Haley Daugherty stories, Page 5
Oakmont Council looks to improve, prioritize efficiency
An internal restructuring of Oakmont Council is being discussed among its members to find a way to keep up to date with borough boards, the school district, committees, projects and other happenings. Council President Nancy Ride credited the idea to fellow members Amanda Pagnotta and Jennifer Paris. Pagnotta took the...
1st phase of Riverview football, baseball field lights project approved
The first phase of the Riverview Raiders field lights project is a “go” after a unanimous council vote Tuesday night. Oakmont Council approved the geotechnical investigation of the subsurface soil, rock and groundwater surrounding the field where the lights are proposed. It’s the first step required in the project and...
No-kill animal control making inroads with municipal contracts
After decades of being the only animal control business in much of the Alle-Kiski Valley and Westmoreland County, Hoffman Kennels is beginning to see competition from an upstart service in Indiana County. After announcing its first municipal animal control contract in December, no-kill shelter Whiskey Acres Animal Rescue and Sanctuary...
Craft distilleries make industry, community connections
Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, Western Pennsylvania was the epicenter of American whiskey production. Before the Prohibition era, Pennsylvania cornered the market in rye whiskey. It wasn’t until 2011 that a distillery returned to the state. Matt Strickland, the master distiller for Iron City Distilling, wants to honor that history....
Pennsylvania Cable Network to showcase Leechburg artist
The Leechburg Area Museum and Historical Society will be gracing the television screen once again. After previously filming for its show “It’s History!,” the Pennsylvania Cable Network is back for more. “There was just so much information,” said Larry Boehm, president of the museum board. Boehm said the museum’s first...
Riverview seeks to fill vacancy on school board
Riverview School Board is looking for a new member. Applications are being accepted to fill a board vacancy left after Roger Pogoda resigned. “This was not an easy decision,” Pogoda told the board at its meeting Monday. “I appreciate each and every one of you. … You can’t know if...
2 Deer Lakes principals receive recognition from Pittsburgh Penguins as top principals
Two Deer Lakes principals are receiving their flowers after years of hard work. Jodi Vanderschaaff, East Union Intermediate Center principal, and Samantha Abate, Deer Lakes Middle School principal, were two of 15 Allegheny County administrators awarded as Pittsburgh Penguins Most Valuable Principals. Vanderschaaff is in her seventh year as East...
Riverview administrator receives recognition from Penguins as top principal
David Turk is getting his moment in the limelight. A man of many hats, Turk is Riverview’s junior high principal, the district’s data analyst and communication specialist. He is also charged with regularly updating the district’s social media accounts and website. Turk is in his fourth year with the district...
Ticket sales kick off for Pittsburgh Brewing’s annual St. Patrick’s Day event
Ticket sales have opened for Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. In the third year of the event, the party — dubbed Irish City Celebration — has become a staple in the East Deer community. In 2025, around 2,500 people spent their Saturday enjoying live music, food trucks...
Long-awaited funding obtained for Riverview football field lights
Let there be light, at least on the Riverview Raiders football and baseball fields. After years of ongoing discussion and funding efforts, Oakmont officials have secured enough money to carry out a lighting project at Riverside Park, where the Raiders play their home football, soccer and baseball games. The lights...
Mechanical malfunction leads to Penn Hills school bus fire
Penn Hills School District is a bus short after a morning bus fire. Penn Hills police and fire companies reported to the intersection of Frey and Universal roads just before 9 a.m. Friday. According to a post from Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Company No. 7, the fire was “well involved”...
Pittsburgh police locate 2 girls after being last reported in the Vandergrift area
Pittsburgh police have located two missing Pittsburgh girls who had been missing for almost 24 hours. Angela Beer, 14, and Roxy Petruzzi, 10, were found safe Thursday night. They were reported last seen in their Beechview neighborhood on Wednesday at 10 p.m., police said. According to a Thursday Facebook post...
Many Alle-Kiski homeowners paying more in taxes, service fees this year
After a year of school district tax hikes, Alle-Kiski Valley residents largely got a break from their municipalities, most of which avoided tax increases for 2026. That doesn’t mean they’re paying less to live in the Valley, though. While only four of the Alle-Kiski Valley’s municipalities raised taxes for this...
East Deer bakers have a sweet mission
Michael and Brittany Eckert have long been committed to giving back to their community. Be it through their nonprofit, Community Hope Project, or their bakery, Simply Tasteful Creations, the East Deer couple never stops trying to find ways to help others. Michael’s latest endeavor is Colossal’s Greatest Baker competition, a...
Penn Hills mayor challenges interim manager appointment process
After the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, Penn Hills remains without a manager. Mayor Pauline Calabrese announced she filed an emergency injunction to stop what she claims is an “unlawful appointment process” of an interim municipal manager. The need for a full-time manager comes after a Dec. 15 council meeting where...
Oakmont Council welcomes new and familiar faces for 2026
Oakmont Council underwent its annual shuffle on Jan. 5. Newcomers James “Jim” Parsons and Charles Fox were sworn into four-year seats on council alongside returning council members Amanda Pagnotta and Isaiah Wilson. After taking her oath of office earlier in the day, newly reelected Mayor Sophia Facaros swore in the...
Oakmont looks into new technology for busy intersection
Travelers through Oakmont might be able to get to their destinations faster come 2027. The borough is beginning a project to update the traffic light system at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard, Allegheny Avenue and Hulton Road. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the area has long been a headache...
ATV, UTV permit process streamlined for Gilpin, Bethel, Parks townships
Starting this year, ATV and UTV riders in Gilpin, Bethel and Parks townships will have to do a little less work to prep for riding. According to a Facebook post Saturday from Gilpin Supervisor Charles Stull, an ATV or UTV permit acquired in Parks, Bethel or Gilpin is now valid...
Fire safety imperative as cold months increase heating use
Local fire departments are spreading awareness as the peak of “heating fire season” arrives. According to a recent Facebook post from Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department, December, January and February are the peak months for heating fires. Space heaters are most often involved in these incidents, the post said. “Stay safe...
Annual Oakmont Christmas tree collection hosted at new location, still benefits goats
Oakmont is changing the location for its annual Christmas tree recycling collection. Folks dropping off their trees are now asked to head to Creekside Park on Dark Hollow road. For the fourth year, the collection will supply tasty treats for the furry friends at Capricious Goats LLC. The group of...
Pittsburgh Brewing Co.’s football watch parties expand to college bowl games
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is kicking off the new year with a series of football watch parties. The East Deer brewery will host watch parties for college bowl games and the Pittsburgh Steelers game coming up in the first week of the new year. Kicking off on Jan. 1, the brewery’s...
Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge lights are all back on
Things are looking a little brighter in Leechburg. At least they are on the Leechburg Veterans Memorial Bridge. After more than a year of working with PennDOT to repair the lights on the bridge, borough leadership announced last month the bridge is now fully lit for travelers. “The lights going...
Community rallies around Leechburg business after Christmas vandalism
The Leechburg community wasted no time rallying around a local business after it was vandalized late Dec. 25. Honeybee and Co. on Market Street has received monetary and product donations after the shop’s “Lovely Little Locker,” a donation cabinet filled with free hygiene items, was vandalized. Destiney Beatty, who co-owns...
AI prompts increased human interaction at this cyber security company
In an age of artificial intelligence, Dennis Underwood is working it “old school.” He is prioritizing face time. Underwood is CEO of Cyber Crucible, a cybersecurity software company in Fox Chapel that focuses on preventing data theft, identity theft and ransomware. He said the introduction of mainstream AI in the...
Majority of job hunters turn to AI to help land next gig
Mallory Helbling turned to her own professional advice when she found herself laid off in December 2024. Among them: using artificial intelligence tools to assist in her job search as a career coach. “I was able to get my first contract role in February 2025,” said Helbling, 37, of Sharpsburg,...
