Scott commissioners reelect Altman as board president
Scott’s board of commissioners reelected its leadership at a Monday, Jan. 5 meeting. Stacey Altman was selected to serve her third term as commissioners’ president, and Nick Seibel was named vice president. “We have had a good run together,” Altman said. “Our goal is always the same: try to keep...
Chartiers Valley Primary School students get history lesson while celebrating school’s 30th birthday
One by one, students in Shelley Territ’s class marched into Chartiers Valley Primary School’s large group instruction room and read snippets of their school’s history. With special shirts and plastic construction hats, each child read a page of the book they wrote this school year, “The Story of the Primary...
Lower Burrell manager gets contract renewed, 4% raise
Lower Burrell officials have approved a new contract agreement with city manager, Greg Primm. Council voted this week to retain Primm for the next two years. The contract calls for a 4% raise this year and next year. It provides an annual salary of $131,040 this year and $136,282 next...
Temporary light to be installed at intersection of Routes 56 and 356
A temporary fix at the Route 356 and 56 split in Allegheny Township will come early next week, officials say, but a permanent traffic light won’t be installed until this summer. The township plans to install a temporary, tethered light at the split on Monday, said Allegheny Township Supervisors Chairman...
Faces of the Valley: Lower Burrell teen making difference in local — and even global — politics
Sophia Walsh remembers being told that to become involved in politics, the local level is the best place to start. The Lower Burrell teen is already making her mark. Walsh, 17, was selected to be Lower Burrell’s junior council person, which is a nonvoting role but aims to provide a...
Charges held against man accused of shooting, killing his brother outside New Ken Elks Lodge
Criminal charges against the Arnold man accused of shooting his brother outside the New Kensington Elks Lodge in December were held for court following a preliminary hearing Thursday. District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. held charges to court against Steffon Ballard, 38, including criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault...
Arnold triple shooting remains under investigation
A triple shooting Wednesday night in Arnold remains under investigation, police Chief Rob Haus said. “It is an ongoing investigation, and there are many moving parts,” Haus said Thursday. “It is believed to have stemmed from a domestic incident.” Police responded to the 2100 block of Leishman Avenue in Arnold...
Burrell: No concern following bomb threat, evacuation of high school
No immediate concern was found following a bomb threat and evacuation of Burrell High School on Thursday morning, according to district officials. A statement from Superintendent Shannon Wagner said there was a message posted on a high school bathroom wall that read, “I am going to bomb this school.” The...
Scott police to add social worker to department’s ranks
Scott Township’s police department will have a new member, a social worker, on its team by summer. The township is hiring a full-time social worker to provide expert crisis intervention support in cases involving mental health, addiction, homelessness and several other complex social situations. “It is important for residents to...
‘Galentine’s Day’ event aims to support downtown New Kensington businesses
Downtown New Kensington businesses hope to capitalize on an unofficial holiday next month to support and grow businesses in the city. The New Ken Downtown Partnership will host a Galentine’s Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 7 along Fifth Avenue. A play on Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day is an...
Carnegie-based Better Business Bureau names new president
The Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, based in Carnegie, has a new leader. Kate Sullivan became the BBB’s president and chief executive officer Jan. 1, succeeding Warren King. King stepped down after 40 years with the BBB. The Better Business Bureau is a nonprofit that helps people find trustworthy...
New Lower Burrell public works contract calls for wage increases
A new five-year contract between Lower Burrell and its public works employees calls for wage increases each year. The agreement, approved by city council Monday, gives employees a 3.5% wage increase this year; a 3% increase in 2027, 2028 and 2029; and a 2.5% increase in 2030, according to City...
Pittsburgh police: Kidnapping in Plum related to Greenfield shooting
Police believe an armed kidnapping in Plum is connected to a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Eliza Durham said the department learned of the armed kidnapping reported to Plum police at
6:15 p.m. Wednesday. A family member told Plum police that his brother had...
3 men shot in Arnold gunfight, part of a domestic dispute, officials say
Three men were taken to the hospital after they were shot in Arnold on Wednesday night. Mayor Shannon Santucci said the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute. A report of shots fired came in just after 7 p.m. Wednesday in the 2100 block of Leishman Avenue. Chief Rob Haus said...
Cupples-Wisniowski named Collier commissioner president
Mary Ann Cupples-Wisniowski was named president, and Tim Downey was named vice president of the Collier Board of Commissioners. District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet administered the oath of office to incumbent Cupples-Wisniowski, newly elected commissioners Downey and Julie Murphy, and township tax collector Corrine Durisko on Jan. 5. Cupples-Wisniowski, Downey and...
Bridgeville Council reorganizes, selects Cimarolli as president
Bridgeville welcomed back its mayor, four council members and its tax collector when the borough council reorganized Monday, Jan. 5. Mayor Betty Copeland, council members Nicholas Ciesielski, Justine Cimarolli, Joseph Colosimo and Nino Petrocelli Sr., and real estate tax collector Anne Marie Parisi were sworn-in by District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet...
Sewage, recycling rates increase in Lower Burrell
Recycling and sewage rates will increase in Lower Burrell, and officials say there wasn’t much, if anything, they could do about it. An average sewage bill in the city will increase by $48, about 8%, this year. Recycling will increase $8, or 12.5%. “We take any fee increase seriously, but...
Burrell School Board seeking new member
Burrell School Board will start the new year with a new board member. Jean Schager submitted her letter of resignation effective Dec. 31, according to Superintendent Shannon Wagner. Schager was elected in 2021 and won reelection last year. Schager said her decision to leave the board came when her employer,...
Newly elected Arnold Council members want to make a difference for the city
Two newly elected Arnold Council members hope to help move the city forward after winning an election race that didn’t garner much attention or competition. Frank Radeshak and Terrilyn Cheatham Prescott will be sworn-in Monday. Two four-year council seats were on the November ballot, but Radeshak was the only candidate...
Burrell physical education teacher channels creative side with wooden ornaments
Rich Thome is an elementary physical education teacher by day and a talented wood carver by night. So talented, in fact, 18 of his wood-crafted Christmas ornaments raised about $760 for the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh through a silent auction among Bon Air Elementary faculty this winter. “I get...
New Huston Middle School class to create radio advertisements for Burrell grads’ local businesses
Burrell graduates who own businesses in the area might be able to get some help with publicity from current students in a new class at Charles A. Huston Middle School. Teacher Brian Querry is seeking local businesses owned by Burrell grads to help with a project for seventh and eighth...
Informational meeting scheduled for Upper Burrell data center
People can learn more about a planned data center in Upper Burrell during a meeting this month. Florida-based data center developer TECfusions will host an informational meeting Jan. 26 at the township building, 3735 Seventh Street Road. “We’re planning to present the project and answer questions,” said Melissa Farney, TECfusions...
Fix unclear for smashed Allegheny Township traffic light
It could be summer by the time the traffic light at the Route 356 and 56 split in Allegheny Township is replaced, officials said. A wreck at the intersection Dec. 20 took down the traffic light, and since then, stop signs have been put up in its place. Allegheny Township...
New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth adds October date to 2026 lineup
A popular event in downtown New Kensington will run a bit longer this year. Fridays on Fifth, a monthly food truck event, will go from April to October in 2026. Dates are April 24, May 22, June 26, July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 25 and Oct. 23. The event runs...
Chartiers Valley’s ‘Badges and Baristas’ connects students, police over coffee
What better place to build conversations and camaraderie among Chartiers Valley High School students and area police officers than the school’s Coffee Tree Roasters? Chartiers Valley School Resource Officer Kyle Kelsch and student Sofia Bragano coordinated the second annual Badges and Baristas event Dec. 19 at the coffee shop, where...
