James Engel stories, Page 8
As Plum flushes fire hydrants, borough warns residents may experience discolored water
Starting later this month, Plum residents may see discoloration in their water. That’s because the borough’s municipal authority will begin its hydrant flushing program on Sept. 29 to ensure all fire hydrant systems are clean and operational. The program will extend until Nov. 26. No work will occur on the...
Plum to replace middle school water pump as building remains on ‘fire watch’
The Plum School District is working to replace a water pump that controls emergency sprinklers in its middle school after its pressure proved to be too low during routine testing. District Superintendent Rick Walsh said the pump, which had passed last year’s inspection, was old and had failed to fall...
Springdale seeking public input on future of Veterans Memorial Field
Springdale is looking for suggestions from residents about the fate of Veterans Memorial Field. A previously formed five-member committee, appointed by Springdale Council to study potential options at the field, will host a public hearing at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Springdale Borough Building. The field has been unused since...
Charlie Kirk’s slaying has left universities reviewing safety measures for campus events
Last September, Charlie Kirk fielded questions with Vivek Ramaswamy under a pop-up canopy in the Schenley Quadrangle as University of Pittsburgh students settled into their fall semester. Almost a year later, the right-wing influencer was shot dead in a nearly identical setup on the campus of Utah Valley University. As...
Plum hires new buildings and grounds supervisor
Alexa Verrico has been tapped as Plum’s new buildings and grounds supervisor. A Plum resident, she’ll be responsible for managing the borough’s public works crews; taking care of area parks; and upkeeping borough-owned facilities, such as the Plum Community Library and Plum Community Center. She’ll report to the borough’s director...
Allegheny Valley looks to replace old faucets after tests show unacceptable lead levels
After water from more than a dozen fixtures was found to have unacceptably high lead levels in Allegheny Valley schools, the district says it’s looking to replace parts to avoid future contamination. District Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said 15 sinks and older drinking fountains in Acmetonia Elementary School and one faucet...
Friendly pizza wager feeds Plum football after victory over Gateway
Plum earned more than just a win against longtime football rival Gateway last Friday night. The Mustangs ended a streak of 13 consecutive losses at the hands of the Gators. With the win, the team also secured a free batch of pizza courtesy of a friendly wager between local pizza...
Noise, traffic top of mind for Cheswick residents as data center project looms next door
In the end, Cheswick officials won’t have any say over the data center proposed next door in Springdale. But that didn’t stop more than two dozen borough residents from quizzing developers about the potential effects the project could have on their community. Concerns about noise pollution and traffic congestion took...
Tarentum animal rescue installs 24/7 microchip reader for lost pets
The public now can identify microchipped pets any time of the day with a new device installed by Tarentum-based animal rescue Paws Across Pittsburgh. The microchip scanner, located in front of the nonprofit’s rescue house at 413 E. Sixth Ave., allows users to inspect lost animals with on-site instructions. The...
Plum seeking resident input in survey on borough’s future
Plum officials want to hear from residents as they consider the long-term future of the borough. A recent survey made available to residents and taxpayers online at growingplumforward.com asks 23 questions about the most important issues and potential changes in Plum over the next decade. It’s part of the first...
Home may be total loss in Lower Burrell fire
There were no injuries reported in a two-alarm fire Monday afternoon in Lower Burrell. All occupants were already out of the home on Dakota Drive when firefighters arrived, according to Lower Burrell VFC #3 Fire Chief Brennan Sites. The fire, reported just before 1 p.m., was first thought to be...
Cheswick to host informational meeting on proposed data center
Cheswick residents will have a chance Wednesday to see the preliminary plans for a proposed data center just over the municipal boundary in Springdale. The borough will host an informational meeting at 6 p.m. at its municipal building with Brian Regli, a consultant working with Allegheny DC Property Co., the...
Gran Fondo cycling marathon brings international ‘big ride’ to Western Pa.
About 300 green-clad cyclists are set to make their way through Allegheny and Westmoreland counties as part of a bike marathon planned this month. The race, called Gran Fondo New York Pittsburgh, will begin and end in Monroeville after taking riders through a large loop of the Alle-Kiski Valley and...
Fire tears through upper floors of Brackenridge house
A late-night fire gutted the upper floors of a Brackenridge home on Saturday night. Fire crews responded to the blaze at the corner of McIntire Way and Hall Lane near ATI’s Brackenridge Works around 11:30 p.m., according to a volunteer at Pioneer Hose Company. Residents escaped the home, and no...
Brookville woman killed in Armstrong County ATV crash
State police say a woman died from injuries she suffered in an ATV crash in Armstrong County on Sunday. The crash occurred on private property just after 2 a.m. in Madison Township, according to police. Police identified the victim as Samantha Hetrick, 21, of Brookville. The cause of the crash...
Multi-vehicle crash briefly shuts down Tarentum Bridge
A crash involving three vehicles on Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington briefly shuttered the Tarentum Bridge in the early afternoon on Sunday. According to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher, the crash took place around 11:20 in front of the New Kensington Shopping Center. Minor entrapment was reported in at...
Greene County’s oldest Catholic church catches fire
A fire broke out at St. Ann Church — the oldest Catholic Church in Greene County — Saturday night, halting Masses and leaving the building damaged. In a release, the Diocese of Pittsburgh said the main body of the church appears to be intact, but certain adjoining areas suffered extensive...
Kennywood halts 21+ nights after repeated altercations at park
Kennywood is canceling its 21+ nights after altercations at the park, according to a statement from General Manager Ricky Spicuzza. The amusement park, purchased earlier this year by Atlanta-based Herschend, previously hosted late-night 21+ events on Aug. 22 and Friday night, Aug. 29. But physical altercations apparently broke out both...
Historic rivalry returns as Pitt and Duquesne football clash for first time in 86 years
The last time Pitt and Duquesne faced off on the gridiron, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president, Pittsburgh’s steel mills boomed and the Germans had just started World War II. That was Oct. 21, 1939, when the Dukes managed a stunning 21-13 victory over the Panthers. Eighty-six years later, the local...
Feds involved in investigation of Freeport Area teacher accused of sexually assaulting minor
Pennsylvania State Police say they’re sharing information with investigators at the Department of Homeland Security, which may result in federal charges against Jared Lampus, the Freeport Area teacher and former volleyball coach accused of sexually abusing a minor. Lampus, 50, of Buffalo Township is already facing a dozen state charges,...
Freeport Area teacher accused of sexually assaulting minor pleads not guilty, case heads to courtVideo
Jared Lampus, the Freeport Area teacher and former volleyball coach accused of having sexual contact with a minor, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the dozen charges leveled against him. His attorney, Kelvin Morris, asked District Judge Jack D. Ripper to throw out the charges — including rape — at the...
Plum organization to open new league for 4-year-olds to learn baseball basics
This fall, about 20 4-year-olds will hit the diamond in Plum to learn the fundamentals of baseball and softball. The effort is part of a new program called Learn to Play. Run by Plum Baseball and Softball Association, the league is meant to make space for younger players and get...
Allegheny Valley plans for parking, seating at new turf field
As crews place the finishing touches on Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School’s new artificial turf field, district officials say they’re preparing to manage crowds during the Dynamos’ inaugural football season at the site. According to Allegheny Valley School District spokeswoman Jan Zastawniak, the district will set aside several parking lots around...
Freeport appoints Buffalo Township resident as new manager
Freeport has a new manager — its second in borough history. Tina Ferringer, 56, is set to take on the role Sept. 2. A Buffalo Township resident, Ferringer has spent the last several years working as an administrative assistant at Armstrong School District. Originally from Indiana County, Ferringer is an...
Bishop blesses Freeport church steeple as parish bicentennial celebrations begin
Climbing more than 100 feet in a crane on Sunday, Bishop Larry Kulick offered his blessings on the newly repainted steeple of St. Mary, Mother of God church in Freeport ahead of the parish’s 200th anniversary. Joined by St. Mary’s pastor Rev. Rick Kosisko and painter Dan Thimons, the bishop...
