Jeff Himler stories, Page 63
Bus driver recruitment continues to challenge school district transportation contractors
Transportation company First Student is advertising school bus driver openings for several area districts the company serves, including Norwin, Jeannette City and Hempfield Area. But applicants have not been flocking to replenish the ranks at area school bus terminals. Driver shortages have been an issue for many districts in recent...
Soccer obstacle course joins annual Fall Fest fun at Greensburg YMCA
People attending the annual Fall Fest at the Greensburg YMCA may have their portrait drawn by a local caricature artist and kick a soccer ball through an obstacle course of cones. Those new offerings will debut during the event set for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Y at...
Greensburg Salem plans surveys to address school attendance, parental engagement
Greensburg Salem will be asking students and parents to take a survey to determine how they feel about district schools, as officials look to curb student absenteeism. “There was a decline in overall attendance last year at our high school, so it’s a concern,” Superintendent Ken Bissell said. The district...
Downtown Greensburg businesses to offer pie samples, display scarecrow contest entries
Visitors to Greensburg will be able to indulge their sweet tooths while browsing in downtown shops during an inaugural Harvest Pie Walk organized by the Greensburg Business and Professional Association. “We’re looking forward to a fun event,” said Amy Beeghly, president of the association. “People can walk their pie off...
Fort Ligonier Days marches on as ‘go-to’ fall event for many families
Fort Ligonier Days is a homecoming for many who visit or participate in the annual festival — whether or not they grew up in the Ligonier area. Members of Joyce Mowery’s family have been coming to the event for about three decades. “This is kind of a tradition,” said the...
PennDOT job fair near Donegal seeks to fill posts in Westmoreland, 3 other counties
PennDOT will hold a job fair Tuesday near Donegal for those interested in applying for open positions in Westmoreland and three other counties. The event is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Turnpike stockpile at 183 Claypike Road, Acme, which is located in Mt. Pleasant Township....
Halloskene event in Greensburg to include debut of short film showcasing the city
Skene 19 Films’ second annual Halloskene celebration is set for 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Greensburg’s St. Clair Park, with festivities including live music, food and craft vendors. Those who stay until 8 p.m. will see the debut screening of a short film that Skene 19 Films CEO Marcus...
President Joe Biden expected to visit Pittsburgh next week
President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh next Thursday, Oct. 20. The stop will precede a reception in Philadelphia for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman that the president is expected to attend, Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV reported. The station cited information from the White House. The reason for...
Pittsburgh police investigate 2nd armed carjacking in 2 days
Pittsburgh police are searching for a rental vehicle stolen in an armed carjacking Thursday evening in the city’s Northview Heights neighborhood. It was the second such carjacking reported in the city’s North Side in as many days. The latest incident was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Colby Street...
Pair charged with stealing $43K while posing as members of Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office
Two out-of-state residents are in the Allegheny County Jail, accused of stealing money from three victims in a scam that involved posing as deputies and sergeants with the county sheriff’s office. The suspects are Richard Long, 48, of Ellenwood, Ga., and Raquan Hardy, 25, of Anderson, S.C. according to Sheriff...
Traditions celebrated during Fort Ligonier Days festival
“Honoring Historical Traditions” is the theme of this year’s three-day Fort Ligonier Days festival, which will kick off Friday with more than 300 food and crafter booths, live musical entertainment and tours of Ligonier’s reconstructed 18th-century fort. Food, crafts and wine-tasting will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday...
Daytime lane restrictions planned on I-70 in South Huntingdon
Traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction Wednesday on a section of Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon. PennDOT officials said the left lane will be restricted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for both eastbound and westbound traffic between the Yukon (Exit 53) and Madison (Exit...
Angels in the Infield goes to bat for special needs ballplayers in Greensburg
Abel Ramer of New Alexandria celebrated his 13th birthday Sunday by playing baseball with friends and mentors at Seton Hill University in Greensburg. In truth, the adaptive baseball game was a celebration for all nine kids and young adults with special needs who took to the field, as it was...
Greensburg schedules fall leaf collection, Halloween events
City officials in Greensburg are preparing for annual autumn traditions: collection of fallen leaves and Halloween festivities. According to Councilman Donnie Zappone Jr., leaf collection will begin on Oct. 17 and will continue through the first weeks of December, depending on weather conditions. If heavy snow accumulation occurs before winter’s...
Apollo woman fills growing need, obtaining household items for elderly and disabled
Phyllis Thomas needed her insulin prescription, and Lou Reich needed laundry detergent and stain remover. Nicole Fye of Apollo fulfilled those requests through her Commodity Shoppers business, which is serving an expanding niche by catering to the needs of senior citizens and those with disabilities. “Groceries seem to be the...
Firm helps link Greensburg Salem students, families to mental health services
Greensburg Salem School District is partnering with a California firm to help students, staff and their families seeking mental health and substance abuse assistance. Care Solace is charged with helping Greensburg Salem clients navigate the mental health care system —matching their needs with available providers. After receiving parent permission, students...
Westmoreland County YMCAs court pickleball fans with increased opportunities to play
Pickleball — the game that is part tennis and part Ping-Pong — is soaring in popularity in the region and is gaining a higher profile in Westmoreland County. Two local YMCAs, in downtown Greensburg and in the Mt. Pleasant area, have expanded their pickleball offerings. The Greensburg YMCA is reintroducing...
PennDOT plans Youngwood street closures, reschedules lane restrictions on I-70, Route 22
PennDOT is planning intermittent closures of two sections of Depot Street in Youngwood beginning Monday . Previously announced nighttime lane restrictions on Route 22 in the New Alexandria area and on Interstate 70 in Rostraver have been delayed and now are set to start on Monday and on Oct. 14,...
Westmoreland Land Trust invites public to explore site of proposed nature and art park
The Westmoreland Land Trust will hold visitor days Saturday and Sunday, when it will invite the public to explore one of its newest properties, the Schwarz Farm in Hempfield. Those attending between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day will have the opportunity to take an SUV tour of the...
Westmoreland Democrats rally volunteers, welcome Fetterman in Murrysville
About 100 people turned out Wednesday evening to the Murrysville Center for Democracy to meet Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, getting their photos taken with the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee as they signed up to knock on doors and make calls for his campaign. After brief remarks to the crowd...
Roadwork will restrict traffic on I-70 near Yukon
Daytime single-lane restrictions will be in place Thursday and Friday on a section of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County, according to PennDOT. The restrictions will occur as needed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for both eastbound and westbound traffic near the Yukon/Madison interchange. Weather permitting, crews from Trumbull Corporation...
Greensburg police seek suspect in sex assault
Greensburg police are asking for the public’s help in locating an 18-year-old man who is a suspect in a sexual assault and other felonies. According to a post on the police department’s Facebook page, Dabiaun A. Davidson is known to frequent Greensburg, Jeannette, Blairsville, Pittsburgh and Wilkinsburg and has recent...
Paving in Westmoreland to restrict traffic on I-70, Route 217
Motorists can expect lane restrictions in Rostraver and Derry townships as PennDOT paving projects get underway Monday on sections of Interstate 70 and Route 217. Weather permitting, milling and paving on the interstate will cause single-lane restrictions between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. each weekday from Monday through Oct. 21....
Greensburg wants to tap state gambling revenue to help fund ice arena update
Greensburg officials are looking for additional state funding to help replace the aging refrigeration system at the city’s ice arena. The city is seeking a $400,000 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account. The funds, which are generated through state gambling revenue, would supplement a $1.5 million state...
Domestic violence focus of next Unity in the Community event in Greensburg
A Greensburg-based community group wants to help raise awareness about the pervasive problem of domestic violence. Coinciding with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, “Break the Silence” is the title of an event hosted by Unity in the Community from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the YWCA, 424 N. Main St.,...
