Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 121
Riverview School District presents reopening plan
Oakmont and Verona families will have the option of their students returning to schools or continuing online learning as part of Riverview School District’s reopening plan. “We know family circumstances can change, student health can change at any time,” Verner Elementary Principal Tina Monroe said at a virtual town hall...
Leechburg man dies after Gilpin crash
A 26-year-old Leechburg man died Tuesday night after crashing the vehicle he was driving into a tree in Gilpin, according to the Armstrong County Coroner’s Office. Christian Joshua Cuffia lost control of his car on Ice Pond Road, near Shearer Road, around 7:20 p.m. The car traveled about 80 feet...
Police seek help to ID men they say threw objects at officers in Downtown protest
Pittsburgh police are seeking help to identify five people they said threw objects at officers during a Downtown protest on May 30. Some also are suspected of burglarizing and damaging businesses during the event at Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street. Police provided the following descriptions of the individuals and their...
Man rescued from Mt. Washington hillside
Pittsburgh first responders were able to rescue an elderly man who fell down a Mt. Washington hillside Tuesday. Authorities said police, fire and EMS were dispatched to the 600 block of Olympia Road around 5:45 p.m. for a man who had fallen about 20 feet down the hillside. They found...
Grant sought to fix flooding problems at Oakmont Commons
Oakmont officials plan to seek a $500,000 grant to help fix flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons housing development. Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday proclaiming its intent to apply for the funds through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Flood Mitigation Program. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the deadline for the...
Former assistant college basketball coach indicted on federal child porn charges
A Blair County man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on several counts of production of child pornography and exploitation of minors. Jacob Kolonis, 27, of Duncansville is the sole defendant in the 16-count indictment unsealed Monday. He’s accused of interstate transmission of an extortion communication, production...
Oakmont retaining wall project along Allegheny River Boulevard could get more expensive
A retaining wall beautification project along Allegheny River Boulevard near the Oakmont and Verona border is underway. Apollo-based Santamaria Landscaping crews are about two weeks into their three-month effort to restore the wall near the viaduct between the two boroughs. Construction signs and traffic cones are used in the morning...
Plum’s Movies in the Park series concludes next month
Plum’s last installment of Movies in the Park this season is set for Aug. 8 at Larry Mills Park. The borough presents “Scoob.” Produced by Warner Animation Group, the film is a modern take on the Scooby-Doo franchise. It tells a story about the lovable mutt and his gang of...
PennDOT antes up another $3 million to upgrade road at doorstep of proposed $70 million biz park in Harrison
The state announced it will pay $3 million to modify Route 366 (Bull Creek Road) just off Route 28’s Tarentum exit to pave the way for an estimated $70 million, 162-acre business park planned just over the border in Harrison. The business park, known as Harrison Point, still has numerous...
Missing Pittsburgh man located
A man missing from Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood has been found. Police said be was located Saturday evening after being last seen on July 13....
Plum School District hires digital learning director
Plum School District officials have hired a virtual learning director to help lead their online learning efforts during the covid-19 pandemic. Preston Hartman, an assistant principal at Seton-La Salle High School, was unanimously appointed to the position July 16. Superintendent Brendan Hyland said Hartman was selected out of 22 candidates...
Maxine Bruhns, longtime Pitt Nationality Rooms director and ‘citizen of the world,’ dies
E. Maxine Bruhns spent most of her life ensuring University of Pittsburgh students and visitors learned something about the many diverse cultures from around the globe. She served at least 54 years as director of the Oakland campus’ Nationality Rooms, which were described as mini-museums representing the Steel City’s ethnic...
Pittsburgh police: Ross man provided teen girl drugs, sex for years
A Ross Township man was arrested Friday by Pittsburgh police on numerous child sex charges. Justin Sircely, 26, faces numerous charges after the Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force was notified on July 14 of an inappropriate sexual relationship between Sircely and an unidentified juvenile victim. Task force members, which...
Plum’s stormwater task force has vacancies to fill to move forward with ongoing work
Plum’s stormwater management task force has two spots available for residents interested in helping address flooding problems. Rick Vigno and chairman Carlos Escalante recently resigned from their appointed posts. Letters of interest can be sent to the borough office, 4575 New Texas Road, or apply online at link.plumboro.com/stormapp. A deadline...
Police: Man arrested after allegedly driving through protest in Penn Hills
A Penn Hills man was arrested after allegedly driving through a group of protesters Wednesday afternoon. Police Chief Howard Burton said several people were gathered near the intersection of Saltsburg and Stotler roads when a man drove his vehicle through the crowd. No injuries were reported. Burton said officers spoke...
Plum residents show support for, opposition to school director over Facebook post
Plum residents had mixed reactions to a controversial post by a school board member in a private social media page. More than a dozen people came to Thursday night’s special meeting with many calling for the resignation of board member Amy Wetmore for her comments on the Black Lives Matter...
Plum School District officials approve reopening plan, options for parents
Plum School District’s reopening plan gives parents a choice to maintain their children’s distance learning or send them back into school next month. The plan, which is available for review at the district’s website, was approved by an 8-1 vote at a special meeting Thursday night. School Director Michelle Stepnick...
Jefferson Hills man killed in tractor crash
A Jefferson Hills man was killed in a tractor accident along Walters Lane on Wednesday evening. Borough Police Chief Gene Roach identified the deceased as George Albert Walter, 67, of Walters Lane. Officers responded to the area around 6:45 p.m. for a report of an overturned tractor on top of...
South Fayette School District reopening plan presented, approval set for next week
South Fayette School District’s health and safety plan for the upcoming school year requires students and staff to wear face coverings and practice social distancing as much as possible when returning to school. It also provides an option for parents to continue their student’s distance learning or enroll in a...
Steel City Con at the Monroeville Convention Center postponed until December
Comic book lovers and pop culture enthusiasts will have to wait a while longer for their much anticipated convention. Steel City Con, one of the largest conventions in the nation and exclusive to the Monroeville Convention Center, has been postponed again due to covid-19 safety concerns. It was previously rescheduled...
Facebook post has some Plum officials calling for the resignation of a school director
A Facebook post by Plum School Director Amy Wetmore has some borough officials calling for her resignation. The post in question was made on July 8 by the school board’s finance committee liaison in a private page called “Black Lives Matter In Plum Boro.” It appears to have been made...
Police: 2 arrested for vandalizing Columbus statue in Schenley Park
Pittsburgh police have charged two city residents with defacing the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park with graffiti. The vandalism occurred Monday. Officials announced the charges Wednesday. Bridgette Miller, 43, is charged with desecration of venerated objects, criminal mischief and simple trespass. Sunny Bee, 38, is charged with two counts...
New Kensington-Arnold School District reopening plan presented
New Kensington-Arnold School District’s health and safety plan calls for students and staff to wear face coverings and practice social distancing as much as possible when returning to schools in late August. Wearing masks on buses and temperature checks upon arrival are also part of the plan that was discussed...
Pittsburgh Public Schools offering options for families concerned about students returning to in-person classes
Pittsburgh Public Schools families could have the option to send their students to school or continue online instruction this coming school year. Parental choice was one of several immediate actions proposed Tuesday for the 2020-21 school year, and among 407 recommendations for Pittsburgh schools moving forward. For those who return...
Penn Hills High School graduation changed from traditional commencement to drive-thru
Penn Hills High School seniors will not be able to graduate in their traditional setting at the football field due to Allegheny County’s covid-19 safety restrictions. County officials have limited outdoor gatherings to no more than 50 people through at least July 24. Penn Hills’ graduation was set for Friday...
