Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 115
Army Corps of Engineers gives tour of Emsworth Locks and Dams in advance of major rehabilitation projectVideo
Army Corps of Engineers officials are inspecting the Emsworth Locks and Dams’ primary lock chamber as part of a major project at the 99-year-old site along the Ohio River. The 110-foot-wide and 600-foot-long chamber was recently dewatered, meaning about 14 million gallons of water was pumped out into the river...
Larry Mills Park in Plum to host a free drive-in Halloween movie night Oct. 24
Plum plans to have a Halloween drive-in movie night a week before the holiday. Movie night is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 at Larry Mills Park. The borough presents “The Addams Family,” the 2019 animated version from directors Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan. It is based on the characters created...
Police investigating abduction of 2 girls from Penn Hills, juveniles safely returned
The two teenaged girls abducted at gunpoint in Penn Hills on Oct. 14 and found later that evening were not targeted randomly, Allegheny County police said. After the girls, both age 17, were found unharmed in Brighton Heights around 5 p.m., a car was found in Oakland by University of...
Plum officials approve ‘town center’ plans, need state permit before seeking contract bids
Plum officials are seeking developers for a proposed municipal center. The so-called town center would house a police station, municipal offices, gym, a plaza and a community center — essentially an all-in-one government service center — near the public works and EMS buildings along Old Mine Road. The current Plum...
Plum High School remains open after 2 students test positive for covid-19
Plum High School remains open in a hybrid learning model despite two students testing positive for covid-19. District officials said they were notified Wednesday of two students from the same family at the high school having positive cases. Principal Joe Fishell said via letter that the district’s conducted contact tracing...
Pine-Richland High School blood drive going virtual due to the pandemic
A Pine-Richland High School student-driven blood drive is going virtual this year due to the covid-19 pandemic. The school usually hosts three to four drives a year for the Central Blood Bank in Pittsburgh. Its latest effort is scheduled for Oct. 25 through Nov. 8. Senior Max Romano, one of...
$1.3 million in exterior repairs proposed for Sewickley Public Library
A $1.3 million repair project has been proposed for the Sewickley Public Library. Library development associate Michelle Cleary said renovations are needed to the exterior of the original 1923 portion of the library along Thorn Street. They include a new roof, new windows and a new HVAC system for a...
Streetscape project underway along Brownsville Road in Brentwood
A beautification project in Brentwood is underway. Crews from Monaca-based CTM Construction began excavating Brownsville Road on Monday as part of a three-phase $321,000 streetscape initiative. The borough received a $155,855 Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority grant for the project in the central business district. This is part of Brentwood’s continual...
Police: Man shot in Penn Hills in ‘drug deal gone bad’
A man is recovering in a hospital after being shot three times in Penn Hills on Tuesday. Police Chief Howard Burton said the victim, a white man in his 20s, made his way to the GetGo gas station near Frankstown and Coal Hollow roads around 3 p.m. He was shot...
Line painting planned for next year as part of Oakmont’s pedestrian safety improvements
An Oakmont pedestrian safety project, inspired by a traffic study and a borough Girl Scout, is planned for next year. Borough officials earmarked $40,000 in the 2021 budget for line painting for crosswalks along Allegheny River Boulevard and Allegheny Avenue. It is unclear how much painting could be done with...
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge Zucco’s Plum court
Plum District Court Judge Linda Zucco handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Paul McClain, 39, of Strabane on charges of false imprisonment, aggravated assault, unlawful...
Oakmont officials discuss next year’s budget; trying for no tax increase
Oakmont officials hope to hold the line on real estate taxes in next year’s spending plan. Council had its first 2021 budget meeting Monday night at the borough building. Discussions focused on the general fund with expenses and revenues estimated at $4.8 million, about $100,000 less compared to the current...
More technology becoming available for Penn Hills students
Penn Hills School District has computers available for students. About 2,900 computers have made it to the district’s estimated 3,180 students’ hands so far this year, district technology director Russ Seibert said. The district ordered electronic devices in May, June and July. However, delivery was delayed due to many other...
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce to host Halloween event Oct. 29
Oakmont Chamber of Commerce and borough businesses want to do their part to ensure children have a safe and spooky Halloween. The chamber is hosting a trick-or-treat event from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 29 along Allegheny River Boulevard. Many shops from College to Pennsylvania avenues will have candy for children, and...
Family-owned Willow Golf Range in Plum is in its 60th year in businessVideo
Frank and Rose Marie Borkovich had a vision to build a driving range, mini-golf course and ice cream shop. He was a golf pro and Florida State amateur golf champion. She was a nurse anesthetist. The Plum couple made their dream a reality in their neighborhood in 1960. Willow Golf...
Penn Hills School District receives state grant to pay for security
Penn Hills School District received a $650,000 state grant to help pay for security. District business manager Eileen Navish said the grant, which came through the state Department of Community & Economic Development, was part of $3.3 million in state funds accounted for last year in lieu of a tax...
DUI, drug cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum – Oct. 5, 2020
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Waived preliminary hearings • Nicole Spadaro, 39, of Murrysville on charges of driving under the influence. Charges were filed June 22. • Daniel Amodeo, 51, of Plum on charges of simple assault,...
Penn Hills schools to be election day polling places, students to learn online
Penn Hills School District schools will be used as polling places on election day while students learn online. Superintendent Nancy Hines said staffers will use the opportunity as a test for flexible instruction days, an option for school districts to continue education in lieu of cancellations like snow days. The...
Penn Hills School District considering moving kindergarten students from 2 to 4 days in school
Penn Hills School District officials want to hear from kindergarten parents about sending their little learners to school four days a week. The district began the 2020-21 school year Sept. 8 in a hybrid model due to the coronavirus pandemic. Students at the elementary, middle and high school were placed...
Oakmont officials to act on cycling, off-leash dog issue in Dark Hollow Woods
Oakmont council is prepared to act on an ordinance that would permit cycling and off-leash dogs in Dark Hollow Woods. A trial period for the activities in the publicly owned park near Crystal Drive has gone on for more than a year. The park was split into two sections in...
Third annual Fall Fest at Plum Creek Park a hit with families, vendorsVideo
Beau Ciufo scanned the hay bales, weighed his options and picked up the biggest pumpkin his little hands could carry. The boy, 1, was among about 500 children who went through the pumpkin patch at Plum’s third annual Fall Fest at Plum Creek Park. Beau’s parents, Amy and Jason Ciufo...
Community garden proposed in Verona
Seeds of a community garden project have been planted in the minds of Verona residents. Borough parks and recreation board members hope to find a spot soon and break ground next year. “A shared garden can empower a community by increasing access to healthy, fresh produce and pollinator-friendly places while...
Pittsburgh police: 6 people hurt in downtown crash
Six people were injured in a three-vehicle crash in Downtown Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. Public Safety spokeswoman Cara Cruz said the collision occurred shortly before 3:45 p.m. at the Wood Street and Fifth Avenue intersection. Three of the people were transported to hospitals by medics. Two children were taken to...
Police: 1 person injured in Pittsburgh shooting
Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting in Spring Hill. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert around 2:30 p.m. along the 100 block of Rhine Place. While officers investigated the scene, a gunshot wound victim walked into a hospital, Matthews reported. Matthews said the victim...
Excavator crashes into Mt. Oliver home injuring 1
One person was injured after an excavator crashed onto a home in Mt. Oliver on Friday afternoon. An Allegheny County 911 dispatcher said the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. along the 100 block of Ormsby Avenue. The person was taken via ambulance to a hospital. Officials told news partners...
