Tawnya Panizzi stories, Page 28
Sharpsburg awarded $10 million for waterfront housing, recreation project
Sharpsburg officials are hoping a growing chest of state and federal money will bring them something the borough hasn’t had since the 1800s — a direct connection to much of its riverfront property. On the heels of a $25 million federal award in June, Sharpsburg got a state award this...
Rural Ridge Tunnel in Indiana Township to close for 5 weeks
A deteriorating Indiana Township railroad bridge with cracked concrete and water damage is scheduled to close for five weeks for restoration. The Rural Ridge Tunnel along Little Deer Creek Valley Road is nearly 130 years old and signs of its age are apparent, police Chief Steve Colucci said. “The repair...
Big ideas in store for Tarentum and Cheswick riverfronts, but planning is slow-moving
Planning for the Tarentum/Cheswick riverfront project is moving more slowly than officials would like. Cheswick Council Vice President Shawna Almes said she is “eager for things to get started” on designs for fishing and boating access and other recreation. “As soon as we get word that we can start, I...
Hillis-Carnes engineering firm eyes expansion with move to O’Hara
A South Fayette engineering firm is making the move to O’Hara in an effort to grow its business in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates signed a 52-month lease for about 5,000 square feet at 534-536 Alpha Drive in the RIDC Park. “We made the switch because our...
New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park gets $6 million from state to help attract new business
The $6 million in state money announced Tuesday for the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park is expected to draw jobs to the 70-acre facility along the Allegheny River in New Kensington and Arnold. “This is a strategic location for economic development in our region,” said RIDC Senior Vice President Timothy...
Goats get to work clearing Natrona riverfront
A donkey named Hobo and 12 hungry goats set up shop Monday along the Natrona riverfront in Harrison, munching their way through the overgrown shoreline. Hard at work is a herd of Nubian, Nigerian dwarf and Alpine goats, eating the invasive knotweed and honeysuckle that has overtaken the stretch. They...
Murder of Arnold’s Stephanie Coyle remains cold case 31 years later; son pins hopes on technological advances
Dan Coyle is pinning his hopes on advances in technology and DNA testing to help solve the murder of his mother, Stephanie, who was brutally stabbed 31 years ago this week at her home in Arnold. “For years, we were begging the Westmoreland County DA’s office to send the DNA...
Shady Side Academy grad Porter Markel named ice hockey captain at Naval Academy
A Shady Side Academy graduate was named captain of the U.S. Naval Academy’s ice hockey team for the 2024-25 season. Porter Markel, a 2021 alum, served as captain of the ice hockey and baseball teams during his senior year in high school. The Fox Chapel resident is a defenseman on...
Ollie’s on schedule for September opening at Pittsburgh Mills
Bargain hunters like Tammy Wilson will have a new place to shop come fall. An avid fan of discount stores, Wilson nearly shrieked when she heard the news that Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is scheduled to open by late September at the Village at Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer. “It will definitely...
Peoples Gas service lines not responsible for Plum explosion, PUC finds
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said Tuesday there is no link between Peoples Gas service lines and the August 2023 house explosion in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood that killed six people. “Our investigators have concluded their work and they did not find anything on the utility side that was the...
How to talk to children about the Trump shooting
Exposure to the images of former President Donald Trump with a bloodied face after the Saturday rally in Butler County can be disturbing for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for children, health experts say. “If parents are able to limit exposure to what happened, that’s beneficial,” said AHN...
Plum man in medically induced coma after being shot at Trump rally
A Plum man is in stable condition, but remains in an induced coma, after being shot Saturday during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, officials said. David Dutch, 57, was shot in the liver and chest during a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds, according to a...
Allegheny Township Community Day Festival draws hundreds, despite fundraising turmoil
Claims of financial impropriety against the Allegheny Township Community Days committee could have doomed the event hosted Sunday in sweltering heat at Northmoreland Park. Instead, organizers said, the adversity helped the event prosper. “Look at this turnout, it’s wonderful,” said Frank Weissert, committee president, pointing to crowds of people who...
Jill Biden revs up Italian Sons and Daughters of America in Pittsburgh
First Lady Jill Biden riled up a group of supporters Saturday at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, speaking about the grit of her Italian ancestors and telling the crowd that her husband, President Joe Biden, is just as much a fighter. “He’s making sure that no matter where you start...
Former Boat House Bar/Sisters Hotel in Natrona to be redeveloped as restaurant, possible entertainment spot
As a kid, Brianna Thorpe spent a lot of time visiting family in Natrona. “There was a bakery on the corner, and it was kind of awesome that you could walk around and hit different businesses,” she said of Harrison’s riverfront neighborhood. Now, the 27-year-old Springdale High School graduate from...
Frazer Sgt. Aaron Scott remains head of police department, though official title may be a while in coming
Frazer police Sgt. Aaron Scott continues to run the township’s police department three months after Chief Terry Kuhns died. It’s unclear whether he will take the role officially — and Scott is fine with that. “The officers that we have assist me greatly in making sure the day-to-day operations are...
Cameras at Natrona Community Park expected to deter crime, police say
Harrison police are hoping an extra set of eyes on Natrona Community Park will help deter vandalism and other crime at the River Avenue recreation spot. Police Chief Brian Turack said security cameras will be installed at the playground and basketball courts, where police were called Saturday to investigate a...
After years of delay, Harrison Aldi taking steps forward
A decision on whether an Aldi grocery store will move forward in Harrison could come as soon as next month. Store officials submitted plans to the township planning commission last week, seeking a recommendation for land development. The move comes two years into discussions on a store proposed for 4024...
Tarentum museum to feature exhibit on former St. Ladislaus Church
During a four-month salvage job at the former St. Ladislaus Church in Natrona, Rachel Brown climbed into the ceiling and crawled through walls to research architecture at the 120-year-old building. “I was in places of the church that people hadn’t been in 100 years,” said Brown, who wasn’t a member...
Cousins open ‘judgment-free zone’ Brick House Chic Boutique in Tarentum
When Anna Mayhood and Kristen Farringer couldn’t find styles to suit their size, they did something better — they opened their own boutique. “Everyone should love themselves, no matter their size,” said Mayhood, 46. “We want to provide a fun experience for us girls who typically don’t have luck in...
History, architecture and scandals outlined in Tarentum walking tour
Tarentum native Evelyn Nesbit made her mark in New York City as a model and chorus girl at the turn of the 20th century before becoming the object of a deadly love triangle between wealthy entrepreneurs. Her story and many others will be the focus of a Tarentum walking history...
110 years of soot scrubbed from stained glass at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum
The sun will be shining more brightly on parishioners at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum. Eleven enormous stained-glass windows, removed and boarded in 2022, are being reinstalled this week after a meticulous project that took hundreds of hours to clean and restore them. “It’s not just the color that’s brighter,”...
Retired engineer puts tinkering skills to good use at Fox Chapel church
Retired Acutronic electrical engineer Howard Havlicsek spent his career testing navigational systems for aircraft and missiles but always found time to put his talents to good use on the ground. He’s been the go-to “Mr. Fix-It” at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church since joining in 1979. For 45 years, the O’Hara...
Fox Chapel Area Rotary honors Shady Side Academy grads at annual luncheon
The Fox Chapel Area Rotary honored 10 Shady Side Academy seniors for outstanding leadership and academics. “These are outstanding students who represent the very best the academy has to offer,” said Bob Trimble, club president. “They not only have earned top grades taking difficult subjects but also found time to...
Elaine Jasso pours heart into Sheldon Park’s Booker Center
Elaine Jasso has become a surrogate grandma to hundreds of children in Harrison. As program coordinator for the Deborah D. Booker Community Center in Sheldon Park, Jasso, 73, plans daily activities at the facility that’s run by the Allegheny County Housing Authority. Sometimes, her role is to provide a listening...
