Mary Ann Thomas stories, Page 43
Free fishing derbies on tap at Westmoreland County parks
Free fishing derbies for adults and children are scheduled this spring at Mammoth, Northmoreland and Twin Lakes parks in Westmoreland County, with each offering trophies and prizes. The free fishing derbies are being cosponsored by the Westmoreland County Sportsmen’s League and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The fishing derbies will all be...
Low income residents, Southwestern Pa. farmers should benefit from surplus food expansion
Low-income residents in Southwestern Pennsylvania could receive more fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, dairy, meat and grains from local farms. Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposes to increase spending from $1.5 million to $2.5 million for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System program, which distributes surplus produce, dairy and meat from local...
Eggtastic news for Harmar bald eagles? Bird behavior hints that incubation has begun
After a few days of constant presence at the nest, the Harmar bald eagles are believed to be incubating at least one egg, according to a local photographer. Without the benefit of a webcam, watchers have to rely on the birds’ behavior to determine if there are eggs. Typically, the...
Apollo police force at full staff with hiring of two part-timers
Apollo Council has hired two part-time police officers that have served on the borough force in the past. The hires are Danny Anthony and Steve Callipare. Callipare is a retired Vandergrift police officer. After the departure of two officers in 2018 and last year , the borough has been advertising...
Cheswick appoints businessman to fill council vacancy
Cheswick’s vacancy board has appointed Brian Testa to borough council. Council members were encouraged that three candidates applied for the position after, earlier in the year, they hadn’t received interest from anyone for the open seat except a past councilman willing to help out. There are still openings on several...
Volunteers needed for Bull Creek and Deer Creek trout stockings
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is looking for more volunteers to help stock trout next month in Bull Creek and Deer Creek. “I am one person, and when I have two truckloads of fish, it’s hard to get them all into the water myself,” said Sgt. Mike Walsh of...
Springdale Township plans to demolish 3 blighted houses
Springdale Township plans to use a $35,000 state grant to demolish three blighted houses this year. The demolitions haven’t been scheduled. The township is waiting for results from asbestos testing of the three houses to determine where asbestos removal will be necessary, according to Robert Roach, a project manager with...
Chessie looks over renovations at Cheswick Pools and Patios, awaits makeover
Chessie isn’t going anywhere. Some people have been curious about the fate of the iconic purple elephant at Cheswick Pools and Patios as the pool display area outside the Pittsburgh Street business has been torn up. Owners Justin and Debbie Rushin said renovations at the business will continue through the...
Lackey’s Dairy Queen in North Apollo plans ‘Leap Day’ reopening
Lackey’s Dairy Queen in North Apollo is leaping into its season this year. Celebrating its 65th year in business, the popular seasonal ice cream destination usually opens in early March. But with 2020 being a leap year, it’s opening Saturday, Feb. 29, instead, said Matthew Spires of Washington Township, Lackey’s...
Volunteers clean up graffiti on 3 Rivers Heritage trailVideo
A dozen volunteers painted over graffiti to clean up about six panels of a large wall Sunday along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Pittsburgh’s Hays section where bald eagles fly. It’s a popular section of trail, part of the Great Allegheny Passage to Cumberland, Maryland, where a nearby bald...
Bouquet Pool’s permit renewed, for now, as Springdale officials try to keep it open
Springdale Township has renewed the occupancy permit for Bouquet Park Pool for two weeks as pool officials try to increase memberships by March 1, according to pool board members. While the main task at hand for the Bouquet Park Pool is to shore up memberships to stay afloat this year,...
Allegheny Valley Regional Police to get body cameras thanks to state grant
A $75,000 state grant will pay for police equipment, including body cameras, for the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department. The grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development will pay for traffic safety equipment and upgraded patrol car cameras that will synchronize with new body cameras, according to...
Skunk cabbage, daffodils provide an early sign of spring
Apparently, Punxsutawney Phil wasn’t far off with his early spring forecast. The unusually mild weather is causing some plants to “break bud” or bloom a week or two early in the region. Average temperatures in Allegheny and surrounding counties in January were much above the normal range at 35.2 degrees...
Rainy forecast looms for remainder of winter in Western Pa.
Not again. If the National Weather Service outlook holds true, the region is in for another wet late winter and early spring. The service’s outlook for February, March and April forecasts above-normal rainfall through early spring, according to meteorologist Lee Hendricks. Precipitation in February is already beyond typical. The region...
Annual 911 Memorial Trail ride features special bike access to Flight 93 National Memorial
The September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance will hold the second annual 911 Trail Challenge on Sept. 12, starting at 9 a.m., with a 24-mile bicycle round trip from Berlin Brothersvalley High School to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville and back to Berlin. The event benefits continued development...
Bouquet Pool needs 250 memberships by March 1 to stay afloat
If Bouquet Park Pool in Springdale Township can’t sell 250 memberships by March 1, the pool’s board could potentially close it. So far, only 44 have signed up, according to a recent count by pool board member Kellie Vergerio, of Springdale, who has been swimming at the pool since she...
Coming soon: More pet camping sites at Pennsylvania state parks
The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will allow pets at more state park campsites in 2021. Dogs, cats and caged animals such as birds and hamsters will be permitted in the parks. Livestock such as horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and goats are not considered pets. Pet camping started...
Trump’s proposed budget includes spending boost for locks and dams in Pittsburgh area
President Trump’s proposed budget for next fiscal year includes $103.1 million for the civil works program in the Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District and would boost funding for local locks and dams. The proposed budget is part of $6 billion in discretionary funding for the Army Corps worldwide civil...
Colorful Depression era glass show returns to New Kensington
Trying to pass on an appreciation of antique, colorful glassware, the Three Rivers Depression Era Glass Society is offering free admission to visitors under the age of 30 for their glass show March 7 and 8 at the Quality Inn in New Kensington. The 43rd annual Three Rivers Depression Era...
‘Dr. Betsy’ and Scooter, her paraplegic therapy cat, bring happiness to Western Pa. nursing homesVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Goodwill doesn’t retire easily when it comes to animals and the vulnerable. For more than more than 11 years, a now-retired veterinarian known as “Dr. Betsy” Kennon of Fawn...
Last call for candidates for open seat on Cheswick Council
No one has applied for the open board position on Cheswick Council after almost a month. A former councilman who chose not to seek reelection is willing to fill in if council doesn’t have an interested candidate by 5 p.m. Monday. The two-year seat opened up last month when incumbent...
Lower Burrell mayor names permanent police chief
Lower Burrell’s mayor has named acting chief John Marhefka the city’s police chief. “John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Mayor John Andrejcik said Thursday. “He was everyone’s best choice that I talked to including city police, employees and others.” Marhefka is Andrejcik’s brother-in-law. The State Ethics Commission has...
Rare painted bunting captivates birdwatchers in O’HaraVideo
One of North America’s most gorgeous birds, aglow in the outrageous color combination of red, blue and yellow-green, has showed up at a bird feeder in O’Hara Township — a rarity for Pennsylvania. About 400 bird-watchers have stopped by the O’Hara neighborhood to see the rare visitor the size of...
Army Corps to get $7.7 million to upgrade Upper Ohio River locks and dams
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will get $7.7 million for pre-construction engineering and design for its Upper Ohio River Navigation Project at the Emsworth, Dashshields and Montgomery locks and dams. U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, announced the funding Tuesday as he and other lawmakers pursued the money to...
Lower Burrell cleans up rocks spread with road salt
Lower Burrell brought out its road sweeper recently to clean up small rocks inadvertently spread across many of the city’s streets during last week’s snowfall. “It was mixed in with the salt and when the salt crews loaded their vehicles, they could not see the rocks in the mix,” said...
