Tawnya Panizzi stories
Upper Burrell Supervisor Mike Conley was devoted to township, friends say
Upper Burrell Supervisor Mike Conley was devoted to the township his entire life, friends said Friday while remembering the lifelong resident. “He loved the community,” Supervisor Ken Slahtovsky said. “Being on the board is a thankless job, and it takes a special person. Mike was one of them.” Conley, 61,...
Vandergrift native rekindles childhood memories with book release
Mike Firek left his native Vandergrift in the 1980s for the bright lights of bigger cities like New Orleans; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles. The actor, playwright and vocal artist stayed away 45 years before returning to his roots in the small industrial town. “I feel like I never left,”...
Harrison hosts recycling bin drop-off Saturday
Harrison residents will have the chance to dispose of their old recycling bins at the municipal office Saturday. The collection is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at One Municipal Drive. Township residents received large, green carts with lids when Noble Environmental took over the garbage hauling contract in January....
Mt. Pleasant man charged in connection with monkey torture videos
A Mt. Pleasant man has been charged in federal court with paying people overseas to torture monkeys and video record the acts. Joseph Garrett Buckland is charged with conspiracy to create and distribute “animal crush” videos. Animal crushing involves intentional crushing, burning or other torture. It is illegal for anyone...
Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic remembered for charisma and compassion
Friends are recalling longtime Fox Chapel Rotary member Tom Benic as a kind and consummate professional. But by all accounts, the history buff and avid photographer was — above all else — a pure fun-loving guy. “Intelligence, wit and charm are rare commodities,” said friend Richard Wolf. “Tom had all...
Lower Burrell man charged with attempted stabbing and robbery at Tarentum gas station
A Lower Burrell man is in Allegheny County Jail after Tarentum police charged him with felony aggravated assault and robbery of a vehicle in connection with a Christmastime attack at the borough’s Marathon station. Robert Harmon, 35, also faces charges of theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats and simple assault....
Brick House Chic Boutique moving from Tarentum to Oakmont
A Tarentum shop that specialized in plus-sized clothing has found a new home. Brick House Chic Boutique will open March 13 in Oakmont, at 436 Allegheny River Blvd. Owners and cousins Anna Mayhood and Kristen Farringer said moving was beyond their control but did not elaborate. The shop closed in...
Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary: ‘Service Above Self’ club marks a century of aid
Members of the Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary Club have worked for a century — mostly behind the scenes — to make the Lower Valley a better place. From donations of playground equipment, Free Little Libraries, dictionaries for elementary students and medical supplies, Rotary members are quiet philanthropists who seek to benefit the...
Attorney pushing for ‘justice’ in Highlands teacher Sean Dicer’s misconduct case
Attorney Sean Logue believes Highlands School District should be held accountable for the alleged actions of a former teacher who police have charged with sexual assault against three students. Logue, a Carnegie-based lawyer, does not represent any of the alleged victims of former teacher Sean Dicer, 53, of Brackenridge. He...
Lottery winners take home combined $3.5M in Harrison, Lower Burrell
Two people in the Alle-Kiski Valley are much richer after buying winning lottery tickets in Harrison and Lower Burrell. Someone won $3 million after buying a “3’s a Charm” scratch-off at the Welmart convenience store along Alter Road in Harrison’s Natrona Heights section, according to Pennsylvania Lottery officials. The ticket...
Harrison’s new fire tax will fund $1.3 million engine for Citizens Hose
A newly established fire tax in Harrison will help pay for a $1.3 million fire engine at Citizens Hose. In December, the township commissioners voted to create a 0.55-mill tax solely to help with fire apparatus and other specialized equipment. The money will be used to benefit each of the...
Ice jams cause flooding risks along Allegheny River
Emergency crews and weather experts are keeping an eye on ice jams on the Allegheny River in Emlenton, Venango County, to determine what might be heading toward Freeport, Harrison and points farther south over the next two days. “There’s some ice jams happening upstream and impacting structures by the water...
Fawn-Frazer storage tank slated for overhaul
The Burtner Road water storage tank in Fawn, parts of which are original to the 1970s, will be overhauled this year. Fawn-Frazer Joint Water Authority was awarded a $422,000 state grant for the work. The money comes from the state’s Small Water and Sewer Fund. The authority will pay $74,500...
Tarentum cuts hours at spray park to lessen strain on water system
Tarentum’s popular spray park will operate under shorter hours this summer while the borough maneuvers through a multimillion-dollar water system overhaul. The park along First Avenue will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – about three hours less than usual. “This adjustment is intended to ensure we maintain...
Art depicting life: Blawnox’s historic sculpture is symbol for small town
A wooden sculpture titled “The Steelworker and Family” has long been the symbol of Blawnox, but only recently has the artwork’s backstory come to light. Historian and author Tom Powers said the sculpture is enjoying renewed interest after he chose it to adorn the cover of the borough’s recent centennial...
Former Highlands teacher headed to court on 2nd set of charges
The defense attorney for a former Highlands elementary school teacher accused of indecent assault on two students attempted Tuesday during a preliminary hearing to paint the alleged interactions as merely friends hugging. Attorney Duke George, representing former Highlands School District teacher Sean Dicer during a preliminary hearing Wednesday at District...
No injuries reported in chemical reaction at ATI Vandergrift
ATI Vandergrift officials said there was no risk to the community after a chemical reaction that impacted air quality for workers. Emergency crews were called to the plant along Lincoln Avenue at about 12:45 p.m., according to Westmoreland County dispatchers. No one was injured, ATI spokeswoman Natalie Gillespie said. “A...
Sewer project coming to Oak Manor Drive in Harrison
A sanitary sewer realignment is on tap for Harrison. Commissioners have been eyeing the work along Oak Manor Drive as a “proactive investment in critical utility infrastructure,” Township Manager Amy Rockwell said. The work is expected to take up to 15 weeks. Harrison will get about $280,000 from the state...
Police mergers prove beneficial for Western Pa.’s smaller communities
Police mergers, which have long provided staffing and financial relief for smaller departments, are emerging as a solution for forces of all sizes across the Alle-Kiski Valley. As equipment costs climb and retaining part-timers becomes increasingly difficult, consolidation is more often being eyed for viability. “There are only so many...
Rivertown Changemakers program helps people shape life in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale
The Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization is kicking off a new season of its Rivertown Changemakers initiative — for people with big ideas on how to improve their hometown. The program is meant to empower residents to become ambassadors for change in Sharpsburg, Etna and Millvale. “We know that Sharpsburg, Etna and...
Quiet Lower Burrell neighborhood recovers from SWAT standoff, shooting
Randy Bargerstock Sr. said Saturday night’s police standoff on his typically quiet street in Lower Burrell was like something out of a movie. “It was pretty wild,” Bargerstock said of the incident during which resident Jordan Blaise Lindner, 29, was shot by police. “There were police everywhere, (Lindner) was shooting...
Morning Roundup: Stabbing in Market Square; fugitive on the run in Verona; fire in Wilkinsburg
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Sunday, Feb. 15: Stabbing in Market Square Pittsburgh police are investigating after a man was found stabbed late Saturday in Market Square in Downtown. Public Safety officials posted to X that the victim was transported in critical condition from...
Fiber fair dazzles in Delmont
When Dorothy Gallagher was a teacher in Poland, she took up knitting as a side hustle. “Making one sweater bought me a kilo of sausage,” she said. “Now I hand spin silk, cat fur, alpaca — all for the mental clarity and dexterity benefits.” Gallagher was among 20 or so...
Mysterious metal shards still a tire terror in Harrison, Tarentum and beyond
Shana Daly has been a victim of the social media-dubbed “Shardnado” twice. The Tarentum resident got a flat tire weeks ago while driving along Route 28 to Harmar and then again Feb. 6. Both times, a thin metal shard was the culprit. The mysterious fragments have been found on local...
Faces of the Valley: O’Hara runner makes Three Rivers Heritage Trail a better place
When Keith Arner committed to running the Pittsburgh Marathon in 2023, he hit the Three Rivers Heritage Trail in Millvale regularly. Fast-forward three years, and the O’Hara resident is still running. But now he spends more time on the trail making sure it’s at its best for other walkers and...
