Western PA Local News category, Page 972
Felony charge reduced against teen accused by Tarentum police of having gun; trial ordered
Tarentum police say a 19-year-old passenger in a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation at the boat launch under the Tarentum Bridge was arrested after a loaded gun was found in his backpack. Frederick Xa Dorsey-Hua, 19, of the 7500 block of Ormond Street in Swissvale was charged with...
Man charged in connection with rape in McKeesport apartment complex
A Wilkinsburg man accused of raping a woman in the hallway of a McKeesport apartment complex is headed to Common Pleas court. McKeesport police charged Ian Eric Payne, 34, with rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault without consent, and indecent assault/forcible compulsion in July, court records show. Those charges were...
Longtime Trib employee Janet Beresik remembered for friendliness, dedication to family
Janet Beresik never went searching for the next career opportunity once she started working in sales and marketing for her hometown newspaper. “My sister had wonderful people skills, so when she started working at the Valley News Dispatch (now the Tribune-Review), it really was the perfect job for her,” said...
‘You have to start fast’: Volunteers help freshmen learn all about Gateway High School
Think back to your first day of high school, wondering how you were going to find your way through those long hallways to get to all of your classes on time. Gateway has a remedy for that. A couple of weeks in advance of the Aug. 24 start date, incoming...
Closure set to begin on Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township
Motorists on Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township can expect traffic interruptions on Wednesday, followed by closure of a section of the road beginning on Thursday. PennDOT said the road will be closed from Boyer Road south to Fiedors Grove Road, just south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as construction continues...
Natural gas leaks found in Plum’s Regency Park neighborhood following fatal Rustic Ridge blast
Following a fatal explosion that investigators say may have been fueled by natural gas in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, two natural gas leaks have been found in another borough neighborhood. Leaks were reported in the area of Crestview and Mower drives, and on Kathy Lynn Drive in Plum’s Regency Park...
Police: Man cornered in yard after fleeing when officer spots gun on Tarentum boat dock
A Tarentum man was charged with carrying a gun without a permit after police accused him of running from a boat launch when an officer spotted the weapon on a dock. Ryan Allen Berry, 21, of the 900 block of East Sixth Avenue faces a felony charge in connection with...
Wilkinsburg-Pittsburgh merger group files for state Supreme Court review
A group seeking the annexation of Wilkinsburg with the City of Pittsburgh late Monday filed a petition seeking review by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In it, those advocating for the merger said that two lower courts misinterpreted the law and violated the separation of powers principle in doing so. “Petitioners...
Bethel Park resident leads ghost-hunting events
Whether it’s “Ghost Hunters,” “Kindred Spirits” or “Destination Fear,” TV shows featuring searches for unusual occurrences typically pack plenty of close-encounter action into tidy hourlong episodes. Real-life explorations aren’t quite as predictably productive. “We can’t make activity happen,” Bethel Park resident Patty Henderson said. “That’s what we try to make...
Hot water tank a focus of investigation into Plum house explosion; victims’ remains released to families
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed it is investigating the possibility that complications with a hot water tank contributed to a house explosion in Plum over the weekend. That was the first public confirmation from officials about a possible origin of the blast Saturday morning that killed five people,...
Morning Roundup: West Nile virus detected in Pittsburgh mosquitos
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Aug. 15: West Nile virus detected in Pittsburgh mosquitos The Allegheny County Health Department will spray a mosquito pesticide in several Pittsburgh areas and neighboring municipalities where mosquitos have tested positive for West Nile Virus. Mosquito samples collected...
Alcohol on sale amid Mt. Pleasant state store closing
Wines, spirits and other accessories will be on sale at the Mt. Pleasant Fine Wine & Good Spirits on West Main Street ahead of the store’s closing, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced Monday. There will be a 10% off sale during regular business hours until the store’s closing at...
Kennywood’s classic Turtle ride to shut down for rebuild
There are only a few days left to ride The Turtle at Kennywood this season. Park officials said that after 96 years in operation, the ride’s center foundation needs to be replaced. The Turtle’s last day of the season will be Sunday. “It’s time,” said Gary Miller, the project manager....
Burrell administrators shift for upcoming school year
New initiatives and administrative staffing changes are planned as the Burrell School District prepares for the upcoming school year. Brian Ferra, formerly the principal at Charles Huston Middle School, will be the principal at Stewart Elementary. Travis Welch, Huston’s assistant principal, will be the building’s new principal, and Krista Pisano...
West Deer police accuse Springdale contractor of taking money for work he never did
A Springdale man was accused of contractor fraud after a West Deer homeowner told police that he paid the contractor up front to do some remodeling in a bathroom but that he never showed up to do the work. Police charged Delos J. Hough, 42, of the 700 block of...
The Stroller, Aug. 15, 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. Mutts, Meows and Margaritas event to benefit HOPE Center The Alle-Kiski...
Downtown Greensburg GetGo to celebrate store opening
A GetGo Cafe + Market opens this week in downtown Greensburg. The store and its six gas pumps will open at 9 a.m. Wednesday for continuing 24/7 operation. Located at 531 S. Main St., just north of Euclid Avenue, it is on a site formerly occupied by a shuttered Family...
Hempfield school library book policies approved at heated meeting
New rules will govern books and other library materials at Hempfield Area School District, after the school board voted Monday to enact two policies defining what content is permitted on the district’s bookshelves. About 80 people attended the board meeting and more than a dozen residents spoke their opinions on...
‘Fishing for Keegan and Casey’ fundraiser to benefit family of Plum explosion victims
A Washington Township couple is hoping to help victims of Saturday’s house explosion in Plum by honoring one family’s love of fishing. Angela and Mike Blasko created a fundraiser in which one winner will land an all-expenses paid, full-day offshore fishing trip on Lake Erie on the Blasko’s charter fishing...
2 Plum officials among house explosion deaths, all 5 now identified
Plum Borough Manager Michael Thomas and Community Development Director Heather Oravitz were among the five people killed in a house explosion Saturday, Mayor Harry Schlegel confirmed Monday. Thomas was 57. Oravitz was 51. The other victims, all identified through their families, were Casey Clontz, 38, and his son, Keegan, 12,...
With his home in ruins, Plum’s high school soccer coach committed to tryouts
Rafal Kolankowski was determined to forge ahead, the chaos engulfing his neighborhood — his life — be damned. Soccer tryouts loomed Monday night, the first of three days of tryouts, and the Plum High School boys coach wasn’t about to let the kids down. “Unfortunately, I have to make cuts,”...
Irwin councilman Michael Yunn resigns
Irwin Borough will be seeking a new member of council to fill the remaining months of a council member who has resigned. Councilman Michael Yunn said he resigned effective at the end of the Aug. 9 meeting because he has moved to North Huntingdon. Yunn, a Republican, did not seek...
Pittsburgh man accused of robbing North Side bank
A Pittsburgh man was arrested Monday for robbing a bank on the city’s North Side, which authorities said was the second area bank he robbed in just two weeks. Dwayne Russell Harvey, 55, entered the Citizens Bank at 106 Isabella St. — near the Andy Warhol Museum on the North...
Remembering family man who died in Plum explosion: Kevin Sebunia ‘had a heart of gold’
Above all else, Kevin Sebunia was a dedicated family man — a devoted father and doting husband who willingly gave his time to others. His wife, Kelly, and daughters, Emily and Abigail, were the most important people in Sebunia’s life, longtime friend Joe Pulcini said. “His family came before anything,”...
Democrats scrambling after Hovis withdraws from Westmoreland commissioner race
Westmoreland Democrats are scrambling to fill a vacancy on the November ballot after learning through a social media post Monday that one of the party’s two candidates for county commissioner withdrew from the race. Sydney Hovis, 28, of Scottdale announced via Facebook she formally petitioned to have her name removed...
