Libby Sam and her family said they prayed to God for help when her 27-year-old roof started leaking this spring. Water spots showed through the... »
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About this site …
A couple of things: Please note that while I did write all the stories I’ve posted here (sometimes with another reporter), they actually belong to the newspaper in which they were published. If you are going to link them, please use the original source (found at the bottom of every post). This is still a work... »
Ligonier Borough Planning Commission finishing revisions to zoning
After nearly two years of work, the Ligonier Borough Planning Commission voted to recommend a 156-page revised zoning ordinance and new zoning map to borough council. The new ordinance alleviates confusion and ambiguities that were in the previous ordinance, planning commission Chairman Scott Lieb said. »
School closing plan dominates Ligonier Valley board meeting
The majority of the discussion at Monday's Ligonier Valley School board meeting concerned the possibility of Laurel Valley Middle-High School closing. Parents and community members have been asking the board the same questions for several months, after the release of a study by Ohio-based Warner Concepts recommended the consolidation of Laurel Valley Middle-High School into... »
Outdoor cafe rule passes despite Ligonier mayor’s 1st-ever veto
Ligonier Borough Council on Thursday approved a much-discussed ordinance allowing for outdoor cafes in its business district. Council approved the ordinance at its last meeting, but Mayor Ormond "Butch" Bellas took unusual action and vetoed the ordinance. It was his first veto in eight years serving as Ligonier's mayor. "I usually agree with what they do,... »
Ligonier Valley school board meeting chaotic as president resigns
Irvin Tantlinger announced his resignation as Ligonier Valley school board president, effective at the conclusion of Monday night's meeting. The board meeting later got so heated, Tantlinger adjourned the meeting suddenly and left the room before anyone could second the motion, leaving audience members and some board members unsure of what to do next. »
Ligonier approves sidewalk cafe law
On a warm afternoon, Abigail's Coffeehouse patrons in Ligonier squeeze into two cafe tables and a bench outside. And after deliberation at Thursday's borough council meeting, they still can, with the blessing of borough officials. The sidewalk cafe ordinance passed 4-1, with Councilman Sam Banales voting against the proposal, saying it was too restrictive. Council... »
Ligonier Planning Commission continues ordinance overhaul
Plans for the proposed zoning ordinance are making progress but it's still too soon to send recommendation to council. »
Consolidation plans face opposition
Sixteen-year-old Seward residents Morgan McLaughlin and Ashley Troyan came prepared to the Monday night Ligonier Valley School District Board of Education meeting. Each wore a homemade T-shirt that said, "Our school, our community, our choice," to show their opposition to closing Laurel Valley Middle-High School in fall 2010. »
Sleepy Hollow taking shape
Although it's just paper-covered plywood forming the beginnings of a frame, Fred Haeflien talks with excitement about the future of the Sleepy Hollow. "This will be the kitchen,a nd the dining room will be here," he said, walking quickly across the salvaged wood floor, open to the air as the building begins to take shape. »
Laurel Valley Middle-High School parents plead their cases on closing
Citizens crowded their way into a meeting of the Ligonier Valley School Board Monday at Laurel Valley Middle-High School to voice their concerns about the possibility of the school closing. The turnout was prompted by a study commissioned by the board to determine the feasibility of consolidating Laurel Valley Middle-High and Ligonier Valley High schools. »
Ligonier Borough Council approves curfew ordinance
Voices were raised at last Thursday's Borough Council meeting as participants and council members verbally sparred on two ordinances: one establishing a curfew for minors and another allowing for outdoor dining. »
Ligonier adopts curfew for teens
After much discussion — some of it heated — regarding a proposed curfew Thursday night, Ligonier Borough Council adopted an ordinance that prohibits anyone younger than 17 from being on public property between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. “When the police chief comes to me and tells me that this is something we need, I’m... »
Accident remains under investigation
A March accident that killed a 15-year-old North Star High School freshman is still under investigation by Ligonier Township police. »
Sewage project revisited
Residents in Laughlintown, Darlington and Laurel Mountain Borough will be transitioning from septic tanks to sewer lines in the coming years as a Ligonier Township Municipal Authority project moves forward. »
Yough School Board adopt budget with no property tax increase
Yough School Board on Thursday adopted the final 2009-10 budget with no increase in the 75.60-mill levy on real estate. The spending plan lists $28.9 million in revenue and expenses. The revenue includes federal stimulus money, but the district has not received word whether it would be receiving any yet. »
Norwin Hills Shopping Center sinkhole may be fixed by weekend
The manager for Norwin Hills Shopping Center expects that parking lot damage from recent storms should be repaired by this weekend. Late Saturday night, 30 feet below the parking lot, a storm drain broke, causing the asphalt and soil to crumble, and form a sinkhole 25 feet in diameter. »
Supervisors table expansion request
A decision regarding the Fork's Inn tavern building expansion plan has been put off until at least August, after Ligonier Township supervisors discussed two unresolved issues at its Tuesday evening meeting. »
Westmoreland County Firemen’s Association Convention heads to Hecla
Hecla Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ron Kimmel wanted this year's firemen's association get-together to be different. He said he wanted the public to become more involved, he wanted more entertainment, and he wanted the weather to cooperate. But the biggest difference about the 74th annual Westmoreland County Firemen's Association Convention is its rural location. »
Connellsville airport runway expansion project nears
Fayette County businesses can send and receive deliveries by truck, barge and train, but with the Joseph A. Hardy/Connellsville Airport runway short by 374 feet, most can't use planes. At least, until this fall. By October, the runway will be extended to 3,832 feet, long enough for many more corporate planes to land. »
Beekeeper removes thousands of bees from Belle Vernon yard
When Southwest Regional police Chief John Hartman became a police officer, he never expected to deal with this kind of sting. And he wasn't sure if Wednesday morning's check on a bee colony at Bernadette Rodger's Washington Street home would end in injury or success. »
City manager Bill Watkins gets 2 percent raise
COLUMBIA — City Manager Bill Watkins received a 2 percent raise after City Council approved the increase at its meeting Monday night. Watkins' salary increased from $148,304 to about $151,270. »
Neighborhood church property rezoned to make way for mortuary
COLUMBIA — Despite contention among neighbors to the property, H.T. May and Son Funeral Home will open its fifth branch in Columbia this April, pending approval by the Missouri State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. »
Roper, Watkins dismiss blog reports of scheming
COLUMBIA — Some city officials are laughing at recent reports of a behind-the-scenes scheme to oust certain council members, and others are feeling perplexed. Either way, a Wednesday blog post by Columbia Heart Beat publisher Mike Martin has caused a stir. »
Two downtown projects to apply for tax breaks
COLUMBIA — The Tiger Hotel and the "District Village" at Tenth and Locust streets will be the first downtown redevelopment projects to apply for special tax breaks offered by the city for the first time. Columbia has requested proposals from the two projects, due Feb. 9, targeting them as developments that would benefit from tax-increment... »
Firearm sales are up after election
PEKIN — The number of people walking through the door of Dave’s Trading Post and Gun Shop has nearly doubled since President-elect Barack Obama’s victory Nov. 4. Gun figures The number of pre-purchase background checks measured by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System is a major indicator in the number of guns purchased nationally. November was... »