Tom Yerace stories, Page 3

If Arnold’s new police chief looks familiar to city residents, there are a couple of reasons why. One is that newly hired Chief Josh Stanga worked as a city police officer in the past. The other is that he might be their neighbor. Talking to the crowd of residents at...

Public criticism comes with being an elected official, but Vandergrift officials think it’s going too far. At this week’s council meeting, Mayor Lenny Collini brought up criticisms of the mayor and council appearing on social media. “I’m extremely uncomfortable with the social media going around about our town,” Collini said....

CNX Gas Company officials hope residents of Washington Township won’t even notice their latest gas well. The shale gas drilling site, approved by township supervisors, is to be on previously strip-mined property east of Route 66 and north of Beaver Run Road. “Our feeling and hope are that no one...

Arnold Council rejected offers to purchase abandoned properties from two buyers who do not live in Western Pennsylvania. In one case, a person from Philadelphia offered $800 for two vacant lots at 1711 and 1713 Third Ave. The other offer was from a person in Los Angeles, who bid $1,507...

At their final 2023 meeting, the Harrison commissioners filled openings on township boards, all with defined terms — except for one. That one is a seat on the Upper Allegheny Valley Joint Sanitary Authority occupied by Commissioner Charles Dizard who continues to serve, oddly enough, until further notice. Dizard, who...

Note: The cost per 1,000 gallons used was incorrect in the original story. The corrected figures appear here. Harrison residents will not be paying more in property taxes in 2024 but will see an increase in sewage fees. Sewage fees will rise by $20 per quarter, from $1.25 per 1,000...

The Allegheny Township supervisors have approved the promotion of two officers and hired full-time and part-time officers. Promoted were Cpls. Mark Junod and Charity Hollis, who were elevated to the rank of sergeant. Junod has served in the department since 2007 while Hollis has been a township officer since 2014....

Repair of a sinkhole on Roup Avenue in Brackenridge likely will have to wait until at least next month. Borough officials say they’re waiting for state funding to pay for the $1 million project. They expected the money in September, but the state hasn’t approved projects for funding yet. That...

West Deer officials are putting the final touches on a proposed $10.8 million budget for 2024 that will see a tax increase that outweighs an accompanying decrease for most residents. The paradox is due to the establishment of a half-mill fire tax approved by voters Nov. 7 in a referendum....

Members of the Arnold Volunteer Fire Department have to wait a little longer to see the firefighter tax credit become reality. Council was expected to vote on the credit, which would give the city’s volunteer firefighters a tax break for their service. The tax credit, approved by the state Legislature...

For the first time in its history, the West Deer Police Department has a deputy chief. Township supervisors Wednesday voted to promote Sgt. Timothy Burk to deputy chief. Chief Robert Loper recommended the move. Burk began his career with the department in 2000 as a part-time patrolman. He became a...

A federal lien could halt the condemnation of a structure Arnold Council deems a public health and safety hazard. Acting as the city’s Board of Health, council recently met for a hearing on two abandoned structures code enforcement officer Al Colelli brought forth as potentially hazardous. The buildings are at...

The Washington Township supervisors postponed the approval of a parking lot addition to a business which, a neighbor says, started construction without it. Tarp America and its owner, Michael Gazzo, requested the supervisors’ approval for an unlighted 60-foot-by-60-foot parking lot expansion and signs at its location, 920 Route 380. Tarp...

Freeport Area school directors will have more leeway to raise real estate taxes for 2024-25 than in the past 11 years. Brad Walker, Freeport Area’s director of finance and operations, said the district’s real estate tax inflation index calculated by the state will be 7.1% for the next school year....

For the third time in eight years, East Deer commissioners have cut real estate taxes for residents and businesses. That news emerged Thursday as the commissioners approved a preliminary budget for 2024. “There will be a real estate tax cut in this budget of 0.25 mills,” Commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani...

Superintendent Ian Magness will lead the Freeport Area School District for five more years. The school board approved a new contract that will keep Magness at Freeport Area until October 2028. “I am humbled and grateful that the school board is giving me an opportunity to lead the district for...

For a small school district with limited finances, stretching a dollar is a year-round school board proposition. Residents attending Freeport Area School District’s board meeting were reminded of that last week. This time it wasn’t computers, textbooks or teaching positions hovering over the chopping block but protection for the district’s...

Mayor Joseph Bia said he plans to rein in youths riding minibikes recklessly on Arnold’s streets before they injure somebody, including themselves. Bia brought the matter before city council at its meeting last week. “We’ve got a big problem with kids riding minibikes through the streets,” he said. “They’re breaking...

A vote granting volunteer firefighters limited tax relief may be on Arnold Council’s agenda in October. Council held a public hearing last week on a proposed ordinance that would allowed the city’s firefighters and EMS personnel to claim an earned income tax or a real estate tax credit each year....

Arnold Council is moving to formalize recreation activities by creating a city recreation commission. The move is intended to create a formal, legal body to plan, sponsor, sanction and oversee recreation activities in the city’s name and act as an advisory group to council. “Right now, the city is not...

A public-private road paving proposal in Freeport has hit at least a temporary obstacle. Freeport Council tabled action on a proposal from Freeport Terminals to pave a section of Dam Road with each picking up 50% of the cost. The reason council balked at taking action is a 60-foot section...

In a move to streamline police operations with Tarentum, officials in Brackenridge are revising two of their ordinances. Council last week gave Solicitor Craig Alexander the green light to prepare two draft ordinances that will mirror Tarentum’s and enable more seamless enforcement for the newly consolidated Tarentum-Brackenridge police force. Alexander...

Springdale Township officials will collect data on materials used in residential and commercial water connections when new meters are installed. The township commissioners agreed to include an advisory about that in letters being sent to residents whose old water meters are scheduled to be replaced with new remote-read meters. Commissioner...

Hamar supervisors recently approved a resolution to be included in the Allegheny County Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships Program for 2024 through 2026. But the move didn’t come without some concern. The vote was 4-1 with Supervisor Bob Exler dissenting. Exler objected to the HOME Investment Partnerships...

There might be a course Harmar officials can chart to do the Highland Woods sewage project without rebidding it. That’s what township engineer Matt Pitsch of Senate Engineering told the supervisors Thursday. “I still believe we can get this done for $400,000,” Pitsch said. What Pitsch proposes is the possible...