Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 43
Plum’s Festival of Honor returning to support Rustic Ridge community
A festival created after a tragedy that shook the Plum community more than a decade ago is returning in the wake of another. After a six-year absence, the Plum Borough Education Association, the school district’s teachers union, is bringing back its Festival of Honor to support Rustic Ridge families affected...
Knoch Middle School student, 12, died in crash with grandfather in Butler County
A 12-year-old boy who died in a crash Friday night in Butler County was a student at Knoch Middle School. Zane D. Rupert was killed in the crash in Winfield Township along with his grandfather, David A. Faulx, 65, of Cabot. The crash happened shortly before 10 p.m. Friday on...
Deer Lakes students help take Tarentum audience back to the 1940s at USO-themed event
When Deer Lakes High School drama and choir teacher Matt Derby sought student volunteers to sing 1940s songs for an event in Tarentum, he found his 21st-century students knew more of the tunes than he thought they would. Marianna Vergerio, 17, recognized “At Last” from the America’s Got Talent. Young...
Firefighters battling rowhouse fire in Etna
Firefighters were battling a residential structure fire in Etna Saturday night. The fire at a rowhouse in the 100 block of Cherry Street was reported at 8:35 p.m., an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. After about an hour into the fight, no one...
Lead poisoning leads to death of bald eagle, rescue group says
A bald eagle suffering from lead poisoning that was too severe to treat had to be euthanized, a Pittsburgh-based animal welfare group said. Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh said the eagle was suffering from lead toxicity when it entered its care at its rehabilitation center in Penn Hills. According to...
Butler teachers organize concert fundraiser for colleague who lost husband, home in Plum explosion
It was from the shape of a swimming pool that Valerie Lepage realized her friend and colleague, Jackie Thomas, was among those affected by the August house explosion in Plum. The pool was all that was left of the Thomas home, which burned after the house of Paul and Heather...
Arnold hires former New Kensington police officer after charges withdrawn, expunged
It took several Arnold residents only minutes to raise questions about City Council’s approval of a new police officer hiring Tuesday. Council voted, 4-1, to hire Joseph Martino II, 35, who previously worked as a police officer in New Kensington. In October 2020, Pittsburgh police accused Martino of beating up...
Rain threat spurs move of some Willie Thrower anniversary events to Valley High School
Rain has forced a change in events planned Saturday in New Kensington for the 70th anniversary of city native Willie Thrower’s first snap as an NFL quarterback. Because of the anticipation of rain, the community day and cookout, as well as several other events scheduled to run from 11 a.m....
Arnold formalizes firing of city manager, names temporary replacement
Arnold Council approved starting a search for a new city manager Tuesday after firing its former manager and hiring a temporary replacement. Council voted 4-1 to fire Mario Bellavia, with Councilman Phil McKinley casting the only vote against. While McKinley previously said Bellavia had been fired on Sept. 20, city...
Falling gas prices arrive as destabilized Middle East raises concerns, analyst says
Even as oil prices rise in reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel, an oil industry analyst is optimistic that the national average could continue to fall another 25 to 45 cents by late November. In the past week, the national average fell about 10 cents per gallon to $3.67,...
New Kensington-Arnold approves contracts to replace Valley High pedestrian bridges
Work to replace the twin pedestrian bridges in front of Valley High School is expected to start near the end of the school year in June, New Kensington-Arnold Business Manager Jeff McVey said. The school board Tuesday approved two contracts totaling more than $400,000 for the project. They do not...
9 employers looking to hire at upcoming New Kensington job fair
Nine employers which are actively hiring are expected to attend a PA CareerLink job fair in New Kensington next week. The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 at the CareerLink office at 1150 Fifth Ave. Employers scheduled to attend include Re:Build Manufacturing, Randstad, All...
New Kensington celebrating 70th anniversary of Willie Thrower’s ‘1st Snap’
In the world of sports, New Kensington’s Willie Thrower cemented his place in history when he became the first Black quarterback to take a snap in the NFL in 1953. In his hometown, he was known as a humble, hardworking and family-oriented man, said Melvyn Smith, a longtime friend of...
New Kensington’s Digital Foundry gets $200K infusion to boost manufacturing industry skills
A representative of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration kicked off the state’s Manufacturing Week on Friday with a visit to downtown New Kensington. Gwen Ross, director of workforce development initiatives with the state Department of Community and Economic Development, was at the Digital Foundry at New Kensington for what she said...
Arnold, New Kensington residents express shock that volunteer firefighter is suspect in arsons
Relief that a suspected arsonist in the Arnold and New Kensington area had been captured was tempered with shock that he was a volunteer firefighter and concern that one of the houses he is accused of setting ablaze was his grandmother’s home. “I can’t believe it was her own grandson....
Arnold firefighter lives near 1 of 4 houses he is accused of setting on fire; family owns another
An Arnold volunteer firefighter lives a door down from one of four houses he is accused of setting on fire this past weekend, and another belongs to a family member, according to state police. Andrew Joseph Bischof, 21, of Arnold even returned as a firefighter to put out two of...
Doyle, Pallone vie for district judge office serving Plum, Oakmont
A Plum councilman and a Riverview School Board member have their eyes on a new office they each want to hold. Republican Mike Doyle and Democrat Melanie Pallone are vying in the general election to succeed Linda Zucco as the district judge serving Plum and Oakmont. In making their argument...
Plum Distinguished Alumni honors 5 at 13th annual banquet
Five Plum High School graduates have joined the ranks of the district’s distinguished alumni. The Plum Distinguished Alumni Committee honored the inductees during its 13th annual banquet Sept. 28 at Oakmont Country Club. The committee recognizes district alumni who have distinguished themselves in various fields of excellence or who have...
Shooting in Arnold sends 1 to hospital; suspect remains at large
All schools in the New Kensington-Arnold School District were on lockdown Monday afternoon as police from multiple agencies canvassed the Arnold-New Kensington area for a suspected shooter. One gunshot victim showed up to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s...
Ensuring Arnold representation emerges as issue in changing how New Kensington-Arnold elects school board
Ensuring that Arnold residents have representation on the New Kensington-Arnold School Board may be a consideration as the board discusses doing away with the district’s voting regions in favor of at-large elections. A committee of the board discussed the issue during a meeting Thursday. School board Vice President Terry Schrock...
Catholic leaders hope new program encourages families to start, continue religious education
The principal of a New Kensington Catholic elementary school hopes an effort to keep children in religious education after eighth grade will make others more inclined to start one. The Diocese of Greensburg announced a joint program with the Diocese of Pittsburgh called “Building a Bridge,” intended to connect grade-school...
Plum renews contracts with assistant superintendent, chief financial officer
The Plum School Board has renewed contracts for two district administrators. The new contracts for Assistant Superintendent Denise Sedlacek and Ryan Manzer, chief financial officer, began Tuesday. Sedlacek’s three-year agreement runs through June 30, 2026, while Manzer’s five-year agreement is through June 30, 2028. Each of their salaries were set...
Wesley Family Services to offer wellness programs at new center in New Kensington
Programs open to the general public are expected to be offered starting in November at a new wellness center at Wesley Family Services’ Pioneer Apartments in New Kensington. Those programs could take the form of blood pressure screenings and vaccine clinics, financial workshops, meditation classes and yoga sessions, said Heather...
Pennsylvania residents getting health insurance through Medicaid have to reapply, state secretary says
An important deadline is looming for millions of Pennsylvania residents who get health insurance through Medicaid that, if missed, could result in losing coverage. But even if residents find themselves no longer eligible for Medicaid, there is another way to keep coverage. Dr. Val Arkoosh, secretary of the state Department...
Arnold residents will get a chance to comment on manager’s firing after the fact
Arnold residents will get an opportunity to comment on last week’s firing of the city’s manager, but they’ll have to wait until next month. The firing of Mario Bellavia will be on the agenda for council’s regular meeting Oct. 10, Solicitor Jaclyn Shaw said. But Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel...
