Jeff Himler stories, Page 59
Police: Threats trigger security restrictions at Latrobe hospital, lead to charge
A Hempfield man was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats stemming from a disturbance Friday and Saturday at Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. Paul D. White Jr., 37, is accused of making threatening remarks concerning the hospital and its staff while at the emergency room, prompting tightened security, according to...
Uniontown treasurer accused of stealing $106K in taxpayer funds
Uniontown’s elected treasurer has been charged with stealing about $106,000 in taxpayer funds during her time in office. Antoinette Hodge, 53, is charged by the state police Western Organized Crime Unit with four felony counts, including theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and perjury. She also is...
1 taken to hospital after Route 22 crash involving truck, farm tractor
The driver of a pickup truck was taken by ambulance to a local hospital after the truck crashed into a farm tractor Wednesday morning on Route 22 in Salem, according to Forbes Road Fire Chief Bob Rosatti. The crash was reported shortly after 6:30 a.m. between Seanor Drive and Hannastown...
2 area ski resorts set to begin seasons as winter weather approaches
A blast of winter weather is arriving this week just as two area ski resorts are opening for the season. Hidden Valley Resort in Somerset County will welcome skiers today, Dec. 21, while Laurel Mountain Ski Area in Ligonier Township is set to open two days later. Both attractions are...
Traffic signal upgrades will restrict traffic in North Huntingdon, Penn Township
Traffic signal improvements along Route 30 in North Huntingdon will cause single-lane restrictions, as needed, beginning on Wednesday and continuing over six months. Three intersections in Penn Township will see similar work as part of the PennDOT project. Upgrades to signals and to signal timing will occur between 9 a.m....
Frigid, white Christmas likely in forecast for Southwestern Pa.
The National Weather Service says chances are good for a white Christmas in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, although most of the snow is expected to fall in the days ahead of Sunday’s holiday and should stick around because of bone-chilling temperatures. In social media posts Tuesday, the weather service office...
‘E.T.’ model sells for $2.5M in Hollywood icon auction
A model of the title character used in filming Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” has fetched an out-of-this-world price at auction. The mechatronic figure sold for $2.56 million to an undisclosed bidder this past weekend, according to Julien’s Auctions. It was the star attraction in an “Icons &...
Driver freed after rollover crash in Penn Hills
Firefighters rescued a driver trapped in a vehicle rollover Sunday night in Penn Hills. The wreck was reported shortly before 11 p.m. The vehicle had crashed into a parked car and rolled onto its side in the 1700 block of Leechburg Road, according to a Facebook post by the Penn...
Overly’s engages all ages with holiday lights, food, family fun at Westmoreland Fairgrounds
Leechburg residents Tyler Leech and Alexis Price took their first trip to see Overly’s Country Christmas on Friday evening, and it was a memorable outing. After Leech arranged a wagon ride for the couple at the Mt. Pleasant Township attraction, he proposed to Price — and her answer was “yes.”...
2 firefighters among 3 injured in Plum house fire
Two firefighters and one other person were injured as the result of a fire that broke out early Monday morning in Plum. The firefighters were outside the home when the rear of the dwelling partially collapsed, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI reports. Unity Fire Chief PJ Mudar told the station the...
Greensburg OKs comprehensive plan, eyes blight demolition, playground upgrades
Preparations already are underway for some of the Greensburg projects recommended in an updated comprehensive plan approved this week by city council. Providing guidance for city officials through 2040, the Shape Greensburg plan includes goals for blight mitigation and improvement of recreational facilities. “As we start looking at 2023 and...
Bovard veteran of 2 wars survived torpedo attack, shrapnel wound to serve his community
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes. World War II and Korean War veteran Ross Saunders celebrated 87 Christmases before he answered the final call, dying on Dec. 26, 2011. The most memorable of those holidays was without...
Greensburg fourth graders get face time with ‘cool’ and ‘cute’ critters
Spiders, snakes, lizards and a llama were among more than two dozen exotic animals that were a highlight of Friday’s school day for a group of fourth graders. The students from Nicely Elementary in Greensburg judged some of the animals they encountered next door at Greensburg Salem High School to...
Greensburg’s Spring Avenue Park, city playgrounds targeted for upgrades next year
Greensburg’s 2023 agenda includes renovations to several city recreational facilities, among them Spring Avenue Park and some neighborhood playgrounds. Tapping several grant sources, the city hopes to seek bids in the spring for the proposed $535,000 park makeover in the 5th Ward. “We’re going to put a lot of money...
Seton Hill lands grant to recruit, assist underrepresented students in science fields
Seton Hill University plans to recruit more than a dozen science majors while providing them with financial and academic support. The university in Greensburg will provide scholarships to 15 high-achieving students from the Pittsburgh region who are economically disadvantaged and are part of groups — including women and minorities —...
Greensburg OKs budget with no tax hike, expands role and salary of rec superintendent
Greensburg Council this week finalized a 2023 city budget of about $13 million without increasing taxes. City property owners will continue to pay real estate taxes totaling 27.05 mills. That amount includes 1 mill each to help support the Greensburg Hempfield Area Library and to cover public safety expenses that...
Holiday carols, characters featured at Hutchinson Elementary Light-Up
More than 250 vehicles lined up Thursday evening for a spin around Amos K. Hutchinson Elementary during the school’s second annual Light-Up Night. In addition to festive lights and inflatable figures, visitors to the Southwest Greensburg school were greeted by holiday characters, Christmas music performed by school and community groups...
16-year-old Monessen boy charged as adult in fatal November shooting of another teen
A 16-year-old Monessen boy has been charged as an adult in the fatal shooting last month of another Monessen teen. Terry Newton is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Amari Altomore, 16, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced Thursday. Newton, who was not in custody as of...
Interstate 70 work will restrict eastbound traffic near Yukon
Eastbound traffic on Interstate 70 will be restricted to a single lane Friday near the Yukon and Madison interchanges in South Huntingdon and Sewickley townships. PennDOT officials said the restriction will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., depending on favorable weather. It will allow crews from Trumbull...
Greensburg Y invites families to ‘Merry and Bright’ holiday fun night
The latest in a series of Family Fun Nights at the Greensburg YMCA will include holiday-themed activities. “Merry and Bright” is the theme of the event, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, which will feature a visit from Santa. Kids who attend also will have an opportunity to create their...
2nd Light-Up Night set at Hutchinson Elementary, supports PTA and volunteer programs
Staff at Hutchinson Elementary School are inviting local residents to attend the school’s second annual Light-Up Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. A new tradition at the school in Southwest Greensburg, the event will feature a drive-through display of holiday lights and inflatables, student musical performances and surprise guests....
Westmoreland officials kick off effort to target blight at Greensburg building set for demolition
It was a bittersweet moment for local officials Tuesday as they contemplated the impending demolition of a 119-year-old building on Greensburg’s South Main Street. “I’m a bit torn, a bit heartbroken,” said Brian Lawrence, executive director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority, as he stood across the street from the...
Westmoreland to kick off blight blitz with Advance Furniture demolition in Greensburg
A six-story building that housed one of Greensburg’s first department stores more than a century ago soon will be only a memory. It originally featured the J.W. Pollins and Son’s dry goods and furniture business and the Galbraith and Jamison grocery store when it opened in 1903 at 221 S....
Derry Township teacher arraigned on child porn charges
A Derry Township man who works as a teacher in Indiana County has been charged with four felony charges related to child pornography. Charles Allen Kirkland, 31, is charged by state police with two counts of child pornography and one count each of disseminating photos or film of child sex...
$1M Mega Millions ticket sold in Rostraver
Someone who purchased a Mega Millions lottery ticket in Rostraver is $1 million richer. A ticket sold at the Shop ‘n Save supermarket at Willowbrook Plaza matched all five white balls, but not the yellow Mega Ball, in Friday’s Mega Millions drawing, according to Pennsylvania Lottery officials. The officials noted...
