Haley Daugherty stories, Page 14
7-year-old BMX rider follows passion to championships
Arya “Arie” Kowal never needed training wheels. The 7-year-old began riding bikes when she was 2, racing toddler-friendly electric balance bikes. “It was a little too chaotic (at the track) with big dirt bikes there,” said Arie’s father, David Kowal. “I didn’t really like the atmosphere — a little dangerous...
Armstrong County Children, Youth and Family Services caseworkers get new deal, higher wages
After working without a contract for eight months, union members who work for Armstrong County Children, Youth and Family services and the county Assessor’s Office reached an agreement with the county that increases the starting wage to $20 an hour. That was a main sticking point during negotiations between the...
Paving project is the 1st step in Verona’s transportation improvements
Transportation is going to become smoother on Arch Street in Verona. A paving project is set to take place sometime next year, said borough Manager Stefanie Woolford. “The biggest change is paving and some revitalization,” Woolford said. She said the “revitalization” aspects of the project have remained undecided since borough...
Penn Hills students push for their voices to be heard
Time is being reserved at Penn Hills School Board’s next public meeting for a group of students to speak publicly after their comments were cut short during the Feb. 26 voting meeting. The Linton Middle School Media Center was filled with students and teachers seemingly wanting to show support to...
Sex offender arrested after being found near school in West Deer
A registered sex offender was arrested after allegedly being found on the campus of Deer Lakes School District’s East Union Intermediate Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mark Campbell, 60, of West Deer was seen by an officer walking on the front sidewalk of the school. Campbell is a lifetime Megan’s Law...
Penn Hills resident publishes book of poetry inspired by 15 years of riding bus to work
Michael Frachioni has been riding city buses for years. Unlike most who use the commute to zone out, listen to music or close their eyes for a moment, Frachioni uses that time to observe his fellow riders to find the subject of his next poem. A lawyer for PNC Bank...
Bird flu affecting more than 600 birds at Butler County farm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed Butler County’s first case of bird flu. The virus was detected in a backyard flock of 610 birds. The USDA confirmed the infection on Feb. 20. It classified the farm, which was not identified by the USDA, as a kind that does not...
Oakmont restaurant owners speak up against food truck ordinance
A proposed ordinance meant to regulate food trucks in Oakmont, while not encouraging their use, could have a negative impact on borough restaurants. The operation of food trucks not affiliated with borough restaurants is what brought about the proposed ordinance. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Oakmont officials have been contacted...
Firearms meet varying fates after moving through law enforcement
From 2022 to the end of last year, Pittsburgh police took in more than 2,700 firearms used in crimes, some confiscated via court order and others simply turned in by people who didn’t want them anymore. But only a little more than 570 of those guns were destroyed. Almost 650...
Oakmont zoning hearing raises more questions than answers for businesses
Questions remained unanswered and issues unresolved after a public hearing before the Oakmont Zoning Hearing Board was postponed Thursday night and rescheduled for a second time. The hearing was initially scheduled Feb. 8, after an ongoing legal battle involving various Oakmont businesses and the borough was to be brought in...
Vandergrift man apprehended after standoff facing multiple charges
A Vandergrift man is facing a slew of charges after being involved in a standoff with several police agencies Friday afternoon after he allegedly ran from police the day before. Westmoreland County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jen Shipley said 44-year-old Luis Brackman refused to surrender to deputies Friday when authorities attempted...
Riverview alum wins national teaching award
A Riverview alum has been recognized by the White House for her work in shaping the minds of young scientists and engineers. Ella Hereth, 42, of Indianapolis, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching — the highest honor a math or science teacher can receive...
Gilpin supervisors hear complaint about stopping livestreaming public meetings
The Gilpin supervisors are fielding complaints after deciding to stop livestreaming public meetings. According to a social media post by Supervisor Charles Stull, the issue of livestreaming meetings was raised by a “few board members” and added to the February voting meeting agenda for discussion. “Once on the topic, I...
Leechburg’s 175th anniversary celebration plans set for summer
The site of Leechburg, consisting of a land grant of 192 acres, has gone by a few different names throughout the years. According to Leechburg Area Community Development Corp., the area was first patented in 1783 by White Mattock, a native American chief. After the Revolutionary War, the area, first...
No injuries reported in pickup fire in Oakmont
No one was hurt when a pickup caught fire in Oakmont Wednesday morning. The fire at Hulton Road and 10th Street was reported just after 11 a.m. The driver was able to get out of the pickup before emergency services arrived, police Chief Michael Ford said. The fire was put...
Linton Middle School students to stage ‘SpongeBob Musical’
Linton Middle School students want to take people under the sea. Specifically, to a pineapple there and maybe the Krusty Krab. Director Alex Fitzroy and assistant director Christina Dadey are guiding a cast of 30 Linton students for “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition.” The show is based on the beloved...
Penn Hills teachers vote to authorize strike
Members of the Penn Hills Education Association have voted in favor of a strike authorization. According to a news release from the association, the vote Feb. 13 resulted in favor by a super majority after a year of bargaining with the district. “This is certainly not the point we wanted...
Riverview School Board pauses tuition discussions
It looks like Riverview School District won’t be accepting tuition students from outside the district anytime soon. School board members tabled any vote on the move until their March meeting, at the earliest, after administration officials said the idea seemed to have more risks than benefits. And the board doesn’t...
‘Very excited’: Oakmont residents and visitors react to Marc Fogel’s release
Residents and visitors in Oakmont were all smiles Tuesday when they heard fellow resident Marc Fogel was headed home. According to a statement released by the White House, U.S. officials negotiated a deal with Russian authorities that led to the release of Fogel, an American teacher. Fogel was sentenced to...
Public hearing rescheduled for ongoing legal battle between Oakmont businesses
A public hearing before the Oakmont Zoning Hearing Board was postponed and rescheduled Wednesday night after the hearing board questioned its own jurisdiction regarding a business’ occupancy permit. The hearing initially was scheduled after an ongoing legal battle involving various Oakmont businesses and the borough was to be brought in...
New Kensington man awaits sentencing for his role in massive, nationwide drug ring
A New Kensington man who pleaded guilty in December of being a key figure in a nationwide drug ring that imported massive amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico faces more federal drug charges. In the latest case, James Pinkston, 35, of New Kensington is awaiting his sentence after...
Oakmont parking ordinance attracts negative attention
A revised parking ordinance in Oakmont has garnered some negative attention from a resident who owns multiple businesses in the borough. During the borough’s most recent public meeting, Solicitor Jacob Leyland presented a draft of an amended ordinance defining legal parking. The draft would update parking requirements in the borough’s...
Oakmont Council discusses potential food truck, chicken, beekeeping ordinances
A pair of ordinances being considered by Oakmont Council would add some guidelines regarding food trucks, chickens and beekeeping in the borough. The first would allow for food trucks to operate throughout Oakmont, said borough Solicitor Jacob Leyland. The ordinance would permit trucks to be in all zoning districts, but...
PennDOT to host Real ID service event in Penn Hills
PennDOT’s Penn Hills Driver’s License Center will open its doors for a special Real ID service event Feb. 10. While having a Real ID in Pennsylvania is optional, travelers will be required after May 7 to present a Real ID to fly domestically, enter a military base and enter certain...
Love or not, there’s a pizza for you in Leechburg this Valentine’s Day
Steve Senjan and his wife, Jamie, never really liked Valentine’s Day. “You shouldn’t need a special day to show someone you love them or do something nice for them,” Senjan said. “You should be doing it a little more often than that.” Then it’s no surprise that, after opening the...
