James Engel stories, Page 7
Plum fire chiefs, borough expect stipend program to continue
Plum officials say they’ll likely carry on next year with a program that offers stipends for volunteer firefighters in the borough. The stipends — $15 per hour — were approved by the borough in January and were first distributed in March. Holiday Park VFD Chief Jim Sims said the stipends...
Pa. attorney general charges Pine woman for alleged forged signatures for school board election
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a Pine woman on Thursday for allegedly forging at least four signatures on primary nomination paperwork for a Pine-Richland School Board candidate. Kayla Van Blargan, 36, is charged with forgery, perjury and several other related offenses. According to the Attorney General’s Office,...
Repairs at Vandergrift’s Casino Theater set for completion by end of year
Another piece of the decades-long repair efforts at Vandergrift’s Casino Theater is set to wrap up by the end of the year, borough engineer Lucien Bove said. He said crews will complete the second phase of a restoration project that will see sections of the building’s masonry repointed, windows replaced...
Community rallies to support Plum family after move-in fire
When Jamin and Bethany Gardner parked a box truck in the driveway of their new Plum home, the couple never imagined they would lose nearly all their possessions before they could even move in. The Gardners, who were preparing to settle into a modest brick house on Garlow Boulevard on...
Buffalo Township man accused of sexually assaulting girl turns himself in
Derrian Alcorn, the Buffalo Township man accused of raping an intoxicated 15-year-old girl last year, turned himself in Wednesday for his preliminary arraignment. Alcorn’s defense attorney, Duke George Jr., said his client is in the process of posting the $100,000 bond set by District Judge Jack D. Ripper. Alcorn is...
Buffalo Township man accused of sexually assaulting drunk 15-year-old girl
A Buffalo Township man is facing charges, accused of raping an intoxicated 15-year-old girl more than a year ago after supplying her with alcohol. Derrian Alcorn, 27, is charged with seven felony sex crimes, including rape by forcible compulsion, rape of an unconscious victim and corruption of a minor. Police...
Everything we know about the proposed Springdale data center
Since developers revealed the initial details of a proposed data center at the former site of the Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale in August, the community has come armed with questions about the project. Now, it seems like a vote on the project is finally set to take place in...
TV shoot delayed to Friday in Vandergrift
Filming has been set back a day in Vandergrift for a new Apple TV+ series, tentatively titled “Parallax.” Crews were originally set to film throughout the borough’s downtown Thursday, but series publicist Shelly Williams said cameras will likely now roll Friday. Williams did not give a reason for the delay,...
Springdale residents remain skeptical of data center plan
Many Springdale residents aren’t sold on a massive proposed data center in their borough. Dozens showed up for a standing-room-only planning commission meeting Wednesday to probe developers and express concerns about the project. By the end of the night, the commission decided to delay its decision on whether Springdale Council...
Springdale Planning Commission holds off on data center decision
Amid a packed room of residents, Springdale’s Planning Commission postponed a vote to recommend borough council approve or deny a developer’s application to build a massive data center. The commission will reconvene on Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. to make its final decision. The decision to hold off came after...
U.S. Steel says it will invest $100 million in Braddock works
After its acquisition by Japanese giant Nippon Steel earlier this year, U.S. Steel says it will invest $100 million in a new slag recycler at its Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. The company said in a release it has submitted an “air construction permit” to the Allegheny County Health Department,...
Concert at Plum amphitheater could be the 1st of many
An acoustic concert scheduled at the Plum Municipal Center’s amphitheater could be just the first of several shows at the venue. The concert, set for Oct. 2, will feature local quartet Acoustic Union. In addition to serving as a social event for the community, the show also will be a...
Springdale plans to issue survey on future of Vets Field; potential changes to come next year
Springdale Manager Terry Carcella said he doubts football will ever be played at Veterans Memorial Field again. But borough officials plan to collect community feedback on what residents would like to see at the site ahead of potential changes next year. About two dozen residents came together last week for...
Springdale to resume data center conversation this week
Springdale’s Planning Commission will likely offer its recommendation to borough council to approve or deny an application to build a massive data center this week. Residents and commissioners will again hear from developers seeking to construct the center at the former site of the Cheswick Generating Station at 6:30 p.m....
Plans to revamp Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Riverfront Park could ‘rejuvenate’ community
Major changes are on the horizon at Cheswick’s Rachel Carson Riverfront Park as the borough prepares to present its new master plan to community members. Developed using community input over the course of more than a year, the plan seeks to completely redesign the green space with numerous improvements and...
South Buffalo, East Franklin want local input in community survey
South Buffalo and East Franklin officials are seeking advice from community members through a survey. The questionnaire is part of a joint comprehensive plan in the works for the two Armstrong County townships. Comprehensive plans, which municipalities typically revisit each decade, serve as a general roadmap for the goals and...
Apple TV+ series to film in downtown Vandergrift this week
Film crews will be active in and around Vandergrift on Thursday for the production of an upcoming AppleTV+ series, tentatively titled “Parallax.” In a letter addressed to residents, the crew said the filming would result in temporary no-parking zones 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout chunks of downtown, mostly around...
Neighbors ‘sick’ after Cadogan woman charged in the deaths of 4 infants
Jessica Mauthe spent nearly her whole life living in a rented home on Oak Avenue in Cadogan, where her father also previously lived. Though she mostly kept to herself, neighbors said nothing seemed abnormal about the goings-on at the white two-story home — until Sept. 13. That’s when the owner...
Freeport Fire-EMS hires 1st EMS chief in its history
Freeport Fire-EMS will soon have a new EMS chief — the first in the department’s history. Jamison Hughes is set to take on the role in October. Currently a paramedic in Monroeville, Hughes, 48, said he’s worked in emergency services for 30 years. The Indiana County resident is hoping to...
Road work to limit local sections of Route 28 to single-lane traffic
Motorists using Route 28 will face several traffic restrictions next week. Beginning Monday PennDOT will have overnight ramp closures on northbound Route 28 in Etna and Pittsburgh, weather permitting. To allow guide rail, pavement marking, and sign installation work ramps will close overnight according to the following schedule: • Northbound...
Ford City woman charged again after 4th dead infant found in home she rented
Investigators say they’ve found a fourth dead infant in the Cadogan house Jessica Mauthe had been renting after police searched it last week. Police initially reported three dead infants in the residence, but new charges filed against Mauthe accuse her of concealing an additional corpse. Mauthe’s former landlord located the...
Springdale to impose fines for vacant, abandoned properties
After passing a new ordinance Tuesday, Springdale may soon begin fining owners of vacant or abandoned properties in the borough. Springdale Borough Manager Terry Carcella said it’s part of an “aggressive” new plan to combat neglected properties in the area. “By doing nothing, that won’t work for the borough,” he...
Allegheny Valley to construct handicapped parking lot at new turf field
Allegheny Valley School District says it’s in the initial stages of building an ADA-compliant parking area near its new artificial turf field across Butler Road from Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School. Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said the district is in discussions with FieldTurf USA, the contractor that recently installed the turf, to...
Butler County man accused of raping young girl recharged after previous case dismissed
Butler County authorities have refiled charges against a Winfield man, accused of raping a young girl, after a previous case was dismissed before trial. Penn Township Police say Michael Garrett Saunders, 49, repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl when she was 11 and 12 years old. Saunders was initially arrested in...
Plum seeks bids for O’Block Elementary addition, renovations; rough price tag: $28 million
After years of planning, the Plum School District has begun seeking bids for its large-scale addition and renovations to O’Block Elementary School. The district released the project for bidding with a deadline for contractors to submit proposals set for Oct. 7. The school board will award contracts Oct. 28. The...
