Western PA Local News category, Page 974
Greensburg YMCA gymnasts capture national titles, medals
Greensburg YMCA gymnasts scored big at this year’s YMCA-USA national championships in Cincinnati. Emma Rost of Greensburg captured national titles in two events. Rost claimed gold medals in the level 4 vault and floor exercises. She also won a bronze medal in the all-around and placed sixth on the bars....
‘We’re so lucky’: Family forced from home after Plum explosion grateful to be aliveVideo
Jeremy Rogers arrived back in his Rustic Ridge Estates neighborhood Sunday morning, unsure what he would find. When he left Saturday, his neighbor’s house was still smoldering, having been consumed hours earlier by a fire that quickly spread when a neighboring home exploded. The Rogers family home, at 145 Rustic...
Rustic Ridge explosion sends different kind of shock wave through Plum’s Holiday Park section
A lot on Hialeah Drive in Plum’s Holiday Park neighborhood where a house exploded and burned in April 2022 is just a grassy space between two other homes today. Since the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s office released the scene, it’s been cleaned up and sold, with a new house expected...
Cause of Plum house explosion could take months or years to find, authorities say
Five people, four adults and one child, died in a massive house explosion in Plum on Saturday, borough police Chief Lanny Conley said at a news conference Sunday. None of the victims from the incident that destroyed three houses and damaged scores of others on Rustic Ridge Drive have yet...
Outpouring of support for victims of Plum house explosion
A deluge of donations poured into the Plum community to benefit victims of a devastating house explosion Saturday that killed five people. “My daughter gathered her money and wanted to donate,” said Donna Colamarino of Plum as her daughter Sophia, 9, placed money into a marked basket Sunday morning at...
Remembering father and son who died in Plum explosion: Casey and Keegan Clontz ‘loved by so many’
Casey and Keegan Clontz were darn-near inseparable. Keegan, just 12 years old, was known as his dad’s shadow. In particular, they loved the outdoors, especially the times they spent together hunting and fishing. Casey and Keegan Clontz of Plum died Saturday when a house on Rustic Ridge Drive suddenly exploded...
Scenes from the Valley: Images captured in the Alle-Kiski Valley from Aug. 3-9, 2023
Here is a weekly look at recent images captured throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley. From major news events to routine gatherings, the Tribune-Review’s “Scenes from the Valley” photo package brings to life activities and moments happening in your backyard. To have a photo considered as a “Scenes from the Valley” candidate,...
Public support essential for Tri-Community South EMS in Bethel Park
Housed in the garage of Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Services are six ambulances and two sport-utility vehicles, which should qualify as reassuring numbers for residents of its coverage area in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and South Park Township. For further peace of mind, everything is updated frequently. “We replace...
Building the Valley: New Kensington couple offer elevated dining experiences at Jillian’s Restaurant
Philip Call and Jillian Ludwiczak are happy to have diners spend quality time enjoying meals at their New Kensington restaurant. They’re not in any hurry to turn tables over. And now, servers won’t have to waste any of that time explaining the restaurant’s name to customers, which was, thanks to...
Police: Man found unconscious in Swissvale was robbed, beaten
A man found unconscious Saturday morning in a Swissvale parking lot had been robbed and beaten earlier that morning, according to Allegheny County police. The man was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition, police said. A call to county 911 dispatchers at 8:15 a.m. Saturday alerted authorities...
Penn-Trafford senior wins county title from ‘Distinguished Young Women’
Kari Leventopoulos has known she wants to be a doctor since she was five years old. Now, a scholarship opportunity will help her chase that goal. Leventopoulos, a rising senior at Penn-Trafford High School, won the Westmoreland County title for Distinguished Young Women — a national scholarship program for high...
‘Heartwrenching’: Rustic Ridge residents come to terms with 5 deaths in house explosionVideo
Residents of Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood milled about in their yards and driveways Sunday, trying to come to terms with what happened there the day before. They watched as emergency and utility crews returned to the scene of a fatal house explosion, searching through debris from three homes destroyed by...
No injuries in house fire in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood
No injuries were reported in a dwelling fire early Sunday in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood. The house fire was reported shortly before 5 a.m. in the 100 block of Prospect Street, according to an Allegheny County 911 dispatch supervisor. Emergency crews cleared the scene by 7:30 a.m....
New Kensington landlord accused of choking tenant who said she was buying a home
Editor’s note: The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office decided not to proceed with the case, according to court documents. A New Kensington property owner is accused of choking and hitting a tenant after the woman told him she was buying a house and moving out. New Kensington police charged Terrance...
You Are Here is a thriving part of Jeannette’s cultural scene
When something is meant to be, it will be. Case in point: You Are Here in Jeannette. The art gallery and maker space recently celebrated its fifth anniversary, despite its founders not starting with a clear vision of what exactly they wanted to do. Jen Costello of Hempfield and Mary...
Sewickley area real estate transactions, week of Aug. 17, 2023
Bell Acres Christopher Horvath sold property at 225 Summerlawn Drive to Julien Karlsson and Deena Gauntt for $775,000. Franklin Park Philip Crawford sold property at 1525 Robertson Drive to Zachary Laplante and Terra Tomasic for $490,000. Leetsdale Brian Wojkowski sold property at 415 Beaver St. to Gretchen Joan Stough for...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 17, 2023
Edgewood Suzanne Chybrznski sold property at 223 Chestnut St. to Marcial Saldana and Samantha Shaye for $245,000. Forest Hills Scott Ruffing sold property at 333 Castlegate Road to Ryan Read and Katie Graham for $385,000. Monroeville Estate of Williams Jirak sold property at 250 Azalea Drive to Adriano and Jennifer...
North Hills area real estate transactions, week of Aug. 13, 2023
Etna Fay Cristina sold property at 127 Vista St. to David Flory for $83,000. Franklin Park Philip Crawford sold property at 1525 Robertson Drive to Zachary Laplante and Terra Tomasic for $490,000. Hampton Hampton Development Co. LLC sold property at 4332 Muirfield Drive to Peter and Angeline Allen for $964,000....
‘Pilgrimage Jr.’ will tailor Nativity story for a younger audience in Delmont
Organizers for the annual Delmont Pilgrimage, a live display that walks participants through a reenactment of the Nativity story, are making some additions to the annual holiday event. Generally speaking, the pilgrimage is a quiet affair, as attendees listen and reflect on the religious significance of the Christmas. Over the...
State legislation could ease burden on local ambulance services
Shuttered Jeannette EMS will have to repay a loan and grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture even as proposed state legislation to help the finances of ambulance agencies continues to work through the system. Ambulance Association of PA executive director Heather Sharar said support from state legislators is a...
Monarch Hospice to host bereavement walk
A Lower Burrell hospice care provider will hold its traditional walk and celebration of life this fall for those who have lost loved ones within the past year. The fourth annual Memorial Walk and Celebration of Life, sponsored by Monarch Hospice, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept....
The Stroller, Aug. 13, 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. Lenny Collini 4Pack to play in Tarentum’s Riverview Memorial Park Tarentum...
Leechburg celebrates back to school with block party
Leechburg-area students got a warm welcome back to school Saturday on Main Street. Sponsored by the Leechburg Ministerial Association, families and community members descended upon the inaugural Back 2 School Block Party for free school supplies, food, refreshments, games and more. “I am amazed to see how much our community...
Dek hockey returns to Latrobe with new rink at Legion Keener Park
Brothers Tripp, 6, and Deekin Nolan, 5, hit the dek Saturday morning to brush up on their hockey skills. They were among about 20 area kids who got to try out the new Greater Latrobe Parks and Recreation dek hockey rink that had its grand opening at Legion Keener Park...
Greensburg’s Tom Bell earns Chief of the Year nod from international fire chiefs association
Greensburg and its volunteer fire department will be receiving some significant recognition in a few days. That’s when Tom Bell, chief of the department since November 2016, will be honored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs as the 2023 Volunteer Chief of the Year. “A lot more people will...
