Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 157
Retired Penn Hills police officer Fran Ferragonio to be laid to rest
Fran Ferragonio Jr. spent most of his life helping young people learn from the past and make better choices. He retired as a juvenile detective with the Penn Hills Police Department in 2004 after a 25-year career. Ferragonio specialized in community policing as a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and...
Oakmont family seeks dedication for longtime official
Oakmont resident Brittany Premick wants her grandfather to be immortalized by the borough he long served. “Anyone (who) knew my grandfather knew he was hardworking and dedicated for anything he put his mind to,” Premick said. “If you ask my family, they would say he was a hard-headed, stubborn person...
Oakmont Relay for Life set for Saturday at Riverside Park
Oakmont’s 19th annual Relay for Life event is set for Saturday at Riverside Park. Organizers are expecting a large crowd this time around because it is not competing against Penguins playoff hockey or graduation parties as in years past. Nearby Riverview High School’s last day of school is June 7....
Western Pa. braces for more storms while coping with damage, flooding
Heavy rains and winds tore through several Western Pennsylvania counties Tuesday evening causing down power lines, trees and flooded roadways. Swift water rescue teams in Butler County conducted 10 rescues to evacuate people from rising water in Zelienople, Forward Township, Harmony and Evans City, according to county dispatchers. Butler County...
Aliquippa man pleads guilty to federal drug and gun crimes
An Aliquippa man accused of fentanyl-heroin distribution and firearms violations pleaded guilty in federal court. Landon Alexander Gatta, 23, admitted guilt before Senior District Judge Joy Flowers Conti to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl-heroin mixture, possession of a firearm and ammunition...
Verona farmers market under new management; season starts June 6
Verona’s farmers market is under new management and about to start a new season. Verona Chamber of Commerce marketing director Patty Thomas stepped down as market coordinator, citing personal reasons. Chamber board member Stefani Garibay will take over the role. “Patty did a wonderful job,” Garibay said. “She did all...
Tarentum man spent decades building relationships with man’s best friendVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Most of Fawn Township native Bruce Ringer’s life has gone to the dogs. The Highlands High School grad has owned and operated a doggie daycare and training business in Tarentum...
Two teens shot in Stowe in stable condition, no suspects
Two teens shot Friday evening in Stowe are recovering at local hospitals, police said. Stowe police responded to reports of gunfire at the 700 block of Benwood Avenue shortly after 7:30 p.m. Allegheny County officials said officers discovered an 18-year-old male shot in the face. He was transported to an...
McKees Rocks Amber Alert lifted for 4 children
An Amber Alert has been lifted for four children reportedly taken from McKees Rocks, state police said. The children were reportedly abducted Friday by a 28-year-old man, police said. Police said they were last seen around 4:31 p.m. on along Carson Street in McKees Rocks. State police tweeted that the...
Ex-Station Square nightclub manager guilty of more federal drug crimes
A former Station Square nightclub manager has pleaded guilty in federal court on a cocaine charge. Vernon Jackson, 49, of Pittsburgh, is set to be sentenced Sept. 10 by Judge Joy Flowers Conti on one criminal count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Authorities said Jackson, who managed the...
Plum Center Elementary teacher named Champion of Learning
Plum School District Center Elementary fourth-grade teacher J.R. Pilyih was recently named one of several Champions of Learning. Awards were presented by the Consortium for Public Education and the United Way of Southern Pennsylvania at an event earlier this month. The recognition is designed to spotlight outstanding individuals and groups...
Riverview schools incumbent, 2 newcomers on both party ballots in November
Incumbent Maureen McClure, along with newcomers Jane Miller and Jennifer Chaparro, will appear on both the Democrat and Republican ballots in November for five, four-year seats on the Riverview School Board. Incumbent Alex DiClaudio and political newcomer Brian Hawk lost Democratic nods, but won on the GOP side. Melanie Pallone...
2 former Oakmont councilwomen, political newcomer take Democratic nods in primary
Two former councilwomen and a political newcomer won Democratic Party nods for three, four-year seats on Oakmont Council. Lindsay Osterhout (470 votes) was the top vote-getter in the May 21 primary election with 28% of the votes. She was followed by Nancy Ride (429) at 25% and Sophia Facaros (361)...
Theft cases among recent Monroeville police investigations
Monroeville police filed the following charges May 17 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office:Anthony Perkins, 20, of Pittsburgh with retail theft and criminal conspiracy. Charges were filed May 17 in connection with an incident along the 500 block of Mall Circle Drive. Denise Mukwita, 20, of Penn Hills with...
Drugs, DUI cases among those recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
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 courtMichael Warnick, 52, of Pitcairn on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, theft by...
East Hills DUI Task Force to conduct roving patrols Memorial Day weekend
East Hills DUI Task Force will conduct roving patrols and other educational enforcement activities Memorial Day weekend. The task force consists of Plum, Monroeville, White Oak, North Versailles Township, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Edgewood police departments. Project director is Plum police Lt. Lanny Conley. The enforcement/educational details will occur within...
Penn Hills School Board incumbents win easy, despite heavy write-in campaigns
Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio and member Rob Marra cruised to easy victories in both the Republican and Democratic party primaries Tuesday, May 21 while an estimated dozen residents ran write-in campaigns. Both incumbents were the only two people on the May 21 ballot. There are five, four-year...
No real estate tax hike, program cuts included in Plum School District’s preliminary budget
Plum School District officials said no real estate tax hike or program cuts are in their proposed 2019-20 budget. School board members voted 8-0 Wednesday night to advertise next school year’s $64.7 million spending plan. Board Vice President Vicky Roessler was absent. The proposed budget keeps the tax rate at...
Plum School District Republican committee members earn sweep for party nods; Dem newcomers get nods
Plum School District’s packed primary race resulted in Republican committee-endorsed candidates sweeping their party nods with several Democratic newcomers on the November ballot, ensuring a contested general election for six seats. Incumbents Steve Schlauch (14.13 %), Sue Caldwell (13.18 %) and Karin Acquaviva (11.92 %), along with fellow Republicans Jacqueline...
Finnish orchestral rock band Apocalyptica brings its Metallica inspired show to Carnegie music hall
Fans of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Metallica have an opportunity to experience their music in a unique way this Memorial Day. Finnish orchestral rock band Apocalyptica brings its show, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, Monday night to the Carnegie Library of Homestead’s Music Hall. Doors open 6:30 p.m....
Memorial Day parade and serve for Verona and Oakmont set
Plans for the annual Verona and Oakmont Memorial Day Parade have been set. Lineup is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Fraternal Order of Eagles lodge, 315 James St. in Verona. Parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and travels along Allegheny River Boulevard to Pennsylvania Avenue in Oakmont. Participants...
Pittsburgh man sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking, guns
A Pittsburgh man was sentenced to 19 years and two months in federal prison for committing fentanyl and heroin trafficking and firearm crimes while on federal supervised release for previously trafficking heroin. Authorities said Kevin Livsey, 32, was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, carfentanil, and heroin, possession...
Port Vue man pleads guilty to federal drug charges
A Port Vue man charged with possession and conspiring to distribute heroin pleaded guilty to the federal drug charges. Jarran Bell, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts before U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon. Authorities said Bell and his girlfriend, Krystle Barretto, were living together during the investigation, which took...
Penn Hills School District’s recovery plan includes cuts, furloughs and tax hike
Two program cuts, 57 furloughs and a real estate tax hike of more than 6 percent are all part of Penn Hills School District’s proposed 2019-20 budget and financial recovery plan. School board members at a meeting Monday night stressed both plans are preliminary, and that anyone furloughed could be...
Drug, DUI cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – May 20, 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 courtRonald Thompson, 62, of Irwin on charges of accident involving damage to attended vehicle/property,...
