Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 155
Harsh winds, rain rip through Butler County knocking down trees, wires
Harsh winds and pouring rain cascaded through Butler County and other parts of Western Pennsylvania on Sunday evening. The National Weather Service Pittsburgh branch issued a tornado warning for the area through 6:45 p.m. Butler County dispatchers said multiple trees and wires came down with the hardest hit areas along...
Investigation continues into Arnold shooting
Police on Tuesday continued to investigate a Sunday shooting in which a man was shot in the hip during what police say was a drug deal gone bad in an Arnold alley, Chief Eric Doutt said. The men suspected in the shooting remained at large Tuesday. The shooting happened shortly...
Tornado warning for Butler, Mercer counties has expired
The National Weather Service has let tornado warnings for northeastern Butler County and southeastern Mercer County expire. The warning was issued through 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Authorities said the tornadic thunderstorm could impact West Sunbury, Hooker, Eau Claire, Harrisville and Cherry Valley among other rural areas of those counties. Folks in...
Father’s Day car show in Oakmont motors through its 65th annual installment
A Father’s Day tradition of cars and catching up with friends continued Sunday at Riverside Park in Oakmont. The Horseless Carriage Club of America Pittsburgh Region’s 65th annual car show took place despite rain keeping many would-be participants in their garages. Only about 35 cars were displayed in the park...
McKees Rocks rape suspect in custody
A McKees Rocks man accused of rape and other sexual assault charges has turned himself in to authorities. Allegheny County police said Nino Johnson, 24, turned himself in to McKees Rocks police around 9 p.m. Thursday. He is charges with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated assault, rape, terroristic...
Oakmont recreation board’s 50th annual 5K race set for Saturday
A race in Oakmont designed to raise money for trail and park projects is about to hit the half-century mark. The borough recreation board’s 50th annual 5K run is set for Saturday at Riverside Park. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at the pavilions in the lower section of the park....
Pittsburgh man accused of robbing convenience stores in West Homestead and Turtle Creek
Allegheny County police have arrested a Pittsburgh man in connection with convenience store robberies in Turtle Creek and West Homestead. Tyrese Jackson, 18, is charged with robbery and related charges. County police said Jackson was responsible for the armed robbery of a BP gas station along West Seventh Avenue in...
Children receive free helmets, safety tips and prizes at annual Verona bike derby
More than 100 children received new bicycle helmets courtesy of Riverview Athletic Association at the recent Verona Bike Derby. It was one of the largest crowds to participate in the Verona Police Department’s 20th annual event. The 700 block of East Railroad Avenue was blocked off for several hours June...
Greensburg man charged with federal drug possession
A Greensburg man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of methamphetamine possession. Authorities said Ryan Mason, 39, possessed the drug with the intent to distribute it. He is accused in incidents on Dec. 20 and Jan. 25, according to the two-count indictment. The U.S. Postal Inspection...
Theft cases among recent Monroeville police investigations
Monroeville police filed the following charges June 6 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office:Kendall Alexander, 22, of Monroeville with receiving stolen property and retail theft. Charges were filed June 6 in connection with an incident along the 3600 block of William Penn Highway.Tina Soltow, 48, of Turtle Creek with...
Drug, theft cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville – Jun. 12, 2019
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtDavid Cromwell, 45, of North Braddock on charges of criminal attempt - theft by unlawful...
Penn Hills Elementary closed early Wednesday due to water main break
Penn Hills Elementary School closed early Wednesday afternoon due to a water main break along Jefferson Road. Superintendent Nancy Hines said the school lost water service sometime before noon, but the students were able to have lunch. The district posted an alert about the incident on its website, phsd.k12.pa.us, and...
Plum gas drilling meeting opened to public after brief protest
A private meeting between officials from local municipalities, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the oil and gas industry was made public after a protest. Members of Citizens 4 Plum and Protect PT (Penn-Trafford) rallied for a short time outside the Plum municipal building along New Texas Road Tuesday...
Rosedale Food Pantry gets financial boost from Giant Eagle
Verona Giant Eagle’s inaugural donation drive for the Rosedale Food Pantry netted more than $2,800 for the Penn Hills-based nonprofit. Money was raised throughout January and food bank volunteers recently accepted the check. Senior Store Leader George Sears said Giant Eagle employees and owners, the Rosenberg and Thimons families, were...
Summer Fest in Plum to have more carnival rides, fewer vendors
More carnival rides and fewer vendors will be on hand for the second annual Summer Fest at Larry Mills Park in Plum. Organizers said more space was allocated to C&L Shows of Mt. Pleasant to incorporate more amusement park-style activities. A Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and roller coaster are among some...
Plum promotes deputy to tax collector’s job
Plum officials promoted from within to fill the late Fran Ferragonio’s shoes. He was the borough’s tax collector and retired Penn Hills police officer and juvenile detective. Ferragonio died May 28 after a long fight with respiratory issues. He was 64. Council voted 6-0 Monday night to appoint deputy tax...
2 people shot in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood
Two people were rushed to a local hospital after being shot in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood Monday afternoon. Police said they responded to a ShotSpotter notification of multiple gunshots around 4:30 p.m. along the 400 block of Larimer Avenue. Multiple calls to 911 for gunfire also were received. Police and EMS...
Things to do in Plum and Oakmont this week
Having trouble finding things to do in Oakmont and Plum this week? Here are some suggestions:Oakmont Carnegie Library at 700 Allegheny River Blvd. hosts stitching and other artwork by Greensburg artist and Navy veteran Duffy Greba. She uses quilting to create pictures and other household items, which will be on...
Braddock man struck by vehicle in Duquesne taken to local hospital
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle along North Second Street in Duquesne Monday afternoon. City police said they were dispatched around 1:15 p.m. for the incident in front of Truman Towers. Officers reported a 56-year-old Braddock man had walked onto the street behind a vehicle and was struck by...
DUI, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Jun. 10, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtWillie Newkirk, 62, of Pittsburgh on charges of resisting arrest. Charges were filed May...
World War II fighter pilot, retired Leechburg eye doctor promotes recycling, renewable energyVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Dr. Arthur Duppstadt owes most of his life to the French. The now-retired optometrist from Leechburg was 20 when his P-51 Mustang, a single-seat fighter plane, was shot down...
Storms wash away abutment of Thompson Run Bridge in Ross, closing lane
Allegheny County Department of Public Works crews shut down the southbound lane of Thompson Run Road between Radcliff Drive and Babcock Boulevard in Ross Friday due to concerns about the safety of the bridge. Officials said a consultant handling the Thompson Run Bridge No. 3’s annual inspection discovered that a...
Retaining wall crossing the Verona and Oakmont border to be beautified
A retaining wall along Allegheny River Boulevard near the viaduct in Verona and Oakmont will be restored via a state grant project. Oakmont was recently awarded $138,000 through the state Department of Community and Economic Development for repairs to the wall, which is on the southern entrance of the borough...
DUI, traffic cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum – Jun. 6, 2019
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtTara Wolfe, 39, of Verona on charges of identity theft, false reports, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license and operating a vehicle without...
Theft cases among recent Monroeville police investigations
Monroeville police filed the following charges June 4 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office:Veronica Valdez, 49, of Vandergrift with criminal conspiracy and retail theft. Charges were filed June 4 in connection with an incident along the 3600 block of William Penn Highway. Heather Stefanik, 24, of Vandergrift with theft...

