Indiana
West Market demolition bid approved in Blairsville
By Jeff Himler 7:08 p.m.Demolition of vacant properties to make way for the proposed Riverfront Village housing development along West Market Street is projected to begin by August. At its Tuesday meeting, borough council heard an update on the project from Leann Chaney, executive director of the Blairsville Community Development Authority, which currently owns …
Burrell Township looks to sell parcel of land
By Gina DelFavero 6:40 p.m.BLACK LICK — The Burrell Township supervisors are looking to sell a parcel of land in the township. At Wednesday night's regular meeting, supervisors Tony Distefano and Larry Henry voted to advertise for sale a lot at the corner of Blaire Road and Main Street in Black Lick. Supervisor John …
Derry hires part-time police officers
By Jeff Himler 6:36 p.m.Borough Council on Monday voted to bolster ?the police department's finances and manpower. The panel hired two additional part-time police officers and approved a contract that will pay the borough $11,000 to provide policing services to the Derry Area School District in the 2012-13 school year. But borough officials continue …
Blairsville-Saltsburg holds the line on 2012-13 taxes
By Jeff Himler 6:32 p.m.Blairsville-Saltsburg School District is once more proposing to hold the line on taxes according to a tentative 2012-13 budget approved at the school board's regular meeting on Wednesday. The budget includes $30,188,135 in planned spending — which reflects an increase of more than $1.5 million, or 5.5 percent, from the …
H-C alum inspires next generation of scientists
By Debbie Black 6:28 p.m.ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Several months into his role as the president and CEO of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Lance Bush is continuing his lifelong interest in space science while sharing that passion with a younger generation. "I feel that I have lived a charmed life," said the …
Wildcats bow out of District 6 playoffs
By Spencer Sadler 6:24 p.m.FERNDALE — The Homer-Center Wildcats ended a tumultuous season on Wednesday with a heart-breaking 1-0 loss in the bottom of the eighth inning to the Ferndale Yellow Jackets, their hosts in the opening round of the District 6 playoffs. "This game was a microcosm of our season," said coach Scott …
Ninth-inning play propels Blairsville to second round
By Spencer Sadler 6:16 p.m.The Bobcats went toe-to-toe with Bald Eagle for nine scoreless innings Tuesday at WyoTech Field. Then, at the bottom of the ninth, freshman Scotty Thompson crossed the plate on a Cameron Livingston single to propel Blairsville into the second round of the District 6 playoffs. By beating the ninth-seeded Eagles …
Interim Indiana County jail warden a familiar face
By Tribune-ReviewIndiana County has a new jail warden. Michael Kuhar, who retired in March 2011 as courts administrator, was appointed last week by county commissioners to serve as interim warden upon the retirement of former warden Carol Hummel. Commissioners have begun searching for a new warden. Since his retirement last year, …
Latrobe man, girlfriend accused of stealing from grandmother
By Jennifer ReegerA Latrobe man and his girlfriend are charged with stealing money from his grandmother's bank accounts and using her credit cards upon obtaining power of attorney, resulting in more than $48,000 in losses, state police said. Lloyd Ira Paynter, 34, who lives in the Latrobe area, and his girlfriend, Bonnie …
Plea deal in works in Indiana methadone overdose
By Paul PeirceA former Indiana County man will plead guilty later this summer to some criminal charges related to the methadone overdose death of his girlfriend on Aug. 26 in Indiana Regional Medical Center. The exact terms of a plea agreement for Aaron Matthew Sandak, 36, formerly of Ernest, must be formally …
Award honoring slain Pittsburgh officer given to IUP grad
By Rick WillsA graduating student from Indiana University of Pennsylvania is the first recipient of the Stephen J. Mayhle Memorial Scholarship. "Being the first person to get this is a great honor," said Patrick Lee, 22, who was presented with the scholarship award at commencement exercises on Saturday. More than 2,250 graduates …
Alleged White House shooter arrested in Indiana County faces new charges
By The Associated PressWASHINGTON -- An Idaho man accused of shooting an assault rifle at the White House and later arrested at an Indiana, Pa. motel will now face two additional charges at a status hearing today. Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez of Idaho Falls was already charged with the attempted assassination of President Barack …
Kuhar to head Indiana County jail staff
By Jeff HimlerINDIANA -- Mike Kuhar retired as Indiana County's district court administrator in March of last year, but his involvement with county government is far from over. Kuhar, of Indiana, has continued as a consultant for the county court system, most recently providing guidance as a new office is being prepared for …
United proposes 4.35-mill tax hike
By Jeff HimlerARMAGH -- United School Board on Tuesday adopted a proposed 2012-13 budget that would include a 4.35-mill increase in property taxes to help support $18.2 million in planned spending. The new 98.35-mill tax rate would reflect the maximum millage increase the district can impose -- with state-approved exceptions related to special …
Homer-Center fact-finder rejects cafeteria outsourcing
By Jeff HimlerHOMER CITY -- The Homer-Center Education Support Professionals Association has voted to accept the report of state-appointed fact-finder William W. Lowe, who has recommended that the district not use an outside contractor to operate its food service program. In his report dated April 27 and released to the public on Tuesday, …
Saltsburg restricts commercial truck traffic
By Gina DelFaveroSALTSBURG -- Truck drivers traveling through Saltsburg Borough will now have signage steering them through the town in an effort to keep them off side streets. Borough council on Monday approved a new ordinance that will prohibit commercial trucks from traversing residential streets. At council's April meeting, Police Chief Gary Walker offered …
Motorcyclist from Blairsville dies in accident
By Tribune-ReviewA motorcyclist from Blairsville, Indiana County, was killed earlier this month when he lost control of his Yamaha in Derry Township. State police said John M. Kubistek, 49, was traveling around a curve on Pittsburgh Street in the area of Longview Trailer Court at 7:41 p.m. May 4 when he …
Indiana HS fable production is on the 'Fringe'
By Debbie BlackINDIANA -- Fables from around the world will be staged this weekend in an Indiana Senior High School Drama Program production that is slated to go on the road this summer to the prestigious Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Show times for "Fables Here and Then" are 8 p.m. today and …
Homer City man, 83, raped teen for three years, police say
By Tribune-ReviewAn 83-year-old Homer City man was charged this week with raping an Indiana County teenager during a three-year period, according to police. Ralph Duncan, no address available, was arraigned before Blairsville District Judge Jennifer Rega on charges of rape, indecent assault and corruption of minors and released from the Indiana …
Blairsville Wal-Mart worker accused of $500,000 coupon scam
By Paul PeirceWal-Mart officials told state police in Indiana that a Homer City woman may have stolen "at minimum $500,000" over the past two years in a coupons-for-cash scheme at its store near Blairsville. Eileen Zimmerman, 38, of Homer City was arraigned Tuesday before Blairsville District Judge Jennifer Rega on charges of …
Indiana County woman charged in coupon-for-cash scheme
By Paul PeirceA former employee of Wal-Mart near Blairsville is charged with stealing as much as $240,000 in a coupon-for-cash scheme at the store, according to state police in Indiana. Eileen Zimmerman, 38, of Homer City, was arraigned Tuesday before Blairsville District Judge Jennifer Rega on charges of theft. Zimmerman was responsible …
Heavy rain swamps several roads throughout region
By Tom FontaineHeavy rain early Tuesday closed roads, filled some basements and triggered a flood watch for Allegheny, Beaver and Westmoreland counties, but the storm didn't pack …
Father of dead IUP student puzzled, mournful
By Jennifer ReegerTwo years ago, Daniel Engler stood before a federal judge in Pittsburgh and pleaded guilty to three crimes after blowing up a mailbox with a pipe bomb. The incident was a youthful indiscretion, his father said, and Engler, 24, of New Kensington, had turned his life around. He had enrolled …
Homer City power plant begins $700 million upgrade
By The Associated PressHOMER CITY -- Work is beginning on $700 million in pollution control upgrades to a major Western Pennsylvania power plant. A subsidiary of General Electric has provided $50 million to begin work on the Homer City Generating Station, about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The subsidiary will contribute about $370 …
Saltsburg man was arrested for alleged stabbing
A 23-year-old Saltsburg man was arrested Saturday morning and will be charged with aggravated assault for stabbing another borough man in the leg area, state police at the Indiana barracks said. Kenneth R. Bell, 25, of Saltsburg was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian hospital after he was stabbed …
Graffiti artists continue to deface Indiana Borough
By Tribune-ReviewGraffiti artists continue to deface buildings, fences and other items throughout Indiana Borough, home to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In one area, at least six garage doors and buildings were marred by black spray paint early Saturday morning, said a spokesman for borough police. Between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., …
Student teacher assued of sex assault on Derry Area student
A student teacher from Indiana University of Pennsylvania allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student from his class at Derry Area High School, according to state police. Timothy David Lewis, 22, of 1366 Waverly Drive, Unity, Westmoreland County, has been charged with sexual assault and released on a …
