Patrick Varine stories, Page 71
Annual Christmas Bird Count set for area surrounding Bushy Run Battlefield
When members of the Westmoreland Bird and Nature Club conduct the Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, many of them will have their eyes peeled for a specific avian arrival. That’s because a Northern shrike, affectionately known by nature lovers as “the butcher bird,” has been sighted in...
Deep-freeze thaw brings busted pipes, busy week for plumbers
The holiday season is busy enough during a normal year. But for plumbers, home heating contractors and emergency responders, the deep freeze over the past few days — and the warmer weather that is on the way — has made things even busier. “I’ve probably had 40 or 50 calls...
Check out new music, upcoming live shows around Pittsburgh area during the holidays
Looking for some holiday entertainment to wind down the year? Here are a few recommendations of new music from artists native to the Pittsburgh area, as well as upcoming performances over the holidays. Leo P, ‘Comin’ Up Aces’ From performing onstage with Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks at the 2016...
Power outages minimal as snow slows for Christmas Day
Most homes experiencing a power outage during the last 36 hours of winter weather are likely to have the lights on for breakfast Christmas morning, as suppliers continue working to restore electricity across the region. Duquesne Light reported fewer than 200 customers without power as of 8:30 a.m. Christmas morning,...
1 in critical condition following rollover crash in Sewickley Heights
One person is in critical condition and another in stable condition after a crash Christmas Eve in Sewickley Heights, according to police. First responders were called to the 500 block of Fern Hollow Road just before 10:15 p.m. Saturday night, arriving to find a vehicle that had rolled over after...
Victim of fatal Derry Township house fire identified
An elderly woman died after a house fire Saturday night, one of two simultaneous fires Christmas Eve in Derry Township. Bradenville Volunteer Fire Department members along with crew from a half-dozen other companies were called to Pizza Barn Road around 5:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a house fire,...
Rotary, Franklin Regional club reach out to social service nonprofits for the holidays
Murrysville-Export Rotary member Theresa Gutierrez didn’t have to look far to find a worthy recipient for a holiday donation drive. “Theresa is a resource parent for us,” said Annette Gross, foster care director at Wesley Family Services in O’Hara. “The Rotary had me come out to speak with them about...
A home for the holidays: Central Westmoreland Habitat hands over keys to Jeannette resident
This time last year, Tia Bentley of Jeannette was mourning the loss of her father and sinking $900 each month into a rental home. On Tuesday afternoon, Bentley received the keys to a newly renovated Jeannette home after spending nine months working with Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity officials getting...
The holiday spirit: Delmont man’s day filled with kind gestures from others
At 91 years old, Emidio Gallucci has seen his share of “Scrooges” during Christmastime. But this year, Gallucci, a Delmont resident, has plenty of holiday spirit after a day running errands just kept going in his favor. After a recent stop at Macy’s in Hempfield to find a gift for...
Delmont man charged with witness intimidation in sexual assault case
A Delmont man faces witness intimidation charges after police said he repeatedly made contact with a victim in violation of his release conditions in a criminal case. Brandon J. Pyle, 26, of West Pittsburgh Street was arrested Wednesday and charged prior to a preliminary hearing on sexual assault, simple assault...
2 more arrests in Allegheny County Jail contraband investigation
A day after a former Allegheny County Jail corrections officer was charged as part of a contraband investigation, county police announced the arrest of two more men accused of being part of the smuggling scheme. County officials said inmate Lamar Castile, 42, and William Gilliam, 33, both from Pittsburgh’s West...
Washington County officials arrest suspect in 2013 bank robbery shooting
Nearly a decade after Vincent Kelley was killed by a man who was robbing the Citizens Bank at the South Strabane Giant Eagle, Washington County officials said that man has been arrested. County district attorney Jason Walsh announced Tuesday that Keith D. Wilk, 39, of Pittsburgh, was charged with criminal...
Pittsburgh man charged in Brookline gas station robbery
A Pittsburgh man faces charges including robbery and carrying a gun without a license after police arrested him Tuesday in connection with a Dec. 13 robbery in the city’s Brookline neighborhood. Police arrested Keith Larkins, 37, of Pittsburgh, charging him with the robbery of a Sunoco gas station on Saw...
McKeesport man charged with sexual contact with minor in Delmont
A McKeesport man turned himself into Delmont police on Monday, after a warrant was issued this month charging him with unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Police said Alfonso B. Washington Jr., 45, was arraigned on that charge and additional charges of indecent assault of a minor, corruption of minors...
Penn-Trafford students, staff have helped fund 75 ‘wishes’ through annual telethonVideo
Students in Steve Vinton’s video production class at Penn-Trafford High School have the four hours of their annual holiday telethon planned down to minute. Part of that plan includes throwing out the whole plan at a moment’s notice. “Sometimes, with live production, things can go wrong,” said senior Phelan Newman,...
Delmont officials want firefighters to attend borough safety meetings
Delmont officials will withhold an annual contribution to the borough’s volunteer fire department until firefighters begin attending borough safety committee meetings. Council voted to hold a $2,000 donation to the department at its meeting Tuesday. “We still have an issue with them even coming to our safety committee meetings,” Councilman...
Greensburg woman: ‘I’m a quilter who doesn’t like to quilt’Video
Despite describing herself as “a quilter who doesn’t like to quilt,” Ginnie Leiner of Greensburg has more than 196 quilts to her credit, having taught herself the craft in her late teens in the 1970s. “It’s a passion,” said Leiner. “An obsession, my husband would say.” More than a dozen...
Police: Teen in stable condition following Mt. Oliver shooting
A 15-year-old girl is in stable condition after police said she was shot in the stomach late Saturday night in Mt. Oliver. Emergency responders were called to the 100 block of Penn Avenue in Mt. Oliver just after 11:15 p.m., where they found the victim, who was taken to a...
Santa and the Grinch bring holiday cheer to North Huntingdon
It was smiles for Santa and a healthy mix of smiles and trepidation for the Grinch at a holiday pancake breakfast Sunday morning in North Huntingdon. Hartford Heights Volunteer Fire Department hosted the breakfast, which also included a face-painting station....
Pittsburgh region gets its first taste of winter weather
It wasn’t much snow — between a half-inch and an inch in most places — but it was enough to bring on hazardous road conditions across western Pennsylvania late Saturday night into Sunday morning. “It’s been a fairly uniform snow across the area,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks....
Nature calendar honors Delmont man’s memory, will benefit borough library
Tom Washburn of Delmont loved the beauty of the outdoors. He traveled to Wyoming, Alaska and other points west, not just to indulge in his passion for fly fishing but also to take in the sights and sounds of the natural world. He captured much of that on his camera...
Worthington woman dead, 2 injured following McKees Rocks Bridge crash
A Worthington woman was killed and another person was in critical condition following a head-on crash Saturday evening on the McKees Rocks Bridge, officials said. The woman who perished in the wreck was 38-year-old Kendra Fennell, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. She was pronounced dead at the...
Jeannette-area Wreaths Across America chapter expands to honor 1,800 veteransVideo
When Halle Copeman arrived at the Wreaths Across America event last year, she was running behind; there was only one headstone left where she could place a wreath. “I walked up, and it was my best friend’s grandmother,” Copeman of North Huntingdon said. “I got chills.” Copeman returned this year...
Vehicle hits porch of one property, goes sideways into a neighbor’s garage in Derry Township
No one was injured when a vehicle struck the porch and sidewalk of one property, before hitting the garage of another late Friday night, fire officials said. Bradenville Fire Chief Mark Piantine said an unidentified driver left Route 217 near its intersection with Route 30 shortly before 11:15 a.m. Friday....
3 people hurt, 1 critically, after vehicle hits 2 homes in Marshall-Shadeland
Three people were taken to local hospitals, including one in critical, but stable, condition after a vehicle struck two homes early Saturday morning in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood, according to police. Police were called to the 2600 block of Woodland Avenue for a report that an SUV had struck the porch...
