Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 83
State police investigating misappropriation of nearly $100K from Freeport EMS
State police are investigating a case involving the alleged misappropriation of close to $100,000 of Freeport EMS’ funds. Trooper Anthony Vaccaro of the Kittanning station said he received numerous documents from the ambulance service but could not get into details of what police are looking for or who may have...
Death of Florida man killed in pedestrian/vehicle crash in Monroeville ruled accidental
The death of a Florida man struck by an SUV in Monroeville in September has been ruled an accident. Kenneth Allan Kissell Jr., 32, of Nokomis, Fla., was hit and killed by a vehicle near the intersection of Route 22 and Elliot Road around 9 p.m. on Sept. 23. Allegheny...
Gateway School District cancels Thursday meeting and activities, high school instruction remote Friday due to social media threat
Gateway School District officials have canceled a special school board meeting, all after school activities and are moving to remote learning as a result of a social media threat. Monroeville police Chief Doug Cole said the threat was discovered by the district Thursday. Cole declined to disclose details except that...
Steel City Con’s new layout made December’s show best of the year
A new layout, more space and quicker lines made attending Steel City Con’s December show at the Monroeville Convention Center enjoyable for most vendors and guests. The last pop culture and comic convention of the year at 209 Mall Plaza Blvd. featured more than 30 celebrities and 100 vendors. Parking...
Sewickley officials hold the line on taxes with their 2022 budget
Sewickley property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes as part of the borough’s 2022 budget. Council approved next year’s spending plan and maintained the millage rate at 6.25 mills via 6-2 vote on Dec. 14. Council president Jeff Neff and vice president Todd Renner dissented....
Sewickley has a new police chief
David Mazza looked into his wife Lisa’s eyes, placed his hand on a Bible provided by his grandfather, Ross Johnson, and pledged to uphold the law and protect the people of Sewickley. The Reserve Township man was sworn in as the borough’s new police chief Tuesday night. Mazza, 50, has...
Pittsburgh police: Man shot in Knoxville neighborhood, suspect sought
A man was hospitalized after being shot Wednesday morning in Pittsburgh’s Knoxville neighborhood. Public Safety spokesman Maurice Matthews said officers responded to a report of a man shot around 11 a.m. Wednesday along the 400 block of Orchard Place. Officers found the victim had been shot in the right shoulder....
Gilpin officials start talks on how to spend federal covid relief funds
Gilpin officials have begun discussions on how to spend about $250,000 in covid relief funds. Township supervisor chairman Charles Stull said Monday that Gilpin received $125,000 so far with the second disbursement expected in either June or July. Possible uses include $10,000 for bathrooms at the public works garage, money...
Santa to tour Gilpin on Saturday
Gilpin police understand the pandemic might have some families concerned about packing into one place to see Santa this holiday season. So officers have made arrangements with the North Pole department to bring the jolly man on a tour of the township Saturday. The police department also collected donations to...
2 Penn Hills parks to be upgraded with help from state grant
About $237,000 in state grants have been allocated for projects in Penn Hills’ Community and Universal parks, officials announced Dec. 14. Grant funding is through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and made available through the Community Conservation Partnership Program. “Penn Hills Park and Universal Park are both...
Pair of Kiski Area juniors collecting food and shoes to help Alle-Kiski Valley families
Two Kiski Area High School juniors are collecting items to benefit local charities this holiday season. Tabytha Hogan, 16, has launched a food drive for the Leechburg Food Bank at First United Methodist Church. Allison Thompson, 17, is collecting old and new shoes to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society....
Gilpin teen seeks Eagle Scout honor through project for Leechburg fire company
Lukas Remaley knew he wanted to do something to help out Leechburg. The Gilpin teen had been a part of the Boy Scouts for more than 10 years and earned at least 40 merit badges. “You learn how to work with other people and be a better person,” said Lukas,...
Police: Missing Kiski Township man believed to be in danger found safe
A Kiski Township man who was reported missing and considered in danger has been found safe, according to police. Township police were searching for Damian Day, 22, who had not been seen since leaving his residence around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday. Police issued a notice on social media around midnight on...
Shots fired outside Walmart in The Waterworks mall, police looking for 4 suspects
A Pittsburgh police SWAT team responded to the Walmart department store at The Waterworks mall Tuesday evening after shots had been fired. Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh Public Safety director, said the shooting happened outside Walmart. He believes the shooters were inside the store and came outside when multiple shots were fired....
Leechburg Area School District to take closer look at student emails via Google service
Leechburg Area School District officials plan to take a closer look at student emails. District technology director Katie Robson said the district will be looking for safety concerns such as online predators, adult content, cyber bullying, drug use, depression, suicidal thoughts and more. Katie Robson said administrators will use a...
Freeport Area School Board has new leadership, 2 new members
The Freeport Area School Board has a new president, vice president and a couple new members. Former vice president Adam Toncini was appointed as board president, and Greg Selinger was named vice president at Thursday night’s reorganization meeting. Newcomers Melanie Zembrzuski and Gary Risch Jr., along with incumbents John Haven...
Leechburg Area students collect thousands of canned goods for borough food bank
Leechburg Area School District elementary students have once again done their part to make sure people don’t go hungry this holiday season. The young learners collected more than 1,400 canned goods for the Leechburg Food Bank. Food was collected in each homeroom at David Leech Elementary from Nov. 8-19. Students...
West Mifflin man arrested, accused of killing his mother
A West Mifflin man has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother and discarding her body in garbage bags in her back yard. Jonathan Nulty, 21, is charges with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Allegheny County Police said the case began as a missing person...
Pivik Elementary students, staff rally around Plum student who recently completed chemotherapyVideo
Pivik Elementary third grader Joey Byrnes is a superhero to his family, classmates and teachers. It’s not because he has super strength or heat vision or leaps tall buildings in a single bound. He has the power of positivity and a strong will. The Plum student recently completed his last...
East Pittsburgh man arrested for alleged involvement in South Side shootings in November
An East Pittsburgh man has been arrested in connection with a pair of November shootings in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Derek Reddix, 32, is charged with two counts of attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, being a person not to allowed to possess firearms and possession with intent to...
Leechburg Rotary, high school club partner for pajama drive
Pajamas, comfy cozy lounge wear and a classic Christmas gift. They are something the Rotary Club of Leechburg and Leechburg Area High School’s Interact Club want more people to have. That’s why they have partnered for the second straight year to collect the clothing, as well as children’s books, to...
Leechburg Area School Board retains president and vice president, welcomes newly elected members
Leechburg Area School Board’s top leaders will retain their positions next year, and the newly elected members were sworn in Wednesday night. Neill Brady and Anthony Shea were unanimously retained as president and vice president, respectively. Brady has been on the board for about 18 years. He enters his fourth...
Freeport couple creates Christmas display with a Halloween twist
A Freeport couple wants to wish everyone a happy haunted Christmas via a new holiday display. James Libengood said this is the first December he and his wife, Melissa, decided to decorate their front yard and home for the holidays. However, it does not feature the traditional reindeer and snowmen....
Freeport’s Small Town Christmas parade draws a crowdVideo
Sleigh bells rang throughout Freeport as hundreds of people packed the main street sidewalks for a chance to see Santa and other groups marching in the Small Town Christmas parade. At least 20 groups marched in the celebration Saturday including various Freeport Area High School athletic teams, the marching band,...
Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin resigns, citing clashes with mayor
Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin has resigned. Her former colleagues were expected to accept her resignation at Monday night’s council meeting but the meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum. One council member was in quarantine because of covid. One was on vacation, and another was working. The...
