Jeff Himler stories, Page 69
Data from drone flyovers to help Greensburg officials reassess downtown parking
Greensburg is taking to the skies and to the streets to get a handle on an issue that can be frustrating for many: downtown parking. Professor John Benhart Jr., director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Science and Applications certificate programs, teamed up with Greensburg’s planning commission to...
Maryland man charged in D.C. car theft, hotel room invasion in Donegal Township
A Maryland man is accused of invading a woman’s hotel room Wednesday in Donegal Township while in possession of a car stolen from Washington, D.C. John Barilovits, 42, of Rockville also is charged with resisting arrest and attempting to draw a stun gun on a state police officer. According to...
West Overton board picks duo from staff to share leadership duties at historic village
Two familiar faces at East Huntingdon’s West Overton Village have taken on a higher profile as plans are underway to expand on offerings at the historic site. Aaron Hollis, who had served as director of education, is now co-executive director of the museum complex. It’s a title and responsibility he...
Coulter Building’s early 20th century aesthetic brought back to life in Greensburg
An office building on Greensburg’s Main Street that originally was Westmoreland County’s courthouse has regained some of its early 20th century appeal. Owner Ryan Will renovated interior common areas of the four-story Coulter Building at 231 S. Main St. “What we were looking to do was bring it back to...
Delay in pipe replacement extends Penn Township road closure
A road in Penn Township that was to have reopened in late May is now expected to remain closed into early September since work has been held up on a PennDOT pipe replacement. The closure, which began on April 18, affects a section of Boquet Road between Frye and Walton...
Greensburg’s steadfast ‘cow’ weathers all seasons in style
Daisy Mae is a cow for all seasons. Surrounded by patriotic red, white and blue ornamentation, in August she will be clothed in a new back-to-school outfit. For two decades, this fashion animal has been turning heads among motorists who pass her Greensburg home at the intersection of Hawksworth Drive...
Ceiling damage, falling concrete triggers partial closure of Greensburg parking garage
Sections of a parking garage on Greensburg’s North Maple Avenue have been closed until the city can repair damage to a concrete ceiling. City public works director Tom Bell said he was notified last week that fragments of concrete fell from the ceiling of the garage’s lower level at the...
Western Pa. food banks squeezed by increased costs, demand for assistance
Rising food costs are driving a renewed demand at food banks in the region that already were serving more people because of the covid pandemic. “The cost of getting a gallon of milk is sometimes a hardship,” Westmoreland Food Bank CEO Jennifer Miller said. After the pandemic hit, the Westmoreland...
Christ’s Church of Greensburg looks to future, holds on to tradition as bicentennial approaches
Christ’s Church is taking the better part of a year to celebrate its two centuries of worship and community outreach in Greensburg. The Anglican church’s 200th anniversary jubilee officially began in April, with a dinner for its members. It will kick into high gear in September, with the planned debut...
Greensburg Night Market expands vendor, music space
The Greensburg Night Market is expanding from three to four blocks of vendors and live music beginning Thursday. In its fourth year, the city’s extended evenings of shopping, food and entertainment — from 5:30 to 9 p.m. — already tripled in size in April, at the start of the current...
Summer in the City attendees get chance to dunk Greensburg Salem school officials, more events Saturday
Greensburg Salem Night was the theme on Friday, the second day of Greensburg’s three-day downtown Summer in the City celebration. Greensburg Salem School District administrators were among volunteers who took their chances in a dunk tank that raised money to benefit the Greensburg police K-9 program. The teen Westmoreland Performing...
Crews clear crashed rig, fuel spill, traffic restrictions on Turnpike near Irwin
Westbound traffic restrictions on the Pennsylvania Turnpike were cleared at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, more than four hours after a tractor-trailer crashed into a barrier at the Irwin interchange. No injuries were reported in the wreck, which occurred shortly after 6 p.m., according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. The...
McKeesport men charged in robbery, assault of 90-year-old Elizabeth Township woman
Two McKeesport men are accused of robbing a 90-year-old woman in a home invasion early Thursday in Elizabeth Township, and one of the suspects is charged with assaulting her. The woman told township police she was sitting in her living room watching television when her cable service went out and...
ATV fire in South Buffalo sends 1 to burn center
A four-wheeler all-terrain vehicle caught fire Friday afternoon in South Buffalo, sending one person to a regional burn center. The fire was reported shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Freeport Road. First responders said the fire was out when crews arrived, but a patient suffered minor burns to his legs. He...
New owner vows to preserve period appeal of Bedford County’s Lincoln Motor Court
A Bedford County native is the new proprietor and steward of a historic landmark along the Lincoln Highway. Lucas Steinbrunner, 41, said the Lincoln Motor Court, which has been in business along Route 30 in Napier Township since 1940, is a perfect fit for him. “I’ve always liked older things,”...
Minor injury reported when car collides with bear in Loyalhanna Township
A driver escaped with minor injuries when his car collided with a bear Thursday evening on Route 981 in Loyalhanna Township, according to first responders. The crash was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Route 981, between Pump Station Road and Mulberry Drive. “It’s a rather rural area,” said Bill...
Dogs, cats and goat have their day during Greensburg’s Summer in the City kickoff
It wasn’t quite the dog days of summer, yet canines were among the main attractions Thursday evening during the kickoff of Greensburg’s three-day Summer in the City festivities. Betsy Scheeren, a dog sitter from South Greensburg, was right in her element as she used both hands to vigorously pet Morgan,...
$1M grant will help prep former Sony industrial site in East Huntingdon for tenants
A $1 million state grant is expected to cover close to half the costs of planned infrastructure improvements at RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center, the former Sony television plant in East Huntingdon. The grant will help pay for work on a few hundred thousand square feet in the southeastern corner of...
Greensburg antique shop expands; DIY candle studio, tea shop slated to debut
An expanded antique shop, a studio where patrons can make their own candles and a place to sip tea and savor pastries are among recent and upcoming additions to Greensburg’s business community. Yesterday’s RAVE provides space for an array of dealers offering a variety of antique and collectible items. Opening...
PennDOT to post plans for Roseytown Road reconstruction in Hempfield
A section of Roseytown Road in Hempfield that has been plagued by potholes is scheduled for reconstruction next year. PennDOT is going to preview the project with a virtual plans display and public comment opportunity Monday, July 18, through July 31. Despite patching and repaving, potholes have appeared repeatedly beneath...
Greensburg’s Summer in the City is back with Critter Corner, pet parade, bands
Greensburg’s annual Summer in the City event will kick off July 21, offering three days of activities with appeal for animal lovers, music lovers, foodies and those who like to shop for bargains. Most activities will take place at the Pitt & Penn parking lot on South Pennsylvania Avenue. Thursday’s...
Bonuses OK’d to help fill vacant Westmoreland Children’s Bureau caseworker posts
Worker recruitment has become a challenge for employers in many fields, and the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau is no exception. The county Salary Board has responded to that challenge by approving signing, recruitment and retention bonuses for union workers at the bureau, including caseworkers. There are 13 vacant caseworker positions...
Mental health care a priority for Westmoreland County’s new human services director
Westmoreland County commissioners on Thursday hired a human services director, taking the first step in a effort to better coordinate local human services programs. To fill the post that has been vacant since 2018, the commissioners selected Robert Hamilton, a former Lower Burrell councilman and most recently executive director of...
Some Westmoreland communities use hands-on method to tackle overgrown grass
Knee-high by the Fourth of July is the old adage for measuring corn. But if the measurement refers to your neighbor’s lawn, the outcome might not be so sweet. Overgrown properties are a recurring summertime problem shared by many area communities. Greensburg resident William Weir can look across Harrison Street...
Pitt-Greensburg ‘Pitt-nic’ includes campus tour, lunch, lawn games
High school students who will be starting their senior year this fall are invited to a summer “Pitt-nic” July 16 on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The outdoor admissions event is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those attending will have an opportunity to tour...
