Joyce Hanz stories, Page 22
Plum’s boys and girls golf teams organize outing to benefit Rustic Ridge victims
Plum Senior High School’s girls and boys golf teams are uniting to raise funds for the victims of the house explosion in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood. The Rustic Ridge “Plum Strong” Plum Boys & Girls Golf Teams Charity Outing is scheduled for Sept. 17 at Willowbrook Country Club in Allegheny...
Employee exodus blamed on hostile work environment in Allegheny Township
A slew of administrative resignations in Allegheny Township apparently has resulted from unrest among its three supervisors. Three township administrative employees — administrative assistant Denise Johnston, Director of Public Safety Lee Schumaker and Township Manager Greg Primm — submitted letters of resignation to supervisors. Johnston intends to resign effective Aug....
Plum School District partners with therapists to serve those impacted by explosion tragedy
A few days ago, Erica Kuhn and Melissa Gionta-Oliver were strangers. Now the two therapists from Plum are spearheading efforts to provide an online database of mental health resources for the Plum Borough School District and community after the tragic house explosion Saturday in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood. The...
Plum girls organize separate charity events to help victims after house explosion
A pint-sized Plum Area School District student put her grief to good use Saturday with an on-the-spot charity event to raise money for victims of the house explosion in Plum. Emmy Halasowski, 7, was understandably shaken and scared Saturday as events unfolded after the deadly explosion on Rustic Ridge Drive...
‘Fishing for Keegan and Casey’ fundraiser to benefit family of Plum explosion victims
A Washington Township couple is hoping to help victims of Saturday’s house explosion in Plum by honoring one family’s love of fishing. Angela and Mike Blasko created a fundraiser in which one winner will land an all-expenses paid, full-day offshore fishing trip on Lake Erie on the Blasko’s charter fishing...
Community gathers for vigil honoring house explosion victims in Plum
The power of prayer united strangers and friends Monday during a daylong candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the house explosion Saturday in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood. Holy Family Parish’s St. Januarius Church on Renton Road in Plum hosted the vigil from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We just...
Outpouring of support for victims of Plum house explosion
A deluge of donations poured into the Plum community to benefit victims of a devastating house explosion Saturday that killed five people. “My daughter gathered her money and wanted to donate,” said Donna Colamarino of Plum as her daughter Sophia, 9, placed money into a marked basket Sunday morning at...
Butler County exotic hunting preserve on market for $10M
A luxury hunting preserve in Southern Butler County is up for grabs. Shilo Ranch at 399 Cornetti Road in Clearfield Township is for sale, with a listing price of $10 million. The hunting preserve encompasses 423 acres and features exotic animals such as axis deer, buffalo, ram, elk, fallow deer...
Parking meters removed from select residential sections of Vandergrift
Vandergrift officials report that the process of removing parking meters from residential streets is underway. Police Chief Joe Caporali said meters in the residential sections of McKinley, Franklin and Washington avenues have or will be removed by borough employees as time allows. In addition, meters between Columbia and Franklin avenues...
Historian expands walking tours to benefit local nonprofit in Aspinwall
Aspinwall resident and historian Terry Nelson Taylor has revamped her informative historical public walking tour of Aspinwall. New this tour season has access to two secret gardens, one on Third Street and the other on Eastern Avenue. The 2023 program also focuses on the life of the woman who originally...
Sharpsburg resident uses art as vessel for self-exploration and coping with ADHD
Lifelong Sharpsburg resident Kristen Postava has found a way to cope with her life of “chaos.” Postava tackles her self-described chaos by combining her love of art with her desire to triumph over ongoing struggles resulting from her ADHD symptoms with her art show, Unfiltered Vision: Art from the Unconventional...
Leechburg Area School Board seeks resident to fill vacancy
Leechburg Area School Board is looking to fill a vacancy after a board member resigned last month. President Anthony Shea confirmed the board received Matthew Jagodrinski’s letter of resignation in July. Jagodrinski was elected to a two-year term in 2021. In his resignation letter, Jagodrinski said professional and personal commitments...
Chomper, the rescued Kiski River alligator, to serve as animal ambassador
The Kiski River alligator that led officials and volunteers on a weeklong search will call Pittsburgh home — for now. The alligator was safely delivered Monday evening to an undisclosed alligator foster residence in Allegheny County. The location is kept secret to protect the people caring for the animal and...
Free backpack giveaway Thursday welcomes all Kiski Area students
Nothing screams back-to-school like a new backpack. Kiski Area School District faculty, staff and volunteers are making sure any students enrolled in the district have access to a new backpack this year with a free giveaway event Thursday at Kiski Area High School. The Back to School Backpack Bash, in...
Churches unite to host back-to-school block party for students in Leechburg
A new scholastic-themed street party is coming to Leechburg. The inaugural Back 2 School Block Party will welcome students from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday along Main Street, between First and Second streets, for free food, refreshments, games and more. Music will be provided by DJ Jonathan. The event...
Alligator in the Kiski River spotted multiple times over the weekend; search efforts resume
New sightings of an alligator Sunday in the Kiski River have prompted officials and volunteers to focus their search in a new area in hopes of catching the wayward reptile. Kiski Area police Chief Lee Bartolicius confirmed Sunday there have been additional reports of alligator sightings since Friday. Officials would...
Daycation: Experience exotic animals at Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo in West Virginia
Walk on the wild side with a Daycation Destination to Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo in Kingwood, W.Va. Brenna Yokum was excited to view and interact with exotic furry and feathered animals during her inaugural zoo visit in July. “I’m enjoying everything. My boyfriend and I are animal enthusiasts and we’re like...
Million-dollar home listings on the rise in Alle-Kiski Valley
Ronald and Sue Zola of West Deer had no idea their beloved farm would garner a million-dollar price tag. Their family farm dates to the 1700s and is listed for $1.29 million. The couple’s decision to sell their 60-plus-acre farm to relocate closer to family resulted in a recent appraisal...
Debris falls from railroad bridge spanning Route 28 in Harmar; work to impact southbound lanes next week
Restrictions are planned next week for the southbound section of Route 28 in Harmar after stones fell from an overhead railroad bridge and forced the northbound lanes to close for hours early Friday. According to PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan, the stones fell because the flashing covering concrete joints, which prevents...
Morning Roundup: Woman, child injured in rollover on Parkway West
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Aug. 4: Woman, child injured in rollover on Parkway West Green Tree Volunteer Fire Company responded Thursday afternoon to reports of a vehicle rollover crash and entrapment on the Parkway West. First responders found a vehicle that landed...
Helicopter aids hunt for Kiski River alligator
A helicopter joined the search for an alligator reported to be in the Kiski River, but didn’t spot it. Since Sunday’s initial report, Kiski Township Police Chief Lee Bartolicius said multiple sightings of the reptile have been reported. He said authorities are working to locate it, safely remove it from...
Concert fundraiser to benefit Fox Chapel Area High School football teams
Fox Chapel Area High School Football Booster volunteers are tackling ongoing fundraising efforts with a music-filled event in September. The “Farewell Summer” Concert Festival is scheduled for Sept. 3 at the Dive Bar & Grille in Indiana Township. The summer fundraiser returns after a successful inaugural event last summer, but...
Pennsylvania anglers advised to catch, kill invasive Northern Snakehead fish
An invasive fish found in Pennsylvania fresh waters has made the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission advisory list. In a release Wednesday, the agency said anyone reeling in a Northern Snakehead in Pennsylvania should report their catch and dispose of the fish. The advisory applies to the lower Susquehanna River...
Morning Roundup: Police say attempted carjacking ends with suspect jumping into the Mon River
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Aug. 3. Police pursuit results in man jumping into Mon River Pittsburgh police said a man they were pursuing over an attempted carjacking Wednesday jumped into the Monongahela River to escape arrest. Authorities said the attempted carjacking happened...
Allegheny County reveals recent data breach
Allegheny County has issued an alert regarding a recent data breach on May 28 and 29. In the notice, the county said it had been targeted by a global cyber security breach affecting the common file transfer tool MOVEit, which the county uses. The cybercriminals responsible for the breach are...
