Jeff Himler stories, Page 32

The Sleepy Hollow Causeway across the Loyalhanna Creek east of Ligonier was closed Tuesday afternoon because of flooding. The causeway connects the eastbound lanes of Route 30 in Unity with the westbound lanes in Derry Township. PennDOT officials also announced closure of a portion of Bairdstown Road/West Market Street in...

An idyllic Ligonier Township homestead where a young couple are living the life bucolic by raising exotic fowl and keeping honeybees could be bisected by a high voltage power line proposed by First­Energy. The proposed power line “would slice directly through the center” of the eight-acre property on Orme Road...

A Westmoreland County school district is doubling down on using drones for its agriculture and horticulture program. Derry Area already has a drone that students use to gather data during flyovers of farmland, and it plans to buy a second one. “You can look from above the Earth at areas...

As Latrobe’s leaders discuss ways to improve the city, one of the issues they’re trying to address is the lack of nightlife downtown. “I think the big problem is at 5 o’clock, Latrobe is a ghost town,” said City Councilwoman Dawn Vavick. “Everybody leaves. There’s nobody downtown. “Shops close very...

Ligonier Beach supporters and township officials are poised to figure out what the future of the former Lincoln Highway landmark could be. They are looking for a consultant to help them create a new plan for redeveloping the former resort as a site for public recreation. The township bought the...

At least two residents were displaced when fire damaged a two-story house Tuesday evening in Hempfield. Crews from about 10 fire departments were dispatched shortly after 5:30 p.m. to the blaze in the 300 block of Price Street in the village of Bovard. One of the residents was at home...

More than $71,000 in money from impact fees levied on Pennsylvania’s unconventional natural gas wells will be used to make improvements to Memory Park in New Florence. “The sidewalks are old. They’re heaving very badly and creating a tripping hazard,” said borough council President Jason Beatty. The borough will pay...

Latrobe plans to improve accessibility to sidewalks along a two-block section of Jefferson Street, between Weldon and Chestnut streets. City council is seeking bids to upgrade 17 curb ramps to meet current federal standards. City manager Terry Carcella said the curb improvements would continue upgrades at other downtown intersections —...

Diners can enjoy an eclectic array of menu options by sampling the specials offered at 14 area eateries during Greensburg Restaurant Week. Beginning on Monday and continuing through Jan. 28, those options will include fig and port wine duck breast at Morelands in South Greensburg, shrimp tacos at Tapped Brick...

Before the arrival of the 21st century, Loyalhanna Creek ran orange through Latrobe. That was before a system of wetlands was developed next to the Saint Vincent College campus to treat water draining from abandoned mines and remove some of the iron pollutants that discolored the creek downstream. The wetlands...

Two Las Vegas men will spend time in federal prison for their roles in an international fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims including Pittsburgh-area residents. Bethel Park police, Pennsylvania State Police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations were among agencies involved in a probe that led to the...

A sinkhole along the eastbound lanes of Route 30 in Unity is slated for repair in an effort led by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Cordoned off by orange snow fencing, the sinkhole is about 15 feet from the southern edge of the highway, near the intersection of Fred Rogers Drive,...

Greater Latrobe School Board members who last month halted plans for at least $182 million in proposed construction and renovations are scheduled to tour the district’s five schools Saturday to look at building needs. “I feel some of the board members just need to have the opportunity to walk through...

Dolly Parton was otherwise engaged, but the country singer-songwriter’s persona was evoked Wednesday at Derry Area High School as 74 area students crafted fragrant centerpieces they imagined would be welcomed at the table of the legendary artist. “Dinner With Dolly” was the theme of the school’s inaugural floral design invitational...

A student organization at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center is leading a landscaping project meant to beautify the grounds of the New Stanton school while creating a living educational installation. Led by adviser Dan Overdorff, the school’s Future Farmers of America chapter is poised to develop a three-tiered, pump-driven...

The deep freeze that has caused many of us to break out our knit caps is expected to continue through this weekend. Those frigid conditions will be ideal for crews creating sculptures for the annual Ligonier Ice Fest, and for those who come to admire the outdoor display of frozen...

Marie Churley of Tarentum challenged her grandson to learn something about the Rev. Martin Luther King on Monday, the national holiday that honors the slain civil rights leader. “He changed the world, and he helped people,” said 7-year-old Ryan Smith of Swissvale. The boy and his family arrived late in...

Fancy footwork and big ears were behind some of the prizes awarded to Westmoreland County residents at this week’s Pennsylvania State Farm Show. Two teams from the Westmore­land Squares 4-H Club earned blue ribbons for taking all the right steps in their square dancing performances. And a North Huntingdon girl...

Helping others runs in the family for twin sisters Martha Koval of Delmont and Jane Szczygiel of Hempfield. Volunteerism was instilled by their parents, Mary and George Zimmerman, as they were growing up in Delmont. It’s how they’ve continued to direct their talents now that they’ve reached their golden years,...

The Greensburg Salem School Board on Wednesday moved to dismiss three employees, although district officials declined to name the employees or discuss specifically what prompted the firings. However, school board President Jeff Metrosky confirmed the action is a result of “recently reported incidents from one of our elementary classrooms.” Last...

Greensburg-area golfers soon won’t need to travel far to experience the challenges of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Teton Pines or the Old Course at St. Andrew’s. Those famous venues are among more than 35 golf courses from around the world that will be featured when Greensburg installs a new indoor...

A winter storm that pummeled Western Pennsylvania with high winds and steady rain Tuesday left several flooded roads and more than 9,000 customers without power in Westmoreland County. The number of power outages was down to about 470 by 9 p.m. Wednesday as West Penn Power worked to restore service....

Flooding and downed utility lines caused the closure of several roads around Westmoreland County from Tuesday to Wednesday as a storm pounded the region with rain and high winds. Firefighters from Ligonier and Waterford were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to assist a motorist from a vehicle in a flooded...

Gibson-Thomas Engineering will work with a steering committee to study Greensburg’s environment for walkers and bicyclists, among others. The city council on Monday selected the Latrobe firm as its consultant for developing an active transportation plan. Such a plan emphasizes forms of mobility including “walking, biking, using a wheelchair, connecting...