Madasyn Lee stories, Page 2
Fire chief: 3 adults displaced in Avalon house fire, no injuries reported
No injuries were reported in a Sunday morning fire that damaged a single-family home in Avalon, according to the borough’s volunteer fire chief. The two-alarm blaze was reported about 5:15 a.m. at a home on Marie Avenue, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher. Three adult occupants were displaced and...
Deer Lakes Soccer Santas continue annual gift-giving tradition to seniors at Cheswick Rehabilitation and Wellness Center
Deer Lakes’ Soccer Santas made their annual delivery of Christmas presents to residents of the Cheswick Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Indiana Township on Monday. The tradition began about six years ago when Deer Lakes girls soccer coach Frank Accetta started coaching at the district. He wanted the girls to...
Body found wrapped in plastic in Brighton Heights identified as missing person
A body found wrapped in plastic outside of a home in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood has been identified as Deric Bryan Davis, authorities said Wednesday. Pittsburgh police said Davis, 53, of Brighton Heights, was last in contact with his family on Dec. 14. Police asked for the public’s help in...
New Kensington man charged with hitting woman with hammer, threatening to kill her
A New Kensington man has been charged with aggravated assault after city police say he chased and hit a woman with a hammer and threatened to kill her last week, according to a criminal complaint. Ryan Christopher Grabigel, 40, is free on $10,000 bond while awaiting a preliminary hearing before...
Arrest made in January homicide of Arnold man in New Kensington
An Arnold man who was shot and killed at a New Kensington housing complex in January died because of a robbery gone bad, according to a criminal complaint. Authorities said Letresse Tareke Williams, 30, of New Kensington, planned to rob Anthone Williams, 31, in a section of the East Ken...
Lower Burrell caregiver, client spread cheer to Alle-Kiski Valley children with letters from SantaVideo
It’s Christmas week, which means Santa Claus is busy making final preparations to deliver presents to all good little girls and boys around the world on Christmas Eve. Most children know of Santa’s elves and reindeer, who help him out in the North Pole. But many might not know about...
Covid-19 vaccinations will start at long-term care facilities in Pennsylvania next week
Pharmacy workers from CVS Health will begin administering the covid-19 vaccine to residents and staff members in 2,283 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania starting Monday, Dec. 28. The Pfizer vaccine is being distributed under a phased plan starting with health care workers and residents and staff members...
Supervisors approve 63-unit housing development in West Deer
The West Deer supervisors have approved a plan that will allow a developer to build a 63-unit development in the township. The McIntyre Heights housing development will be made up of 31 single- family dwellings and 16 duplexes. There also will be a picnic pavilion area for residents of the development,...
West Deer considers prohibiting on-street parking in housing plans, upping parking fine
The West Deer supervisors are considering prohibiting parking on certain township streets and fining people who continue the practice. Officials say on-street parking in certain housing plans is a safety hazard for first responders such as firefighters and for snowplow drivers. “When it comes to emergency services such as fire...
West Deer passes $7.2M budget, no tax increase
West Deer Supervisors on Wednesday adopted a $7.2 million budget for 2021 that keeps the property tax rate at 2.99 mills. At that rate, the owner of a West Deer home assessed at $117,000 will pay $350 in taxes next year. “I’m extremely proud of this budget,” Supervisors Chairman Arlind...
West Deer coffee, tea shop owner spreading holiday cheer to seniors 1 mug at a timeVideo
Jennifer Urbanek is bringing a mugful of joy to seniors this holiday season. The owner of The Hungry Cupcake coffee and tea shop in West Deer is donating Christmas coffee mugs packed with tea, hot chocolate mix, candy, lip balm, socks and stuffed animal key chains to older residents at...
Man ordered to stand trial in shooting outside Leechburg tattoo parlor
An Allegheny Township man accused of shooting two men outside a Leechburg tattoo shop last month was ordered to stand trial after pleading not guilty during a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Chad Robert Goldstrom, 37, was charged last month with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment in connection...
East Deer Commissioners approve 35% water rate increase for 2021
East Deer residents and businesses will pay 35% more for water next year because Tarentum increased what it charges the township for bulk water. The new rates, approved by township commissioners, will take effect Jan. 1. The average East Deer homeowner will pay $13.50 for the first 1,500 gallons, an...
Butler County woman was drunk when she crashed into store, killing 2, police say
A Middlesex Township woman accused of driving under the influence of alcohol has been charged with homicide by vehicle after police say she crashed her car into a convenience store and killed her two passengers earlier this year, according to a criminal complaint. Police say Diane Elizabeth Read, 37, had...
Restaurants wanted! Allegheny Township photographer wants to help you sell takeout during new covid restrictions
An Allegheny Township photographer is doing her part to help Alle-Kiski Valley restaurants affected by coronavirus-related restrictions. Amy Capiross-Watterson is offering to take free professional photos of a restaurant’s popular takeout menu items to encourage people to order takeout amid the latest round of covid-19 restrictions, which went into effect...
West Deer’s proposed $7.2M budget calls for 11% increase in spending, no tax increase
West Deer’s preliminary budget for 2021 includes no increase in property taxes despite a proposed increase in spending across numerous departments. Supervisors will vote to adopt next year’s $7.2 million budget at their Dec. 16 meeting. The tax rate remains 2.99 mills in the preliminary budget. Township Manager Dan Mator...
East Deer passes proposed $1.5 million budget, no tax increase
East Deer’s proposed $1.5 million budget for 2021 calls for no property tax increase despite a 23% increase in spending. Commissioners approved the proposed budget at their Thursday meeting, and will vote to approve the final budget on Dec. 31. The tax rate will remain at 4.9 mills. Commissioners Chairman...
Police: Duo drives to West Deer nursing home, beats up woman and steals her phone
A Hampton woman is accused of driving a man and two girls to a West Deer nursing home and beating up an employee who was on her break, according to a criminal complaint. West Deer police said the victim called the police station Nov. 17 to report an assault that...
DA’s office withdraws kidnapping charges filed against Arnold assistant fire chief
Criminal charges have been withdrawn against an Arnold assistant fire chief, who, along with his teenage son, was accused of kidnapping the son’s pregnant girlfriend and holding her against her will for over a month. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office withdrew five charges, including kidnapping and burglary, that were...
Teen’s wine cork Christmas ornaments benefit West Deer Food Bank
A West Deer teen is taking a family hobby and turning it into a business. Noah Long and his mom, Wendy, are selling Christmas ornaments they’ve made out of wine corks and are donating a portion of the proceeds to the West Deer Food Bank. They call the business Cork...
Drive-up food distribution event at Pittsburgh Mills mall continues to help people in needVideo
Woody Main started crying when asked how he felt about a drive-up food distribution event held Tuesday afternoon at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. The 50-year-old from Elizabeth was at the distribution to pick up food for his two sister-in-laws. He goes to food banks for them because one...
Charges withdrawn against woman accused of sexually abusing 2 children in West Deer
Criminal charges were withdrawn against a Hampton woman Allegheny County Police accused of sexually abusing two children in West Deer. The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office withdrew 10 charges, including rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, filed against Iris Schmidt, 21, late last year, according to online court records. The...
No one injured in Lower Burrell house fire spotted by New Ken fire chief
New Kensington’s fire chief was working in Lower Burrell late Monday morning when he came across a house fire. In addition to serving as city fire chief, Ed Saliba Jr. is the distribution superintendent for the Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington, which services Lower Burrell. Saliba was...
The story behind Pittsburgh’s mysterious monolith in the Strip DistrictVideo
Chris Beers is no stranger to going viral. It’s exactly what he expected would happen after a mysterious monolith showed up in front of his Strip District candy shop last week. The shiny, silver monolith first appeared at Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop early Thursday morning. Beers took a 32-minute Facebook...
Laurie’s Hallmark to close at Pittsburgh Mills mall in FrazerVideo
Laurie’s Hallmark is leaving the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer in January, citing a decrease in foot traffic exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Co-owner Hemanth Kapoor said the greeting card, home decor and gift store is closing because several other businesses in that section of the mall have left, and...
