Western PA Local News category, Page 491
Latrobe Turkey Trot marks 30 years; party to follow
Racers who power through Latrobe’s Turkey Trot 5K course Thanksgiving morning can look forward to a treat after they cross the finish line. The race, open to runners or walkers, begins at 9 a.m. Nov. 28 at Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium. Marking its 30th anniversary, the event includes an after party...
2 hospitalized after vehicle overturns into Rostraver creek
Two people were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after their vehicle overturned into a creek in Rostraver, according to the Rostraver Central Fire Department. The vehicle veered from Ridge Road and overturned into Cedar Creek, located near Route 51, according to a social media post from the fire department. The crash occurred...
Gainey’s 2025 austerity plan plays well with Pittsburgh council budget director
Pittsburgh City Council’s budget director indicated Wednesday that Mayor Ed Gainey’s austerity plan for 2025 makes sense given the fiscal pressure facing the city. Presenting an overview of Gainey’s budget and financial forecast to City Council, Peter McDevitt acknowledged that several city departments will likely ask for additional resources during...
Veterans honored at Holy Cross Academy in Ross
David Graver posed with his 1943 Willys MB Jeep at a Veterans Day parade held Nov. 8 at the Holy Cross Academy campus in Ross. The McCandless resident proudly showed off his antique wartime warrior on wheels. This event was an important moment for Graver, who served 20 years in...
Judge shutters Oakland’s troubled Panther Pit bar for 1 year
An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday ordered that the Panther Pit Bar and Grill in Oakland be closed for at least one year. Common Pleas Judge Dan Regan ordered that the establishment on Meyran Avenue be padlocked last week after the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint...
Ross proposes real estate tax increase for 1st time in 14 years
Real estate taxes in Ross could rise by 1 mill, according to the township’s 2025 draft budget as presented at the Nov. 6 board of commissioners committee meeting. “I believe that this budget sensibly appropriates the funds to which the township has available, while real estate reassessments, inflation and large...
Judge exits Latrobe lawyer’s theft case
Westmoreland County President Judge Christopher Feliciani recused himself Wednesday from presiding over a bail hearing for a Latrobe lawyer jailed on charges that he stole money from a client. The judge cited a conflict of interest related to pending legal matters that involved an alleged personal relationship between attorney J....
Westmoreland happenings: Winter Lights at the Westmoreland, craft shows, ladies night out, more
Art • The Westmoreland Museum of American Art will open the free Winter Lights at the Westmoreland event from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 15 with immersive light experiences, carolers, ice carving, food vendors and a DJ. The exhibit at 221 N. Main St. will continue from dusk to 10...
Hempfield man accused of arson after garage fire
A Hempfield man accused of setting a fire at a garage attached to a house last week was denied bail Wednesday on arson charges. Jacob David Baker, 20, was extremely intoxicated at the time of the Nov. 4 fire and taken to Independence Health Westmoreland Hospital for an evaluation, police...
School news: Play at Pine-Richland spoofs Christmas films
Pine-Richland High School will present its fall play, “The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon,” Nov. 22-23 at the high school. Written by Don Zolidis, “The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon” packs in the filming of six holiday channel Christmas rom coms at once, following half a dozen couples, each representing...
Man, 70, shot outside Larimer nursing home
A 70-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday after being shot outside a Pittsburgh nursing home. The man was shot in the stomach about 12:35 p.m. outside Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in the 6600 block of Frankstown Avenue in the city’s Larimer neighborhood, police said. The victim,...
Innamorato defends proposed budget and Allegheny County tax increase
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato defended her budget and proposed tax increase Wednesday, arguing that boosting the county’s tepid economic growth is more important than making large budget cuts. Innamorato in October proposed a 46.5% property tax hike to help balance her $3.1 billion budget, which will have a shortfall...
Veterans Day observed at Pine-Richland High School
Pine-Richland High School observed Veterans Day with a Nov. 11 assembly with guest speakers state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, and Ron Schall, a community member and Vietnam era veteran. The program was hosted by the school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets and included a flag-folding ceremony, explanation of the...
Collier Eat’n Park reopens in a larger space
Bill Mitchell recalled his aunt and uncle writing down when the Eat’n Park across the street from their home in Collier was scheduled to open. The date was June 21, 1956, a Thursday. “Saturday of that week they took me to eat there,” said Mitchell, as he sat in the...
Authority calls for voluntary conservation in response to state drought conditions
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers are being asked to conserve water as drought conditions take hold throughout Pennsylvania. Conservation efforts are voluntary, and municipal authority officials said there is no immediate expectation mandatory cutbacks of water use will be required. “It’s not panic time. It’s nothing like that,”...
State Rep. Venkat looks to another 2 years in office
State Rep. Arvind Venkat returns to office as representative in Pennsylvania’s 30th District, defeating Republican challenger Nathan Wolfe, 21,795 to 17,687, according to the Allegheny County Department of Elections. Libertarian party candidate William Johnson Baierl garnered more than 650 votes. District 30 includes McCandless, Franklin Park and part of Hampton...
Get ready for Hampton Band Holiday Extravaganza
Organizers of the 13th annual Hampton Band Holiday Extravaganza are hoping to keep up the momentum. “Last year was record-breaking. We had the most number of vendors, most number of attendees. We raised the most amount of money we ever had,” Jennifer Blakeley, co-chairs the event committee, reported. “So we...
Ex-director of Gloworms day care in McCandless gets probation for mistreating toddlers
A McKees Rocks woman accused of mistreating five toddlers at the McCandless day care she ran will serve two years probation. Melissa Marie Populo, 38, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to a single misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children. Populo worked as the director...
Demolition of Springdale trestle bridge set to begin; detours in place
Overnight closures on Pittsburgh Street in Springdale begin Wednesday. The road, between Duquesne Court and Washington Street, will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night through Monday or Tuesday as demolition crews remove the overhead trestle bridge. Crews estimate the work will take about five days. The...
No tax increase proposed for 2025 Arnold budget as officials correct projections
Arnold’s proposed budget for 2025 carries no tax increase for city property owners. Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a first reading of the city’s tax rate, revenue and expenditures for 2025. Councilman Adam Zweig was absent. As presented, the city would take in and spend about $4.6 million. The...
Rostraver Airport will have Dunkin’ Donuts, barbecue and catering business
The Rostraver Airport will add a Dunkin’ just two months after leasing its former on-site restaurant to a barbecue and catering business. The coffee and doughnut chain expressed interest in acquiring a piece of the airport’s 197-acre property this summer. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport, rejected...
Proposed 2025 Bridgeville budget holds the line on taxes
Property owners in Bridgeville won’t see a tax increase next year if the borough’s proposed budget for 2025 is passed. The budget would maintain a tax rate of 6.5 mills on buildings, and 10 mills on land, said Manager Joe Kauer. The proposal totals just more than $8.1 million, he...
Derry Township firefighters update lighting gear with LED equipment
Derry Township firefighters will have a better view of the emergency situations they encounter after purchasing a new set of lights. Chief Mark Piantine said Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 of Bradenville was able to replace two failing tripod lights, upgrade others for its fleet of fire trucks...
Jeannette seeks more time to complete plans, construction of new fire station
Jeannette officials are expecting to get an extension on a $1.2 million grant designated for a new fire station. City manager Ethan Keedy said, based on communication with state officials late last week, the expected extension will allow work on the new station to continue into 2025. The deadline to...
Sewage, garbage rate increases expected for Cheswick residents in 2025
Cheswick residents won’t pay more for property taxes or water next year, but they can expect to pay more in garbage and sewer rates. That’s according to the borough’s proposed budget for 2025, which totals about $2.6 million. Councilman Frank Meledandri said borough council will consider advertising the proposed budget...
