Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 48
Plum, teachers union announce tentative, early 6-year contract deal
The Plum School District and its teachers union announced Thursday they have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract. The agreement was described as an “early bird,” meaning it was reached before the expiration of the existing agreement. The current six-year contract between the district and its teachers,...
Upgrades to Plum natural gas metering, regulating facility to be finished by summer
Work to upgrade a natural gas facility along Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum is expected to be finished by early summer, according to a spokesperson for its owner. The facility is a metering and regulation station, which “takes interstate pipeline pressure and regulates it down to distribution line pressure so...
Primary clarifies race for Plum School Board between 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans
Tuesday’s primary cleared up a crowded field for Plum School Board, narrowing a field of 14 down to 10 — five from each party, to vie for five seats in November. Although all 14 candidates were cross-filed, none of the candidates advanced on both ballots, according to unofficial election results....
New Kensington Council challenger plans to stay involved following close primary loss
Two incumbent New Kensington councilmen survived a challenge in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to keep their seats, according to unofficial election results. With 100% of precincts reporting, Councilman Tim DiMaio claimed the most votes, 709, or about 38% of the 1,886 votes cast. By 43 votes, Councilman Dante Cicconi edged out...
Democratic Arnold mayor nominee plans to oust city police chief
Shannon Santucci, winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary for mayor of Arnold, says she will change the leadership of the city’s police department should she continue through to claim the office following the general election in November. Santucci led a slate with council candidates Phil McKinley, an incumbent, and newcomer Aaron...
Peck Yakopec, Zellers on track to face off again in November for district judge
The primary contest between District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec and challenger Leslie Uncapher Zellers appeared to be moving on to the November general election. With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Peck Yakopec was leading for the Democratic nomination, with 60% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Zellers claimed...
Pallone, Doyle leading in nominations for Plum district judge
Democrat Melanie Pallone and Republican Mike Doyle emerged from a field of five candidates in Tuesday’s primary to earn a spot in November’s general election to claim the vacant district judge’s office serving Plum and Oakmont, according to unofficial election results. With 100% of precincts reporting, Pallone, an attorney from...
New Kensington-Arnold 5th graders enjoy morning trout fishing at Valley High School
Stocking the trout certainly helped, but they didn’t seem to be needed for some fifth graders from Roy A. Hunt Elementary School to enjoy a morning of fishing in Little Pucketa Creek outside Valley High School. Some students were as happy catching the numerous itty bitty fish in the creek...
Army Corps announces upper Allegheny River lock openings for boaters
Locks on the upper Allegheny River will be open during specific dates and times this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District announced Friday. The corps will provide locking services to recreational boaters through a partnership with the Allegheny River Development Corp. Allegheny River locks six through nine...
New Kensington schedules public hearing on motorcycle club’s use of building
A public hearing is scheduled on a motorcycle club’s request to use a building in a residential area of New Kensington as its clubhouse. City council will hold the hearing Monday, May 22. The Vultures Motorcycle Club goes into the hearing already fighting an uphill battle. The city’s planning commission...
Work continues on bridge replacement over Pucketa Creek between Plum, Upper Burrell
With a temporary span installed, work is continuing to replace a bridge over a creek between Plum and Upper Burrell. Pugliano Construction of Plum is working on the $1 million project to replace Pucketa Creek Bridge No. 5, which carries Lincoln Beach Drive over the creek. Allegheny and Westmoreland counties...
New Kensington, Arnold leaders offer encouragement to Valley High football players
Three leaders of the New Kensington and Arnold communities have put themselves at the service of players on the Valley High School football team. New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo, Arnold Mayor Joe Bia II and District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. spoke to members of the Vikings team on the...
$6M to help Western Pa. makerspaces bolster tech resources for smaller manufacturers
“Makerspaces” at four area colleges and universities are expanding their resources and/or programs to give regional small manufacturers increased access to equipment and the knowledge on how to use it. “The makerspaces will provide manufacturers and entrepreneurs throughout the Southwestern Pennsylvania region with easy access to equipment and services that...
Matt Sobecki, longtime New Kensington volunteer firefighter, dies from cancer
Matthew S. Sobecki, a life member of the New Kensington Fire Department with nearly 50 years of service, has died. The New Kensington Bureau of Fire announced Tuesday that Sobecki, 64, died from cancer at 1:25 a.m. He died at UPMC Shadyside hospital. Sobecki served in many line and administrative...
Sheetz announces contest with free gas for life as grand prize
If you’re going to grin and bear it while filling up the gas tank, you might as well get a chance at free gas while doing it. Altoona-based Sheetz announced a contest Monday in which one customer can win a grand prize of free gas for life, while six others...
Allegheny Valley School Board primary features 7 candidates for 5 seats, with 1 seat open to write in
A total of six seats on the nine-member Allegheny Valley School Board are up for election this year. Seven people are vying in the May 16 primary for ballot spots for five seats. Those seats are for four-year terms. There are no candidates on the ballot for the sixth seat,...
Torch sparks fire that damaged New Kensington house
A person doing plumbing work sparked a fire that damaged a New Kensington home Friday afternoon, fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr. said. The fire in the 400 block of Pershing Drive in the city’s Mount Vernon neighborhood was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Saliba said volunteer firefighters from New Kensington,...
Police say missing Murrysville man back home
Murrysville police reported that a missing man last seen in the New Kensington area was back home on Friday morning. Michael Styslinger, 37, of Murrysville had not been seen or heard from since Monday, when someone gave him a ride to New Kensington, Murrysville police Sgt. Dan Cox said Thursday....
New Kensington-Arnold elementary students create robot pets, learn coding at Digital Foundry
New Kensington-Arnold elementary students turned cardboard boxes into robotic animals over the course of an eight-week program at the Digital Foundry. A giraffe, a chameleon, a dragon and a capybara were among the animals a group of fourth and fifth grade students from Roy A. Hunt Elementary in Arnold created...
PennDOT announces Saturday traffic restrictions on New Kensington bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the New Kensington bridge on Saturdays beginning this weekend and lasting through early June, PennDOT announced Thursday. Traffic on the two-lane bridge will be limited to a single, alternating lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday as part of a $24.6 million preservation...
Rising supplies expected to increase downward pressure on gas prices, analyst says
The drop in gas prices has sped up, with oil prices coming under more selling pressure alongside wholesale gasoline prices, giving retailers room to pass on the lower prices, an industry analyst said. “With refinery maintenance wrapping up, we should see supplies start to build in the weeks ahead, just...
$81M investment to create 300 jobs in New Kensington, Arnold industrial park
A new manufacturing operation will create 300 full-time jobs over the next three years in the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park, local and state leaders announced Monday. Re:Build Manufacturing’s facility will comprise parts of five existing buildings previously used by Siemens and will total 175,000 square feet once complete. The...
Main Squeeze Juice food truck owner now serving healthy options from Tarentum storefront
While most 16-year-olds are eager to get their driver’s license and first cars, Shelby Brown was dreaming of food trucks. “I think I saw one and I thought, ‘How cool is that? It’s a kitchen on wheels,’ ” said Brown, 31, of Harrison. “That would be so cool, just the...
Arnold mayor, challenger lead competing Democratic slates in primary
The Democratic Party primary in Arnold could decide this year’s election for mayor and council. Two slates of Democrats are vying to fill the office of mayor and two council seats in the May 16 primary. No Republicans are on the ballot for any Arnold offices up for election this...
Flowers featured in New Kensington Camera Club’s spring exhibit at Pittsburgh Mills mall
Dozens of pictures and other art of flowers are featured in “Art in Bloom,” the New Kensington Camera Club’s annual spring floral photography and art show. The exhibition has prizes for both the artists and the public who will decide the winners. Club President Joel Varga said the show features...
