Jeff Himler stories, Page 114

Latrobe plans to reopen its municipal building to the public on June 8, with some restrictions in place to limit the potential spread of covid-19. Those entering the building to visit the administration or code enforcement departments, or the office of state Rep. Joseph Petrarca, will be required to wear...

Pittsburgh police are investigating spray-painted graffiti discovered Monday in Highland Park. Reported at about 1:30 p.m., the painted messages were found in and around the park’s fountain and a Highland Park historical marker. Messages also were painted at the intersection of Highland Park Drive and Bunker Hill Street. Arrangements were...

Pittsburgh police are searching for a 28-year-old man last seen Sunday evening in the California-Kirkbride neighborhood. Dylan Yourkonis was last seen about 8 p.m. wearing a light blue zip-up jacket with wording on the back shoulders and gray jogging pants, police said. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs...

A state corrections officer from Camp Hill is charged with contacting a 14-year-old-girl in Fayette County to set up a sexual encounter. Calvin Hynson, 26, is suspended without pay while awaiting a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Nathan Henning. He is free after posting $100,000 bond. The State Attorney...

The Friends of Dormont Pool organization is donating $25,000 to the borough in the hope the money can be used to open the community’s popular swimming pool this summer, which would mark its 100th anniversary. It remained unclear this week whether the financial contribution would prompt borough officials to reconsider...

Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department has canceled its week-long June street fair out of concern about holding large gatherings during the covid-19 pandemic. It’s just the second time the annual tradition has been sidelined. The first time was in 1972, with the arrival of Hurricane Agnes. “It was a big...

A thousand motorists left the Westmoreland Fairgrounds on Wednesday each with more than 20 pounds of fresh produce and a box of dairy products. It was the first of planned twice-monthly distributions of perishable food bought by the federal government. Joy Bryson of Irwin, who hasn’t worked at her job...

Latrobe hopes to move forward this summer with improvement of its three railroad underpasses. City Council on June 8 will consider authorizing consultant Gibson-Thomas Engineering to prepare bid specifications for proposed upgrades where Jefferson, Ligonier and Alexandria streets pass underneath the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. The project calls for repairing...

Recycling of old tires is more important than ever now that warm weather has arrived. The rubber rings could become filled with water and serve as a breeding area for disease-carrying mosquitoes. That’s why the Westmoreland Conservation District, which monitors mosquitoes for West Nile Virus infection, is co-sponsoring a tire...

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will visit the Westmoreland Fairgrounds on Wednesday morning as pantry staples are delivered to area food banks in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Perdue will be on hand as part of the federal Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The program is purchasing up...

Virtual public meetings are planned to allow citizens to learn about and comment on transportation improvements proposed in Southwestern Pennsylvania through 2024. Since large gatherings are on hold during the covid-19 pandemic, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission will instead livestream public input sessions on the draft 2021-24 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)....

Pittsburgh police used pepper spray to subdue three people accused of assaulting an officer early Sunday in Homewood South. A woman and two boys were arrested following the confrontation that happened before 2:30 a.m. on Collier Street. No one was seriously injured when the woman punched the officer in the...

A Fairchance man is accused of fatally shooting another man Sunday afternoon at a Fayette County restaurant. State police charged Justin D. Rittacco, 21, with criminal homicide in connection to the shooting that happened before 4:30 p.m. at the Long John Silver’s restaurant on Morgantown Road in South Union. Police...

Seventh-graders at Derry Area Middle School missed out on a trip to Cleveland’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame because of covid-19 pandemic restrictions. But, as they completed an inter-disciplinary, music-related lesson unit at their homes, they found time between the musical notes to pen written notes to residents and...

Greater Latrobe School District is holding out hope for a belated commencement ceremony for the high school Class of 2020. But district officials note those plans, and options for instructing remaining students next fall, will depend on the status of the covid-19 pandemic. A survey is planned to solicit district...

Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District could see a 2.7-mill increase in real estate taxes under a tentative 2020-2021 budget of nearly $57.2 million approved this week by the school board. District business administrator Dan Watson said the potential hike to 84.95 mills would add $73 to the...

Derry Area School District’s traditional breakfast for graduating high school seniors couldn’t be held this year because of social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, members of the Class of 2020 are invited to a drive-through farewell luncheon on Friday. It will be followed by a parade through the...

Holy Family Catholic Church in Latrobe will offer free take-out meals on Thursday. Dinners will be available from 5 p.m. until about 100 have been distributed at 1200 Ligonier St. The menu includes ham barbecue sandwiches, hobo beans, cole slaw and cake. Church volunteers wearing masks and practicing social distancing...

Pittsburgh police are looking for a sport utility vehicle that struck and injured a 14-year-old girl early Sunday in the city’s Larimer neighborhood. The driver of the white, four-door SUV didn’t stop after hitting the girl at about 12:10 a.m. in the 6400 block of Frankstown Avenue. Police said the...

Those who want to safely dispose of unwanted medications may bring them to a drug take-back collection Tuesday morning at the Latrobe City municipal building. Latrobe police will conduct the event from 9 to 11 a.m. at a table near the building’s front entrance, at 901 Jefferson St. Medications may...