Stephen Huba stories, Page 13
Latest round of Catholic Charities grants supports housing, feeding programs
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg has awarded $37,500 in grants to eight organizations from its Diocesan Poverty Relief Fund. The fund, founded by former Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt in 2009, is for organizations in the four-county diocese that accept and promote the mission of the Catholic Church in...
Rev. Liddy Barlow receives UCC award for women’s advocacy, leadership
The Rev. Liddy Barlow, executive minister of Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania, has received the 2019 Antoinette Brown Award at the United Church of Christ’s General Synod in Milwaukee, Wis. Barlow, an ordained UCC minister, was recognized especially for her leadership role following the Tree of Life Congregation mass shooting...
Loyalhanna Lake boat launch remains closed because of high water
The Loyalhanna Lake boat launch at Bush Recreation Area will stay closed until later this week for flood control purposes, the Army Corps of Engineers said. The launch was closed on Thursday when the pool elevation exceeded 928 feet. It crested Saturday at 935 feet, about 12 feet above normal...
Western Pennsylvania’s farmers planted early to sneak summer corn past Mother Nature
Western Pennsylvania farmers this year have had to plant crops “between the raindrops.” But despite less-than-ideal planting conditions, area farmers say they expect sweet corn to be available by the Fourth of July. While field corn planting has languished because of the wet weather, produce farmers say they got their...
‘Disposition of joy’ hallmark of woman’s life
In 1915, when Mabel Glunt Keibler was born, Woodrow Wilson was president, the United States had not yet entered the war in Europe, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run and women were still fighting for the right to vote. Mrs. Keibler lived a quiet life in a century...
State: Chronic wasting disease appears to be spreading
State game authorities have identified three more deer in Somerset County that have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The white-tailed deer, which had been killed after being struck by cars, were tested after being picked up by the state’s roadkill contractor, the Somerset...
Lower Burrell man moving closer to priesthood after spending year at Murrysville parish
Mark Dunmire didn’t always want to be a priest, but that didn’t stop him from thinking about it. Now that he’s about to be ordained a deacon, he’s well past the point of accepting a calling that began years ago with a suggestion from his parish priest. Dunmire, 35, of...
Nord-Lock Group expanding, building new headquarters in Findlay Township
A bolt manufacturing company based in Carnegie Borough plans to expand its operations in Allegheny County, Gov. Tom Wolf said. Nord-Lock Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Superbolt Inc., will build a new North American headquarters in Findlay Township that will house its manufacturing operations. The 125,000-square-foot building will sustain 37...
Greensburg diocese promises ‘full disclosure’ of victim compensation fund at end of process
The Diocese of Greensburg says it will give a full report on its victim compensation fund this summer. The diocese established the fund after last year’s release of the statewide grand jury report detailing allegations of child sexual abuse by priests and coverups by dioceses. While the Archdiocese of Philadelphia...
Union resignation provision may become part of new contract with state
A federal judge in Pittsburgh has agreed to stay a lawsuit involving the right of state employees to resign their union membership at any time. U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon signed the joint motion to pause proceedings after the state and the Service Employees International Union, Local 668, said...
Chevron, Benedum give STEM grants to 43 school districts
Chevron Appalachia and the Benedum Foundation hope a series of grants will put some steam into STEM programs at 43 area school districts. The most recent Innovation Grants, now in their third year, went to 43 school districts in southwestern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio, and totalled nearly...
Westmoreland County native selected as new United Way CEO
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has decided to hire from within to replace its retiring CEO. United Way announced Tuesday that Bobbi Watt Geer, 53, senior vice president of administration, will succeed Bob Nelkin as president and CEO, effective July 1. Watt Geer’s selection is the result of a seven-month...
Dairy farmers rally in support of returning whole milk to schools
Pennsylvania dairy farmers and their supporters rallied in Harrisburg on Tuesday in support of restoring whole milk as an option for school lunches. The protesters were scheduled to gather in the rotunda of the State Capitol at 11 a.m. Tuesday for the “Dairy Day for PA Healthy Kids” rally, following...
Second woman accuses Diocese of Greensburg priest of abuse
A second woman has come forward to accuse Monsignor Michael Matusak of sexual abuse, her attorney said. The woman said she was abused from 1973 to 1976 while Matusak was a deacon at St. Hedwig Parish, Smock, and after his ordination to the priesthood, said her attorney, Adam Horowitz of...
Appalachian Wagon Train visits Westmoreland County for 50th anniversaryVideo
The 25 covered wagons and buggies traversing the back roads of Westmoreland and Fayette counties this week are powered by oats, so be careful not to step in the exhaust. The horse- and mule-drawn wagons are part of the 2019 Appalachian Wagon Train, an annual weeklong event that is like...
Turtle watch program seeks participants in Loyalhanna Watershed
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to turtle watching, too. The Loyalhanna Watershed Association is hoping that the patient work of a coterie of newly-trained turtle monitors will overcome a lack of good data on turtle numbers in the region. “I think people see turtles more often...
Diocese of Greensburg reassigns 27 priests, approves 5 retirements
Bishop Edward C. Malesic has made a series of pastoral appointments involving 27 priests in the Diocese of Greensburg. The announcements, which include retirements for five priests, were made in the affected parishes at weekend Masses June 8-9. The complete list, with the effective dates of the different appointments, is...
Greensburg Diocese priest placed on leave last year now retiring
A priest who was placed on leave last year over a sexual abuse accusation has been approved for retirement, the Diocese of Greensburg said. Monsignor Michael W. Matusak’s retirement, effective July 1, was one of five priest retirements approved by Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic. He is retiring because he...
Wolf administration hopes ‘groundswell’ support can pass natural gas severance tax
Officials in Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration hope that packaging a natural gas severance tax with a proposal to address community blight and infrastructure needs will give it a better chance of passing the Pennsylvania General Assembly this year. Several members of the administration Tuesday said there is a “groundswell” of...
Pa. bottle bill would set up deposit program to reduce waste, litter
A proposal to set up a beverage bottle and can deposit program in Pennsylvania now has support in the state House and Senate. State Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-Doylestown, said Tuesday state Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, planned to introduce a companion bill in the Senate that is modeled on her legislation...
Report: Almost all U.S. coal production consumed for electric power
Almost all U.S. coal production is consumed for electric power, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Monday. Nearly all of the coal consumed in the United States is produced domestically, and most is consumed by the electric power sector to generate electricity, EIA said. In 2018, of the more...
5-county United Way sees growth in services, outreach in 2018
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania continues to set records in the number of people it helps. An estimated 480,831 people received assistance in 2018 as a result of United Way programs or collaborations with other agencies, according to the recently released 2018 annual report. That number represents a 16%...
Sewage expansion, trail project on hold in Derry Township
A project to extend sewage service to Keystone State Park and 33 nearby residences is temporarily on hold as the Derry Township Municipal Authority looks for a way to make it affordable for customers. In January, the municipal authority received a $1.8 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment...
Goodwill continues to grow, opening new store near Mt. Pleasant
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania seems to be in a growth mode, what with the recent opening of an outlet store in Monroeville and the impending opening of a new store near Mt. Pleasant. “We do have a lot of donations,” said Goodwill spokesman David Tobiczyk. “We’re very fortunate and appreciative...
Hempfield Area foreign exchange students hope to return to U.S.Video
Sanad Saad and David Mrva, two foreign exchange students who just completed a year at Hempfield Area High School, couldn’t be more different on the surface. Sanad, 17, is a devout Muslim from Tripoli, Libya, in North Africa. David, 19, is a devout Roman Catholic from Bratislava, Slovakia, in Central...
