James Engel stories, Page 14
Allegheny Valley School Board seeks millage increase for next school year
The Allegheny Valley School Board moved forward on a tax hike of around 2% on Tuesday ahead of a formal vote next week. The revenue generated from the millage increase would go toward a projected $3.6 million budget deficit, though the majority of that deficit would be made up using...
7 candidates compete for 4 seats in Allegheny Valley School Board primary
Four seats are open on Allegheny Valley School Board this year, and seven candidates are vying to fill them. Each of the seven has cross-filed to appear on both Democratic and Republican primary ballots May 20. Only one, Nino Pollino, is an incumbent. The top four voter-getters from each party...
Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum to close this summer for renovations
Nesbit’s Lanes, a longtime bowling alley in Plum, will be closing until August for renovations after a tree fell on the building in February. A statement on the bowling alley’s Facebook page said the building would shutter for “safety and liability reasons” beginning May 19 for up to two and...
Site of former Springdale power plant to be sold to data center developer
After a yearslong saga that resulted in the implosion of two towering smokestacks and the two-part demolition of a massive boiler house at the former Cheswick Generating Station, the property owner says the site will likely become a data center. Scott Reschly, president of Charah Environmental Redevelopment Group, the Louisville-based...
Plum to host 1st ‘Walking and Wagging’ community dog walk
Dozens of paws will march down Mike Thomas Way in Plum this month for the borough’s first annual “Walking and Wagging” community dog walk. Totaling just over a mile, the walk will take attendees and their canine companions from the Plum Municipal Building parking lot to Renton Road and back,...
Springdale building lays demolished after partial collapse
A Springdale building that partially collapsed on Sunday now lays entirely demolished. The building, located at 841 Railroad St., was owned by R.I. Lampus Co., a concrete supplier located across the street. It currently sits in a heap surrounded by chain-link fences. Springdale Emergency Coordinator Bruno Moretti said no one...
A week after severe storm, nearly all have power restored
Almost everyone who lost power a week ago during a wave of severe storms has had power restored. Almost. Duquesne Light, the biggest power supplier to Allegheny and Beaver counties, said a “small subset” of households still were in the dark but should have their electric service restored Wednesday. The...
Agan Park closed indefinitely in wake of heavy storms
Downed and hanging trees have left Agan Park closed indefinitely after heavy storms battered the area last week. The park is an extensive green space along Riddle Run Road in Springdale Township but is jointly managed by Springdale and Cheswick boroughs. Cheswick Council President Brad Yaksich said borough public works...
Days after devastating storm, thousands hold on without power
Rico, 71, and Chris Fontana, 68, were left trapped in their powerless Allegheny Township home after Tuesday’s violent storm downed a large pine tree across their driveway and scattered wires, trees and a transformer across the nearby road. Living on well water, the Fontanas were left with dry shower heads...
Plum School Board primary election packed with incumbents, familiar faces
Of the 11 candidates vying for four open seats on Plum School Board this year, only three have never sought or held office before. Three of those running are incumbents, one was recently appointed, two are previous office holders, and two ran and lost in past elections. Both Democrat and...
Around 150,000 remain without power as crews continue restoration work
Though power was restored to more than 300,000 customers in Western Pennsylvania since Tuesday’s severe weather, about 150,000 remained without electricity in the region as of 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. And Duquesne Light and West Penn Power said it will be at least several more days before power is restored...
New zombie rock musical ‘Romero and Juliet’ features local actors
A new musical is set to hit the stage at Saint Vincent College in Unity next month. But according to its lyricist and co-creator Scott Logsdon, the whole concept is the result of a typo. Several years ago, while corresponding with a friend about auditions for a showing of Shakespeare’s...
For those without power, experts offer next steps after severe storms
As hundreds of thousands go without electricity after severe storms battered the region, officials and experts have begun weighing in with guidance about how to proceed. Though some customers have had their power restored since the storm, Duquesne Light said it could take five to seven days to fully restore...
Western Pa. buildings offer charging stations, supplies, shelter after storms
Municipalities and local organizations around the region have stepped up as shelters, offering residents a place to charge their devices and get assistance in the wake of Tuesday’s severe storms, which left thousands without power. People can find electricity at: Plum Borough Municipal Building is operating on a generator and...
Plum School Board moves forward on proposed budget with 2.26% tax hike
Plum real estate owners will likely be paying 2.26% more in property taxes to the school district next school year. The Plum School Board on Tuesday approved its tentative 2025-26 budget, which would increase the tax rate from 23.3896 mills to 23.9159 mills. That increase is partially the result of...
Police confrontation in Lower Burrell ends with no arrests
After a brief confrontation on Tuesday, Lower Burrell police detained four people from a home on Vance Drive before later releasing them. Lower Burrell Detective Steve Aulerich said no arrests were made, but police continue to investigate. He would not give a reason for the warrant’s execution. Upon arrival, the...
Work progresses on new Salina Bridge
Workers have begun to place girders on the new Salina Bridge, which crosses the Kiski River to connect Bell and Kiski townships. The new bridge is being built 100 feet downstream from its nearly 120-year-old counterpart. According to PennDOT assistant construction engineer Mark Kmetz, crews will begin pouring the bridge’s...
Plum youth baseball and softball teams kick off season with 1st games
The Plum Baseball and Softball Association held its first games of the season on Monday, April 21 at the Plum Creek Municipal Ballfields after a day of rainy weather. Though the games unofficially kicked off the season, more formal opening day celebrations will be held Sunday, May 4, which will...
Cheswick turns to AI program to assess road conditions
Cheswick Council approved a contract that will enable the borough to scan its roads with AI-powered software to assess conditions and determine future projects. The borough inked the $12,000, three-year contract with German software company Vialytics for its RoadAI scanning program. To perform the scans, borough workers will attach a...
After years of turmoil, Lower Valley Ambulance Service does ‘complete 180’
When Terry Anzaldi took over as EMS chief of Lower Valley Ambulance Service in October 2023, he said reordering the foundering service was like putting together pieces of a puzzle. In 2022, the service rang the alarm bells, saying it had entered a “financial crisis” and needed relief from local...
Major building projects at Plum schools proceed as initial designs emerge
The Plum School Board moved forward with an extensive renovation and addition process at two district schools during a special meeting Wednesday night. The board heard a presentation from Robinson-based HDG Architects with updates on project bids at Plum Middle School and planning progress on a large addition project at...
Plum School Board appoints new member after 9 rounds of voting
It took nine rounds of voting, but the Plum School Board appointed a new member during a special meeting Wednesday night. Beverly Purcell, 65, will serve the remainder of the term left by Devin Adams, who resigned last month after moving out of the district. Now retired, Purcell served nearly...
Plum approves ordinance to restrict parking around Oakmont Country Club during U.S. Open
Plum Council adopted a temporary ordinance April 14 that will apply parking restrictions in the area around Oakmont Country Club during the upcoming U.S. Open tournament. The ordinance, which restricts nonresident street parking in the area, will affect around a dozen streets and more than 200 households for a week...
Family reports 18-year-old hiker in stable condition after fall from cliff in Harrison Hills Park
First responders spent around two hours helping to rescue an 18-year-old woman on Wednesday who reportedly fell off a cliff in Harrison Hills Park, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. Emergency crews arrived around 2:50 p.m. and could be seen pulling the woman from a hillside. She seemed to fall...
Springdale police move to 12-hour shifts after trial run
After getting approval from the borough on Tuesday, Springdale police officers will be operating on a 12-hour schedule for the next six months. Springdale police Chief Derek Dayoub said the officers already have been working 12-hour shifts for the last 60 days as a trial run before the borough agreed...
