Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 33
No tax increase 6 of past 10 years contributes to Plum School District’s 6.2% proposed hike
Plum School Board members say they can’t afford to continue putting off raising property taxes. The board has opted not to boost taxes for six of the past 10 years. Some board members say that’s one reason why district property owners are facing a hefty increase now. The board is...
Police allege New Kensington man gave 10-year-old girl candy after sexual assaults, rape
A New Kensington man is accused of using candy treats to placate a young girl when he sexually assaulted her two years ago. Thomas Lee Burruss, 48, gave the girl, who police say was 10 when the assaults started, Starburst and Sugar Daddy candy while telling her not to tell...
Plum recruits young officer to fill police ranks
Cristina Sargent showed interest in police work from a young age. Her father said she would watch “America’s Most Wanted” when she was 4 years old. But White Oak police Chief Mark Sargent, who has been chief for six years and with his department for more than 30 years, didn’t...
Like Valley, Maryland high school believes it was scammed by costume company
When Angela Smithhisler read a TribLive story about Valley High School’s drama club likely getting scammed out of $8,000 for costumes, her heart sank. “I started to feel sick to my stomach because that (dollar amount) seemed very familiar,” she said via email. “I opened up the article and read...
Faces of the Valley: New director seeks to expand impact at Northern Westmoreland CTC
John Augustine knew he would have to let Jason Hicks move on to bigger things. Augustine has been a career and technology center director for 24 years, the past 18 at Greater Johnstown, where for several years Hicks was his right-hand man. “I could tell he had more capabilities than...
New Kensington-Arnold to dismiss students early because of solar eclipse
The New Kensington-Arnold School District has changed its plans for Monday because of the solar eclipse. The district will dismiss students early on Monday, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck announced. Previously, the district said it was going to hold classes as regularly scheduled. Many Pittsburgh area school districts are releasing students early,...
Following heavy rain, Conemaugh River Lake crest gates opened for 1st time since 2010
The recent rainfall that has caused flooding across the Pittsburgh region filled the Conemaugh River Lake to 74% of its capacity. To bring the lake’s level down, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started opening the dam’s crest gates Thursday, said Megan Gottlieb, water management lead engineer. It’s the first...
Roads in Parks Township, O’Hara remain closed because of landslides
It was unknown Thursday when two roads in the Alle-Kiski Valley, closed because of landslides, will reopen. PennDOT closed Route 66, between Jefferson Street and Penn Avenue in Parks Township on Wednesday morning and Saxonburg Boulevard south of Berryhill Road in O’Hara that night because of slides brought on by...
Plum High School preparing for presentation of spring musical, ‘Bye Bye Birdie’
Plum High School students are wrapping up rehearsals for this year’s spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.” It’s been close to 20 years since Plum has performed the 1960 musical comedy. Set in 1958, its story is influenced by Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army at the height of his...
New Kensington awards contracts for road, sidewalk fixes, will seek bids for street paving
New Kensington Council has awarded two contracts for improvements to roads and sidewalks in the city’s downtown area and is seeking bids for other roadwork in the city. Work is expected to start in May on roads and sidewalks in the area between Barnes Street and Third Avenue, and from...
Investigators interview man who visited Rustic Ridge home days ahead of fatal explosion
Allegheny County authorities say they identified a man who was seen on the porch of a home in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood days before it exploded last year. The man was not suspected of any wrongdoing, but investigators believed he could have information that might help in the ongoing investigation,...
New Kensington-Arnold sees growing tax base, no tax rate increase in proposed 2024-25 budget
The New Kensington-Arnold School District expects tax revenues to increase next year despite having no plans to raise taxes. The district’s proposed $45.5 million budget keeps taxes flat and would not take advantage of one of the highest state Act 1 indexes in years — 8%. The inflation-based index is...
New Kensington traffic stop results in recovery of stolen handgun, police say
New Kensington police say officers found a stolen handgun and drugs during a traffic stop early Friday. Jacquet Rusher Woods, 46, of Arnold is charged with felony counts of receiving stolen property, prohibited possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license. He also is charged with felony...
Ford donates 2024 Mustang GT to Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center
A new 2024 Ford Mustang GT will be a powerful learning tool, and maybe also a powerful recruiting tool, at Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center in New Kensington. The vapor-blue metallic sports car was one of more than 100 Mustangs damaged by flooding while in storage outside a plant...
New Kensington church owed $20K after canceling order for chair lift, police say in charging business owner
The owner of a Pittsburgh-based elevator service is facing four felony charges after New Kensington police allege he failed to refund more than $20,000 to a New Kensington church over a canceled job. Sylvester Louis Lapinski Jr., 72, of Shaler is charged with diversion of services, theft by deception, deceptive...
New Kensington landlord charged after police say he assaulted tenant, shut off utilities
A New Kensington tenant who at first declined to pursue assault and other charges against his landlord changed his mind after the landlord shut off his utilities the next day, according to city police. William Paris Johnas, 65, faces a felony charge of burglary, misdemeanor counts of strangulation and simple...
Police: New Kensington man accused of seriously injuring woman because she fell asleep
New Kensington police are looking for a man they say seriously injured a woman after getting mad because she had fallen asleep. Police charged Matthew Thomas Prokopczuk, 46, of Harrison on March 12 with a first-degree felony count of aggravated assault. He was not in custody and had not been...
New Kensington man accused of threatening to kill woman, offering to pay to drop charges
New Kensington police are looking for a man they say assaulted a woman with a gun, threatened to kill her and then offered to pay her to drop the charges. Police charged Jadrian Race Wade, 30, of Woodmont Avenue with felony counts of aggravated assault and witness intimidation, court records...
New Kensington’s House of 1,000 Beers remaining open despite closure of 2nd location
Fans of New Kensington’s House of 1,000 Beers don’t have to worry, the longstanding bar and restaurant will remain open despite the closing of its other location in the North Hills. Arthur and Janice Barbus took over House of 1,000 Beers on Freeport Street in 2014. They bought it from...
Plum, Oakmont police warn residents to secure cars, valuables after series of thefts
Plum and Oakmont residents are being advised to lock their vehicles and remove valuables from them after a string of thefts that may be connected to a gang in Pittsburgh. Police from the two boroughs, Allegheny County Police and Pittsburgh police are investigating the thefts, which happened Feb. 9. Plum...
Greensburg bishop dedicating diocese to St. Joseph through 2-day pilgrimage to parishes
Greensburg Bishop Larry J. Kulick began a two-day pilgrimage to the four St. Joseph parishes in his diocese with a prayer service Monday in New Kensington. Kulick is dedicating the Greensburg Catholic diocese to the protection and guardianship of St. Joseph for the next three years. On Tuesday, St. Joseph’s...
Girl recovering after being hit by vehicle in New Kensington
A 9-year-old girl hit by a car Thursday evening in New Kensington is expected to be OK, city police said Friday. The incident on Seventh Street at Meade Avenue was reported at 5:40 p.m., a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher said. Dan Hockenberry, who lives on one corner of the four-way...
VOPP Trail project to be discussed at Plum meeting
The first public meeting in Plum on a $20 million trail connecting the borough with Penn Hills, Oakmont and Verona will be held in April. Plans for the VOPP Trail — short for Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum — will be discussed during the gathering from 6 to 8...
Plum School District budget projection shows tax increases for next 5 school years
Plum School District property taxes could increase every year for the next five school years as the district works to fund its operations, pay for a $30 million building project and bring back full-day kindergarten. District administrators still are working on the $74.1 million 2024-25 budget. The school board is...
Unveiling of New Kensington ‘wings’ to precede 3rd annual Restaurant Ramble
The 13th Wings Across Westmoreland about to be unveiled in New Kensington will be the first to feature color. The wings are set to debut in a park at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street during a ceremony Saturday, March 23, just ahead of New Kensington’s third annual...
