Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 14
Arnold woman opens The Battle Life, a transitional living home for women in the fights of their lives
An Arnold woman is remembering a friend who lost her battle as she prepares to help other women who are still fighting their own. Amanda Wheeler on Sunday celebrated the soft opening of The Battle Life, her transitional living home, which she is dedicating to her friend, Jon’Trae “JT” Mathis....
Shaler Area board pivots from maximum property tax increase to none in proposed budget
After considering a 2025-26 budget with a maximum allowable property tax increase, a majority of the Shaler Area School Board on Wednesday, May 21, approved a proposed final budget with no tax increase. While that may have met with the approval of residents concerned about the prospect of their property...
Warden-Rodgers defeats Kettering for Ross commissioner Democratic nomination
After seeing a contested Democratic primary for only one Ross commissioner seat, township residents will have contested races for four commissioner seats in November’s general election, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. In Ross’ Ward 6, newcomer Haley Warden-Rodgers defeated appointed incumbent Commissioner John W. Kettering for the Democratic...
Shaler Area School District to see contested races for 3 school board seats
Shaler Area School District voters will see contested November elections in two of the district’s three regions, with at least three new members likely to join the nine-member board, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Five of the board’s nine seats are up for election this year, with four...
5 candidates all advance for Hampton School Board
All five people running for the Hampton School Board will have a chance to win one of four seats in November, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Board members Denise Balason, Jill Hamlin, Gregory Stein and Larry Vasko were all seeking reelection in the May primary. Three of the...
Primary divides candidates by party for North Hills School Board
The primary election erased cross-filing among candidates for the North Hills School Board, producing full slates of Democrats and Republicans who will vie for four board seats in November’s general election, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Four incumbents are among the eight candidates. Three will be on the...
2 Pine-Richland School Board incumbents defeated in primary, 1 advances
Two Pine-Richland School Board members lost their bids for reelection in Tuesday’s primary, while one will advance to the general election in November, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Incumbents failing to advance are Amy Terchick in Region 2 and John Joseph Cassidy in Region 3. Board member Christina...
Etna authorities call for vigilance, ask for cooperation as thieves target unlocked vehicles
Despite the arrest of an Etna man on May 19, borough officials are urging residents to secure their vehicles and valuables as thefts from unlocked vehicles continue in Etna and its surrounding communities. Thefts were happening as recently as the night of May 19 in other areas, Etna Mayor Robert...
Pine-Richland students help bring clean water to 2nd African village through Walk for WaterVideo
A village of more than 400 people in the African nation of Ghana will have access to safe, clean drinking water thanks in part to the efforts of Pine-Richland High School students. The students, most members of their school’s Key Interact Club, participated in the second annual Walk for Water...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
North Hills Arts Center seeking instructors The North Hills Art Center, 3432 Babcock Blvd. in Ross, is looking for instructors for its adult and children programming. Instructors can set their own schedules and write their own curriculums. If you have knowledge in the arts to share, click on the application...
In brief: Happenings in the Hampton area
1 arrested, 13 cited in task force’s DUI detail The North Hills DUI Task Force recently conducted a stationary DUI detail May 9 in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Checkpoint Strike Force. The sobriety checkpoint was held May 9 in McCandless. A total of 837 vehicles passed...
In brief: Happenings in the North Hills area
1 arrested, 13 cited in task force’s DUI detail The North Hills DUI Task Force recently conducted a stationary DUI detail May 9 in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Checkpoint Strike Force. The sobriety checkpoint was held May 9 in McCandless. A total of 837 vehicles passed...
In brief: Happenings in the Shaler Journal area
Community invited to free kindness event The Shaler Area School District will present the fourth annual 143 Day of Kindness event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 22 at Shaler Area Elementary School, 700 Scott Ave. Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. for the free community event. Free shuttle transportation...
Pet owners who used services of funeral director accused of mishandling remains gather for support
Rick and Terri Wagner traveled Sunday from their New Kensington home to Derry Township in search of closure. Their beloved spanador, Bailey, a mix of a cocker spaniel and a Labrador, was one of the thousands of pets authorities say Patrick Vereb mishandled through his cremation business, Eternity Pet Memorial....
Man found shot in each leg in Duquesne, police say
A man is in stable condition after being shot twice in Duquesne on Saturday, Allegheny County Police said. Allegheny County 911 was notified of shots fired in the 1100 block of Cherry Alley shortly after noon, county police said. First responders found a man had suffered a gunshot wound to...
Allegheny Valley residents take advantage of chance to get firearm carry permits closer to home
Lee Anne Pennington had a license to carry a firearm when she lived in Butler County, but let it expire. It’s been about four years since she moved to Springdale, but it wasn’t until Saturday that Pennington got a new permit. She took advantage of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office...
Helmets, tune-ups provided to children at annual Shaler bicycle rodeo
Heads were protected and bikes were perfected during an annual bike rodeo Saturday, May 17, in Shaler . Children were fitted for and received free helmets during the rodeo in Kiwanis Park, where a half-dozen mechanics were also on hand to tend to maintenance needs. Kids also had a chance...
Shaler commissioners formalize agreement between Mt. Alvernia developer, residents
The dispute between residents of a Shaler neighborhood and a Pittsburgh-based developer came to a civil and uneventful resolution this month. Commissioners on May 13 unanimously approved an ordinance that includes the agreement reached between the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association and Q Development, which is working on a $100 million redevelopment...
ABC Transit celebrating end of school year with free community event in Shaler
ABC Transit will celebrate the end of the school year by asking folks to swing on by its Shaler terminal in June. The transportation and school bus company will host a free event for the community and their staff that they’re calling “Crash My Party” from noon to 4 p.m....
Pine-Richland moving forward with no property tax increase over superintendent’s warnings
With the support of the majority of the school board, the Pine-Richland School District is moving forward with a 2025-26 budget with no property tax increase despite the superintendent urging that an increase is necessary. The board voted 6-3 at its May 12 meeting to approve the proposed $115.6 million...
North Allegheny owes A.W. Beattie $700K after discovery of enrollment count error
The North Allegheny School District owes the A.W. Beattie Career Center nearly $700,000 after the discovery of a clerical error that resulted in the district not paying its proper share for over four years to the vocational and technical education school in McCandless. That happened because the number of North...
Shaler Area’s young marathon runners tackle the challenge of a triathlon
With the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon in their rearview mirrors, some Shaler Area Elementary students are gearing up for their next challenge. The students, under the training of fourth grade reading teacher and coach Kelly Himes, are preparing to participate in Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh’s youth triathlon July 19...
Matt Graf Golf Outing marks 10th year; dinner tickets still available
The annual Matt Graf Golf Outing will be held June 6 at Pittsburgh North Golf Club in Richland. While golfer participation was sold out, tickets for the dinner catered by Walnut Grill are still available and can be bought online at hm3independencefund.org. The dinner is scheduled for 6:30 to 10...
Shaler approves hiring 7 police officers
Of seven new police officers Shaler approved hiring in April, three were currently attending police academies while four had yet to start training, police Chief Sean Frank said. But because of competition between agencies, it’s something the township has to do, the chief says. “If you don’t offer employment, they’re...
Brian C. Rittmeyer: Penn State branch campuses provide more than memories
There’s a beaver plushie on my nightstand, and a glass bottle of Coke from 1990 in my living room. What do these two unusual — and one, advisably undrinkable — things have in common? Penn State branch campuses. More importantly, for me, the memories attached to them. And now that...
