Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 87
3 Republicans in contention for 2 Fawn supervisor seats in primary election
Three Republicans are facing off in the May 18 primary for two seats on Fawn’s board of supervisors. The seats up for election this year are held by the current chairman, Republican David Montanari, and Democrat David Norris. No candidates will appear on the Democratic ballot. Norris withdrew from the...
UPMC covid vaccine clinic at Valley High School to be open to community
An upcoming covid vaccination clinic at Valley High School in New Kensington will be open to the community, acting Superintendent Jon Banko said Friday. UPMC will conduct the clinic from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school’s gymnasium. In addition to residents, it will also be available to district...
Harrison supports nonprofit’s effort for kayak launch parking lot grant
An effort to get state money to build a parking lot for a kayak launch on the Allegheny River in Harrison will go forward. Township commissioners voted unanimously at a special meeting Wednesday to support the nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront, which will work with the township to apply under...
Valley High School teacher accused of sending inappropriate texts to another student
New Kensington police have filed additional charges against a New Kensington-Arnold School District music teacher who was accused last week of sending sexual text messages to a student. Police charged Sean Timothy O’Neil, 34, of Vandergrift, with corruption of minors and harassment in the latest case. In a criminal complaint...
ATI, United Steelworkers at odds over union’s latest contract offer
The United Steelworkers union on Thursday said it presented a new contract offer to Allegheny Technologies Inc. in an attempt to end their ongoing strike. Instead of bringing the two sides closer to a resolution, ATI said the union’s latest proposal is pushing them further apart. In a bargaining bulletin,...
2 Republicans vie to replace Democratic Harrison commissioner
Two political newcomers are facing off in the Republican primary to replace a Democratic Harrison commissioner who is not seeking reelection. Jim Erb is opposing Dylan Seelnacht in the May 18 primary for the 4th Ward seat now held by township Commissioners Chairman Bill Heasley. No candidates will appear on...
Student artwork displayed at Valley High School
Kimberly Osheskie doesn’t want a pandemic to stop the New Kensington-Arnold community from seeing the artistic talents of students at Valley High School. “With covid, the art show is not able to be displayed at the art gallery at Penn State New Kensington like in a typical year. And people...
Tarentum planning fourth contract for building demolitions
Tarentum is looking to award a fourth contract for building demolitions. Council approved seeking bids to tear down buildings at 243/245 W. Seventh Ave., 339 W. 11th Ave., and 532 Third Ave. Earlier this year, council awarded contracts to Eveready Contracting, Minniefield Demolition Services and Siegel Excavating to tear down...
New Kensington Council rejects use of office building for counseling services
New Kensington Council has denied a nonprofit’s request to use an office building on Industrial Boulevard for its outpatient mental health and substance abuse counseling services. Southwest Behavioral Care, an affiliate of Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, sought the city’s permission to use the vacant building at 400 Industrial Blvd., about...
New Kensington Council approves liquor license transfer to former Kings building
New Kensington Council approved a liquor license transfer for a Lower Burrell restaurant that is planning to move into the former Kings restaurant in New Kensington. Council approved the request from Bridged Hospitality Group after a public hearing Monday. Bridged Hospitality owns the Around Back Restaurant & Bar, currently on...
Judge rules in favor of company wanting to place billboard at Tarentum Bridge
An Allegheny County judge ruled in favor of a company wanting to place an electronic billboard at the Tarentum end of the Tarentum Bridge. Common Pleas Judge Joseph M. James reversed the decision of the borough’s Zoning Hearing Board denying a permit application by America First Enterprises, doing business as...
Democrats in 3-way race for Tarentum mayor
Eric Carter is facing two challengers in the upcoming Democratic primary to remain mayor of Tarentum. His opponents should not be strangers to most people in town. Carrie Fox is a current council member who was last elected in 2019 and a former Highlands School Board member. Robert Lang had...
Riverfront group seeks Harrison’s support for kayak launch parking lot grant
Harrison has until the end of May to apply for a state grant that would go toward creating a parking lot for kayakers using a nearby launch on the Allegheny River. Friends of the Riverfront would prepare and submit the paperwork, said Courtney Mahronich-Vita, director of trail development for the...
‘Fat Cat’ looks to help groups make scratch with fundraising hoagies in New KensingtonVideo
After 30 years of slinging subs in Harmar, the Fat Cat has come home to New Kensington. Jon “Fat Cat” Wildi bought a building at 832 Fifth Ave., not far from where, as a teen, the lifelong New Ken resident had his first job as a parking lot attendant. There,...
Valley High School teacher accused of sending sexual texts to student
A Valley High School teacher is accused of sending inappropriate sexual text messages to an underage student. Police charged Sean Timothy O’Neil, 34, of North Apollo with felony counts of disseminating explicit sexual materials to a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and criminal use of a...
ATI announces $7.9M 1st quarter loss as Steelworkers strike continues
Allegheny Technologies Inc. reported a $7.9 million loss in the first quarter of 2021, but the company said it anticipates demand for its jet engine products will increase as air travel recovers from the covid pandemic. “Our first-quarter financial results exceeded expectations, benefiting from the ongoing modest recovery in jet...
Harrison awards annual road project to Tresco Paving, 15 streets to be repaved
The lowest bid for Harrison’s 2021 road paving project came in about 12% less than township officials expected the project to cost. With a price of a little more than $377,000, Tresco Paving was the lowest of 11 bidders for the work to mill and resurface 15 roads in the...
Arnold traffic stop leads to 3 arrests, seizure of fentanyl, heroin
A traffic stop in Arnold resulted in three arrests and a large amount of fentanyl and heroin being found in the vehicle and in rooms at a New Kensington hotel, according to Arnold police. Police filed drug charges against Bryce Keron Lee Jr., 34, of Pittsburgh’s West Wood neighborhood; Didiel...
Tractor-trailer, train collide at Colfax Street crossing in Springdale
For the second time in less than a month, a freight train and a tractor-trailer collided Wednesday morning at the Colfax Street crossing in Springdale. The incident was reported at 8:43 a.m., an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said. No injuries were reported. The flatbed, belonging to a third-party hauler, was...
PennDOT announces traffic stoppages on Tarentum Bridge
Traffic stoppages lasting up to 15 minutes are planned Wednesday on the Tarentum Bridge, according to PennDOT. The stoppages will occur as needed in each direction between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., PennDOT said. PennDOT said crews will be performing jacking operations on the bridge while traffic is stopped between...
ATI changes contract proposal following expiration of offer to United Steelworkers
As promised, Allegheny Technologies Inc. has changed its contract offer to the United Steelworkers after the striking union did not accept the company’s proposal by a Monday deadline. ATI had given the union until 5 p.m. Monday to accept the four-year offer made April 20 or else it would replace...
Police: New Kensington woman stabbed man who wanted to leave her apartment
A New Kensington woman is accused of stabbing a man twice early Monday in a domestic dispute. City police charged Nicole Brundage, 35, of Freeport Road with aggravated and simple assault in connection with the incident. A criminal complaint filed against Brundage said police went to her apartment shortly before...
Highlands reprising spring musical, ‘Mamma Mia!,’ for limited audiences
No matter the size of the audience, Liberty Vasey is going to give her all when she takes the stage as Donna in Highlands High School’s production of “Mamma Mia!” The musical will not be open to the public for the performances April 30, May 1 and May 2. The...
AHN, UPMC change dates for closing, opening New Kensington facilities
Allegheny Health Network and UPMC have each updated plans for their facilities in New Kensington. AHN is delaying closing its outpatient center in the former Citizens General Hospital, spokeswoman JoAnne Clobus said Friday. The center, offering laboratory, medical imaging and cardiology services, was originally slated to close on May 11....
Beltzhoover fires damage 4 houses, considered suspicious
Two separate fires in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood early Friday morning are considered suspicious, police said. The first fire in the 400 block of Beltzhoover Avenue was reported just after 1:15 a.m. Police said the fire started in an unoccupied house and spread to another next door, and both were a...
