Haley Daugherty stories, Page 36
Mt. Pleasant Borough mourns unexpected loss of volunteer fire chief
Mark Kraisinger was a hometown boy. Some say that he lived for Mt. Pleasant Borough, that “he would give the shirt off his back” if it meant seeing the community thrive. Kraisinger, a longtime Mt. Pleasant volunteer firefighter and currently its fire chief, was found dead Tuesday in his home....
Amtrak moves forward with station accessibility improvements in Latrobe
After four years of planning, Latrobe residents will soon witness the restoration of the historic Amtrak station on McKinley Avenue. Over the next two years, the circa 1903 station will be equipped with an accessible concrete and brick platform with lighting, guardrails and signs. A new pedestrian ramp will be...
Magazine brings back annual gala with casino night in Hempfield to benefit Shop with a Cop
The Goal Magazine Gala returns this month and will benefit the Shop with a Cop charity. After a three-year hiatus, organizers at the nonprofit are asking guests to join them at the Greensburg Country Club in Hempfield on April 21 at 6 p.m. “We haven’t had the gala since 2019,”...
Mt. Pleasant’s McCali Manor condemned after fire
A historic building in downtown Mt. Pleasant has been condemned after being gutted Wednesday afternoon by a fire. When the blaze started at McCali Manor, Leon Mowry II, owner of Saloom Department Store, headed next door to DePalma Flooring to warn Pam DePalma and others inside to move their cars...
Luxor church uses surplus mission team funds to help Greater Latrobe, Hempfield Area schools
A country church in the village of Luxor in Hempfield decided to use its surplus mission team money to support students at two Westmoreland County school districts. After reaching out to the food service department to see whether there were students with unpaid lunch accounts, Luxor United Methodist of Greensburg...
County begins demolition at Ligonier Beach
Ligonier area residents are saying goodbye to the remnants of the Ligonier Beach property. With the support of federal funding, Westmoreland County has officially started demolition at the Ligonier Township property in accordance with the countywide movement to fight community blight. The township applied for a blight remediation grant through...
Arnold Palmer airport awarded $855K for control tower improvements
The control tower at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport will receive an $855,000 upgrade funded by federal money. “The tower was built in ’81 and it’s going to be a general refurbishment of the tower’s integrity,” said Gabe Monzo, Westmoreland Airport Authority director. The Unity airport has received more than $5...
Latrobe police hope to add 2 patrol officers
Latrobe police department hopes to hire two patrol officers within the next few months. With 13 initial applicants, the department is considering eight candidates for the job. Candidates are required to complete each phase of an extended hiring process. If they fail a phase, they are eliminated from the running....
Banana Split Princess Pageant candidates must apply soon
The Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Banana Split Princess Pageant on May 20 at Robindale Auditorium in Latrobe. The 2023 pageant has expanded to welcome girls between the ages of 9 and 13 who live in Greater Latrobe, Derry Area, Ligonier Valley, Greensburg Salem...
Latrobe’s first Night Market set for April
Have you ever wanted to see what happens in Latrobe after dark? Starting this April, you can. Jodie Edmiston, co-owner of Latrobe’s Green Goddess, is planning a Latrobe Night Market hosted by local vendors. The first market is set to be on the third Wednesday of April — April 20...
Local athletes prove age isn’t an issue in extreme sports
A nationally ranked triathlete and mother of five, 54-year-old Heather Melzer likens her participation in the sport to the adage about fine wine. “You can get better as you get older,” the North Allegheny woman said. “My bike just keeps getting better, and, right now, it’s my only weapon against...
15 teachers to retire from Greater Latrobe School District
Greater Latrobe School District will be saying goodbye to 15 educators in June. During the school board voting meeting in March, Superintendent Michael Porembka presented the resolution to approve the retirements of 15 tenured teachers by reading portions of different resignation letters. “I think these statements speak highly of the...
Pittsburgh police charge man with homicide in connection with shooting in Arlington Heights
Pittsburgh police arrested a man on Wednesday in connection to a fatal shooting in Arlington Heights in early March. According to police, Leroy Grace, 31, was arrested in the 1600 block of Arlington Avenue. Police said Grace is charged in connection with the fatal shooting March 1 of Tamont Terale...
Westmoreland prepares to welcome Rachel’s Challenge
Rachel Scott had said that she would die young. In 1999, 18-year-old Scott became the first fatality of the Columbine High School attack. With her death came the exposure of her writing, efforts to connect with those around her and a chain of events she started through her kindness. Rachel’s...
Passersby save woman from her burning Sewickley Township home, can’t save husband
Despite their quick actions, Kurtis Baker, Bradley Cook and Takoma Ganett all had the same sentiment: “We wish we could have done more.” The trio of passersby were able to pull a woman out of her burning Sewickley Township home Thursday afternoon but could not save her husband. David Wayne...
2023 maple syrup season races against the warm weather
Warm fronts and sap can make for a sticky situation during maple season. With an early start to sap harvesting season in Western Pennsylvania, the Lynch family at Baer Brothers Maple Camp has been working overtime to produce their fresh syrup. “There’s no such thing as free time during maple...
Familiar Westmoreland Air Show announcer dies at 71
Westmoreland Airshow guests and staff will miss a familiar voice this year. Howard “Howdy” Jackson McCann, Jr., 71, died March 9, 2023 at his home in Fallston, Md. As an internationally recognized airshow announcer, he played host to more 500 airshows through nearly 40 years. McCann worked with David Schultz...
Ligonier Valley Writers’ Student Poetry Contest extends deadline
Ligonier Valley Writers’ 32nd annual Student Poetry Contest has extended its deadline to Friday. Students in fourth through 12th grade throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania are able to enter their best poems for a chance to win cash prizes. In each of nine categories, first prize earns $25, second prize $20 and...
2nd round of interviews coming up as Latrobe continues search for new police chief
Latrobe City officials are closing in on a new police chief. Mayor Eric Bartles told city council this week that city officials have interviewed seven candidates for the available police chief position. The candidates were all “extremely qualified” and city officials will soon be hosting a second round of interviews,...
South Center Road in New Stanton reopens after crash
A two-vehicle accident shut down 424 South Center Road in New Stanton shortly before 6 p.m. Westmoreland 911 said that emergency services freed one person who was trapped in a vehicle. The road was still closed as of 6:20 p.m. between Painter Avenue and Oak Street. As of 7:20 p.m....
Westmoreland airport authority participates in Pa. development zone program
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is now included in an economic development program aimed at putting idle airport properties to productive use. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced that the Westmoreland County Airport Authority and the Pittsburgh-Regional Airport in Butler County were first in Pennsylvania to receive designations in the newly...
Martin’s Specialty Shop to close after 123 years on the Diamond in Ligonier
Ligonier residents are saying goodbye to a store that has dressed generations in upscale casual clothing since 1900. The 123-year-old Martin’s Specialty Shop will be closing its doors permanently this month. Mary Lou Fleming, owner and granddaughter of the shop’s founder, Robert S. Martin, is hosting a retirement sale for...
$6M wetlands initiative will improve habitats on 61 state game land sites
The state Game Commission and Ducks Unlimited have partnered to form the Pennsylvania Wetland Habitat Initiative that would improve 1,600 acres of wetland habitats on 61 state game lands. Outdated pipes, damaged dikes and dilapidated infrastructure limit site managers’ ability to the wetlands and leave the species in these habitats...
Game Commission to host waterfowl briefing
Hunters and members of waterfowl organizations can attend the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s virtual annual waterfowl briefing, streamed by the agency’s Facebook page, on March 9 at 1 p.m. Waterfowl Program Specialist Nate Huck and Wildlife Operations Division Chief Ian Gregg will review the proposed 2023-24 waterfowl hunting seasons, regulations, and...
Police investigate University of Pittsburgh sexual assault, ask public for information
Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Police are asking the public for help regarding a sexual assault suspect. According to university police, an assault occurred at the Bridge on Forbes apartment complex on Saturday between midnight and 2:30 a.m. Authorities say that the suspect introduced himself to the victim as Damien....
