Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 36
Motorcycle-car crash on Lincoln Highway in North Versailles injures 2
A man was hospitalized in critical condition and another in stable condition after their motorcycle crashed into a sedan in North Versailles. Allegheny County Police said the crash occurred shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of Lincoln Highway. The two men were traveling east when they collided...
Police seek car involved in fatal hit-and-run on the West End Bridge, victim thrown over the side
Pittsburgh police detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify a car they believe was involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident early Saturday on the West End Bridge. The car is described as a “blue or black small sedan with silver wheels; possibly a Hyundai or Honda.” Police say...
Jennifer Shroads hired as director of student services in Quaker Valley
Administration changes at Quaker Valley School District continue this school year, as the board recently hired its new director of student services. Jennifer Shroads of South Beaver Township was tapped to replace Mike Lewis, who moved from his job overseeing federal programming, special education and the district’s school psychologists to...
Quaker Valley School Board, teachers union approve new 4-year deal
Quaker Valley School District officials have inked a new four-year deal with the teachers’ union. The prior four-year deal with the 154-member Quaker Valley Education Association expired June 30. School board members unanimously voted Jan. 22 to approve a contract retroactive to July 1. It expires June 30, 2027. Union...
Sewickley cultural landscape survey still open, preliminary findings released
A cultural landscape inventory and public survey in Sewickley may result in the creation of three new historic districts, expansion of existing ones and the addition of more buildings and sites to the National Register of Historic Places. Officials with Big Pine Consultants, the company tapped for the project, as...
Sewickley planning for major sewage plant project
A multi-million dollar upgrade project is being planned for Sewickley’s wastewater treatment plant. The plant serves hSewickley, Glen Osborne, Haysville and Aleppo. It handles more than 146 million gallons of sewage annually. Mike Galet of Gateway Engineers said the plant needs to be brought up to current operating standards in...
Verona officials considering creating a regional police force, host information gathering session
Lack of manpower and financial concerns have Verona officials considering partnering with neighboring communities to start a regional police force. Council hosted a discussionJan. 23 to explore the idea with Gerald Simpson, a retired police chief who now serves as a consultant on such matters for the state Department of...
Verona Council appoints newest member to fill a 2-year seat
Verona Council has selected a borough property manager to be its newest member. John Gemellas was sworn in Jan. 23 by Mayor David Ricupero to fill a two-year seat. The vacancy was created when Nancy Carpenter, who ran unopposed for the two-year term, but earned enough votes to win a...
Fox Chapel Police Department to open station for community event
Fox Chapel police Sgt. Craig Sorg understands building strong working relationships between community members and officers is key to creating a safe environment. Sorg and other borough patrolmen and women hope opening the station doors will help that process. An open house is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m....
Edgeworth Police Department welcomes new officer, new equipment
Edgeworth Police Department is moving through the new year with a new officer and some new equipment. Council voted Jan. 16 to hire Lucas Sickafuse of Ellwood City. Mayor Gary Smith swore in the new officer at the meeting. Sickafuse’s hiring brings the department to six full-time officers, including Chief...
Edgeworth police seek help identifying suspects in recent chase
Edgeworth police are trying to find two individuals in connection with a recent incident outside the police station. Chief John Burlett said officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop near the intersection of Beaver and Chestnut roads around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17. A Chrysler 200 four-door sedan was being operated...
Snowballs fly at Brackenridge Memorial Park as part of inaugural community eventVideo
When Brackenridge mother Angel Matthews heard Friday’s weather report of freezing temperatures and several inches of snow, she didn’t think about staying inside. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity to fulfill a dream her children had of something big. Something that could bring the community together on just such...
Quaker Valley School District closed Friday due to expected inclement weather
Quaker Valley School District will be closed Friday due to expected inclement weather, district officials announced. District spokeswoman Michelle Dietz said there are three cancellation days accounted for in the school year calendar. Friday will be the second of those days. Quaker Valley also has five flexible instruction/virtual learning days...
New Mic’s Market in Sewickley packed with hard-to-find health foods
Michaela Blaney wants to help people live a happy and healthy lifestyle. The California entrepreneur moved from the West Coast to Sewickley a couple of years ago to accomplish that goal in the Quaker Valley. Blaney felt inspired to open a micro market after visiting close friends and fellow Sewickley...
Leet planning commission to discuss proposed Quaker Valley High School plans
Quaker Valley area residents will soon have another opportunity to weigh in on a proposed high school in Leet. The township’s planning commission is expected to discuss the final site plan at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at the municipal building, 194 Ambridge Ave. A link to the site plan...
Leetsdale police department welcomes first full-time female officer
Celina Kelly may have made Leetsdale history as the newest police officer — police Chief Daniel Raible said he believes Kelly is the department’s first full-time female officer. She was hired Jan. 11 and sworn in by Mayor Sandra Ford. Kelly, a New Brighton resident, was selected out of four...
Monroeville man charged with homicide in the slaying of Carrick man on New Year’s Eve
A Monroeville man has been charged with homicide and other crimes after he allegedly shot and killed a man on New Year’s Eve in Carrick. Timothy Debold, 43, also faces charges of burglary, carrying a firearm without a license and persons not to possess firearms in connection with the Dec....
3 Pittsburgh Public Schools on modified lockdown through Friday due to online threats
Pittsburgh Public Schools district officials said three schools that share a campus will be under modified lockdown through Friday after threats were made over social media. Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson Ebony Pugh said the lockdown affects West Liberty PreK-5, South Brook 6-8, and Pittsburgh Pioneer Education Center. Those schools are...
Astrobotic planning for failed lunar lander to re-enter Earth over the South Pacific
Officials at Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic believe their failed lunar lander will reenter Earth’s atmosphere over a remote area of the South Pacific, the company announced Wednesday. Astrobotic’s team has worked closely with NASA analyzing the Peregrine spacecraft’s travels and they do not anticipate any hazards. “A safe re-entry is our top...
Leet Township commissioners consider short-term rental regulations
Leet officials want to adopt new rules and restrictions before people start opening short-term rental properties in the township. The township commissioners are expected to pass a proposed ordinance Feb. 12 regulating residential accommodations leased for less than 30 days. The planning commission reviewed similar ordinances from Sewickley, Edgeworth and...
Police: Pittsburgh man dies in crash along Freeport Road in O’Hara
A Pittsburgh man has died after being involved in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening along Freeport Road in O’Hara, Allegheny County Police reported. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Michael Vernon, 74. An Allegheny County emergency dispatcher said the wreck occurred around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection...
Former Jefferson Hills mayor, council woman remembered as dedicated public servant
Janice Cmar believed preserving opportunities for families and getting things done for her community made life worth living. So much so that she spent about 35 years teaching in the Peters Township School District, and 24 more recent years as a Jefferson Hills elected official with stints on council and...
Washington County controller accused of starving dog to death waives preliminary hearing
April Sloane will have her day in court at another time. The Washington County Controller accused of starving her dog to death waived her preliminary before District Judge James Saieva Jr. Tuesday afternoon. North Strabane police charged her with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty — one for causing serious...
Sewickley launches new alert system to send official borough emergency messages
Sewickley area residents and business owners have a new way to get official emergency alerts from the borough. Emergency management coordinator Michael Mullins said SewickleyAlerts, a mass communication alert system through OnSolve, recently launched. Sewickley partnered with the company to use CodeRED, a cloud-based software system that sends out messages...
Fan came from Illinois to the North Shore to root for the Steelers with family, Pittsburghers
Susan Young wore a T.J. Watt jersey with a big Steelers logo hanging from a thick gold chain as she watched Pittsburgh play without the star linebacker in Monday’s wild-card game against Buffalo. Young, of Effingham, Ill., is the Pittsburgh fan in her family, and her husband, who goes by...
