Western PA Local News category, Page 1234
Lowes employees bring Santa for a visit to Highlands Family Center in Tarentum
Rhylee Griffin had her first-ever meet and greet with Santa on Monday in Tarentum. She slept through the entire visit. The 6-week-old was snuggled by Santa and Mrs. Claus during a Christmas party at Highlands Family Center along East Fourth Avenue. “This is her first time in her life seeing...
Sewickley public works director eager to work for hometown
Sewickley native Brian Gebhart was recently hired as the borough’s public works director. He leads a seven full-time employee department tasked with maintaining the little more than one-square-mile town’s infrastructure. “I’ve been here my entire life,” Gebhart said. “I was born here, raised here. It’s a great opportunity to give...
Fox Chapel council holds line on taxes in 2023 budget, new member sworn in
Fox Chapel officials have held the line on real estate taxes for the fifth consecutive year. Council voted 6-0 Monday night to adopt its 2023 budget and maintain the millage rate at 2.95 mills. Councilman Thomas Karet was absent. Borough manager Gary Koehler said the tax rate is the 17th...
Frigid, white Christmas likely in forecast for Southwestern Pa.
The National Weather Service says chances are good for a white Christmas in parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, although most of the snow is expected to fall in the days ahead of Sunday’s holiday and should stick around because of bone-chilling temperatures. In social media posts Tuesday, the weather service office...
Police, kids talk toys during Hempfield Shop With a Cop event
Five-year-old Harmony Derry took a running start and headed straight for the toy aisle Monday at the Hempfield Walmart. Capt. Jen Shipley with the Westmoreland County Sheriff Department was close behind her, pushing a cart that quickly filled with dolls, toys and a small kitchen set. Shipley personally signed up...
Westmoreland prison: more guards needed
The Westmoreland County Prison still needs more corrections officers and will conduct interviews in January to fill 16 positions, the prison warden said. Warden Bryan Kline will conduct the interviews and agility tests at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at the county prison, off Route 119 in Hempfield. The board approved...
Sewickley Academy third grade service project recognizes first responders
When given the opportunity to choose a service project, the thoughts of the third grade students of Sewickley Academy turned to their local first responders. Nicknaming themselves the Helpful Helpers, the children formulated plans to make cards and cookies for those in the community who keep us safe. On Dec....
Holiday help wanted as Unity restaurant preps free meals for charity drive
When the pandemic first forced the shutdown of restaurants and bars across the state, the community reached out to support Sharky’s Café in Unity. Months later, the restaurant’s management wanted to repay the favor. Owners Jamie and Johnathan Huemme started the first Sharky’s Holiday Dinner Drive meal giveaway in December...
Fox Chapel’s Cooper-Siegel Library features ‘Cow Tales’ exhibit
An O’Hara Township artist has an exhibit at the Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel through February 2023 showing her paintings, etchings and monotype prints inspired by the cattle of a neighboring farm. The Meinert Farm is only steps from the back yard of artist Paula Garrick Klein. She has focused...
The Stroller, Dec. 20, 2022: 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. Volunteers needed to prepare income tax returns Allegheny Valley Association of...
Could lethal-force police robots be coming to other cities?
News out of San Francisco caught many off guard recently as city officials considered allowing the use of weaponized robots controlled by law enforcement officers. The city quickly dropped those plans after public outcry. The proposal would have allowed San Francisco police officers to use robots that can use deadly...
What’s new at Northland Library in McCandless
More library events, activities and ongoing groups are listed on the Northland Public Library’s website at www.northlandlibrary.org. Library News New Year — New Gear Thanks to funding from the Jack Buncher Foundation, Northland has replaced the book drops at at the Baierl YMCA and the Marshall Township Municipal Building with...
Former Allegheny County Jail guard charged in drug case involving inmate
A former correctional officer at the Allegheny County Jail was arrested for bringing drugs into the jail, county police said. Raymond Toomey, 34, of Pittsburgh was charged with contraband, criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver and related offenses after an Internal Affairs investigation at the facility. Toomey turned himself...
Special election candidates selected for 3 state House races in Allegheny County
The fields have been set in three pivotal special elections in Allegheny County, with the local branches of the Democratic and Republican parties selecting their candidates in the races. The Allegheny County GOP on Saturday selected its three candidates for the upcoming special elections in the 32nd, 34th, and 35th...
Bridgeville man who participated in Capitol riot gets 2 months behind bars
A Bridgeville man who pleaded guilty to civil disorder for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot will serve two months of incarceration. Kenneth Grayson, 51, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in Washington, D.C. In addition to time in prison, Grayson must serve...
Station wagon crashes in Penn Township after police chase, driver charged
An Allegheny County woman who did not have a valid drivers license was arrested Saturday after leading Jeannette police on a chase on Route 130 and colliding with other vehicles, according to court papers. Police said Anessa Lynn Short, 21, of Port Vue, was impaired at the time. She is...
Proposed $11M development in Lower Hill District includes entertainment venue, parking garage
A proposed $11 million development in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District would include a new entertainment venue, a six-story parking garage, retail space and a public safety station on the former Civic Arena site. Pittsburgh Arena Real Estate Redevelopment, the development arm of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and several partners presented plans...
South Arts honors Bethel Park residents as ‘202 Years of Artists’
After taking a break for the winter, Jean Benson plans to resume teaching classes in tole painting. In the meantime, John Del Monte probably isn’t planning to take much of a break from sketching. At ages 104 and 98, respectively, the Bethel Park residents continue to impress fellow South Arts...
Cupcakes for Cohen closes abruptly; police investigating
A West View cupcake business launched in 2017 by a family trying to raise money to cover the medical expenses for their gravely ill son has abruptly closed. A message posted on the Facebook page for Cupcakes for Cohen on Sunday outlined the problems they are experiencing and asked customers...
McKeesport man charged with sexual contact with minor in Delmont
A McKeesport man turned himself into Delmont police on Monday, after a warrant was issued this month charging him with unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Police said Alfonso B. Washington Jr., 45, was arraigned on that charge and additional charges of indecent assault of a minor, corruption of minors...
Westmoreland district attorney announces online information platform
A new tool will provide citizens with updates about crime investigations and prosecutions from the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. The Crimewatch online platform, which is designed for law enforcement, will give residents access to information related to crime and public safety. Residents can choose to receive notifications about new...
Lawsuit blames woman’s death on Mt. Lebanon revitalization project
The family of a woman who died after she fell on a construction cone being used as part of the Mt. Lebanon Vibrant Uptown project on Washington Road has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Bonnie L. Coester, 87, of Mt. Lebanon, was walking to her car parked in front of...
Pittsburgh City Council approves $800M budgets for next year
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday unanimously approved the city’s 2023 operating and capital budgets, as well as an updated American Rescue Plan Act spending plan. The city’s budgets have been tweaked several times since Mayor Ed Gainey introduced them last month, with the spending plan for American Rescue Plan Act...
Residents of O’Hara, Fox Chapel selected as new chair, vice chair of St. Margaret Foundation
The board of directors of the St. Margaret Foundation has elected a new chairperson and vice chair. Michelle Keane Domeisen will serve as chairperson and Seth Silverman as vice chair for two-year terms, according to a Dec. 15 announcement. Domeisen is senior vice president of investment services in the Colliers...
Environmental group finds high benzene levels at homes near U.S. Steel plants in Mon Valley
Dave Meckel’s Glassport home is Ground Zero for air pollution in the Mon Valley. Sitting on a quiet back road about 850 yards from U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works on the Monongahela River, the home accumulates its share of black, sooty particulate matter from the plant, as well as from U.S....
