Stephen Huba stories, Page 19
Pa. Ag secretary praises farmers for thinking outside the glass
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding praised dairy processors such as Penn Hills’ Turner Dairy Farms on Thursday for thinking beyond fluid milk. “We need more dairy processing in the state to correspond with where the consumer trends are,” Redding said at the annual Turner Dairy Producers Luncheon in Blairsville. Those...
St. Thomas More Parish to host ’24 Hours for the Lord’ confessions
Now there’s no excuse for not going to confession — although it might require a bit of a drive. St. Thomas More University Parish in Indiana will stay open for 24 hours April 5-6 for the “24 Hours for the Lord” confession initiative encouraged by Pope Francis. The Catholic parish,...
Sewickley Township to build new $3M library, rec center
For decades, the Sewickley Township Recreation Center and the Sewickley Township Public Library have shared a space in the old Sewickley Area High School building on Highland Avenue in Herminie. They’ve been through thick and thin, including torrential rains in August that caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to the...
Unity dairy farm gets grant funding for expansion into cheese production
A Unity dairy farm is one of the beneficiaries of a new grant program designed to help Pennsylvania dairy farmers thrive at a difficult time for the industry. Pleasant Lane Farms, near Pleasant Unity, received $364,082 in grant funding from the new Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program — $286,744 to build...
Utilities, contractors, property owners in Allegheny County issued fines for PA One Call System violations
Several utilities, contractors and property owners in Allegheny County have been fined for alleged violations of the PA One Call system that damaged underground lines in 2018. On Tuesday, the PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee announced 70 disciplinary actions statewide, issuing $75,000 in fines against 33 facility owners, excavators...
Herkules, WCCC partner in new machinist apprenticeship program
A new apprenticeship program will link an Armstrong County machine manufacturer with Westmoreland County Community College, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Tuesday. The machinist apprenticeship, recently approved by the state Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Apprenticeship & Training, will be based at Herkules USA Corp. in Ford City and...
Federal bump stock ban goes into effect Tuesday; none turned over to ATF in Pennsylvania
With the bump stock ban looming, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says it is not aware of anyone turning a single one in at the field office in Pittsburgh or the dozen other offices across the state, a spokeswoman said. The final rule promulgated by the...
Tour of French saint’s intact heart to stop at Hempfield parish
The “incorrupt,” or intact, heart of St. Jean Vianney, a 19th-century French priest, will make a stop in Hempfield on April 17 as part of a national tour. The unusual relic will be available for veneration at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 1011 Mt. Pleasant Road, following a 9 a.m....
Dick’s Sporting Goods closing Century III Mall store
A sign at the declining Century III Mall in West Mifflin says the Dick’s Sporting Goods store there is closing on Saturday. The notice follows a decision by a bankruptcy judge earlier this month to reject the Dick’s lease at the mall, where the sporting goods retailer has had an...
State trooper will be recognized for founding Greensburg Shop with a Cop program
The 2019 Salt and Light Award winners are a parish director of faith formation from Rostraver, a Filipino couple from Greensburg, and a Pennsylvania state trooper, the Diocese of Greensburg said. The annual awards recognize people or organizations in the diocese for their humanitarian and philanthropic achievements. This year’s winners...
A Route 30 mainstay, historic Penn-Irwin Motel closes as owners retireVideo
Like a scene out of the Pixar movie “Cars,” the Penn-Irwin Motel has been a haven for weary travelers on the Lincoln Highway for 73 years. It thrived as U.S. Route 30 and the westernmost terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike brought motorists from all over the country. Then the turnpike...
Washington County bull is best in its breed for beef
A prize Simmental bull from Washington County will be among those sold at the state’s 46th annual Performance-Tested Bull Sale on March 29. SVJ Prosperity F516, a Simmental bull owned by Duane Snee of SVJ Farm in Amity, Washington County, is considered the top bull of his breed, with an...
Levin’s will serve customers ‘breakfast in bed’ this weekend
Forget Walmart’s pajama-clad shoppers — Levin Furniture wants customers to wear pajamas while shopping for mattresses this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, customers wearing pajamas will be served breakfast in bed — or at least while they’re shopping for a bed. The promotion will take place at all Levin Furniture...
Justice in Rosfeld trial, community healing focus of Sunday prayer vigil in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh United Methodists will hold an ecumenical vigil Sunday for justice in the Michael Rosfeld trial, which is underway in the Allegheny County Courthouse. The vigil, described as an ecumenical gathering of prayer, singing and sharing, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Warren United Methodist Church, 2604 Centre...
Sunday prayer vigil at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial to honor New Zealand shooting victims
The Muslim community of Greater Pittsburgh will hold a prayer vigil Sunday for the victims of the March 15 shooting at the New Zealand mosques. The vigil will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, 4141 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh. Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania encouraged Christians...
Greensburg Mass to celebrate beatified Mother Clelia Merloni on Sunday
One in a series of regional Masses celebrating the November beatification of Blessed Mother Clelia Merloni will be held at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg, on Sunday. Greensburg Bishop Edward C. Malesic will be the celebrant of the 11:30 a.m. service. Mother Clelia founded the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of...
Seven Years’ War symposium at Fort Ligonier to focus on ‘The Soldier’
The second annual Seven Years’ War Symposium at Fort Ligonier will focus on the theme “The Soldier.” Scheduled for April 13-14 at the Fort Ligonier Center for History Education, the symposium will include presentations by Maria Alessandra Bollettino, Alex Burns, Michael Galban, Fred Lucas and William Raffle. Erica Nuckles, Fort...
TRONIX3D opening WCCC partnership March 28
TRONIX3D will hold a grand opening at 4:30 p.m. March 28 for its new partnership with Westmoreland County Community College’s Advanced Technology Center. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the Advanced Technology Center, 1001 Technology Drive, Suite 1029, Mt. Pleasant, in conjunction with the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce....
Pennsylvania hunters set 14-year record for deer harvest
Pennsylvania hunters posted their highest overall deer harvest in 14 years in 2018-19, but the buck harvest seemed to take a hit because of bad weather on opening day, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said. The game commission said hunters killed 374,690 white-tailed deer during the 2018-19 hunting season, which closed...
‘Eucharistic miracles’ showcased at South Greensburg church
The age of miracles is not over — or so says an exhibit of “Eucharistic miracles” on display through Saturday at St. Bruno Parish in South Greensburg. The exhibit comprises 140 panels that explain and illustrate the phenomenon of Eucharistic miracles in the Catholic Church through the centuries, from the...
Westmoreland commemorates Arthur St. Clair’s 282nd birthdayVideo
Some Founding Fathers get no respect, but for Arthur St. Clair, that’s changing. Last year marked the 200th anniversary of his death, and Tuesday, members of the Westmoreland Historical Society gathered to commemorate his 282nd birthday (March 23). The St. Clair admirers formed a semi-circle around the ornate tombstone where...
Report: U.S. renewable energy use has doubled since 2008
Americans relied on renewable energy sources for 17.6 percent of all electricity generation in 2018, setting a new record, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The federal agency said renewable sources — solar, wind and hydroelectric power — provided 742 million megawatt hours of electricity in 2018, nearly double...
Pennsylvania congressman aims to expand immigrant worker program to dairy farms
A Pennsylvania congressman wants to expand a visa program originally designed for seasonal farm workers so that struggling dairy farms can better meet their labor needs. Currently, dairy farmers can’t use the H-2A temporary and seasonal foreign agricultural workforce program because dairy farming is not considered seasonal. U.S. Rep. John...
West Newton man enjoyed sharing his passions
Although Stephen Fanala worked for 45 years in the steel industry, it was his avocations that defined him. Mr. Fanala loved to fly, and he loved to teach others about hunting and trapping. “These were not just hobbies for him — these were lifelong passions of his,” said his daughter,...
Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide is farmer’s ‘bible’
The biennial Penn State Extension Agronomy Guide has become a bible of sorts for farmers. The 2019-2020 edition is now available for purchase in print ($35) or as a digital download ($15), according to Penn State Extension. A bundle that includes both versions can be purchased for $45. The 478-page...
