Western PA Local News category, Page 1061
What’s That: Dillinger & Sons distillery in Ruffs Dale marks heyday of area’s whiskey production
Editor’s note: ‘What’s That?’ is a recurring feature in the Tribune-Review’s Westmoreland Plus edition. If there’s something you’d like to see explored here, send an email to gtrcity@triblive.com or call 724-838-5146. The 160-foot smokestack that towers above a cluster of aging buildings in the small hamlet of Ruffs Dale once...
Out & About: Ligonier Valley meal deliverers get thank-you party
For a small-town group, Ligonier Valley Meals on Wheels puts up some pretty impressive statistics. About 100 volunteers prepare and deliver between 40 and 50 meals Monday through Friday every week, assisting three paid employees. That includes about 30 cooks sharing duties in the kitchen at Heritage United Methodist Church...
Franklin Regional seniors headed to national Future Business Leaders of America competition finals
Franklin Regional students Augusto Butkewitsch and Jacob Toniolo can add three more words to their word-based video game — “Pennsylvania,” “state” and “champions.” The seniors from Murrysville came out on top in the computer games and simulation programs category at the statewide high school competition organized by the Future Business...
Hempfield Area high school project heads into bidding phase this summer
The $128 million revitalization project at Hempfield Area High School will take another step forward this summer when the district accepts construction bids and awards contracts. In an update sent to parents this week, district officials noted the project’s phased construction is set to begin in August and end in...
‘Lovable, sweet, feisty’ Westies invade Bushy Run Battlefield site
A contingent of about 40 West Highland white terriers invaded Bushy Run Battlefield State Park in Penn Township on a sunny Saturday, trekking on land where their ancestral owners once fought Native Americans 260 years ago this summer. The cute lovable canines, better known as Westies, invaded the historic battlefield with...
A decade later, Trib still seeking answers in the death of employee who had gone missing
Dan Niehaus was a quiet man who preferred to keep a low profile. People who knew him hope new information emerges that could help break the silence surrounding circumstances of his disappearance a decade ago. Robert Miklos said he and Niehaus worked side-by-side for several years tying up bundles of...
In brief: News from Penn State Extension, North Park and more
The Ingomar Garden Club’s June meeting will be take place at 10:30 a.m. June 7 at Northmont Church, 8169 Perry Highway The business meeting will be followed by a light luncheon and guest speaker Steve Piskor, Penn State master gardener. He will highlight interesting gardening tools, products and tool maintenance....
Out & About: First Westmoreland Art Nationals show opens at WCCC
At the opening of the Westmoreland Art Nationals, exhibiting photographer Brandon Flume of Jeannette said, “I got the greatest award there is.” It had nothing to do with his work, though. He was referring to his engagement to another exhibiting photographer, Jessica Schulte of Davidsville. They said they only told...
Huston middle-schoolers get tangible Civil War lesson
The gentle clicks of a Jacob’s ladder toy fascinated Lillian Furnier. The Jacob’s ladder toy, along with several other Civil War-era replicas spread across the classroom, were part of the American Battlefield Trust’s “Civil War Traveling Trunk” program. “It kept them entertained,” said Lillian, an eighth grader in Brian Welsh’s...
Man dead, suspect arrested in McCandless shooting
A McCandless man fatally shot early Saturday morning in McCandless was identified Sunday by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Richard Coward, 39, was reported fatally shot at around 7 a.m. in the 700 block of Nineteen North Drive, the medical examiner said. Coward was pronounced dead at 7:18 a.m. A...
Fire destroys 2 buildings in downtown Monessen
Fire destroyed two buildings in downtown Monessen early Saturday morning. The fire in the 400 block of Donner Avenue gutted the building housing Any-Kind-A-Wear at 451 Donner Ave., a custom tailor shop, and C. Coates Communications at 453 Donner Ave., which had not been operating. Monessen Fire Chief Delmar Hepple...
The Stroller, May 27, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Lightning bugs to be discussed at free children’s program The Knee...
Retirement triggers pending closure of West Newton Giant Eagle, effort to keep food store in town
Food options for residents in West Newton and surrounding communities soon could be severely limited as the town’s only supermarket is slated to close next month. The Giant Eagle at 105 Robertson St. is scheduled to close June 23, when the store’s independent owners, Mike and Maryann Bingey, retire. A...
Saint Vincent communities come together for cross restoration project
Generations intertwine and work in harmony as college students, professors and alumni collaborate with basilica parishioners and archabbey monks to restore more than 700 Benedictine crosses in Saint Vincent Cemetery in Unity. The cast iron crosses mark the plots of the hundreds of Benedictine monks who lived in the archabbey...
In brief: News from Blawnox, North Park
The Best of Blawnox is presenting Art Fling June 10 from noon to 3 p.m. along Freeport Road. The community event will feature art, music, food, exhibits and workshops. More information is available at bestofblawnox@gmail.com or by contacting 412-295-1638. —- The North Park swimming pool will open June. 3. Hours...
McCandless church serves those in need with Love Local Day
A local church took its ministry outside its doors last month to help others. Memorial Park Church, located in McCandless, holds its annual Love Local Day where its members go to places that may need help in any way, according to Kevin Steele, local outreach coordinator at the church. This...
Emergency services report to Hempfield crash late Friday
Emergency services responded to the intersection of Balzer Meyer Pike and Swede Hill Road in Hempfield after receiving reports of a crash on Friday night. Westmoreland 911 said that reports came in at 9:34 p.m. Responding departments were Youngwood, Fort Allen and Carbon. No further information was immediately available....
Pittsburgh man accused of harassing local news anchor arrested for alleged bond violation
A Pittsburgh man charged with repeatedly harassing a local TV news anchor has been taken into custody for allegedly violating conditions of his bond, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus announced late Friday. Phillip Franks, 59, was charged March 7 with harassment of a local female television news anchor. The...
Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy students to continue remote learning through June 5
Pittsburgh Oliver Citywide Academy administration has announced that students will continue remote learning through June 5 to allow students, staff and families time to “process grief and trauma” following the slaying of an Oliver student Wednesday outside of the school. According to the school website, all activities, including athletics, are...
Arnold woman found dead at 14th Street, death not believed to be suspicious
The death of a woman whose body was found Friday afternoon lying outside in Arnold is not believed to be suspicious, authorities say. Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson identified the woman as Chelsea Lynn Hollobaugh, 31. According to Westmoreland 911, first responders were called shortly before 2 p.m. to 14th...
Man dead after Swissvale shooting; suspect also shot during incident
A Carrick man has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with a fatal shooting in Swissvale early Friday morning, the Allegheny County Police said. Bryan Perkins-Jiles, 36, was charged by Allegheny County Police with criminal homicide, criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of person not...
Bicyclist, policeman, neighbors help woman escape apartment fire in Brackenridge
Ron Weidenhoff of Tarentum was riding his bike up Brackenridge Avenue on Friday afternoon when he smelled smoke, then saw a woman on the balcony of a house on fire. “I looked up and saw a lady clutching the railing on the balcony. I don’t know if she was trying...
State denies ex-North Huntingdon assistant manager’s appeal regarding records
The state has denied an appeal from North Huntingdon’s former assistant manager who sought to obtain any communications between the township’s manager and accountant regarding his retirement benefits and conduct. The Pa. Office of Open Records stated in its four-page determination last week that North Huntingdon met its burden of...
Hempfield man sentenced for sexual assault of teens
A Hempfield man accused of fathering two children with two teen girls was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail for sex offenses. Tristan M. Huffine, 23, pleaded guilty in March in two incidents of statutory sexual assault in connection with allegations from 15-year-old girls in Hempfield and...
Westmoreland DA files nuisance bar lawsuit against Rialto in Greensburg
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to have the Rialto in downtown Greensburg declared a nuisance bar. If approved by a county judge, the move would shutter the restaurant and bar — which has been closed since the end of last year — for 12...
