Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 25
Plum woman returns to Arnold roots, turns ice cream stand into new cafe
April Barnes dreamed of owning her own eatery since she was 16, working her first job at a King’s restaurant in Plum. “I worked there and I loved it,” said Barnes, 38. “I loved the hustle and bustle and the running. I missed all the moving around and high-pressure service.”...
Suspect in New Kensington tried to jump out window, police say
A man tried to jump out a third-floor window of a Valley Royal Court apartment in New Kensington, where police said they later found drugs hidden inside a toilet, according to a criminal complaint. Police charged Sean Barr, 27, of New Kensington on Thursday with felony and misdemeanor drug offenses...
Plum School District working to cover costs of adding electric buses to fleet
The Plum School District needs more money for its plan to partially convert its bus fleet to electric vehicles but sees long term savings in the move. The district was one of seven in Allegheny County and 21 statewide to receive a share of federal grant dollars to replace diesel...
Plum man to face trial for sexual assault of 14-year-old girl
A Plum man will face trial on charges of sexually assaulting one of two girls he took to his home after encountering them outside a borough bar in June. John Dale Vorous, 61, was shackled and wearing prison garb when he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before...
New Kensington fire station named for city’s only firefighter to die in the line of duty
New Kensington’s only volunteer firefighter to die in the line of duty has been gone longer than he lived, but he has not been forgotten. Eric Lee Mangieri was 25 years old when he became trapped in a burning house on Freeport Road on Aug. 7, 1995. A memorial to...
Pagans member among 4 arrested in New Kensington drug bust, police say
Four people face charges after state, county and local police investigated what they say was a drug dealing ring in New Kensington involving a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang. The investigation on Friday targeted Bill Robert Rana, 44, who police say was staying in an apartment at Valley Royal...
Man suffers punctured lung in New Kensington stabbing; suspect from Arnold sought
Police are looking for an Arnold man after they say he stabbed a man Thursday night in New Kensington. New Kensington police charged Isiah Jumaane Hampton, 28, with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison...
Arnold food pantry finds new home in city to continue service
A no-questions-asked pantry that has been serving the Arnold community for two years has found a new home in the city. The Speed Family Blessing Box & Pantry will be located to Real Life Church on Freeport Road at Drey Street by Nov. 1, founder and CEO Chelsey Speed said...
Arnold parking violation turns up man wanted on federal, state warrants
An illegal parking call in Arnold netted a Pittsburgh man wanted on local and federal warrants and a supply of heroin, crystal meth, cocaine and marijuana Thursday, police say. Arnold police charged Tyriese Leon Green Saunders, 25, with felony counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without...
Arrest warrant issued in gun beating at Plum motel
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Monroeville man who police say beat a man with a pistol Wednesday at a hotel in Plum. Plum police charged Timothy Eden Bell, 30, on Thursday with two counts of felony aggravated assault. According to a criminal complaint, officers responded to the...
New Kensington-Arnold kicks off homecoming with parade, festival
The New Kensington-Arnold School District kicked off three days of homecoming activities with a parade and festival Thursday evening. The events came the day after the district shut down Valley High School, which Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said was prompted out of concerns after school-age students were involved in discharging a...
Firefighters begin bringing equipment, gear donations to New Kensington to be driven to North Carolina
When firefighters need help, they turn to what they call “mutual aid” from nearby surrounding communities. The reach of that mutual aid is expanding on a national scale, as fire departments from Western Pennsylvania and beyond are rallying to support their counterparts in flood-ravaged North Carolina. Crews from Kittanning, Buffalo...
New Kensington-Arnold increases police presence at high school, homecoming events
There was an increased police presence planned at Valley High School when students returned Thursday after the New Kensington school was closed following a shooting in the city involving high school-age juveniles. In a letter to families, New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said he decided to close the high school...
Harrison home damaged by bathroom fire
No one was hurt in a fire that damaged a Harrison home Monday afternoon. The fire in a single family house at 2209 Adams St. was reported shortly before 4:30 p.m. According to Citizens Hose Assistant Fire Chief Sean O’Connor, a woman went to the half bathroom on the first...
Shots fired incident in New Kensington prompts shutdown of Valley High School
A shots fired incident in New Kensington on Tuesday afternoon has prompted the New Kensington-Arnold School District to close Valley High School on Wednesday. The district announced the cancellation of high school classes only Tuesday night. There was no public discussion and it had not been mentioned at a school...
Western Pa. firefighters organizing relief effort for counterparts devastated by North Carolina flooding
Firefighters from Western Pennsylvania and beyond are rallying to help their counterparts in flood-ravaged North Carolina. A donated 53-foot trailer is expected to be set up in New Kensington this week to accept donations from fire departments that will go to a staging area outside Asheville, a city in western...
Woman suffers ‘significant’ facial injuries in attack at New Kensington park, police say
A woman suffered significant injuries to her face after another woman hit her with a liquor bottle in a New Kensington park, according to city police. New Kensington police charged Rita Marie Woody, 33, of New Kensington with a single first-degree felony count of aggravated assault for the attack they...
Washington Township district judge to handle Arnold police chief’s hearing
Arnold’s suspended police chief will have to wait another month for a hearing on charges against him stemming from a state sting operation. New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is recusing himself from the case against Josh Stanga, 41, of Arnold, who authorities say failed a test of...
Faces of the Valley: Plum boy organizes effort, rallies support to display U.S. flags in Plum
Some Plum residents see the businesses along Route 22 in Murrysville and wonder why they can’t have some of them in the borough. When 11-year-old Ethan Nesbit saw the “Flags over Murrysville” display, he didn’t just have the same question, he did something about it. Calling his idea “Patriotic in...
Arnold’s suspended police chief loses pay while facing charges in sting operation
Arnold’s suspended police chief will no longer be paid as he faces theft and other charges stemming from a sting against him staged by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and state police. City council decided unanimously to change Josh Stanga’s leave from paid to unpaid, Mayor Shannon Santucci said Friday....
New Kensington’s ongoing alley art project comes from the heart, organizers say
At a spot in New Kensington’s Ivy Alley, there are three little birds standing on a shelf, holding umbrellas and wearing brightly colored galoshes. While Karenda Wilson has her own artwork on display, she said the birds are one of the “quirky things” she likes about the city’s Art in...
New Kensington officer sidelined 3 days after being injured during man’s arrest
A New Kensington police officer suffered a severe wrist sprain causing him to miss three days of work after he and two other officers ended up in fights with an Oklahoma man they had been called to check on. According to court records, a sergeant and an officer went to...
Preparations underway for Better Block event in New Kensington
The roads outside the YMCA in New Kensington got a lot more colorful on Wednesday. Sarah Snider, a member of the Valley Points Family YMCA board, and Draven Pointer, a Better Block architectural designer from Dallas, were among volunteers and members of Dallas-based Better Block Foundation who began painting the...
Task force probing Trump Butler rally shooting seeks connections to Florida shooting attempt
A congressional task force investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a Butler County rally in July wants to be briefed on the thwarted apparent attempt Sunday at a golf course in Florida. In a letter dated Tuesday, the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald...
New Italian restaurant planned for Tarentum moves to Arnold
An Italian restaurant has said “Arrivederci!” to Tarentum. More specifically, Al Colelli said he decided to move his new restaurant, Totaro’s, from Tarentum to Arnold before it ever opened. Originally, Colelli was planning to open his restaurant in a space on East Sixth Avenue. Colelli now plans to open Totaro’s...
