Jeff Himler stories, Page 48
Greensburg Salem School District eyes exterior upgrades, long-term facility plan
Exterior improvements are being considered at several Greensburg Salem school facilities, but district officials are just starting to come to grips with potential longer-term building needs. Building improvements are of particular importance to a district parent and teacher, who voiced to the school board concerns about Nicely Elementary School, where...
Air Force captain with local ties among pilots set to take flight in Westmoreland airshow
Plenty of people will be on hand Saturday and Sunday to see Capt. Lindsay Johnson pilot an A-10C Thunderbolt II Air Force jet in the Shop ’n Save Westmoreland Airshow. Among those heading to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity for the aerial attraction will be many area relatives and...
Greensburg eyes expansion of business zoning to include self-storage units
Greensburg is looking to add self-storage facilities as an allowable use in the city’s business zoning district, to increase options for redeveloping dormant downtown properties. Council will consider making that change at its July meeting. Council also is moving forward with plans to enhance the city’s appearance — through the...
Police charge South Greensburg woman with goading estranged boyfriend into suicide
A South Greensburg woman is charged with aiding suicide, stemming from the death of a former boyfriend whom she is accused of urging to take his own life in repeated harassing messages. Police said the messages were graphic in content and were sent using a mobile app between May 5...
Unity taps state fund to repave 7 roads
Unity is spending about $650,000 from its state road fund to repave portions of seven roads this summer. Derry Construction is slated to resurface Sharky’s and Beech drives — as well as Atlantis Drive, near Youngstown. The paving schedule also includes portions of Roskovensky and Cemetery roads and, at Wimmerton,...
Greensburg police officer charged with assault resigns; vehicle replacements purchased
Greensburg will be looking for a new police officer following the resignation of a former dog handler who is awaiting trial on simple assault and harassment charges. Council on Monday approved the resignation of Kenneth J. Burke, 36, of Greensburg, who had been on unpaid leave while the charges against...
Westmoreland at 250: Founding figure played large role in nation’s birth, development
(Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series marking the 250th anniversary of Westmoreland County’s founding.) Signs of one of Westmoreland County’s 18th century founding fathers still can be viewed by those who know where to look. A township in the northeastern corner of the county was named for...
Steve Snider 5K attracts 400-plus, benefits Greensburg Salem scholarship, youth recreation
More than 400 runners and walkers turned out in Greensburg on Memorial Day to participate in the inaugural Steve Snider “It’s a Beautiful Day” 5K race. Presented by the Greensburg YMCA, the race was held in remembrance of the late Snider, a longtime Greensburg Salem High School track and cross...
Roof restoration, repairs planned for 2 Greensburg fire stations
Greensburg officials are looking to save money by adding a new layer to an aging fire station roof instead of replacing it. Tom Bell, the city’s public works director and chief of the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department, said the roof project at the Company No. 7 station on East Pittsburgh...
Personal care home eyed for Unity passes first step in township approval
A proposed personal care home in Unity passed the first step toward development Thursday as the township supervisors granted a conditional use request for the facility. Developer Policastro Properties is planning to construct two personal care buildings, connected by an enclosed breezeway, on a 5-acre parcel located behind the Quality...
1 killed in Washington County wreck
One motorist was killed in a crash Thursday afternoon in Washington County. Derek Hartzog, 32, of Washington, died following the wreck in South Franklin Township, Washington County Coroner Tim Warco reported. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. Hartzog was driving a northbound vehicle that left the road and...
Air quality alert issued for region
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a Code Orange Action Day for air quality on Friday in Western Pennsylvania because of smoke from wildfires in Canada. The orange alert indicates unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people. Young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems such...
1 injured in McKees Rocks shooting
One person was taken to a hospital after a shooting Thursday afternoon in McKees Rocks. The shooting happened around 1:45 p.m. in the 100 block of Bell Avenue, according to Allegheny County Police. Police said first responders found an adult with wounds to a hand and foot. The victim was...
Greensburg’s Craft Beer Week pairs food, fermented beverages at annual festival
Cupcakes, ice cream, games and contests will be paired with locally brewed beverages during the return of Greensburg Craft Beer Week, Friday through June 17, in the city and surrounding communities. Now in its seventh year, the schedule of more than 30 events includes Greensburg’s second annual Craft Beer Festival,...
Greensburg medical student from Jordan lobbies in D.C. for global AIDS funding
Greensburg medical student Jacob Khuri has his sights set on working in internal medicine. But the 28-year-old native of Jordan continues to think globally when it comes to public health. After completing his second year of studies at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) at Seton Hill University, Khuri...
Greensburg Hempfield Area Library kicks off summer programs with magic show
Greensburg Hempfield Area Library will kick off its summer programs and reading challenge with a magic show today at Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. Set for 11 a.m., the free kickoff celebration will feature a magic show by Steve Haberman that relates to the library’s summer reading theme, “All Together Now.”...
Mistrial declared as jury weighs assault, strangulation charges against Greensburg man
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani on Wednesday declared a mistrial after jurors were prepped to deliberate on aggravated assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint charges against Glenn Whittier, 52, of Greensburg. According to court staffers, the mistrial ruling came after it was discovered that a juror had communicated with...
New Kensington defendant expected to testify in second day of sex assault trial
Chester Elmer Green Jr. of New Kensington is expected to take the stand Thursday in his defense against charges that he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl almost a decade ago. His accuser, now in her late teens, testified Wednesday in Westmoreland County Court that she wasn’t sure of the date...
Officials identify man killed in Uniontown shooting
A man was killed in a shooting Tuesday morning in Uniontown. The shooting was reported shortly before 11:30 a.m. at Connellsville and Clarke streets, according to a Fayette County 911 dispatch supervisor. State police identified the victim as Anthony Jones, 38, of Uniontown. Jones was brought to the Uniontown Hospital...
Pittsburgh Camerata to present nature-themed choral works in free Pitt-Greensburg concert
The Pittsburgh Camerata vocal ensemble will present a free concert Tuesday on the Pitt-Greensburg campus. Set for 7:30 p.m. in the Mary Lou Campana Chapel and Lecture Center, the program will offer an American musical journey through nature. A highlight will be a new piece dedicated to the camerata by...
Route 30 upgrades, bridge projects among $1.1B in Westmoreland work through 2050
Reconstruction and intersection changes on Route 30 are among more than $1.1 billion in long-term highway projects proposed in a 25-year transportation plan for Westmoreland County. The reconstruction of Route 30 would occur between Leger Road in North Huntingdon and the Irwin borough limits, and improvement is planned for two...
Rides, music, animal encounters provide families day of fun at Mammoth Fest in Mt. Pleasant Township
Carnival rides, engaging animals, live music and favorite foods provided a variety of fun for families who spent part of their Sunday at the annual Mammoth Fest in Mt. Pleasant Township. A repeat visitor, nurse Brandi Barrick of neighboring Mt. Pleasant Borough brought her four kids to enjoy this year’s...
Teen falls through roof of shuttered Century III Mall
A teenage boy was taken to an area hospital Friday night after falling through the roof of the shuttered Century III Mall in West Mifflin. The boy fell about 20 feet at the former Macy’s store, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV reported. His condition was unknown. Skyview Volunteer Fire Company (West...
Fire heavily damages unit at Derry apartment building; no injuries reported
No one was injured but there was major damage to a first-floor apartment where a blaze started Sunday morning at the Derry Manor apartments in Derry Borough, a fire official said. Emergency crews were dispatched shortly after 7:30 a.m. to the building at 118 W. Fourth Ave., said Josh Campbell,...
Motorcyclist killed in collision with tractor-trailer in Washington County
A Scenery Hill man was killed Saturday night when his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer in Washington County. Joseph Smetanka Jr.. 60, was pronounced dead at the scene on Route 40 near 10 Anderson Drive in Amwell Township, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. Warco said the crash happened...
