Jeff Himler stories, Page 46
Greensburg WWII veteran braved armed foes, harsh jungle conditions with Merrill’s Marauders
(Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes.) Walter Krautz Greensburg 1919-1986 Walter Krautz survived the jungle, but the sacrifices he made during a World War II mission behind enemy lines in Southeast Asia didn’t end once he was...
Pittsburgh police arrest suspect in double stabbing in East Liberty
Pittsburgh police have arrested a suspect in a double stabbing Friday afternoon in the city’s East Liberty neighborhood. The stabbings were reported at 3:15 p.m. in the 6400 block of Centre Avenue. One female victim, who had superficial wounds to her arm, provided officers a description of a female suspect...
Ligonier Valley police justified in fatal shooting of man with machete, DA says
Police were justified in their fatal shooting of a man armed with a machete in a July 2 domestic incident in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole W. Ziccarelli said Friday. Westmoreland County detectives said Robbie Thomas Saunders, 59, aggressively approached two Ligonier Valley Police Department officers and was...
Police: Trafford man arrested during ‘ride-out’ at Pittsburgh airport
A Trafford man who was wanted on a warrant was arrested early Friday after a stolen license plate was discovered in his vehicle at Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County police said. Dashawn Evans, 41, was charged with receiving stolen property and multiple traffic citations after police arrived at the airport...
Johnstown couple charged in death of man whose body was found in Indiana County
A Johnstown couple has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a man whose body was discovered July 14 along an Indiana County road. State police have charged Justin Allen Green, 41, with homicide and robbery in the death of Daryl Vincent Lee Jr., 44, of Johnstown. Green...
West Nile virus found in Allegheny County mosquitoes
Mosquitoes collected by the Allegheny Health Department in Mt. Oliver Borough and in the nearby Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Beltzhoover and South Side Slopes have tested positive for West Nile virus. The infected mosquitoes were collected on July 11 as part of the department’s Vector Control Program. County health officials said...
GetGo sets opening date for downtown Greensburg store
GetGo has set Aug. 16 as the planned opening date for its new Cafe + Market convenience store and gas station that is nearing completion on Greensburg’s South Main Street. Constructed on a lot formerly occupied by the closed Family Video store, just north of Euclid Avenue, the GetGo store...
Pennsylvania Turnpike motorists to be hit with 5% toll hike next year
Pennsylvania Turnpike travelers will see a 5% toll hike in January, continuing a 15-year trend of annual rate increases by the Turnpike Commission. The new toll rates are scheduled to take effect Jan. 7, equaling the most recent percentage increase, imposed earlier this year. Next year, the most common toll...
Pitt-Greensburg hosts veterans benefits fair as deadline nears for toxic exposure claims
Veterans and their survivors are invited to attend a claims and enrollment fair Tuesday at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, to learn about benefits that have been expanded to cover more people who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. The Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System is sponsoring...
Residential reuse of First Commonwealth building among consultants’ ideas for downtown Greensburg
The First Commonwealth building at the southeast corner of Greensburg’s Pittsburgh and Main streets could be filled with a mix of 60 apartments and Airbnb units while the Barclay Building just to the north might house an entertainment or event venue. A neighboring three-story building to the south once occupied...
Late West Point softball coach honored with tournament, memorial bench
West Point Little League defeated visiting Latrobe 11-6 in the inaugural Ray Mello Classic softball game. The Mello Classic honors one of the local Hempfield-based league’s founding fathers and, fittingly, will be held annually on Father’s Day weekend. Organizers hope to expand next year’s event into a tournament involving multiple...
Greensburg Salem moves forward with middle school basketball court, new Offutt Field fence
Greensburg Salem residents should see exterior improvements underway at the district middle school and at Offutt Field at about the time students are returning to classes for the fall semester. The school board this week awarded contracts to Hempfield-based C. H. & D. Enterprises for constructing a new outdoor basketball...
Road closures planned in Mt. Pleasant Township for work on Route 981 roundabout
State Street will close Friday at Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township as construction continues on a new roundabout at that intersection. State Street is expected to remain closed through late July as crews from Walsh Construction Company complete a connection between the street and the roundabout that is set...
Real estate consultants kick off Greensburg visit with tour of downtown properties
Reimagining the potential of downtown Greensburg took another step forward Monday. A group of national commercial real estate experts toured prominent vacant properties that long have bedeviled economic growth in the city’s business district. “They had some very general questions,” said Greensburg Councilman Randy Finfrock, who met with the group...
Greensburg student attends gathering of future medical leaders, sets sights on career as vet
Shelby Frick, at 17, has witnessed doctors performing a rotator cuff surgery and she’s heard about ground-breaking medical research directly from the lips of Nobel laureates. The rising senior at Greensburg Salem High School had those experiences in June while attending a three-day Congress of Future Medical Leaders near Boston....
Jeannette EMS closure underlines funding concerns for area ambulance services
Ambulance crews that provide life-saving intervention are themselves in need of life support, industry officials said. Insufficient funding is one of the primary factors that prompted the abrupt closure of the Jeannette EMS ambulance service a week ago, said Randy Highlands, director of operations. It’s an outcome he fears other...
Extended time proposed for parking at select downtown Greensburg meters
Some visitors to downtown Greensburg could gain a few extra minutes of metered parking without the risk of an overtime ticket, if the city pursues a councilman’s suggestion. Councilman Randy Finfrock on Wednesday, July 5 proposed buying software that would allow the city to add a grace period of a...
Route 30, Route 22 lane restrictions, Cook Township road closure to begin Monday
Various PennDOT road projects beginning Monday are set to trigger nighttime single-lane restrictions on sections of Route 30 in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties and on Route 22 in Murrysville, as well as closure of part of Four Mile Run Road in Cook Township. • Lane restrictions will be in place...
Greensburg survey will provide input as real estate consultants weigh in on downtown sites
People who live, work, pursue an education or operate a business or organization in Greensburg are being invited to offer input concerning the city’s downtown. Their responses to an online survey will provide feedback to a six-member team of consultants who will be visiting the community through Friday, to provide...
Acts add Wild West appeal to Derry Township Agricultural Fair
A taste of the Wild West will greet visitors to this year’s Derry Township Agricultural Fair, which is slated Sunday through July 15 along Route 982 north of New Derry. One of the fair’s featured attractions will be Cowboy Andy Rotz. “He does knife-throwing and lassoing, and he has a...
Sunday sale at Hanna’s Town offers antiques, collectibles
Treasures from the past will be available for browsing and buying Sunday during the latest Antiques & Collectibles Sale at Historic Hanna’s Town. The market is open from 7:30 a.m. through early afternoon on the grounds of the 18th century community that served as the first seat of Westmoreland County....
Greensburg Community Development Corp. selects new executive director
A Greensburg resident is set to take the reins of the Greensburg Community Development Corp. as the nonprofit takes key steps in its efforts to revitalize the city. The organization’s board recently selected Alec Italiano as its new executive director. He will succeed John Stafford, 23, who is set to...
Cruiser crash sends Pittsburgh police officer to hospital
A Pittsburgh police officer was taken to a hospital after a city cruiser was involved in a crash Thursday evening in the East Allegheny neighborhood. A city Public Safety spokeswoman said the crash happened at about 7:30 p.m., at Madison and Spring Garden avenues, while the officer was responding to...
Firefighters rescue worker from Hempfield roof
Local firefighters came to the rescue Thursday evening when a worker became stranded on the roof of a three-story building in Hempfield. The man, who was installing gutter guards, became dehydrated and was unable to descend from the roof by himself, according to Dave Vinkler, captain of the Hempfield No....
Man wanted for assault of girl in Indiana County
State police are seeking a man accused of indecent assault of a girl in Indiana County. A warrant has been issued for Mark Allen Juart, 36, who last had an Indiana address. He is charged with a felony count of indecent assault of a girl under age 13 at a...
