Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 38
Arnold police chief, 2nd officer leave as new mayor, council seated
Arnold police Chief Eric Doutt quit before the city’s new mayor and council could vote to demote him Tuesday. Another officer, Richard Pechin, is leaving with him. Newly elected Mayor Shannon Santucci had long stated her intent to remove Doutt as the city’s police chief. Santucci, newly elected Councilman Aaron...
Plum students raise nearly $51K during annual Make-A-Wish telethon
Plum High School senior Sophie Anderson was astonished when classmate Hailey Depkon told her the district’s annual telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish had reached $50,000. “We did not think we were going to be able to raise that much money,” said Anderson, 18, who was the telethon’s co-head floor director with Depkon....
Arnold Council reorganization expected to include actions on police chief, city manager
Arnold’s police chief is expected to be out, and its manager is anticipated to return in January. Council is slated to vote on demoting police Chief Eric Doutt to patrolman and rehiring former City Manager Mario Bellavia during its reorganization meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the public safety...
$13K in cash, guns taken from dead man’s home in Unity, state police say
State police are investigating the burglary of a deceased man’s home in Unity. The burglary happened between Dec. 11 and 19 on Pershing Circle, state police said in a release issued Thursday. Police did not identify the man. According to state police, two firearms valued at $1,300 were taken —...
Pittsburgh set to record 2nd least snowy year since 1880
On Friday, the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued an advisory for 2 to 4 inches of snow Saturday in eastern Preston and Tucker counties in West Virginia. It’s something meteorologists there haven’t had to do often. This year is on track to be the second-least snowy year on record...
‘Right place at the right time’: 3 women revive man with no pulse at Plum restaurant
Pam Popko was visiting her parents in Plum this month when her father suggested they have dinner at John Anthony’s. Erin Shepherd was there the same night with her mom, an aunt and some of their friends who go for the restaurant’s Wednesday night specials. Neither woman knew the other....
New Kensington to see garbage picked up 4 days a week under new contract
New Kensington residents will have something new to learn for the new year — when their garbage will be picked up. Under the city’s five-year, $15.3 million contract with County Hauling, which starts Monday, garbage will be collected over four days each week instead of the entire city having collection...
Monongahela River fishermen find car stolen 15 years ago
Two men fishing in the Monongahela River on Sunday found a car that had been reported stolen 15 years ago. The men were fishing near the Point Marion boat launch in Fayette County when they noticed the outline of a vehicle on their fish finder, state police said. On Tuesday,...
Affival extends lease, expands space at New Kensington manufacturing park
A business serving the steel industry has extended its lease and expanded its space at the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. Affival’s lease will run through Jan. 31, 2035. With an addition of 12,000 square feet, it will occupy just over 152,000 square feet in three buildings, the Regional Industrial...
Plum School Board eyes upgrading 3 schools, but budget might only allow for 1
The Plum School Board is reviewing details of possible renovations and additions at three schools, but it might only be able to afford work at one of them because of a limit on how much the district can borrow. Some of the work is aimed at giving the district space...
Arnold approves new police contract, payment for firetruck repairs
Police in Arnold will start the new year with a new contract and, officials hope, a higher and more attractive starting wage. City Council unanimously approved the new, four-year agreement during a special meeting Friday. It covers 10 officers, nine full time and one part time, who already had accepted...
Plum School Board considering 6.2% property tax increase
Plum residents already hit with a spike in their borough property tax bill also might see an increase in the largest part of their bill: the school district’s property tax. Ryan Manzer, the district’s chief financial officer, presented several options, including a 6.2% tax increase for the 2024-25 school year....
‘Together now’: New Kensington couple, both on life support, die on same day
The family of Gerald and Nancy Stadterman takes comfort in believing the New Kensington husband and wife are together again. In a tragic turn of events, both died on the same day last week after being removed from life support at separate hospitals. Gerald Robert Stadterman and Nancy Jean Stadterman,...
Home for the holidays carries different meaning for Rustic Ridge residents this year
Rick Napoleon’s home felt so much bigger before it was gone. A steel beam crossing the width of the foundation was the only thing above Napoleon’s head as he recently stood in what had been the garage and basement of his family’s home of 18 years. The rest of the...
Plum man who died in Parkway East crash remembered for generosity, baking skills
Ronald Richards made “the best lady locks around,” said Sean Hartley, whose family owns the Shop ’n Save on Golden Mile Highway in Plum. “He was making them for Christmas even this week. I saw him on Saturday at the store,” Hartley said. Hartley hired Richards to manage his store’s...
Plum High School prepares for annual Make-A-Wish telethon
For more than 20 years, students in the Plum School District have staged a telethon benefiting Make-A-Wish. After collecting about $57,500 last year and topping a lifetime collection of $1 million in 2021, they’re anticipating collecting less this year, said Rick Berrott, a TV production teacher and co-sponsor of the...
Plum approves Dollar General development, housing subdivision on Saltsburg Road
Plum Council has given its final approval for the construction of a new Dollar General store and approved a subdivision that could lead to the construction of three new houses, all along Saltsburg Road. At its meeting Wednesday , council unanimously approved without further discussion the land development plan for...
Valvoline proposes building oil change shop off Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington
A $1.4 million drive-thru oil change business is proposed along Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington. The Valvoline Instant Oil Change would be between the main entrance to Giant Eagle and Shamey’s Gas Station in front of Quality Inn. City council approved creating the lot, about three-fifths of an acre,...
Plum residents worried, angry as council approves nearly 40% increase in property tax rate
Plum residents voiced concerns and, at one point, erupted in anger as council approved a nearly 40% increase in borough property taxes Wednesday. Council voted 6-1, with Dave Vento against, to increase the borough’s 2024 property tax rate by 1.85 mills, from 4.78 mills to 6.63 mills. It will support...
Donations sought to help children who have been through ‘unimaginable circumstances’
A New Kensington business is seeking donations and contributions from the community to help children from three families who have endured horror and hardship this year have a happy Christmas. Operation Christmas Memories was started 15 years ago by The Beermuda, which is now Ash Taphouse and owned by Jenn...
O’Hara couple finds home for Tortured Souls brewhouse in New Kensington
The journey from home beer brewer to brewery owner has been a tortuous one for Scott Wyman and his wife, Angie. After the O’Hara couple’s plan to locate their brewery, Tortured Souls Brewing, in a former Sharpsburg church fell through, they looked at multiple places in and around the Pittsburgh...
National average gas cost falls for 3 months straight, at lowest level this year
The national average gasoline price has fallen for three straight months and is at its lowest level this year as oil prices continue to respond to cooling demand, an industry analyst said. “With nearly 80,000 gas stations in the U.S. now priced below $3 per gallon, and 23 states also...
New Arnold mayor plans to bring back city manager, remove police chief
Shannon Santucci says she ran for mayor of Arnold to make changes, and some of those changes will come quickly after she takes the office in January. With an anticipated council majority, Santucci intends to rehire Mario Bellavia as city manager and remove police Chief Eric Doutt. Council voted to...
Plum considering subdividing vacant Saltsburg Road land into 3 lots for houses
A proposed subdivision in Plum could lead to the construction of three new houses. Council will consider property owner Jim Meli’s request to subdivide a vacant lot at the corner of Saltsburg Road and Willow Village Drive into three residential lots, according to interim Borough Manager David Soboslay. Meli could...
Plum School Board names new officers
Plum School Board has three new members and new officers. Newly elected to the nine-member board this year are Lindsay Arenth, Renee Richardson and Mark Stropkaj. Members Michael Caliguiri and Michelle Stepnick won reelection to their seats. Former Plum District Judge Linda Zucco swore in all five during the board’s...
