Haley Daugherty stories, Page 8
Leechburg Area School Board makes controversial hire, members face backlash
School boards usually get applause for hiring more teachers, but Leechburg Area School District directors are getting public criticism for who they didn’t hire. During a special voting meeting July 30, the board hired Makenna Goldinger as an emotional support teacher for kindergarten through second grade students. The vote was...
Penn Hills School District nets $136,495 rebate from Duquesne Light for lighting upgrades
Leaders from the Penn Hills community, school district, Duquesne Light Co. and Constellation Energy gathered July 31 at Linton Middle School’s Senator Jay Costa Media Center to present the school district with a nearly $136,500 rebate from Duquesne Light Company. The district successfully completed lighting retrofit projects across its elementary,...
Penn Hills police Chief Ronald Como reminisces on decades of service as retirement looms
Penn Hills police Chief Ronald Como has been protecting Penn Hills for almost 30 years. Beginning his career in 1996 as an officer in the town, the chief now is thinking about his next moves after announcing his intent to retire in August. His last day is scheduled for Aug....
Plum native named Arlington National Cemetery superintendent
John G. Knapp has a long history of serving his country. His next act of service will be as superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, a final resting place for many of America’s fallen heroes and prominent figures, symbolizing the nation’s history and honoring those who served. “Arlington National Cemetery serves...
Penn Hills man cultivates passion for life, travel through production company
James “Jazz” Byers calls himself a professional wanderer. It’s hard to find a more accurate title to fit the man who has biked across the United States and in the South Pole, went backcountry skiing in Antarctica and spent time in Chile, Germany, Taiwan, the Netherlands and other countries. Byers’...
Oakmont man faces vandalism charge after broken sprinkler floods police station’s cells
An Oakmont man is facing multiple charges, including a felony charge of institutional vandalism, after causing more than $5,000 in damage to the Penn Hills Police Department. According to a criminal complaint, after being detained about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, Daniel Brockhoff, 63, allegedly broke the overhead sprinkler in...
Pittsburgh Mills owners ordered to pay $1.8M in fines over parking lot, landscape citations
After months of mounting criticism over its crumbling parking lots and overgrown landscaping, the owner of the Pittsburgh Mills has been slapped with more than $1.8 million in fines stemming from dozens of maintenance violations. District Judge Michael Girardi handed down the penalties during a July 17 hearing after an...
Oakmont Lions band engages in acts of service through performances
For members of the Oakmont Lions Club Good Time Band, rehearsals and performances are filled with laughter and music. Worries are left behind for a couple of hours. For its listeners, the band offers an escape from the mundane. Laura Amos, 61, of Oakmont, the band’s director and vocalist, equated...
Charges filed in connection with vandalism of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s satellite office
A Sharon man is facing multiple charges in connection with the vandalism of the Hermitage office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly. According to Hermitage police Chief Adam Piccirillo, the department received reports of the vandalism just before midnight Friday. Expletives, disparaging accusations and derisive comments directed toward the Republican from...
Leechburg mayor to host coffee, idea session with residents
Leechburg Mayor Doreen Smeal is hoping to hear from residents. To do that, she will be starting what she hopes will be a series of Coffee with the Mayor events on Aug. 6. “I really think this is going to be sort of an experiment to see what kind of...
Leechburg residents told to lock vehicles after spate of theft reports
Police are reminding Leechburg residents to lock their cars after more than 20 unlocked vehicles in the borough were entered early Monday, borough police Chief Jason Schaffer said. The incidents occurred between midnight and 4 a.m., Officer Mark Pollick said. Thefts varied between vehicles, he said. “Some cash was taken,...
Westmoreland Museum of American Art entices new visitors with interactive Art Maze exhibit
Haddie Simpson, 6, of Irwin, was in charge of navigating the way through an art-covered maze Sunday afternoon. A pamphlet directed Haddie and her father, John Simpson, through multiple activities including a scavenger hunt inside an interactive art gallery called The Art Maze hosted by The Westmoreland Museum of American...
Avonmore officials assess damages after night of flash floods
Avonmore officials are beginning clean up efforts after a slew of rain caused flash flooding and damages to the borough. “We had a whole lot of rain in a very short amount of time,” said Avonmore Borough Manager Cindy Rupert. She said there was multiple cases of flash flooding in...
1 injured, 1 arrest in Pittsburgh SWAT situation
An arrest has been made after an early-morning SWAT situation in Pittsburgh’s Garfield neigborhood. Pittsburgh Police and SWAT reported to a home on Broad Street around 5:15 a.m. Sunday, in response to reports of a man barricaded inside the residence following a domestic situation. Police were unable to locate anyone...
1 dead after Washington County crash
A person is dead after an overnight crash in Washington County. According to a report from Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, the crash occurred on State Route 481 in Carroll Township before 3 a.m. Warco said the driver, who has not been identified yet, lost control of the vehicle while...
7 people taken to hospital after fire engine collision in Wilkinsburg
Several people were taken to the hospital after a collision between a vehicle and a fire engine in Wilkinsburg on Saturday morning. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, the crash occurred at the intersection of Graham Boulevard and William Penn Highway around 10:30 a.m. The fire truck was responding to an...
Police investigate vandalism at U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s office in Hermitage
Local and federal police forces have opened investigations after the Hermitage office of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly was vandalized overnight. According to a statement from Kelly’s office, the damage was discovered Saturday. Expletives, disparaging accusations and derisive comments directed toward the Republican from Butler were scrawled across office windows in...
Drilling work on Verona Road to begin Monday
Penn Hills commuters may experience some slow downs starting Monday. PennDOT announced drilling work will begin on Verona Road between Mt. Carmel Road and Lincoln Road. Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekeday through Aug. 6. The road will not be fully closed,...
1 dead, 1 injured in East McKeesport crash
A man is dead and another is in the hospital after a fatal two-vehicle crash Friday night in East McKeesport. Allegheny County Police reported to the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Penn Avenue just before 7 p.m. Both drivers were transported to an area hospital where one was pronounced dead,...
Community Supermarket in Harrison set to close
Harrison is losing one of its longest-standing grocery stores. Community Supermarket in Heights Plaza is set to close this fall. Richard Lubkin, asset manager of Heights Plaza Shopping Center, called the store a mainstay appreciated by thousands. “We are deeply disappointed that Giant Eagle affiliate, Community Market, has opted to...
Penn Hills School District welcomes therapy pilot program
Penn Hills School District officials are prioritizing mental health. Kristin Brown, director of pupil services, said Pittsburgh Mercy’s integrated school-based therapy program has been implemented in the district. “We wanted students to feel more comfortable,” Brown said. While the district has had school-based therapy until a contract ended during the...
Penn Hills establishes tax credit program for volunteer firefighters
Penn Hills leaders have officially established a volunteer service tax credit program. During council’s monthly voting meeting July 21, members voted to unanimously adopt a program that provides a tax credit for residents volunteering with one of the municipality’s fire departments. “We are the largest suburb in Allegheny County,” Mayor...
Oakmont parish looks to expand child care offerings
The Holy Family Parish-St Irenaeus is hoping to expand its day care services by transforming four classrooms. Quintin Kittle, an architect for Q K Architecture and representative for Holy Family presented proposed plans for the site during the Oakmont Council meeting last week while seeking conditional use for the property....
Curran Funeral Home prioritizes families, community during 50 years of business
Being a co-owner and funeral director at Curran Funeral Homes is a full-circle experience for James Kunkle, 48, of Vandergrift. Kunkle’s father, Arthur “Art” Kunkle, 70, of Apollo, purchased the funeral homes in 2002 after Gary Curran’s passing. Art Kunkle worked by Curran’s side for years before his death. Curran...
Verona manager resigns from post
Verona officials will soon be in the market for a new manager. Council member accepted Stefanie Woolford’s resignation during this month’s council meeting. During the meeting, council Vice President Trish Hredzak said Woolford’s last day will be Aug. 8. She was not present at the meeting. “Stefanie, on behalf of...
