Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 17
Pittsburgh police: 2 men found shot in Perry South
Two men were found shot outside a home in Pittsburgh’s Perry South neighborhood early Saturday morning, according to police. Officers went to the 2600 block of Perrysville Avenue just before 5:30 a.m. in response to an alert of two shots fired. One man had been struck in the arm, while...
Volunteers turn out to get New Ken mansion in order for reopening as restaurant, bed-and-breakfast
Robin Richards has been fascinated by the former Bloser Mansion in New Kensington since she was a little girl. She had always wanted to go inside but wasn’t even allowed on the property. “We were dirty looking little kids,” she said. Richards went inside the mansion for the first time...
New farmers market launches in downtown New Kensington
An oasis in downtown New Kensington’s food desert formed on Saturday. About a dozen vendors participated in the first of the New Ken Downtown Partnership’s new series of farmers markets. They’re scheduled to be held weekly from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Oct. 19 on Fifth Avenue at 10th...
Board hopefuls vying for seats in all 3 regions of Shaler Area School District
Shaler Area School District residents will see contested races across all three of the district’s regions in the May 20 primary. Region 1 In Shaler’s Region 1, four candidates are vying for two seats with four-year terms. Three of the candidates are cross-filed, while one will be on the Democratic...
8 candidates, including 4 incumbents, seek nominations to North Hills School Board
Eight candidates, including four incumbents, are running in the May 20 primary for the North Hills School Board. Seven of the candidates, including all four incumbents, are cross-filed. One will be on the Republican ballot. Anthony Hall Age: 40 Political affiliation: Democrat, cross-filed Education: Perry Traditional Academy; bachelor of arts,...
4 seek reelection to Hampton School Board; 1 challenger vying for seat
Four members of the Hampton School Board are seeking reelection this year, with one challenger making the May 20 primary contested. All of the candidates are cross-filed and will appear on the Democratic and Republican ballots for the four-year seats. Denise Balason Age: 56 Political affiliation: Republican, cross-filed Education: Bachelor’s...
Democrats Kettering, Warden-Rodgers vie for nomination as Ross 6th Ward commissioner
Two Democrats are vying in the May 20 primary for the Ross commissioner seat representing the township’s sixth ward. The candidates are incumbent John W. Kettering and challenger Haley Warden-Rodgers. The Republican candidate, Justin Jeffrey, is unopposed in the primary. Ross has nine commissioners, each from a ward, who are...
Nightly lane closures for milling, paving scheduled for McKnight Road
Nightly lane closures on McKnight Road in Pittsburgh, Ross and McCandless will start Monday, April 21, and continue through April 28, PennDOT announced Wednesday. Beginning Monday night, southbound McKnight Road will be reduced to a single lane between Perrymont Road and the Babcock Boulevard interchange from 8 p.m. to 6...
Shaler Area middle, high schools to get metal detectors after student found with gun on bus
A weapons detection system will be in use at Shaler Area’s middle and high schools this fall. The school board has approved district administration’s recommendation to implement the OpenGate weapons detection system at the schools beginning with the 2025-26 school year. “This decision reflects our district’s ongoing commitment to ensure...
Residents of 2 Pine-Richland regions to see contested primaries for school board
Residents of the Pine-Richland School District will see contested primary contests in two of the district’s three regions at the May 20 primary. In Region 1, Liz DeLosa is cross-filed and uncontested in the primary. Incumbent Lisa Hillman is not seeking reelection. Region 2 In Region 2, six candidates, including...
Shaler Area proposes maximum property tax increase to maintain programs, services
The highest possible property tax increase will allow the Shaler Area School District to balance its budget without cutting any student programs, supports or extracurricular activities while preserving the district’s fund balance, according to a presentation to the school board. The preliminary $102.6 million budget for the 2025-26 school year...
Shaler awards $1.3M road paving contract
More than two dozen Shaler roads will be resurfaced this year. Township commissioners at their April 8 meeting accepted a $1.31 million bid from A. Liberoni, which had submitted the lowest of seven bids for the township’s road paving program. The highest bid was nearly $1.67 million. The work is...
McKnight Road traffic crossover, Babcock Boulevard ramp closure planned in Ross
The next phase of a traffic crossover on McKnight Road in Ross will start Friday, PennDOT announced. Northbound traffic on McKnight Road is expected to be crossed over into the southbound lanes on Friday to allow crews to continue work on the bridge carrying traffic over Babcock Boulevard, the agency...
$4.2M contract awarded for community center that will house Etna’s new library
Volpatt Construction has been awarded a $4.2 million contract for the Etna Center for Community, the Etna Community Organization announced Monday, April 14. Construction started immediately on the renovation of the historic Ochse Hall, built in the 1870s by one of Etna’s founding families, at 341-343 Butler St., the organization...
$50K infusion to boost technology, provide training in Reserve
A $50,000 federal grant will help to modernize Reserve Township’s government, Congressman Chris Deluzio announced. The funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission will go toward buying new technology supplies and equipment and training township staff. The township is putting $1,350 of local funds toward the effort. “Our local government leaders...
Gas line replacement to restrict traffic on Route 19 in West View
Work to replace a natural gas line is expected to restrict traffic late June on Route 19 in West View, PennDOT announced. Lane restrictions were scheduled to start Monday, April 14, on Route 19, or Perry Highway, just north of the intersection with Bellevue Road, and are expected to be...
Gas line work to restrict traffic for 2 weeks on Rochester Road in Ross
Traffic on Rochester Road in Ross is expected to be restricted for the next two weeks, PennDOT announced. Peoples Natural Gas was scheduled to start working on a gas line Monday, April 14. Because of that, there will be single-lane, alternating traffic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays through...
In brief: Happenings in the Shaler Journal area
Lovato resigns as Shaler manager Shaler is looking for a new township manager following the resignation of Christopher Lovato. A reason for Lovato’s departure was not publicly stated. Lovato declined to comment. Lovato began as deputy township manager in September 2022 and replaced Tim Rogers as manager in January 2023....
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Shaffer organizing license plate replacement event State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, is sponsoring a hard-to-read license plate replacement event from 3 to 5 p.m. April 29 at his district office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Pine. If your license plate is blistered, peeling or discolored, you can fill out the required PennDOT...
In brief: Happenings in the Hampton area
Shaffer organizing license plate replacement event State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, is sponsoring a hard-to-read license plate replacement event from 3 to 5 p.m. April 29 at his district office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Pine. If your license plate is blistered, peeling or discolored, you can fill out the required PennDOT...
In brief: Happenings in the North Hills area
Shaffer organizing license plate replacement event State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, is sponsoring a hard-to-read license plate replacement event from 3 to 5 p.m. April 29 at his district office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Pine. If your license plate is blistered, peeling or discolored, you can fill out the required PennDOT...
In brief: Happenings in the Pine Creek Journal area
Shaffer organizing license plate replacement event State Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, is sponsoring a hard-to-read license plate replacement event from 3 to 5 p.m. April 29 at his district office, 5500 Brooktree Road, Pine. If your license plate is blistered, peeling or discolored, you can fill out the required PennDOT...
2 women found shot in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North
Two women suffered gunshot wounds in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Sunday, police said. Officers went to the 1200 block of Mohler Street around 5:30 p.m. in response to three separate alerts of shots fired, totaling 10 rounds, police said. A woman was found with a graze wound to her shoulder....
Large hail, damaging wind possible with severe storms Monday, weather service says
Much of southwestern Pennsylvania is at a slight risk for severe thunderstorms on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The highest overall severe risk will be near and south of Latrobe, Pittsburgh and New Philadelphia. The risk decreases for counties north and east of Allegheny County, according to an...
Women from across the nation gather in Shaler to train for the Irish sport of camogie
About 100 women from all over the nation have gathered in Shaler this weekend to hone their skills at what’s called “the fastest game on grass.” They’re playing the ball-and-stick sport “camogie,” described as a combination of field hockey and lacrosse and the women’s version of hurling, which is widely...

