Western PA Local News category, Page 704
Tours of Hempfield manufacturer can lead to jobs for area high school students
Seven of 11 area high school students who toured Hempfield’s General Carbide complex Wednesday are looking to come back to work there. “To see these kids coming in and getting excited about manufacturing is pretty amazing,” said Mona Pappafava-Ray, CEO of the maker of finished tooling, wear parts and components....
Plum mobile home park owner argues expansion denial deprives residents of flood protection
Plum’s rejection of a mobile home park’s expansion plan, in part because of flooding concerns, denies the people already living there protection from flooding that the expansion would provide, the owner argues in court filings. Following a hearing last September, Plum’s zoning hearing board in November rejected a proposal to...
From Bulgaria to Squirrel Hill: A Holocaust survivor shares his story of survival
For roughly 80 years, Albert Farhy has held onto a button-sized piece of yellow cloth cut into the shape of a star that the Nazis forced him to wear as a teenager in Bulgaria during World War II. On Monday, the Holocaust survivor held up that fabric — an emblem...
Federal investigators in Pittsburgh help shut down Russian-linked online scams that affected over 1 million people
Federal officials in Pittsburgh announced Thursday they’ve seized four web domains with Russian ties that were used to steal the personal information of more than 1 million victims in spoofing scams. Among the victims were two elderly Pittsburgh-area residents. According to court documents, one of those victims lost a total...
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announces its new superintendent of schools
Seton LaSalle Catholic High School Principal Lauren Martin will have a new job next school year. Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Bishop David Zubik has appointed her superintendent of Catholic Schools effective July 1. The superintendent search began in January after Michelle Peduto announced her retirement after five years as superintendent...
Preteen girl testifies during preliminary hearing for New Kensington man accused of raping her
A New Kensington man will remain in jail as he awaits trial on charges of sexually assaulting and raping a preteen girl two years ago. District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. held for trial Thomas Lee Burruss, 48, after a preliminary hearing Thursday that featured the testimony of the alleged...
Kiski Area School District hires familiar face as new superintendent
Kiski Area’s school directors didn’t look far to find their choice as the best qualified person to be superintendent. That turned out to be Assistant Superintendent Jason Lohr, whom they unanimously voted to succeed Misty Slavic. Board President Todd Sterlitz said after the news about Slavic’s sudden resignation broke in...
Scottdale contractor ordered to serve extra prison term for home improvement thefts
Scottdale contractor Jason Pirl said life just got away from him after he suffered two heart attacks in October 2020. His health crisis in the midst of the raging coronavirus pandemic left his home repair business in tatters. Then ongoing alcohol and gambling addictions made his problems worse, Pirl said....
Westmoreland development leaders say zoning changes could boost middle-income homebuyers
Westmoreland County needs affordable housing for middle-class workers, and more options for builders seeking to provide it. “We heard it pretty loud and clear that there is a need for housing options,” said Brian Lawrence, executive director of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment and Land Bank, referring to the public meetings...
Monroeville area: Farmers market, aromatherapy workshop, senior resource fair, more
Email news briefs to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com. Farmers market begins May 11 The Monroeville Farmers Market will kick off its 2024 season from 9 a.m. to noon May 11 at the Monroeville Mall between Dick’s and Best Buy at 501 Mall Circle Drive. It will take place weekly through mid-November...
Who killed Deborah Waggoner? Police seek info on 1990 homicide at Hempfield car wash
State police have evidence that might help them solve a 1990 homicide at a Hempfield car wash, but they need some leads. The possibility that troopers can crack the case still exists, especially with the technological advances since Deborah June Waggoner’s death 34 years ago, Trooper Steve Limani said. But...
Irwin veteran finds balance through martial arts, wants to help other vetsVideo
After nine years as a member of the Marine Corps infantry, Jeric Fry of Irwin felt he was fully prepared to enter civilian life when his oldest son was born. “I got out in 2014, and I kind of assumed I’d be in a good place,” said Fry, 37. “I...
Students return to Twin Lakes Park for annual Envirothon competition
The annual Westmoreland County Envirothon on Thursday saw 110 students from 11 Westmoreland County high schools compete at Twin Lakes Park. Winners of the event that tests knowledge of forestry, soil and land use, aquatic ecology and wildlife will represent the county in a state competition to be held next...
Proposed EcoVillage hosts informational session in McCandless
Those interested in learning more about the Rachel Carson EcoVillage at Providence Heights in McCandless can attend an onsite informational session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4. The event will be held at the Kearns Conference Center, 9600 Babcock Blvd., at the Sisters of Divine Providence campus, according...
Pittsburgh company accused of illegally inflating tow costs, charging $300K
A Pittsburgh-based towing company owner is charged with inflating tow costs and billing more than $300,000 in fraudulent fees, officials said Thursday. Vincent G. Fannick, 56, of Vince’s Towing was charged Thursday with 27 counts each of insurance fraud, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and securing execution of...
McCandless Square development continues
Planning continues for McCandless Square, an approximately 23-acre mixed-use development featuring senior living, commercial and multi-family residential uses. McCandless Square has an assemblage of three developers, according to McCandless planning director RJ Susko. The site once was home to Bally’s Fitness and Trader Horn’s, the latter closing about 10 years...
Murrysville area: History talk, plant sale and more
Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com. Please send events more than a week in advance if possible; the Star goes to deadline Thursday for the issue which will be mailed out the following Thursday. History, art expert at ESAL The East Suburban Artists League will welcome local history...
Norwin students to compete in PennDOT statewide contest
Two Norwin students created a winning plan to connect a community separated by a highway as part of PennDOT’s Innovations Challenge contest for students to develop creative and strategic solutions to real transportation challenges. Troy Horvath and Noah Wilson were regional winners in PennDOT District 12 that includes Westmoreland County...
Riders react to Kennywood’s Steel Curtain closure
Nathan Hough loves going with his two children to Kennywood, but, with the Steel Curtain coaster out of commission this season, he fears the lines for other rides will be even longer. “It was very disappointing to see the Steel Curtain closed for the majority of last season,” Hough said....
Norwin students win poster contest
Three Norwin seniors earned top honors in a national poster competition by the Industrial Scrap Metal and Recycling Industry. Emily Arendas, Megan Potthoff, and Heather Smarick were winners with their poster that focused on on redesigning paper plates for increased recyclability. They proposed innovative changes such as alterations to the...
North Park expansion: Hampton poised to help Allegheny Land Trust with acquisitions
To continue working toward an expansion of North Park, Allegheny Land Trust is seeking help from Hampton. “They’ve been working the past few years to acquire parcels for an uncompleted phase of the Hemlocks plan, off Big Rock Road,” municipal manager Ryan Jeroski said about land adjoining a townhouse development...
Latrobe man accused of threatening 7 students
A Latrobe man is accused by city police of threatening seven students who were waiting for a school bus outside his apartment earlier this month, according to court papers. Stanley Edward Brosnick, 51, was arrested this week on several counts each of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment. Officers said...
High winds, storms cause only moderate damage in Western Pa.; power largely restored
Emergency responders reported minimal damage from high winds and storms that swept through the region Wednesday night, though some communities fared worse than others. Mary Queen of Apostles School in New Kensington lost a portion of its roof around 8 p.m. That forced the elementary school to switch to a...
Plum hires Ashley DeVito as middle school assistant principal
The Plum School Board hired a new assistant principal for the district’s middle school. Ashley DeVito is coming to Plum from Propel Braddock Hills High School, where she was an assistant principal. DeVito, 31, of Penn Hills will start at Plum upon release from her position there. Her salary was...
Food forest taking shape at Penn Hills charter school
The food forest at Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship is taking shape. Workers carved a path near the front of the campus and planted several trees in April. Throughout the rest of the school year and over the summer, PHCSE families and staff members will be planting the food...
