Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 24
Pittsburgh crews harvest city’s Christmas tree from Springdale
You’d believe a tree could fly in Springdale on Saturday morning. Crews from the City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division, with help from Carl’s Tree Service and a police escort, took down a 43-foot blue spruce from the grounds of the former St. Alphonsus Church in the borough. The tree was...
New Kensington becoming a sweet spot with addition of 2 new bakeries
Historically known as the “Aluminum City,” New Kensington is on a path to becoming the sweet spot of the Alle-Kiski Valley. By the end of November, the city’s downtown will have five bakeries, all within a short walk of one another. Hailey Sabot and Daisy Lamberson will open Wildflower Bakery...
No tax increase proposed for 2025 Arnold budget as officials correct projections
Arnold’s proposed budget for 2025 carries no tax increase for city property owners. Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a first reading of the city’s tax rate, revenue and expenditures for 2025. Councilman Adam Zweig was absent. As presented, the city would take in and spend about $4.6 million. The...
Veterans honored, remembered at student-planned Plum High School tribute
Jennifer Killmeyer doesn’t fit into her Army uniform anymore, but her daughter does. Madison Killmeyer, 16, a junior at Plum High School, wore her mother’s uniform Monday in a showcase of military uniforms that was part of her school’s Veterans Day tribute. “I really like it. It’s cool we’re the...
Receding from view: Aging veterans organizations struggle to draw fresh recruits
U.S. Army Reserve veteran Jim Reesman practically grew up around the American Legion post in Brackenridge. His grandfather was a sailor, his father a Marine. His grandmother and aunt were bartenders. Reesman, who lives in Tarentum, enlisted in 2012, did a tour in Iraq in 2017-18, and got out in...
Hearings delayed for Pagans member, others charged in New Kensington drug, gun case
Preliminary hearings for four people accused of running drugs in New Kensington, including a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang, were delayed Thursday. Bill Robert Rana, 44, who at one time was sergeant at arms for the Pagans Pittsburgh chapter, Marc D. Farabaugh, 42, Stephanie Lynn Miller, no age available,...
Democrat Pisciottano defeats Republican Dintini to replace retiring Brewster in state Senate
A Democrat Pennsylvania State House member will step over to the state Senate to replace the retiring Jim Brewster in the 45th Senatorial District. With more than 99% all precincts in that district reporting, Nick Pisciottano, a two-term state representative, won the seat over Republican newcomer Jennifer Dintini, receiving 53%...
Proposed Plum budget carries no property tax increase after hike last year
Plum property owners would see no change in their borough property tax bills under a proposed $26.3 million 2025 budget, finance director Michael Whitico told council during a presentation last week. The tax rate was increased by nearly 40%, from 4.78 mills in 2023 to 6.63 mills in 2024, which...
No change in garbage fee for New Kensington residents after big hike this year
It won’t cost any more to throw out the trash in New Kensington next year. After a hefty increase for 2024, the annual fee for solid waste, leaf and branch collection and recycling will be unchanged for 2025. City Council on Monday voted 4-0 to approve the second year of...
National Weather Service warns against outdoor burning, game commission prohibits camp fires as dry conditions linger
Exceptionally dry weather and wind gusts have created an increased brush fire danger, the National Weather Service warned in a special weather statement. It has been nearly a month since the Pittsburgh region has seen a “wetting” rain of at least one-tenth of an inch, meteorologist Bill Modzelewski said. The...
Pit bulls were ‘relentless’ in Halloween evening attack, Tarentum mauling victim says
A pit bull’s teeth punctured Michael Shutack’s flesh to the bone during a Halloween night attack in Tarentum that felt like it lasted forever, he said. Shutack, 60, returned to his East Seventh Avenue home Friday morning after spending the night at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He’s sore, battered,...
Washington Township man killed in Route 66 crash identified
Jim Sandrovich was backing out of his driveway on Sportsman Drive in Washington Township when he heard the impact. “All of a sudden, I saw smoke out there, and everyone was coming out,” the 30-year resident said. “I thought the truck hit a tree.” Instead, the tanker collided head-on with...
Attorney says Arnold police chief facing trial for theft was entrapped by integrity test
What prompted state authorities to test Arnold police Chief Joshua Stanga’s integrity remains undisclosed as a criminal case against him moves forward. Stanga, 41, of Arnold was ordered Wednesday to stand trial following a nearly two-hour preliminary hearing before Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak. The hearing was moved there...
Construction underway on new home for Plum sports training facility
Construction on a new home for a sports training facility in Plum is underway after a delay. Crews with Pugliano Construction began work in October getting a site at the end of Sheena Drive ready for a 27,000-square-foot building for GAMA Sports Training. In May, owner Joe Fischetti thought he...
UPMC Western Psych nurses ratify contract, averting threatened strike
Nurses at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital will be the first in UPMC to have a minimum hourly pay rate over $40 under a new three-year contract, union officials say. A tentative agreement between UPMC and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania was reached Thursday, said Marah McDonald, a nurse and member of the...
New Kensington woman released from jail accused of assaulting 2 teen boys
A New Kensington woman released from the Westmoreland County jail while awaiting trial in an assault case is accused of assaulting two teenage boys on Sunday. Rita Marie Woody, 33, was released from the jail Oct. 4 after posting $10,000 bail, according to court records. New Kensington police charged her...
Exchange students contribute to fabric of Western Pennsylvania as they experience American culture
When a colleague asked Deer Lakes Spanish teacher Josh Destein if he knew anyone who could host an exchange student from Spain, he jokingly said he could. “I’m single and I have a little house,” he said. “Her face lit up. She got so excited. My little joke turned into...
Faces of the Valley: Retired Burrell teacher, Harrison couple help find lost dogs
Monica Young knows what it feels like when a dog goes missing. Fifteen years ago, while vacationing on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, her 5-year-old basset hound, Bullett, got away. Luckily, after 22 hours, he came back on his own. “I didn’t like how that felt,” she said. “It was a...
Honored alums return to Plum High School to inspire today’s students
The five graduates to join the ranks of Plum School District’s distinguished alumni this year include average students who became remarkable people. “I was a solid ‘C’ student when I went to high school,” said Jeffrey Schmeck, 66, a 1976 Plum graduate who has lived in San Antonio for 38...
Citizens Bank in New Kensington Giant Eagle slated to go virtual
Citizens will replace its bank branch inside the New Kensington Giant Eagle with a virtual assistant in January. The “interactive teller machine” includes two-way video communication, said Mark Rendulic, Pittsburgh market president for Rhode Island-based Citizens. With it, customers can do about 90% of what they would do in a...
Plum mobile home park owner continuing fight to expand facility in a flood zone
The owner of a mobile home park in Plum is continuing to fight in court for the right to expand it, over the objections and concerns of borough officials. An attorney representing Plum Creek MHC filed a notice of appeal to Commonwealth Court after an Allegheny County judge found the...
Harbor Freight plans January opening in New Kensington
Harbor Freight’s store in New Kensington will open in late January, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday. In Riverview Plaza along Tarentum Bridge Road, it will be the company’s 67th store in Pennsylvania and fourth in Westmoreland County, said Donna Walker, a spokeswoman for Harbor Freight in Calabasas, Calif. “It will...
Democratic state rep, Republican newcomer vie to replace retiring state Sen. Brewster in 45th District
Voters in the 45th state Senate race will choose between a two-term state representative from West Mifflin and a political newcomer from Plum who are vying to replace a retiring state senator. State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, 34, of West Mifflin won the Democratic primary over Makenzie White of Brentwood while...
New Kensington police use Taser, dog to arrest man who ran from fight at Sheetz
New Kensington police used a Taser and a police dog to apprehend a man who they say ran from a fight at Sheetz on Saturday. Noah Benjamin Reed, 20, of Springdale was found to be carrying a 9 mm hand gun with an extended magazine, police said in a criminal...
New Kensington’s Knead Café joins hurricane relief efforts, donating revenue from sales
Alle-Kiski Valley residents can help victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton by having lunch this week in New Kensington. Knead Community Café announced it will donate all revenue from food sales this week to World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals to those affected by the natural disasters. That will...
