Western PA Local News category, Page 845
Delay in state subsidy release puts local libraries, district network in budget bind
When Melinda Tanner calls vendors who supply support services for the Westmoreland Library Network, they know she’s going to ask for an extension of a bill payment deadline. “The word spreads,” said Tanner, district consultant librarian for the network, which is holding payments while waiting for a little more than...
The Stroller, Dec. 5, 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. Tarentum homes and businesses welcome to enter decorating contest Tarentum Recreation...
‘It is a huge increase’ Plum resident tells council as nearly 40% tax hike discussed
A nearly 40% property tax increase sought in Plum is too much for residents to afford at once, one resident told borough council Monday. But leaders in Plum said the hike is intended to fund the borough for the next five years or more. Brenda Demello called the proposed increase...
Large fire breaks out at Shaler home
At least 10 fire departments responded to a large house fire Monday evening in Shaler. According to Cherry City volunteer fire Chief, Nick Skalos, the fire started at 5:30 p.m. in the garage of the home in the 300 block of Hawthorne Road. He said that the fire extended into...
Unity man on trial, accused of bilking vendors for daughter’s wedding
A Unity man is on trial this week, accused of bilking vendors hired for his daughter’s wedding reception. Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday in the trial of Joseph A. Malago, 51. He’s accused in four separate cases, including three incidents in which he is accused of forging bogus checks...
Lawsuit alleges McKeesport, county police illegally searched residents after officer shootingVideo
A group of McKeesport residents who said they were illegally searched and held at gunpoint three years ago as investigators sought a man who shot a police officer filed a lawsuit Monday alleging excessive force, race discrimination and unreasonable search and seizure. The 44-page lawsuit names as defendants the City...
Greensburg courthouse restaurant opens for business
Jurors called to the Westmoreland County Courthouse looking for some grub Monday didn’t have to brave the weather to get a meal. Caffe Market Express, a new restaurant on the Upper Park level of the courthouse, welcomed more than 170 jurors and hundreds of Westmoreland employees on its first day...
Jury seated to hear case against 3 accused in New Kensington homicide
The trial of three men charged in connection with a fatal July 2022 shooting in New Kensington is expected to begin Tuesday. A 12-person jury and two alternates were seated Monday to hear evidence in the cases against Amir Kennedy, 16, DaMontae Brooks, 17, and Elijah Gary, 20, all of...
All things Grinch: Monroeville Public Library celebrates Dr. Seuss favorite
The TV adaptation of the book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has aired for so many decades that people who watched it when they were children can do so again with their grandkids. And whatever the generation, the green, pointy-headed Dr. Seuss creation maintains a high level of holiday popularity....
Police seek hit-and-run driver who injured bicyclist in Derry Township
State police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck and injured a bicyclist Friday night on Route 982 in Derry Township. The crash was reported shortly after 9 p.m. near the Derry Township municipal building, east of Greenfield Road. Daemian Keener, 23, of Derry was riding south along the...
Beaver County man pleads guilty to federal charges he abused care home residents
A Beaver County man pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges that he abused intellectually disabled residents at a care home where he worked as an aid. Tyler Smith, 33, of New Brighton, will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on March 25. The negotiated plea agreement in...
Springdale power plant implosion plan now in the hands of a judge
Whether the former Springdale power plant boiler house will be demolished using explosives is now up to a judge. Both sides in the injunction case filed their final proposed findings of fact and conclusions and, now, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay Jr. must rule on whether to...
Police say impatient driver faces list of charges for driving around Freeport’s Christmas parade
A man who was Tasered twice after leading police on a high-speed chase in Freeport on Friday evening told investigators he sped off because he didn’t want to wait in traffic for the borough’s Christmas parade to finish. Zachary Stephen Zecca, 22, of the 100 block of Spohn Road in...
Hospital, Rotary host Breakfast With Santa in Monroeville
Monroeville must have seemed like the tropics compared with the North Pole for Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Western Pennsylvania rang in December with unseasonably warm weather, as mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine greeted guests as they arrived at Forbes Hospital the morning of Dec. 2. Once inside, they were...
Tarentum water rate increase aims to help restore failing distribution system, bring East Deer’s bulk costs in line
A failing water distribution system in Tarentum coupled with an impractical contract for wholesale water costs to East Deer will spur a rate increase this spring for people in both municipalities. Costs will climb by $1.30 per 1,000 gallons — about an 11% increase in Tarentum and about a 29%...
Water authority: Upgrades to affect part of Delmont
System upgrades by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will affect water service in several areas of Delmont on Tuesday, authority officials said. Between six and eight hours of work will take place Dec. 5 affecting Greensburg Street, Manor Road, Abbe Place, West Pine Street, Stotler Road, Crest Drive, Suncrest...
Officials investigate fire at abandoned Sewickley house, scene of fatal March blaze
A state police fire marshal is investigating a blaze that further damaged an abandoned Sewickley Township house that was the scene of a fatal fire March 16. Firefighters were called to the house at 1048 Yukon Road about 7:15 p.m. Sunday. The house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived,...
Morning Roundup: Man injured in Mt. Oliver shooting; 2 hurt in head-on crash in Pittsburgh
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Dec. 4: Man injured in Mt. Oliver shooting Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital Sunday evening. City police responded at about 7 p.m. to the 220 block of Brownsville Road in...
In brief: Monroeville area happenings, week of Dec. 4, 2023
Christmas concert at Cross Roads Judi Figel will present a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at Cross Roads Presbyterian Church, 2310 Haymaker Road Monroeville. She is a dynamic singer with a fun-loving personality who performs a wide variety of music styles. Tickets are $15 and will be available...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area happenings, week of Dec. 4, 2023
Benefit event at Plum High School Plum Senior High School and Rachel’s Challenge will host the ninth annual Stuff-a-Bus toy drive from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 at the high school bus lot. Students, school staff and other volunteers will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for...
Chartiers Valley area happenings, week of Dec. 4, 2023
Toys for Tots collection in Scott Scott Township is collecting for the Toys for Tots drive. Toys can be dropped off at the township administrative offices, 301 Lindsay Road, second floor, during regular business hours. You may also order toys through Amazon and have them delivered to the offices. The...
The Stroller, Dec. 4, 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. New Kensington church to ring in the season with soup, music...
2 years after devastating fire, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church rises in Arnold
Two years after a raging fire swept through St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Arnold, support has swelled to see the rise of a new $2.2 million sanctuary. The disaster on Dec. 4, 2021, could easily have destroyed the congregation of just 35 members. Instead, it made the parish stronger....
Rain fails to ease concerns over falling water level at Beaver Run Reservoir
Heavy rains over the past two weeks have had little impact on water levels at the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s Beaver Run Reservoir. Officials in mid-November issued a mandatory call for water conservation for nearly half of the agency’s water customers amid drought-like conditions near the reservoir in Bell...
Indiana Township teen travels to Kenya through scholarship set up by late Fox Chapel Area teacher
Fox Chapel Area junior Ben Fiedler is an aspiring astrophysicist with an itch to travel the world. He got the chance on a nearly three-week summer visit to Kenya, the East African country nearly 7,700 miles across the globe. Known largely for its safari landscapes and wildlife preserves, Kenya borders...
