third term as Greensburg’s mayor to continue working on the revitalization of the city. Republican challenger G. Domenic Spino believes he is the best candidate to lead the city forward in areas including economic development, livability and access to services. Voters will...
Waypoint youth center to hold open house at new West Newton location
Waypoint Youth and Community Center is opening the doors of its new West Newton location for an open house from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at 320 Mallard St. The six-year-old nonprofit center outgrew the 1,200 square feet of leased space at its previous home on South Second...
Indictment window extended 5th time in federal drug charges against ex-Greensburg police chief
A federal judge on Monday granted U.S. prosecutors a fifth time extension for filing a potential indictment concerning drug-related charges against Shawn Denning, the former Greensburg police chief. A criminal complaint charging Denning with two counts of aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine and three counts of aiding and...
‘Portals’ poster invites viewers to identify, explore landmark Westmoreland sites
Since the 1970s, the Irish Tourist Board has had an iconic poster to help promote Ireland’s capital city. “The Doors of Dublin” depicts multiple entrances to the city’s Georgian homes. Now, Westmoreland County has a “Portals of Westmoreland” poster, helping to celebrate the county’s 250th anniversary this year. Unveiled Friday...
