Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 41
Police continue to investigate New Kensington shooting
A man remained hospitalized Friday morning after being shot Thursday afternoon in New Kensington. The shooting in the 1000 block of Kenneth Avenue, near McCargo Street, was reported to Westmoreland County 911 around 3:20 p.m. No arrests had been made as of Friday afternoon, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for...
Industrial development venture finalizes $10.7M acquisition of New Kensington manufacturing park
Two industrial development corporations announced Wednesday that they have finalized their acquisition of the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park. The Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. and the Regional Industrial Development Corp. acquired the park from New Kensington’s redevelopment authority by assuming $10.7 million in park-related debt held by the redevelopment...
Leading off, Re:Build to produce softball bats at new site in New Kensington
Softball bats will be the first thing produced at a new manufacturing plant in New Kensington. Components for satellites are the second. Production for both will begin next year at Re:Build Manufacturing’s facility in the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park, formerly the Schreiber Industrial Park along the Allegheny River in...
New Kensington firefighters to host 1st fire safety day in honor of Matt Sobecki
Fire prevention and safety were passions for New Kensington volunteer firefighter Matt Sobecki. When he did programs for kindergarten students at Martin Elementary School, Sobecki would show the children what firefighters look like dressed in their gear, so they would not be afraid of them. “He was always worried that...
Columbia Gas shuts off service to 4,000 Beaver County residents because of gas ‘issue’
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania says about 4,000 of its customers in Beaver County will be without natural gas for several days, the utility announced Sunday. The affected areas are in and around Baden, Conway, Economy Borough and Freedom. A list of streets impacted is available online. Columbia Gas said it...
Plum’s Festival of Honor returning to support Rustic Ridge community
A festival created after a tragedy that shook the Plum community more than a decade ago is returning in the wake of another. After a six-year absence, the Plum Borough Education Association, the school district’s teachers union, is bringing back its Festival of Honor to support Rustic Ridge families affected...
Knoch Middle School student, 12, died in crash with grandfather in Butler County
A 12-year-old boy who died in a crash Friday night in Butler County was a student at Knoch Middle School. Zane D. Rupert was killed in the crash in Winfield Township along with his grandfather, David A. Faulx, 65, of Cabot. The crash happened shortly before 10 p.m. Friday on...
Deer Lakes students help take Tarentum audience back to the 1940s at USO-themed event
When Deer Lakes High School drama and choir teacher Matt Derby sought student volunteers to sing 1940s songs for an event in Tarentum, he found his 21st-century students knew more of the tunes than he thought they would. Marianna Vergerio, 17, recognized “At Last” from the America’s Got Talent. Young...
Firefighters battling rowhouse fire in Etna
Firefighters were battling a residential structure fire in Etna Saturday night. The fire at a rowhouse in the 100 block of Cherry Street was reported at 8:35 p.m., an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. After about an hour into the fight, no one...
Lead poisoning leads to death of bald eagle, rescue group says
A bald eagle suffering from lead poisoning that was too severe to treat had to be euthanized, a Pittsburgh-based animal welfare group said. Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh said the eagle was suffering from lead toxicity when it entered its care at its rehabilitation center in Penn Hills. According to...
Butler teachers organize concert fundraiser for colleague who lost husband, home in Plum explosion
It was from the shape of a swimming pool that Valerie Lepage realized her friend and colleague, Jackie Thomas, was among those affected by the August house explosion in Plum. The pool was all that was left of the Thomas home, which burned after the house of Paul and Heather...
Arnold hires former New Kensington police officer after charges withdrawn, expunged
It took several Arnold residents only minutes to raise questions about City Council’s approval of a new police officer hiring Tuesday. Council voted, 4-1, to hire Joseph Martino II, 35, who previously worked as a police officer in New Kensington. In October 2020, Pittsburgh police accused Martino of beating up...
Rain threat spurs move of some Willie Thrower anniversary events to Valley High School
Rain has forced a change in events planned Saturday in New Kensington for the 70th anniversary of city native Willie Thrower’s first snap as an NFL quarterback. Because of the anticipation of rain, the community day and cookout, as well as several other events scheduled to run from 11 a.m....
Arnold formalizes firing of city manager, names temporary replacement
Arnold Council approved starting a search for a new city manager Tuesday after firing its former manager and hiring a temporary replacement. Council voted 4-1 to fire Mario Bellavia, with Councilman Phil McKinley casting the only vote against. While McKinley previously said Bellavia had been fired on Sept. 20, city...
Falling gas prices arrive as destabilized Middle East raises concerns, analyst says
Even as oil prices rise in reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel, an oil industry analyst is optimistic that the national average could continue to fall another 25 to 45 cents by late November. In the past week, the national average fell about 10 cents per gallon to $3.67,...
New Kensington-Arnold approves contracts to replace Valley High pedestrian bridges
Work to replace the twin pedestrian bridges in front of Valley High School is expected to start near the end of the school year in June, New Kensington-Arnold Business Manager Jeff McVey said. The school board Tuesday approved two contracts totaling more than $400,000 for the project. They do not...
9 employers looking to hire at upcoming New Kensington job fair
Nine employers which are actively hiring are expected to attend a PA CareerLink job fair in New Kensington next week. The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at the CareerLink office at 1150 Fifth Ave. Employers scheduled to attend include Re:Build Manufacturing, Randstad, All...
New Kensington celebrating 70th anniversary of Willie Thrower’s ‘1st Snap’
In the world of sports, New Kensington’s Willie Thrower cemented his place in history when he became the first Black quarterback to take a snap in the NFL in 1953. In his hometown, he was known as a humble, hardworking and family-oriented man, said Melvyn Smith, a longtime friend of...
New Kensington’s Digital Foundry gets $200K infusion to boost manufacturing industry skills
A representative of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration kicked off the state’s Manufacturing Week on Friday with a visit to downtown New Kensington. Gwen Ross, director of workforce development initiatives with the state Department of Community and Economic Development, was at the Digital Foundry at New Kensington for what she said...
Arnold, New Kensington residents express shock that volunteer firefighter is suspect in arsons
Relief that a suspected arsonist in the Arnold and New Kensington area had been captured was tempered with shock that he was a volunteer firefighter and concern that one of the houses he is accused of setting ablaze was his grandmother’s home. “I can’t believe it was her own grandson....
Arnold firefighter lives near 1 of 4 houses he is accused of setting on fire; family owns another
An Arnold volunteer firefighter lives a door down from one of four houses he is accused of setting on fire this past weekend, and another belongs to a family member, according to state police. Andrew Joseph Bischof, 21, of Arnold even returned as a firefighter to put out two of...
Doyle, Pallone vie for district judge office serving Plum, Oakmont
A Plum councilman and a Riverview School Board member have their eyes on a new office they each want to hold. Republican Mike Doyle and Democrat Melanie Pallone are vying in the general election to succeed Linda Zucco as the district judge serving Plum and Oakmont. In making their argument...
Plum Distinguished Alumni honors 5 at 13th annual banquet
Five Plum High School graduates have joined the ranks of the district’s distinguished alumni. The Plum Distinguished Alumni Committee honored the inductees during its 13th annual banquet Sept. 28 at Oakmont Country Club. The committee recognizes district alumni who have distinguished themselves in various fields of excellence or who have...
Shooting in Arnold sends 1 to hospital; suspect remains at large
All schools in the New Kensington-Arnold School District were on lockdown Monday afternoon as police from multiple agencies canvassed the Arnold-New Kensington area for a suspected shooter. One gunshot victim showed up to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s...
Ensuring Arnold representation emerges as issue in changing how New Kensington-Arnold elects school board
Ensuring that Arnold residents have representation on the New Kensington-Arnold School Board may be a consideration as the board discusses doing away with the district’s voting regions in favor of at-large elections. A committee of the board discussed the issue during a meeting Thursday. School board Vice President Terry Schrock...
