Stephen Huba stories, Page 10
Maryland man gets 30 years for 1999 abduction, assault of Somerset Co. girl
A Maryland man will spend the next 30 years in prison for the 1999 abduction and sexual assault of a 10-year-old Somerset County girl. Timothy D. Nelson, 50, of Cumberland, Md., was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Kim Gibson in Johnstown. He could have received life in prison for...
Sen. Bob Casey, seniors look to stem crisis facing many older Americans
The opioid crisis has led to a crisis of grandparents, and even great-grandparents, raising young children — something U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, wants the federal government to take a more active role in addressing. “It’s a challenge, the likes of which I don’t think our country has ever seen...
Matriarch of The Driftwood made it the place to be in Ligonier Township
Growing up with Eliza Bacher as one’s mother was a little like growing up with one’s boss. Mrs. Bacher owned and operated The Driftwood in Ligonier Township with her husband, Fred, for more than 60 years. Together, they attracted a following of faithful local customers, as well as travelers on...
Penn State’s new weather data collection system to gather localized information
When it comes to Western Pennsylvania’s recent weather woes, forewarned is forearmed. Those warnings might get a little more accurate and timely with a new Penn State project to install a series of mini weather stations across the state. The Pennsylvania Mesonet — short for mesoscale network — will eventually...
Fayette nuns sell land for construction of WVU outpatient center
West Virginia University Medicine has purchased property from a Byzantine Catholic order of nuns in Uniontown for the development of an outpatient medical center, the university said. Sister Ruth Plante, provincial for the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, said the sale involves 20 acres near the...
Pittsburgh institute launches largest online Newman archive in the world
A Pittsburgh institute is now the largest curator of digital archives for Cardinal John Henry Newman, who will be canonized by the Catholic Church in October. The Oakland-based National Institute for Newman Studies this week launched the NINS Digital Collections, an interactive, online platform that is home to more than...
Judge’s order continues restrictions on Rostraver landfill
A consent order signed by a Fayette County judge Wednesday prohibits the discharge of harmful effluent into the Monongahela River by a landfill and a treatment facility. The action by Common Pleas Judge Steve Leskinen continues a 90-day order he issued in May at the request of Fayette County District...
Report: U.S. surpasses Russia, Saudi Arabia in petroleum, natural gas production
The United States set a new record in 2018 for petroleum and natural gas production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. petroleum and natural gas production increased by 16% and 12%, respectively, in 2018, and these totals combined established a new production record, EIA said. The country surpassed...
Report: Pittsburgh area home prices rise, sales slow slightly
Pittsburgh area home prices continue to rise, according to the latest RE/MAX National Housing Report. Although lower interest rates are helping affordability, the area has seen two straight months of accelerating price increases. If the trend continues, it’s not an encouraging development for Pittsburgh-area buyers, according to the July National...
Bottle rocket competition soars at Westmoreland FairVideo
Among the bottle rocket aficionados at the Westmoreland Fair, there’s a debate about which pop bottle works best. “Pepsi works better than Coke,” said Lyndsey Androstic, announcer for Tuesday’s 4-H rocket competition at the Peoples Grandstand Arena. Others swear by Mountain Dew. Regardless, what garnered the most attention on Tuesday...
North Huntingdon bus driver trekked millions of miles on the road
Driving was a major part of Mark Lazzaro’s life from the time he was a teenager. Whether it was for the Marines or a commercial bus line, Lazzaro took his driving seriously and treated his passengers with care, said his wife, Janice. “He just loved driving ever since he was...
Rostraver Eat’n Park waiter serves up simple act of kindness to WWII veteran
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. Or so the saying goes. On Saturday evening, Lisa Meilander saw an example of simple kindness that so struck her she decided to post something publicly about it on Facebook. “I don’t normally make my posts public,” she said....
Pennsylvania distributes wildfire funds on Smokey Bear anniversary
Seven volunteer fire departments in Westmoreland County are among recipients of state grants for wildfire equipment and training. The funding is from the latest round of grants announced by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for departments in rural areas that regularly fight wildland and brush fires. “Too...
New leaders seek to build on Salvation Army programs in Greensburg
Growing up in Tiffin, Ohio, Ashley Luzader remembers attending the local Salvation Army with her great-grandmother. “I would spend the night at her house on Saturday night … and go to church with her the next day,” she said. “I tried other churches, but I never felt at home.” Today,...
Uniontown nuns to host 85th annual pilgrimage Labor Day weekend
The 85th annual pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held at Mount St. Macrina, Uniontown, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. This year’s theme is “Mary, Cause of Our Joy.” The Labor Day weekend event is the oldest and largest Byzantine Catholic pilgrimage in the country. A focal...
Game Commission proposal to ban feeding deer, turkeys draws interest
A Pennsylvania Game Commission proposal to ban feeding big game animals in the state is generating plenty of interest among hunters, if Wednesday night’s open house in Delmont is any indication. Nearly 40 people, many of them hunters, attended the open house at the Delmont Volunteer Fire Department to inquire...
Assumption celebration to include Mass, procession, rosary prayers
Catholics from the Diocese of Greensburg will gather on Aug. 15 for the annual Mass and candlelight procession for the feast of the Assumption. Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic will celebrate the Mass at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Chapel, Christ Our Shepherd Center. The candlelight procession will follow. Participants...
Deferred repairs, budget cuts threaten Keystone, other state parks, officials sayVideo
If the Pennsylvania state budget were a dollar, the budget for the entire state park and forest system would be about half a penny. Marci Mowery, president of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, used that example Tuesday to illustrate infrastructure and maintenance needs confronting the state Department of Conservation...
Westmoreland Historical Society seeking nominations for 2019 Arthur St. Clair Award
The Westmoreland Historical Society is accepting nominations for the annual Arthur St. Clair Historic Preservation Award. The award honors individuals or organizations that have made a “significant and sustainable” contribution to the preservation of Westmoreland County’s historic places, documents, records or stories, the society said. Nominations can be submitted by...
State fines Uniontown mayor for votes to promote himself, daughter to public positions
Uniontown Mayor Ed Fike has been cited for a conflict of interest violation stemming from his appointment as mayor in January 2018, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said Monday. Fike must reimburse the city $2,446.04 and pay $500 to the state ethics commission for violating the Public Official and Employee...
Proposed ban on feeding Pennsylvania wildlife riles some in the Pittsburgh region
Gary Livingston has one thing to say to the Pennsylvania Game Commission about its proposal to ban big game feeding: Try and stop me. “They’re going to have to take me to jail because I’ve been doing it for so long. Plus, it’s on my property,” said Livingtson, 69, of...
Crabapple ‘Pool-A-Palooza’ is all-day festival at Herminie pool
Crabapple Community Pool in Herminie will hold its second annual Community Pool-A-Palooza event from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday. The event will include food, an ice cream truck, 50/50 drawings and a chance to win a 2020 pool pass. DJ Brandie will be on from 1-4 p.m., and Elvis impersonator...
Settlement to allow Midwest gas to flow to Pittsburgh, beyond through Laurel Pipeline
Parties to a three-year dispute over the Laurel Pipeline say American consumers will be the winners when bi-directional service begins in October. The Laurel Pipeline, operated by Houston-based Buckeye Partners LP, carries petroleum from Philadelphia refineries to central and Western Pennsylvania. But since 2016, Buckeye has sought to reverse the...
State deems large fish kill natural at Somerset County lake
What some people are calling a disaster — an extensive fish kill at Cranberry Glade Lake in Somerset County — is most likely the result of an unfortunate but natural occurrence, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission said. The state agency sent a waterways conservation officers to the lake this...
Murrysville’s Bach named to governor’s new Council on Reform
The hits keep coming for Mary Bach. Less than a month after being named to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Advisory Council, Bach, 74, has been appointed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s new Council on Reform. Bach, a longtime independent consumer advocate from Murrysville, was named to the body Wednesday...
