Haley Daugherty stories, Page 5
5 candidates vie for 4 seats on Verona Council
There are four seats up for grabs on Verona Council. Voters in the Nov. 4 election will select four members from the five candidates seeking seats. The ballot is a mix of incumbents and newcomers. Democrats have four candidates on the ballot, while Republicans have one, according to the Allegheny...
Oakmont Recreation Board addresses concerns regarding field lights, some residents unconvinced
Some community members’ worries were put to bed Wednesday night after the Oakmont Recreation Board held a second public meeting regarding lighting at the sports fields at Riverside Park. Riverview High School uses the park fields for its home football, soccer, baseball and softball games. “The goal of this project...
6 candidates face off for 4 seats on Oakmont Council
There are four seats up for grabs on Oakmont Council. Voters in the Nov. 4 election will select four members from the six candidates seeking seats. Democrats have four candidates on the ballot, while Republicans have two, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list. Here is...
West Leechburg fire tax will be added to bills next year
West Leechburg residents will be seeing an addition to their tax bills starting next year. Borough council passed a 3-mill fire tax in a 6-0 vote. Council member Colleen Hoover was absent from the meeting. The West Leechburg Fire Department previously released a statement saying the department conducted multiple public...
Hope and doubt mingle as Leechburg Area announces taxation solution
Madeline Kilgore has lived in West Leechburg since January 2019. “When we first moved in, our taxes were high,” said Kilgore, 29. “As the years went on, they went up and up and up.” “From the time we moved here to now, we’ve had a $1,000 increase (in property taxes),”...
Oakmont making progress in Ann Street recycling program
Oakmont has a lot of trash, and it’s a great problem for Boyd Jones, director of business development and public relations for Michael Brothers Hauling. The borough partnered with the dumpster company about two years ago for a medley of recycling services the company offers. After operating in the Pittsburgh...
Leechburg Area pitches fix for taxing inequality
Leechburg Area School District residents may be seeing balanced property tax bills as early as next school year. District Business Manager Jake Chapla presented a method to balance property taxes between the district’s Armstrong County and Westmoreland County residents after years of uneven taxation. There are multiple calculation methods provided...
Where Pittsburgh Mills Mall stands after another storefront departure
The Pittsburgh Mills is reeling from another national retailer vacating the Frazer mall — the third instance of a major retailer leaving the complex in four months. Bath and Body Works opened its store in the Mills for the last time on Saturday. The company did not respond to requests...
Bridge to nowhere no longer, Leechburg bike trail adds extension
Just five months after the Leechburg Towpath Bike Trail was opened to the public, another half-mile has been added to take people into Hyde Park. The trail was created in two sections, with a milelong section built directly into the borough. This section of the project was headed by members...
Iron City Distilling in Creighton to host slate of October events
Iron City Distilling is pairing with a local candymaker for a sweet whiskey tasting event this month. Iron City Distilling is part of the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. compound off of Freeport Road in the Creighton section of East Deer. Here’s the lineup: • On Saturday, Oct. 11, the distillery and...
Pittsburgh Mills loses last national tenant as Bath and Body Works bids farewell
The Pittsburgh Mills will say goodbye to its last national retailer tenant this weekend. Employees confirmed Friday the last day to shop at the mall’s Bath and Body Works location will be Saturday. Bath and Body Works and Namdar Realty Group, which owns several companies that operate the mall, did...
Dark Hollow Woods Committee to host meet-and-mingle event for Oakmont community
The Dark Hollow Woods Committee wants to mingle with the Oakmont community. Leaders of the committee have been overseeing a plan to restore Dark Hollow Woods, a 40-acre nature reserve that has fallen victim to erosion and invasive species. A master plan detailing each phase of the restoration across 50...
State lawmaker introduces legislation to prevent school bus stops near homes of registered sex offenders
At least one Pennsylvania lawmaker wants school districts to be more careful when choosing school bus stops. A proposal from state Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, a member of the state House Education Committee, would prohibit school bus stops from being within 300 feet of a Megan’s Law offender’s residence. The...
Oakmont fire chief warns residents about second round of brush fire season
With the second round of brush fire season upon us, Oakmont Fire Chief Joseph Flanick is being proactive in stopping fires before they start. Factors such as dry weather, windy days and fallen autumn leaves creating a thick layer of dry fuel all contribute to the quick spread of brush...
West Deer officials weighing options for dog shelter expansion project
West Deer officials are narrowing expansion project options for the township’s dog shelter. The idea was born last year when operations moved from the township’s old building to its new location on Union Road. The shelter’s head volunteer, Barb Pasquale, 74, approached the township supervisors about expanding the shelter. It...
State lawmakers to host senior health fair in Oakmont
Pennsylvania Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and state Rep. Joe McAndrew, D-Penn Hills, want to talk health. The two state lawmakers will host a free health and senior fair on Oct. 9 in Oakmont to discuss community services and resources with attendees. Starting at 10 a.m., seniors from any community...
October brings more roadwork projects to Oakmont
As October approaches, commuters driving through Oakmont may see some roadwork as PennDOT wraps up a string of evening jobs in the borough. A. Folino Construction has been completing work for PennDOT’s ongoing road reconstruction throughout September. The work will continue into the beginning of October, impacting Allegheny Avenue and...
How AI is reshaping education — from teachers to students
When Emily Sanders worked as a high school English teacher, she never imagined being tasked with teaching her colleagues how to incorporate artificial intelligence into lesson plans. “I learned how to teach Shakespeare to kids,” she said. “I didn’t learn how to teach technology to teachers.” Fast forward and Sanders...
Oakmont parking ordinance survives at local level
An ongoing legal battle in Oakmont ended at the local level Thursday night, but the matter may not be closed. The Oakmont Zoning Hearing Board voted to deny a challenge to the validity of the borough’s newest parking ordinance filed by resident and local restaurant owner John Keefe. Both hearing...
Armstrong County announces furloughs, program cuts stemming from state budget delay
Armstrong County officials say the state’s budget fiasco is forcing furloughs and program cuts that could affect the county’s most vulnerable populations. Beginning Oct. 1, seven out of nine county senior centers will be closed, effectively furloughing eight center employees and eliminating about 500 senior meals. Only the Kittanning and...
West Leechburg Council considers fire tax; tax bill would increase by $60 a year for most homeowners
West Leechburg officials are exploring a new revenue stream to prop up the borough’s volunteer fire department. A new ordinance establishing a 3-mill fire tax to assist with equipment purchases is being considered. According to a statement on the borough’s social media, the millage rate is the maximum allowed under...
West Leechburg roads to close intermittently for gas line replacements
West Leechburg travelers can expect to encounter construction in the Hillville area of town. Borough officials announced in a social media post that there will be intermittent road closures and roadwork centered around West Street. The closures will allow Peoples Natural Gas and its contractor to replace natural gas lines...
Oakmont residents share support, opposition for adding field lights at Riverside Park
Members of the Oakmont Recreation Board heard differing opinions from residents on a topic that has been discussed for decades. While most comments were in support of adding lights to the sports fields at Riverside Park, where Riverview High School plays its home games, some folks were hesitant to support...
Pa. families risk higher premiums as leaders urge feds to save insurance tax credits
Indiana County resident Tony Gonzales and his wife are just two of the almost half a million Pennsylvanians who could be hit with sharp health insurance price hikes next year. The college professor said he and his wife enrolled in Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance exchange, about...
Longtime garden market in Penn Hills seeks public’s assistance
A Penn Hills vendor market housing 110 businesses is turning to the public for help to continue being a home for local artisans to showcase their wares. Jayme Visnesky, 48, and Darcy Kennedy, 54, co-owners of the Steel Goat Marketplace, have created a GoFundMe and set out a donation box...
