Dillon Carr stories, Page 32
Penn Hills School District’s state allocation only a Band-Aid, board president says
The Penn Hills School District was able to dodge a property tax hike that would have thrust the district to the top-highest tax rate in Allegheny County, but many residents know budgets last only one year. By then, Earl Jenkins said he and his wife might move down South. “We...
Plum offers first farmers market
Plum Borough is sponsoring the first farmers market at Plum Creek Park on July 8. The event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature produce from Bridge’s Farm and Greenhouses, a local establishment that will sell a variety of fruits and vegetables. Other vendors include Pappy’s...
Line painting scheduled on several east suburb roads
PennDOT crews will paint lines on various roads in eastern suburban communities through July 6. The painting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day on the following roads: • Route 286 in Monroeville and Plum; • Routes 130, 30, 48 in various communities; • Route 2073, also...
Kennywood sets opening date for Steel Curtain roller coaster
Kennywood’s highly anticipated Steel Curtain roller coaster will open to riders July 13, the park said Friday. The West Mifflin park took the 4,000-foot ride for test spins this week, which had many coaster enthusiasts salivating on social media. The two-minute journey features nine inversions and tops out at 75...
Online survey launched to help understand Pittsburgh’s bus transportation needs
Pittsburghers for Public Transit recently launched an online survey and informational website designed to understand what Allegheny County residents want and need for bus transportation. The mapping tool, dubbed Beyond the East Busway, doubles as an informational website about PPT’s ongoing plans to improve bus transit. The survey will be...
Half-mile section of Hulton Road near Plum, Penn Hills set for longterm closure
A half-mile section of Hulton Road near the Plum and Penn Hills border will close until mid-November to allow crews to repair damaged by a landslide, PennDOT said Friday. Work on the $3.4 million project between Iowa Street and Michael Drive will start at 9 a.m. on July 1, depending...
Human Dignity Project art installation slated for Monroeville Public Library
A group involving Monroeville religious leaders and the library is looking for volunteers and monetary donations to kick start a project that includes an art installation and diversity education programming. The initiative, dubbed the Human Dignity Project, is expeted to have two components. The first involves building an art structure...
Plum students create elementary school garden
Around 15 Plum students got their hands dirty on a hot, summery day as they transplanted vegetables into a new elementary school garden. Center Elementary secured a grant from Grow Pittsburgh to construct 12 raised beds, a crushed limestone surface, seats and a shade structure as part of its latest...
Raccoon in Plum tests positive for rabies
A raccoon caught on Mt. Hood Drive in Plum has tested positive for rabies, making it the 16th rabid animal in Allegheny County since the start of the year. The Allegheny County Health Department announced the raccoon’s positive results for rabies Thursday. So far in 2019, there have been 13...
Center Road construction ongoing in Monroeville
A project that started last year on Center Road in Monroeville will last for another month. Jim Hunter, general manager of the Monroeville Municipal Authority, said the road is expected to be paved the first or second week of August, depending on the weather. The $850,000 project started last summer...
Penn Hills to host sewage and water town hall
Penn Hills will host a town hall meeting to discuss the municipality’s sewage and water bills on July 8. Rick Minsterman, a project engineer with Gateway Engineers, will lead the discussion with a presentation starting at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 102 Duff Road. Councilman John Petrucci, who is...
JCPenney to remain open during Century III Mall demolition
Century III mall’s lone tenant, JCPenney, said it would remain “for many years to come” despite the mall owner’s plans to demolish the mall and redevelop the property. “While we don’t provide specific details about our real estate activities, I can tell you that JCPenney is committed to keeping our...
Many patients celebrate UPMC-Highmark agreement, but some remain skeptical
Thousands of patients across Western Pennsylvania breathed a unified sigh of relief after hearing news of a deal being struck between UPMC and Highmark. Kathy and Jack Swanger watched Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s news conference live on television from their home in New Kensington. “In some ways, it’s like...
Monroeville presents summer concert series
The Tall Trees Amphitheater in Monroeville Community Park West will host a slew of bands through the summer. The summer concert series in the park will kick off June 30 with The Buffetman & The Fruitcakes, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band from Pittsburgh. A June 16 concert with swing band...
No tax hike in Gateway budget
Property owners in Gateway School District will not owe the district more in property taxes this year. The school board unanimously approved a $77.3 million spending plan, which reflects an increase of $1.9 million in expenditures from last year’s budget. The district plans to use $673,000 from its unassigned fund...
Monroeville’s former Westinghouse site to be restored
A restoration of the former Westinghouse Electric complex in Monroeville to its prior iconic state is planned by the firm that purchased the property last year. The $18 million purchase by Next Tier Connect, a partnership of New York investment firms Next Tier HD and RedBird Capital Partners, is the...
Monroeville fire departments hosting recruitment events
The Monroeville volunteer fire departments will sponsor recruitment events this weekend. All five fire stations will host events from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22-23. The stations are located at 122 Elmwood Street, 2601 Third Street, 4370 Northern Pike, 100 Seco Road and 600 Garden City Drive. Activities will...
Penn Hills school board president seeks help from federal government to relieve debt
The president of the Penn Hills school board has petitioned the federal government to seek relief from the district’s crippling debt. Erin Vecchio said she reached out to President Donald Trump via letter seeking relief from the $172 million of debt that she described as “being used for a kickback...
Gateway increases food prices
School food prices at Gateway will increase slightly heading into the new school year. Lunches in all schools will increase by 10 cents. The new prices are: • High School: $2.95 • Gateway Middle School: $2.85 • Moss Side Middle School: $2.70 • Elementary schools: $2.70 Breakfast meals in all...
3 write-in candidates for Penn Hills School Board successful
Three candidates ran successful write-in campaigns for a shot to serve on the Penn Hills school board. Meryl Thomas was the top vote-getter on both GOP and Democratic tickets, earning 630 votes. She secured 431 write-ins on the democratic side and 199 GOP votes. Jacqueline Blakey earned 517 total write-in...
Penn Hills contract with Hoffman Kennels extended
After a lengthy search for a new animal control company and coming up short, Penn Hills council has decided to continue contracting with the same company through November 2021. Council voted unanimously to enter into a 29-month contract with Hoffman Kennels. Penn Hills will be billed $2,000 per month. The...
Penn Hills primary write-in results revealed
There will be some challengers on the Republican ticket in the Penn Hills general election in November. John Petrucci, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor on the Democratic side in May, earned 375 write-in votes during the primary election, according to results from the Allegheny County Elections Division. The current councilman...
Richland man relishes opportunity to work at U.S. Open in Pebble Beach
A Richland man who traveled to Pebble Beach, Calif., last week to serve on the wellness team serving athletes and others during the U.S. Open said it was “pretty fantastic.” Brent Shealer, 41, a chiropractor with a practice in Wilkins, said he worked on caddies and athletes. Citing HIPAA rules,...
Penn Hills man faces 10 child porn charges
A Penn Hills man faces charges of child pornography after detectives found 10 downloaded videos of children between the ages of 10- and 16-years-old performing sexual acts on his computer. Anthony Palandro, 42, will face an Allegheny County Court judge for 10 counts of child pornography and the use of...
Wilkinsburg man’s preliminary hearing results in dropped charge of attacking a police dog
A Wilkinsburg man pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him after a Penn Hills traffic stop on June 7 turned violent as several officers and a police dog worked to detain him. Rayquane J. Bowles-Wilds, 21, was pulled over on Chaske Street in Penn Hills after officers said...
