Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 3
Tapestry depicting Pennsylvania’s history as one of original 13 colonies coming to life in Shaler
Stich by meticulous stitch, an embroidered panel representing Pennsylvania’s history as one of the original 13 colonies is coming to colorful life in Shaler for this year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. More than 200 people have put in over 2,800 hours of effort since...
Ross man, 44, faces charges of sexual relationship with 15-year-old girl
A 44-year-old Ross Township man is charged with having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Ross police filed a dozen charges on Wednesday, March 11 against Daniel Thomas Hastings. They include felony counts of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual assault and...
Shaler Area 6th grade girls basketball team lauded for surpassing 100 wins
A talented group of girls is expected to take to the varsity basketball court in the Shaler Area School District. But they’re going to have to get through middle school first. The Shaler Area Elementary Basketball Association’s sixth grade girls team is being celebrated for amassing more than 100 wins...
Millvale Spring Market to feature more than 40 artists, makers and bakers
More than 40 local artists, makers and bakers are expected to participate in the Millvale Spring Market on April 25. The market, sponsored for a second year by the Millvale Community Development Corp., will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking will be free. “We know it’s NFL Draft...
Shaler Area Rotary distributes comfort bags to help victims of domestic violence
Police in the Shaler area are equipped with a new tool to help victims of domestic violence. The Shaler Area Rotary Club in March began distributing 60 comfort bags containing essential hygiene items and simple comforts to the police departments in Shaler, Reserve, Etna and Millvale. Each department received 15...
Authorities identify man found dead on I-70 in Washington County
Authorities in Washington County have identified the man found dead on Interstate 70 early Sunday morning. He is Timothy F. Booker, 46, of Avella, the Washington County Coroner’s office announced Monday night. As the coroner’s office reported Sunday, a truck driver called 911 shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday and said...
38-year-old man died at Allegheny County Jail, warden says
A 38-year-old man died at the Allegheny County Jail Saturday afternoon, Warden Trevor Wingard announced. The man was not immediately identified. The jail has notified his family, Wingard’s announcement said. According to Wingard, jail staff called a medical emergency at about 2:42 p.m. Health care staff responded and performed lifesaving...
Warm weather helps boost turnout for New Kensington’s 5th annual St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawl
St. Patrick’s Day came early in the Alle-Kiski Valley, with the area’s fifth annual pub crawl being held on Saturday. The record-setting warm weather before the late afternoon storms contributed to last-minute ticket buying, which helped boost participation over 300, said Michelle Thom, manager of Voodoo Brewing in New Kensington....
Wind-related power outages clearing up as temperature record broken
Power outages related to heavy winds on Saturday afternoon were clearing up by Sunday morning as a temperature record was broken. Clear skies earlier Saturday helped the Pittsburgh area set a new record high temperature, reaching 78 degrees at about 3 p.m., meteorologist Andrew Kienzle said. The previous record of...
Teen stabbed outside East Liberty Target, suspect attacked by 10 people, police say
A 19-year-old man is suspected of stabbing a 17-year-old boy outside Target in East Liberty early Saturday morning, according to Pittsburgh police. Police responded to the reported stabbing in the 6200 block of Penn Avenue just after 2 a.m. According to police, officers found about 200 youth fleeing the area,...
Penn Hills museum on history of home video games, computers opens as construction continues
A museum dedicated to the history of home video games and computers is taking shape in Penn Hills. In mid-February, Brendan Becker opened the first rooms of his Bloop Museum in the township’s former municipal building along Frankstown Road. For now, it is open to walk-ins from 10 a.m. to...
Ross recognizes 2025 police officer of the year, leadership award recipients
A one-time school custodian who became a police officer has been recognized as the 2025 officer of the year in Ross. Officer Jason Pokorny earned the award “for modeling what the ideal Ross police officer should be,” Ross police Chief Cristyn Zett said. “Officer Pokorny’s enthusiasm and positive attitude are...
Fast play Pennsylvania Lottery ticket worth more than $555.9K sold in Shaler
A fast play ticket worth more than $555,900 was sold in Shaler, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced Monday, March 2. The progressive top prize-winning ticket worth $555,970 for the lottery’s Money Power Progressive game was sold Feb. 28 at the Shop ’n Save along Babcock Boulevard. The store will receive a...
Man who climbed to top of Gulf Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh caught after returning to get hoodie, police say
A Beaver County man who recorded himself atop the Gulf Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh returned the next day to get a hoodie he left behind, according to police. Pittsburgh police charged Austin Gene Seik, 27, of Frankfort Springs and Mariah Lynn Barnes, 33, of Munhall on Friday with felony counts...
SUV flees after hitting man on sidewalk on border of Mt. Washington, Beltzhoover
A man was in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle that fled early Sunday morning in the area of Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington and Beltzhoover neighborhoods, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers from Zone 3 responded to the incident at West Warrington and Boggs avenues around 1:45 a.m. Officers found...
Woman dies in 3-vehicle crash on Liberty Bridge
A three-vehicle crash on the Liberty Bridge early Sunday morning killed a passenger in one of the cars. According to Pittsburgh Police, officers responded to the crash just before 1 a.m. One of the three vehicles was engulfed in flames with three people pinned inside, police said. Officers put out...
Beloved Millvale French baker, Jean-Marc Chatellier, closes shop after more than 30 years
People from Millvale and beyond marked the end of an era in the borough Saturday when Jean-Marc Chatellier and his wife, Sandy, opened the doors of his French bakery to the public for the last time. After large buys contributed to them quickly selling out on their penultimate day Friday...
Pittsburgh police charge woman with aggravated assault in stabbing
Pittsburgh police have charged a woman with aggravated assault after responding to a stabbing in Arlington Heights Friday morning. Mikalia Robinson, 29, of Arlington Heights was arraigned Friday night and released from the Allegheny County Jail after posting a $5,000 bond, according to court records. According to police, officers responded...
Warm, sunny day draws large crowd to 5th annual Saxonburg Winter Festival
That it didn’t look or feel much like winter Saturday was a boon for the fifth annual Saxonburg Winter Festival. Brilliantly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s helped draw the best crowd The Little Shops of Saxonburg had yet for its food and vendor fair, said Nancy Alberth-Johnston. Owner...
2 firefighters hurt, resident rescued through window in Millvale apartment building fire
Two Millvale firefighters were hurt and a resident was rescued through a window in a fire late Tuesday, Feb. 24, that caused significant damage to an apartment building on Grant Avenue. The fire at Millvilla at the point of Grant and Stanton avenues was reported around 10:30 p.m., Millvale fire...
Jean-Marc Chatellier retiring, closing eponymous French bakery in Millvale
It’s last call for croissants in Millvale this weekend. After more than 30 years, Jean-Marc Chatellier is retiring and closing his pastry shop on North Avenue. “It’s time to go,” said Chatellier, 64, the son of a bread baker from the village of Couffé in western France. “It’s the new...
Annual Girl Scout cookie sales set to begin at The Block Northway in Ross
Weekend sales of Girl Scout cookies will begin Saturday, Feb. 28, at The Block Northway on McKnight Road in Ross. The West Perry and North Rolling Hills service units of Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania will be at The Block Northway outside near Marshalls. Cookie sales will be held from 11...
Ross resident pleads guilty in federal court to child sexual exploitation charges
A Ross man accused of sexually exploiting children pled guilty in federal court, U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced Tuesday. Ralph Talerico, 45, pled guilty to three counts before Chief U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon. According to Rivetti’s office, Talerico, from June through July 2023, produced videos of two children engaged...
4-month project to close part of Mt. Troy Road Extension in Ross
A portion of Mt. Troy Road Extension in Ross will be closed for about four months for work related to repair of a landslide, the Allegheny County Department of Public Works announced Feb. 23. The 4500 block of Mt. Troy Road Extension will close at 9 a.m. March 9. The...
Tarentum police investigating burglary of borough market
Tarentum police are investigating after a borough market was burglarized late Friday night. The break-in at Horizon Market on East Sixth Avenue happened around midnight, police said. Two people gained entry by smashing through the glass front door. The store was closed at the time, and no one was hurt,...
