Jack Troy stories, Page 25
Government official asking for money on the phone? It’s a scam
Scammers increasingly are impersonating police and federal agents in an attempt to swindle unsuspecting victims by preying on their trust of law enforcement. According to John Breyault, a fraud expert with the National Consumers League, posing as government agents is a classic fraud tactic. “The appeal to fraudsters is that...
Kiski Township residents balk at merging police force with Southern Armstrong
Some Kiski Township residents are questioning the potential benefits of the township’s police force becoming part of the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department. At a community meeting this week, Southern Armstrong police Chief Chris Fabec told a crowd of about 50 people that Kiski Township would cut its police costs...
Penn Hills man convicted of drug, firearms crimes by federal jury faces up to 40 years in prison
After deliberating for less than two hours, a federal jury on April 18 found a Penn Hills man guilty of three counts of violating federal drug and firearms laws. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Harry Duncan, 36, was convicted...
Southern Armstrong Regional police add e-bikes for trail patrols, events
New trails in the Alle-Kiski Valley mean new areas for police to patrol. The Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department added two electric bikes to its vehicle fleet in mid-April, weeks after the opening of a 10-mile trail section that runs through Ford City and Gilpin. The department purchased them from...
Aldi adds to Allegheny Township’s business growth
Shoppers in Allegheny Township soon will have another option for groceries. Aldi has committed to opening a store later this year in Hyde Park Plaza, along with three other locations in Western Pennsylvania. Hyde Park Plaza owner Jeff Paul expects the opening to take place the last three months of...
Kiski Area principal wins statewide award after 20 years in district
Kiski Area School District can claim another award- winning principal. Brian Swartzlander, Kiski Area Upper Elementary School principal, was named Pennsylvania’s 2024 National Distinguished Principal by the Pennsylvania Principals Association. Dan Smith, then-assistant principal of the building, won an award through the state association in 2021. Swartzlander called the experience “surreal.”...
Vandergrift event regulations on hold; changes planned for fall
Vandergrift officials and business leaders say they’ll use feedback from the spring and summer festival lineup this year to tweak event regulations passed in December. As it stands, an ordinance requires event organizers to submit contact information, an event description, proof of insurance and a $500 refundable cleaning deposit. They...
American Legion Honor Guard commander ends run after 27 years of funerals in W.Pa., beyond
Joseph Paradise has given military funeral honors to more than 3,000 veterans in Western Pennsylvania and beyond, no matter the weather. At 93, the Penn Hills resident is finally ready to retire, save for his work as a school crossing guard at Long Road and Datura Drive. He’s stepping away...
Environmental groups partner for tree giveaway in Penn Hills
Penn Hills has a need for seedlings. The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission, in partnership with Tree Pittsburgh, had no problem finding homes for 200 trees at an April 20 giveaway in Penn Hills Community Park. Kathy Raborn, president of the Shade Tree Commission, hopes to offer free trees on...
Penn Hills to celebrate Arbor Day with tree plantings in Universal Park, seedling giveaways
The Penn Hills Shade Tree Commission is hosting an Arbor Day celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. May 4 in Universal Park. Mayor Pauline Calabrese will read a Penn Hills Arbor Day proclamation, which will kick off an afternoon of tree plantings around the new pavilions, crafts for children, native...
Police regionalization on the table in Kiski Township ahead of Southern Armstrong presentation
Kiski Township is the latest municipality to consider folding its police force into the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department. Southern Armstrong police officers and the department’s commissioners will hold an information session with Kiski Township police Chief Lee Bartolicius at 7 p.m. Monday at the Kiski Township Municipal Building. The...
Kiski Township vehicle fire could bring aggravated arson charges
Kiski Township emergency responders are working to recover a vehicle that was set on fire and pushed over a hillside this weekend near Hicks Hill Road. Around midnight Saturday, Kiski Township police and firefighters, as well as multiple other fire departments, responded to a brush fire that took six hours...
Nonresident continues to serve on Penn Hills zoning board; 3 library board members resign
Like most municipalities, some of Penn Hills’ biggest decisions are made by volunteers on various boards and commissions. These entities plot the future of the municipality, deciding on development proposals, building permits and more. They also are hampered by vacancies, expired terms and, in the case of the Penn Hills...
32nd District Democrats to get first full chance at naming late Rep. DeLuca’s successor
For the first time since 1982, the Democrat ballot for Pennsylvania’s 32nd House District won’t feature Tony DeLuca. The late lawmaker of 40 years died in October 2022, one month before the general election and too late to print new ballots. He won nonetheless, triggering a special election. Joe McAndrew...
Freeport Area must decide if renovation or relocation works for aging high school
Freeport Area School District officials agree that the district’s aging high school, at a minimum, needs renovations. The challenge ahead is figuring out how far the district can afford to go. The school board recently released the results of a feasibility study by HHSDR Architects and Engineers offering ways to...
Verona secures sidewalk funding for business district, key areas to boost walkability
Walking through Verona will become easier in the next few years. The borough will add or rehabilitate several stretches of sidewalk to better connect key destinations. Substantial portions of Center Avenue, Second Street, Wildwood Avenue, James Street, East Railroad Avenue, West Railroad Avenue and Grant Street will see sidewalk improvements...
High winds, storms cause only moderate damage in Western Pa.; power largely restored
Emergency responders reported minimal damage from high winds and storms that swept through the region Wednesday night, though some communities fared worse than others. Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington lost a portion of its roof around 8 p.m. That forced the elementary school to switch to a...
Food forest taking shape at Penn Hills charter school
The food forest at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship is taking shape. Workers carved a path near the front of the campus and planted several trees in April. Throughout the rest of the school year and over the summer, PHCSE families and staff members will be planting the food...
Living, domino donors possibilities for Indiana Township boy in need of 2nd liver transplant
Lucas Goeller is getting another shot. The 11-year-old from Indiana Township needs a new liver because the transplanted liver he received nine years ago is failing. Normally, that could mean a lengthy wait on the donation list before a suitable organ is found. Lucas already is on that list. But...
Late fees, shut-offs returning for Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority customers
The Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority will resume its delinquency process May 1 after resolving a billing issue, it announced Monday. Customers were warned Feb. 8 that “a small number” of them may have received incorrect information on their monthly bills, despite being charged the correct rate. WPJWA paused all notices,...
Harrison reports landslide on Oak Manor Drive, adding to road’s woes
Another landslide has taken out parts of Oak Manor Drive in Harrison between Cherrybark Drive and Karns Road. Randy Martinka, superintendent of public works, spotted the subsidence about 2:30 p.m. Monday. He notified PennDOT, which maintains the road. “Half of the downhill lane literally dropped about 12 to 18 inches...
3 face charges after South Buffalo traffic stop turns up drugs, stolen gun
Pennsylvania State Police say they seized a stolen handgun, possible methamphetamine, marijuana and approximately $1,400 cash following a traffic stop in South Buffalo. Adam Krochta, 38, Alexis Ensworth, 24, and Terell Floyd, 41, were pulled over after state police observed a silver Jeep swerving out of its lane on Route...
Missing Brownsville man found dead in German Township
An 83-year-old man reported missing was found dead Saturday morning in German Township by Pennsylvania State Police. Police identified the man as Anthony Dicenzo Sr. of Brownsville. State police said Dicenzo was found with an apparent gunshot wound inside his vehicle along Riffle Hollow Road and his death is being...
O’Hara adoption event highlights role of pets in addiction recovery
Dogs have a special way of bringing strangers together. That was the case Sunday morning at DreamLife Recovery’s facility in O’Hara as about 25 people searched for a new furry friend from Tarentum-based rescue Paws Across Pittsburgh. Mike Iwinski, lead therapist at DreamLife, sees this effect constantly in his work...
Faces of the Valley: Buffalo Township man gives away household goods with a side of puns
Matt Achilles’ cleanout business, I Noah Guy LLC, rolls three of his foremost passions into one. He gets to collect oddities and antiques found on the job, help others by giving away the more practical items and tell dad jokes. In fact, the company name is rooted in his passion...
