Paul Guggenheimer stories, Page 34
Pitcairn mayoral race pits 20-year-old challenger against 81-year-old incumbent
Margaret “Betsy” Stevick’s phone never seems to stop ringing. And the octogenarian mayor of Pitcairn never seems to stop moving. At 81, she’s running for reelection to another four-year term in the May 18 primary. Her opponent in the Democratic primary is 20-year-old Mika Petrosky, who also grew up in...
Allegheny Valley, Cheswick fire departments working toward merger
The Allegheny Valley and Cheswick volunteer fire departments hope to officially merge this year. In the meantime, the two departments have been informally working together, pooling their resources and manpower. The two stations are five blocks apart, and both departments have been working out of the Allegheny Valley station. Allegheny...
Pennsylvania’s ‘Move Over’ law now in effect for motorists
It’s a familiar situation for drivers: They see a stopped vehicle in the emergency lane on the right side of the road, with a police officer or first responder providing aid. For safety reasons, drivers in the right-hand lane have been encouraged to slow down or, ideally, to move to...
Real ID deadline extended again
The Real ID has again been postponed — until 2023. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced the extension of Real ID enforcement from Oct. 1, 2021, to May 3, 2023. The decision was based on “circumstances resulting from the ongoing covid-19 pandemic,” the DHS said in a statement....
Pa. offering up rare whiskeys in lotteries
It’s a bourbon and rye whiskey lovers’ heaven this week in Pennsylvania. Keystone State residents will have a chance to purchase 213 bottles of 28 rare whiskeys this week. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is holding five separate lotteries, each with multiple drawings, for Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve...
Drug takeback set for Saturday in Allegheny County
Residents of Allegheny County will have a chance to get rid of expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances Saturday. The Allegheny County police are once again taking part in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) semiannual National Take Back Initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any over-the-counter, controlled substance...
Don’s Diner to be featured in Showtime series filming in Pittsburgh
Don’s Diner, a fixture of Pittsburgh’s Woods Run neighborhood, is being featured in a new Showtime series called “Rust” set in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The series stars veteran actor Jeff Daniels. The 25-year-old eatery is not only known for its food but is a regular Hollywood fixture when it comes to...
Dr. William Balash’s half-century of medicine reflected deep concern for patients
A former colleague of Dr. William Balash will never forget the snowy night in January several years ago when he received a phone call at 2 a.m. One of Balash’s patients was in the intensive care unit of Allegheny Valley Hospital. He wasn’t doing well. “Dr. Balash cared about his...
Astrobotic teams with German space agency to take radiation detector to moon
When two Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969 became the first humans to walk on the moon, there were tremendous risks involved, including potential exposure to high levels of radiation. With an upcoming NASA mission to carry the next two American astronauts to the moon in the planning stages, Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic...
ScareHouse opens for special event this weekend at Pittsburgh Mills
Call it an early Halloween present. Anyone who missed out on their fill of Halloween frights at the ScareHouse at the Pittsburgh Mills mall last fall will have an opportunity to make up for it this weekend. The ScareHouse said it is holding an encore presentation of its Halloween experience...
Ross Township park to be renamed after Bruno Sammartino
Legendary wrestler Bruno Sammartino received many honors during his illustrious career and now he’s receiving another one in the place he called home. Sammartino, who was born in Italy, made his name in Pittsburgh and raised his family in Ross, is having a park named after him located about a...
Pitt law professor David Harris calls Chauvin verdict wake-up call for policeVideo
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts Tuesday in the death of George Floyd last year. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter for kneeling on the Black man’s neck for over nine minutes. The case is a benchmark trial for an American police officer...
Medical marijuana program in Pa. celebrates 5-year anniversary
Diana Briggs remembers the days when her son Ryan suffered through 400 seizures a day. She believes the legalization of medical marijuana — five years ago — in Pennsylvania changed his life. Ryan, who went through a medical emergency at birth 21 years ago, is now a special-needs adult with...
Springdale High School baseball coach charged with assault
The head coach of Springdale High School’s baseball team has been charged with simple assault and strangulation in connection with an incident over the weekend, police said. Brett Burger was charged with assaulting a woman, according to a criminal complaint filed with Harmar District Judge David Sosovicka. “The Allegheny Valley...
April snow showers could hit Western Pa. this week
Say it ain’t snow. The National Weather Service is calling for possible snow showers on Wednesday, with some accumulation possible. “We’re going to have a cold front sweep through the area on Tuesday night into Wednesday,” said Chris Leonardi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Moon. “We’re expecting...
Allegheny Circle Conversion Project begins Monday on North Side
Phase 2 of the Allegheny Circle Two-Way Conversion Project will get underway Monday, the City of Pittsburgh has announced. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Allegheny Circle is made up of four streets (North, East, South and West Commons) around Allegheny Center on the...
Officials release name of man killed in Knoxville shooting
One man is dead and two people are injured after a shooting in the 200 block of Moore Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood. According to public information officer Maurice Matthews, police responded to a shot spotter alert for 19 rounds being fired at about 8:45 p.m. When police arrived at...
Leechburg, North Apollo and Upper Burrell among those to get state money to fix roads
Leechburg Borough is a big winner in Governor Wolf’s $45.9 million funding package designed for highway, bridge and rail improvements. Leechburg will receive $294,135 to mill and repave about 1.1 miles of roadway. The roads to be restored include those impacted by the recent project throughout the borough that was...
Year Up program offers Housing Authority residents skills training, internship
Helping young adults overcome the challenges of finding a livable wage job with upward mobility is the goal of a new program called Year Up Pittsburgh. The program offers Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) residents six months of technical and professional skills training followed by a six...
Lower Burrell woman wins $25,000 grant from Pens and 84 Lumber
A business venture originally meant to be a hobby has changed the course of a Lower Burrell woman’s life and brought her unexpected financial support. Nicole Waltenbaugh, 35, has been awarded a $25,000 EmpowerHER Grant sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the 84 Lumber LIFT (Leading & Inspiring Females to...
Valley Jr.-Sr High closed because of covid-19 cases
Following a fourth positive covid-19 case at Valley Junior/Senior High School in New Kensington, the New Kensington-Arnold District announced the school will be closed Monday. The district said the decision was made in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Health guidance. The building will operate using the...
Police: Man surrenders in Greenfield shooting incident
A man seen shooting from the back of a house in Greenfield surrendered to police without incident Sunday morning. Police believe the weapon was an air rifle. A neighbor witnessed a rifle sticking out of a window of a house at about 10:45 a.m. on Bigelow Street. Police were directed...
Don’s Diner to be featured in Showtime series filming in Pittsburgh
Don’s Diner, a fixture of Pittsburgh’s Woods Run neighborhood, is being featured in a new Showtime series called “Rust” set in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The series stars veteran actor Jeff Daniels. The 25-year-old eatery is not only known for its food but is a regular Hollywood fixture when it comes to...
Former Rex Theater donates $80K in equipment to new Pittsburgh arts group
The former manager of the shuttered Rex Theater is turning his pandemic misfortune into a feel-good moment by reaching out to a fledgling arts organization in Pittsburgh. Ben Penigar, whose company, Grey Area Productions, ran the Rex Theater, has donated $80,000 worth of equipment to the Steel City Arts Foundation...
Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic teams with SpaceX for 2023 moon mission
Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic announced Tuesday it is partnering with SpaceX for yet another groundbreaking moon mission. In 2023, Astrobotic’s Griffin lunar lander is carrying NASA’s water-hunting Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the moon. But first, it must hitch a ride to get there. So Astrobotic announced its selection of...
