TribLive stories, Page 1072
Fox Chapel students head back to school
Aspinwall students board the bus at Center Avenue and Fourth Street on Aug. 23 for the first day of school in the Fox Chapel Area School District for the 2022-23 school year. The students were heading to O’Hara Elementary School. Aspinwall Police Chief Dave Nemec watches in the background....
Laurels & lances: Back to school, birds and buildings
Laurel: To that time of year. School started this week for many students throughout the region. For others, that first bell is just days away. College students are back in their dorms and heading back to class in universities from Pittsburgh to Greensburg and everywhere else. This could be when...
Former Allegheny County Jail officer pleads to federal weapons charge
A former Allegheny County correctional officer accused of taking illegal drugs into the facility to sell pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to possessing a sawed-off shotgun. Lewis Bagnato, 33, of Kennedy, is expected to plead to state court charges related to the drug sales on Oct. 18, said...
New hours at Hampton Community Library
Hampton Community Library announces new hours: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday, and will be Sept. 3-5 for Labor Day. Activities and events at the library...
Quaker Valley School District starts the new school year
School is back in session for students in Quaker Valley School District. The first day of school for students in kindergarten through ninth grade was Aug. 24, while students in grads 10-12 started on Aug. 25. “It was a wonderful day, and watching our students interact with their friends and...
Your license plate frame is enough for police in Pa. to pull you over, court rules
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Thousands of drivers in Pennsylvania could now be at greater risk of getting pulled over by police — all...
Despite playoff win, Shenango wants to shake off disappointing 2021
Coming off a 7-2 season in 2020, Shenango had high hopes this time last year. But reality failed to meet expectations and, despite a second straight season with a playoff victory, the Wildcats were left wanting more. “We thought we would have a much more successful season based on our...
Despite roster losses, reloaded Laurel in good position to contend in Class A
Last fall, Brian Cooper watched as, week in and week out, his running back and quarterback sliced through opposing defenses. The combination of Luke McCoy and Kobe DeRosa combined for 2,938 rushing yards and scored 47 touchdowns, as the Spartans finished the season 11-1, qualifying for the WPIAL Class 2A...
With losing streak in rearview mirror, Northgate excited about progress
A year ago, Northgate entered the 2021 season carrying the weight of the WPIAL’s longest losing streak — 32 games played, 32 straight losses. But the Flames wasted no time snapping the skid, topping Carlynton, 22-6, in Week Zero. “To get that first win, and see the look on those...
Rochester ready to ‘kick the door down’ in 2022
Rochester has a message for its Class A opponents this year — tighten those hinges. “Our motto this year is, ‘Kick the door down,’” said 23rd-year coach Gene Matsook. “That door is the semifinals, and hopefully we can knock it down and move to the next level.” The Rams, for...
New coach brings lessons learned from all-time greats to Union
If anyone’s ever been ready for his first head coaching job, it’s Union’s Kim Niedbala. He is the son of the late Rich Niedbala, who won 192 games and three WPIAL titles at Western Beaver. He played under coach Joe Hamilton, second-winningest coach in WPIAL history at Blackhawk. He’s been...
Principal extends warm welcome to University Park Elementary students in Monroeville
Talk about a warm welcome. “Hello!” Jennifer Hoffner called as youngsters emerged from big yellow vehicles, calling most by name and giving quite a few hugs. “How was your summer? My, you’re getting tall and handsome!” The principal of Gateway’s University Park Elementary School even expressed her enthusiasm and appreciation...
Todd Carney: Assessing Pa.’s unusual Senate campaign
The Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race has unconventional candidates on both sides. Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz is a Turkish-born television doctor with a history of supporting liberal causes and sketchy health programs. The Democratic nominee, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, is close to 7 feet tall and frequently wears a hoodie....
Letter to the editor: When will our leaders address border drug crisis?
It is wonderful that the drug manufacturers will pay $26 billion for a national settlement as a result of the opioid epidemic, but in my opinion, this money will do nothing to combat addiction. When will we address the real cause of this epidemic? I’m sure these addicts are not...
New Ringgold coach ready to face challenges of restoring winning culture
Marcus McCullough played his final football game at Ringgold in 1987, losing to New Castle in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals. Now he’s in charge of restoring the Rams’ program into the force that it once was, and he’s relishing that chance in his first season at the helm. “It’s...
Elizabeth Forward not ready to relinquish top spot in Class 3A Interstate Conference
Elizabeth Forward has heard all the rumblings about certain Interstate Conference newcomers. But as far as the Warriors are concerned, they’re still the top dogs. The Warriors have won the Interstate four out of the last five years, and with a talented lineup coming back, coach Mike Collodi thinks his...
Expect balanced offense, young players in key spots for Bentworth with this season
As Bentworth football coach JJ Knabb enters his fourth year with the Bearcats, he is faced with a team that may not have a lot of experience but has tremendous upside. The Bearcats entered the preseason with 28 players on their roster, but only four are seniors. “As a coaching...
Serra Catholic ready to shake off graduation losses, begin WPIAL title defense
Confidence isn’t lacking inside the football locker room at Serra Catholic. A year after winning WPIAL gold and playing in a state championship game in Hershey, the Eagles are faced with the tall task of trying to replicate last season’s success. Can they do it? They surely believe so. “We...
New Charleroi coach knows team won’t get outworked
Soon after he was hired as head coach at Charleroi, Mark Gambino reached out to a former coach to get a little inside information on the team he was taking over. “He told me, ‘They will work hard for you,’” Gambino said. “He said, ‘Set the tone and they’ll work.’”...
Letter to the editor: Politicians shouldn’t engineer community makeup
I must disagree with letter-writer Dr. Marti Haykin’s logic (“Vote to make Pa. more welcoming,” Aug. 21, TribLIVE). In a free society, people choose where they want to live for various reasons. No one has forced anyone to move in or out of Westmoreland County, and thankfully we’re not planning...
Editorial: Push for Marc Fogel’s release unites right and left
For months, the issue of WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release from captivity in Russia has eclipsed the cases of others. Her fame has garnered her more attention than the case of Paul Whelan, an American held for espionage. It has definitely attracted more attention than the case of Marc Fogel,...
Millie’s Wexford celebrates launch of Little Free Library
To celebrate the launch of a new Little Free Library shaped like an ice cream cone, Millie’s Wexford welcomed children for a storytime on Aug. 13. The event featured actors portraying Beauty and the Beast, who took photos with the kids and read “Noodles and the No Bones Day” and...
Sewickley Public Library prepping for fall book sale
Sewickley Public Library is at 500 Thorn Street. It is open seven days a week. For a complete list of library programs, visit sewickleylibrary.org. Fall book sale The Friends of the Sewickley Public Library host the annual Fall Book Sale Sept. 9-11. Shop gently used books, children’s books, movies, music...
The Stroller, Aug. 25, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15068. Please include a daytime telephone number. Back-to-school bash set Saturday in Arnold park A back-to school bash will...
Letter to the editor: ‘Election integrity’ is just voter suppression
Pennsylvania Rep. Eric Nelson’s piece “Pennsylvania is Exhibit A for why election integrity matters” (Aug. 11, TribLIVE) repackages voter suppression as ‘election integrity’ in a coordinated Republican disinformation campaign. See the same talking points from Sen. Kim Ward (“A step toward election integrity in Pa.,” July 24, TribLIVE) Coincidence? Nelson...
