Megan Swift stories, Page 31
Greensburg Salem hires retiring principal as interim athletic director
David Zilli was hired as Greensburg Salem School District’s interim athletic director and transitional administrator, a position that will run from Jan. 1 until March 8. Zilli is set to retire as the district’s high school principal on Dec. 31, which was going to be the end of his 35-year...
50th anniversary: Latrobe historical society searches for next generation
The Latrobe Area Historical Society has evolved and expanded throughout the past 50 years — but its continued service to the local community is reliant on the work of numerous dedicated volunteers. President Mary Lou Townsend said the society is seeking younger volunteers to spearhead future growth of the organization....
Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum seeks funding for repairs
Although the final run for the Ligonier Valley Rail Road was more than 70 years ago, there’s still action at its Darlington Station. Now home to the historic Ligonier Valley Rail Road Museum, school groups and other visitors enjoy exploring the authentically restored train station and its contents in Ligonier...
Westmoreland farmer takes home Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Barnraiser Award
Westmoreland County dairy farmer Rick Ebert was presented with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s highest honor — the Barnraiser Award. The award was given to former bureau president, Ebert, 63, of Derry Township, during the the group’s 73rd annual meeting at the Hershey Lodge. It recognizes his years of service advocating...
Specialty whiskey, rum on sale at Fort Ligonier Museum Store
Looking for holiday gifts? Specialty whiskey and rum will be available for purchase at Fort Ligonier’s Museum Store during December. St. Clair’s Spirits, a white rye whiskey made exclusively for the fort, and Queen Charlotte’s Courage Rum, the second in a series of three new distilled beverages, will be sold...
Latrobe city council members look toward future, goals for terms
Write-in votes have prevailed once again in Latrobe — this time on city council. Dawn Vavick, program and aquatics director at Greater Latrobe Parks & Recreation, started a write-in campaign when she realized there were two names on the ballot for three seats. “I was chatting with friends, and they...
‘Pretty remarkable’: Rita’s Closet ministry in Ligonier provides free clothes, household items to anyone in need
What started as a simple giveaway of Rita Stauffer’s extra clothes and housewares has grown so much that it may need a new, long-term home. Every Monday, Darlene Rummel and a team of volunteers set up racks and tables of clothes and household goods in the basement of First Church...
Write-in candidate secures 3rd Latrobe City Council seat
A write-in candidate has secured one of three open seats on Latrobe’s City Council, according to unofficial election results. Dawn Vavick received 179 total write-in votes — two of which were from absentee or mail-in ballots. Incumbent council members William Yuhaniak and Ralph Jenko won the other two seats, with...
Holly Jolly Weekend returns to Latrobe with holiday night market, live reindeer
Latrobe Art Center’s annual Holly Jolly Weekend returns this year from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, featuring numerous holiday-themed events, activities and entertainment for the whole family. Kicking off the festivities will be the Latrobe Light Up Night and holiday night market from 5:30-8 p.m. on Nov. 30 in James...
Murrysville police say missing girl has returned home safely
Murrysville police say a girl who had been missing has safely returned home. Police say Sophia Ilgenfritz had been reported missing Wednesday evening ....
The Paper Heart to host 2nd annual Holly Jolly Jingle Ball in Latrobe
Latrobe will ring in the holiday season at The Paper Heart’s upcoming second annual Holly Jolly Jingle Ball. Held from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 at the event space — 807 Ligonier St. — the town holiday party will feature a Pasqualino’s Italian Dinner, drinks, music bingo, holiday-themed games...
2 write-ins, 2 newcomers react to Greater Latrobe School Board election win
Tom Gockel, a write-in candidate who emerged victorious in the four-year term Greater Latrobe School Board race, said he was “honored” by the unofficial election bureau results. “It shows that our messaging worked, and the voters were angry,” said Gockel, 50, of Latrobe. “They just wanted a change.” He cited...
Experts weigh single-sex vs. coed models in light of The Kiski School’s switch
The all-boys campus The Kiski School near Saltsburg isn’t the first of its kind to make the switch to coed for economic reasons. Financial struggles related to declining enrollment continue to be the main issue for private schools, according to Gary Niels, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent...
Write-in candidates win 2 seats on Greater Latrobe school board
Two write-in candidates won seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board, according to unofficial results released Thursday by the Westmoreland County Election Bureau. Write-in John Petrarca finished third in the race for five, four-year terms on the board, and write-in Tom Gockel finished fifth. Out of the five winners, only...
Norwin moves forward with Hahntown Playground project
The Norwin School Board voted to begin the next step of the Hahntown Elementary School playground project — the first in a multiyear initiative to renovate the district’s playgrounds. After three different conceptual designs for the playground at Hahntown were presented, the board approved a contract with the company Pashek...
Latrobe trash fees, zoning permit costs will increase in 2024
Latrobe will hike garbage collection fees and zoning permit costs in the new year. There will be a 2% rate hike for residential customers and a 5% hike for commercial customers in 2024 — based on a rate increase from Latrobe’s collector, Republic Services, for a one-year contract extension. Roll-off...
Shinsky Bridge overhaul expected to begin next spring in Unity
The Shinsky Bridge over the North Branch of Sewickley Creek in Unity is set to be replaced beginning next spring. Unity officials sought a $1 million state grant to help pay to replace the bridge, said Mike O’Barto, chairman of the township supervisors. The local service grant through the gaming...
Latrobe chamber holds annual awards dinner to honor locals impacting community
For Jason Brinker, owner of the Lopatich-Brinker Funeral Home, winning small business of the year in Latrobe took him “completely by surprise.” “I never felt that a funeral home would be on the radar for something like that,” said Brinker, 35, of Latrobe. “I guess I’ve never viewed ourselves as...
Free art event in Latrobe will help kids ‘feel less alone’ this Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Local kids who are grieving loved ones will have the opportunity to decorate pots and plant seeds of hope on Children’s Grief Awareness Day. This year, the day falls on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Maria Graziano-Bickerstaff, funeral director at the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home in Latrobe, said its intent is to...
3 injured in crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County
An adult and child were flown to a hospital after being injured in a two-vehicle crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County Thursday night. Dispatchers from 911 said another person was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The adult who was flown had been ejected from...
Boil water advisory lifted for Ligonier area following repair, testing
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers in the Ligonier area no longer have to boil or conserve their water. The water advisory was lifted as of 6 p.m. Thursday. A water main break Sunday near Waterford caused the disruption, specifically along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water...
Commission: Jeannette City school board member, former president fined for violating Ethics Act
A Jeannette City school board member was fined $500 for violating the state Ethics Act, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said. Mark Gogolsky violated the state’s Ethics Act when he filed deficient statements of financial interests between 2016 and 2020 by failing to disclose all reportable sources of income, according...
Unity supervisors express concern over Greater Latrobe’s multimillion-dollar revitalization project, planned tax hikes
When Mike O’Barto learned of Greater Latrobe school board’s multimillion-dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039, he said he thought it was “ludicrous.” The district will proceed with the plan after 19 months of study, review and public comment, with an expected cost between $182 million and $198...
Arnold Palmer airport celebrates 3 millionth passenger, looks toward expansion
When Steve Smith arrived at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport on Monday for a flight to Myrtle Beach, he became the 3 millionth passenger to leave there on a Spirit Airlines flight. “I didn’t even look at my ticket,” said Smith, 66, of Saltlick. “Usually, my wife’s the lucky one.”...
‘Sky’s the limit’: 2 flying club members receive Wright Brothers awards for 50 years of flight
Ever since they were children, John Dyke and Ed Patrick have been fascinated by airplanes. “I could spend hours on the observation deck watching planes take off and land,” said Dyke, 75, of Carnegie. For Patrick, 81, of Murrysville, the first ride he took in a smaller plane was the...
