Mary Ann Thomas stories, Page 48
Lower Burrell’s Ron Hereda elected president of Pa. Firemen’s Association for second time
Ron Hereda, who is synonymous with Lower Burrell’s Kinloch Volunteer Fire Department, has been elected president of the Pennsylvania Firemen’s Association for a second time. Lower Burrell Council honored Hereda, 68, with a certificate of recognition for his longtime service to the city during a council meeting Monday. In addition...
Route 366 in Lower Burrell to re-open to 2 lanes Friday or early next week
PennDOT could reopen the Route 366 bridge near Millers Lane in Lower Burrell to two-lane traffic as early as Friday or early next week, according to Valerie Petersen, PennDOT spokeswoman. Route 366, also known as Greensburg Road in Lower Burrell, has been limited to one-lane of traffic regulated by a...
Newcomer wins 6-way race for Allegheny Valley School Board
The prospect of revisiting the fate of Colfax Elementary ranked among the top issues for five candidates elected Tuesday to Allegheny Valley School Board. The five winners included two newcomers, a former board member and two incumbents, according to unofficial results. The winners included Paula J. Moretti, a cross-registered newcomer...
$56,000 spent to improve Waterfall Trail in Allegheny County’s Settlers Cabin Park
Trail improvements totaling $56,000 will make it easier to access a hidden gem among Allegheny County’s nine parks. The newly redesigned trail leads to a small waterfall tucked away at Settlers Cabin Park in Robinson, North Fayette and Collier townships. Previously, only the hardiest of hikers traversed the Waterfall Trail’s...
Lower Burrell holds the line on taxes for 2020
Lower Burrell council unanimously agreed to no real estate tax increase in the city’s 2020 preliminary budget of $10.97 million during city council’s Monday night meeting. A Lower Burrell homeowner assessed at $18,210 would continue to pay $414 in real estate taxes to the city in 2020. Councilman Chris Fabry,...
$7M Lower Burrell pump station upgrade could lead to sewage rate increases
The Chartiers pump station upgrade project in Lower Burrell is expected to cost about $7 million causing a rate increase for city residents at some point in the future. Exactly when and how much of a rate increase is not yet known, according to city officials. The Lower Burrell Municipal...
Lower Burrell Council race features 2 familiar faces and a fresh one
The race for Lower Burrell’s open two seats on city council pits two Democrats, an incumbent and a longtime attorney, against a young Republican. Residents can cast their ballots during Tuesday’s general election for the two four-year terms. The three candidates all say they want a lean city budget, but...
The fate of Colfax Elementary building in Springdale will be decided by Tuesday’s election
For most of the six candidates vying for five seats, the fate of Colfax Elementary School is still very much an issue. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 5. The current school board voted 6-3 in October to demolish the Colfax school after moving its students to the...
Veterans monument at Burrell’s Stewart School gets $8,000 facelift
After a portion of the veteran’s monument in front of Stewart Elementary School along Leechburg Road toppled earlier this year, state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Murrysville, and others kicked in $8,000 to fix the deteriorating memorial for residents who served in World War II. Repairs started last week on the stone...
Alle-Kiski Pavilion in Arnold may become halfway house for federal inmates
The owners of the Alle-Kiski Pavilion, a halfway house for state inmates that recently closed on Arnold’s Fourth Avenue, said they are considering reopening as a halfway house for federal inmates. Alle-Kiski Pavilion, owned by the GEO Group Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla., closed because of state Department of Corrections...
North Park bald eagles are back; grove dedicated as Eagle Nest
The North Park bald eagles are back visiting their nest along Kummer Road for an apparent second try at breeding much to the pleasure of park visitors, who now have a newly renamed Eagle’s Nest shelter to view all the action. Howard Kepple of West Deer, who frequently sets up...
North Park bald eagles sighted back at nest as breeding season approaches
The North Park bald eagles are back visiting their nest along Kummer Road for an apparent second try at breeding. Excitement over the birds prompted Allegheny County to rename the shelter near the nest the Eagle’s Nest shelter. Allegheny Council Member Cindy Kirk introduced legislation approved by county council this...
Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell reopens after crash
Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell has reopened after a crash that sent one person to the hospital. The road was closed in both directions between MacBeth Drive and Schreiber Street around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to Westmoreland County emergency dispatchers. It was reopened later that afternoon after one person was...
New population of hellbenders found in Butler CountyVideo
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy found a new population of hellbender salamanders in Butler County. Researchers came up empty looking for the salamander, which can grow to more than two feet long, in the Kiski and Youghiogheny rivers and some other locations this summer, according to Eric Chapman, director of aquatic...
Mussel discovered in Kiski River for first time in a century
Researchers went looking for a salamander not seen on the Kiski River for more than a century. Instead, they happened upon another river resident that has been missing from the Kiski equally as long or maybe longer – the pink heelsplitter mussel. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently reported its summer...
No webcam planned for new Harmar bald eagle nest
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania announced it will not install a live webcam at the most recent bald eagle nest in Harmar because the aerie cannot be safely accessed. The decision not to install a webcam was a difficult one, Audubon spokeswoman Rachel Handel said in a statement. “The...
Kiski Area, Burrell school districts collectively awarded $83,500 for school security
The Kiski Area School District and the Burrell School District collectively were awarded $83,500 in state Department of Education Safe School Target Grants. The districts are among others throughout the state receiving a total of $7.2 million in competitive 2019-2020 Safe Schools grants. The money, awarded through the education department’s...
Poor water quality can drive snakehead fish to walk on land, research showsVideo
If taking over a river ecosystem isn’t enough for the invasive northern snakehead fish known as “fishzilla,” walking on land is another feat of the fish, according to new details released by a Wake Forest University researcher. The invasive fish has a snakelike appearance with its sleek shape and pattern...
Leaf peeper season in full swing in the Laurel Highlands; Pittsburgh, Alle-Kiski Valley must waitVideo
Stunning fall colors in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas are about a week to 10 days behind other areas in the state that are hitting their peak fall foliage about now, according to experts. The Laurel Highlands is at its peak for foliage-watching now, according to DCNR’s fall foliage website. That’s...
Check out this Halloween home display in Reserve TownshipVideo
A Reserve Township family of Halloween enthusiasts have turned their front yard into a neighborhood horror attraction. Passersby are greeted by a knife-wielding Jason from “Friday the 13th,” corpses hanging out of coffins, demonic clowns, vampires, bats and many more spooky sights. Sound effects are included. “We just love Halloween,”...
Auction at Oak Lake Golf Course in Upper Burrell draws hundredsVideo
Hundreds of buyers turned out Saturday for a public auction at Oak Lake Golf Course in Upper Burrell, bidding on grounds equipment, commercial kitchen items, a fleet of 50 golf carts — even a box of tees. The big ticket item — 113 acres of land — is still in...
Ford City Junior-Senior High site to become Butler County Community College campus
The site of the old Ford City Junior-Senior High School is being redeveloped as the home of a new Butler County Community College campus in a $5 million project. Increasing enrollment at a BC3 site that opened four years ago in nearby Manor Township is the driving force for the...
Road 66 in Oaklahoma Borough to close for railroad work
Route 66 in Oklahoma Borough will be closed near Orr Avenue between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday so Norfolk Southern crews can do maintenance work on a railroad crossing. About 11,000 motorists travel that section of Route 66 daily, according to PennDOT. Signs will be posted to guide motorists...
Sandy Hook mom returning to Burrell to discuss her ‘Choose Love’ curriculum
The mother of a child killed in the 2012 mass shooting at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School is returning to Burrell School District in December to talk about her story and a social emotional learning program she started. Scarlett Lewis’ 6-year-old son Jesse was one of 26 people killed at...
Fall trout stocked in Western Pa. waterwaysVideo
Steady rain didn’t dampen the anticipation of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and local anglers for the fall stocking of rainbow trout Tuesday at Deer Lakes Park and other waterways. The water temperature at Deer Lakes was 58 degrees, which is perfect for stocking trout, a coldwater fish, said...
