Western PA Local News category, Page 1659
Police: Leechburg men charged after telling cops they burglarized house to rescue dogs
Two Leechburg men have been charged with multiple felonies after telling police they got drunk, broke into a neighbor’s house and took two dogs because they thought they were being abused, according to their arrest papers. Michael Paul Keim, 39, and Kevin Karl Trefelner, 55, of Evergreen Road each were...
2 victims stable after shooting outside Greensburg bar; suspect sought
Two men injured in a weekend shooting outside a downtown Greensburg bar remained in stable condition Monday as city police continue to search for a suspect who fired on them. According to police, the gunfire happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday outside the Rialto Bar and Bistro on West Otterman...
Fawn earns state grant to pave Thompson Road
Fawn Township Secretary Pam Ponsart was pleasantly surprised to learn last week that the township had earned a state grant for road work. “I had no idea,” Ponsart said. “That’s great.” The township will receive $50,000 from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, which announced the awards Wednesday. Fawn is...
Costly decisions loom about whether to build a new Hempfield high school, fix other buildings
A multimillion-dollar project could soon be on tap for the Hempfield Area School District as officials consider renovating or rebuilding the high school based on a recently approved study. The yearlong feasibility study, initiated by the school board in December 2020, examines the district’s physical, educational and functional needs. It...
Tickets going fast for upcoming ‘Hamilton’ run in Pittsburgh
The hit musical “Hamilton” returns to Pittsburgh for performances Feb. 22 through March 13 at the Benedum Center in the downtown Cultural District. Prospective audience members who haven’t purchased tickets yet would be well advised to do so soon, said Marc Fleming, vice president of marketing, communications and Broadway programming...
Johnstown man charged with disorderly conduct at North Apollo supermarket
Kiski Township police arrested a Johnstown man on charges including disorderly conduct Saturday evening at a North Apollo supermarket. According to police, Ryan Fredericks, 27, was going down the aisles of Held’s Shop ‘n Save taking bites out of food items then returning them to the shelves at about 8:30...
Jeannette allocates some of its $900K in American Rescue Plan funds
The first half of Jeannette’s American Rescue Plan allocation is being moved into the general fund. Solicitor Tim Witt said that is the first step to begin spending the money, $267,000 of which already has been earmarked. Council has been mulling over for months how to use its $900,000. The...
State trooper honored for Unity fire rescue
A state trooper was honored Thursday by the Westmoreland County commissioners for rescuing a Unity family from their burning home. Trooper Tony Anthony was on his way to work Jan. 5 when he spotted flames at a Donohoe Road house in Unity, not far from where he lives. “Originally, I...
Greensburg band to provide Groundhog Day music in Gobbler’s Knob
Greensburg’s Derek Woods Band will provide the musical backdrop for this year’s Groundhog Day festivities Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. And if the past is any indication, Woods and his band members had better start layering their clothes now. “The sets we played were limited to about 10...
In brief: Coffee tasting at the Press House, library book bag sale and more around Sewickley
Galentine’s Coffee Tasting The Press House, located at 505 Broad St., is holding a Galentine’s Coffee Tasting on Feb. 10-14. Sessions are 90 minutes and cost is $125 total for one to five guests and $200 total for six to 10 guests. To reserve a time slot, email audrey@presshousecoffee.com or...
New assistant principal at Kiski Area Upper Elementary brings homegrown passion to role
A familiar face has a new leadership role at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School in Washington Township. Maggie Nicholas, a longtime teacher at the school, became assistant principal at KAUE on Jan. 3. She replaced Dan Smith, who moved to a new position as the district’s technology integration specialist. For...
Pittsburgh couple who survived bridge collapse thought they were going to die, twice
A Pittsburgh couple in a red pickup truck cheated death twice as the Forbes Avenue bridge collapsed Friday and crashed to the ground with their truck still on it. Ten people were injured in the collapse, including Tyrone and Velva Perry, both 69, of Pittsburgh. An estimated 14,000 motorists daily...
Westmoreland commissioners approve $1.3 million plan for 2022 tourism
The Westmoreland County commissioners approved spending $1.3 million to promote what one called the “crown jewels” of the region. The money, generated through a portion of the county’s 5% hotel tax, will pay for marketing efforts as well as upgrades to parks, the purchase of property and grants to help...
The Stroller, Jan. 31, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Weather science program planned Thursday in Leechburg Leechburg Public Library will sponsor a free weather science program with author Diana Perry at...
Officials: Mattress fire caused evacuation of Pittsburgh’s Roosevelt Arms apartments
A resident smoking in bed resulted in a mattress fire that led to the evacuation late Sunday of the Roosevelt Arms high-rise apartments in Downtown Pittsburgh, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Reported at around 11:30 p.m., the fire was contained to an apartment on the 10th floor of the 14-floor...
A Fox Chapel pup to compete in Animal Planet’s 18th annual Puppy BowlVideo
Fox Chapel’s next famous athlete may be of the furry kind. Oliver Wes, a 6-month-old golden retriever-chihuahua mix, will be competing for Team Fluff in this year’s Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. The 18th annual animal football game is scheduled for Feb. 13 and features more than 100 rescue dogs....
Classes, storytime offered at Fox Chapel’s Cooper-Siegel library
Lifesaving lessons Foxwall EMS is offering a free community CPR class at Cooper-Siegel Community Library, 403 Fox Chapel Road. It is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Verne C. Koch Program Room. The class is designed to teach people ages 18 and older the fundamental...
Derry Township looks to complete 1 stormwater pond, open bids for 2nd
Derry Township expects this spring to complete construction of a retention pond next to the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center while planning another nearby to help control flooding along Sulphur Run in the township and neighboring Latrobe. Once completed, the pond near the CTC will take in stormwater from...
2 hopefuls seek appointment to vacant Latrobe Council seat
Latrobe Council will consider filling a vacancy in its ranks at its Feb. 14 meeting. Appointments to standing committees also will be considered, as council looks to organize a special panel to review a study for proposed streamlining of the city fire department. Two men who are involved in other...
Pair of longtime teachers reflect on meaningful aspects of their jobs at Kiski Area East Primary School
Two Kiski Area elementary teachers have “ruled the school” for a combined 67 years. Sharon Komandt and Mary Emanuelson are the district’s most tenured educators. Both teach at Kiski Area East Primary School in Vandergrift. Komandt, a reading specialist, has been a teacher for 32 years with deep roots in...
Police: Man found loitering on porch in Parks Township had warrant for his arrest
Parks Township police took into custody a man whom they said was loitering on the back porch of a home and had an arrest warrant issued for him by authorities elsewhere in the Alle-Kiski Valley. Police responding to a report of a man trying to break into a home at...
Highlands cheer squad supports cancer fight with ‘Pink Out’ fundraiser
Highlands School District police officer Joe Naviglia has the right people cheering for him in his fight against cancer. Naviglia, in his fourth year at Highlands, was among four local residents who were presented $1,000 by the district’s cheer team Dec. 17. “I was surprised but so thankful and honored,”...
New fire marshal in McCandless
McCandless has a new fire marshal, Jeff Wissner. As head of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Protection for McCandless Township, Wissner will be responsible for conducting fire inspections of commercial buildings to ensure code compliance, conducting fire prevention programs, investigating the origin and cause of fires and providing support...
Residents near collapsed Forbes Avenue bridge adjusting to traffic, longer commutes
Life will be a little different for people living near the collapsed Forbes Avenue bridge. The consensus among residents is that while the loss of the bridge over Fern Hollow in Frick Park has created some inconveniences, they’ll adapt just fine. They don’t have a choice. The vibe in nearby...
O’Connor: Rebuilding Forbes Avenue bridge could take 2 years, more than $10M
Declarations of emergency from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Gov. Tom Wolf could help fast-track federal and state money to help pay for the cleanup and construction of the Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow in Frick Park. How quickly the process will move along is uncertain, but constructing a...
