Verona Council hires new police chief
Thomas Dessell wears multiple hats in the Verona community. A Verona native, Dessell has been a borough police officer and president of the Verona Chamber of Commerce. But council promoted him to police chief on Tuesday night. The hiring comes on the heels of previous chief Ron McLemore’s honorable discharge...
Make sure to bring a healthy appetite to the U.S. OpenVideo
Should you be eating a Philly cheesesteak for breakfast? It’s a culinary debate for the ages. Dick Atzeni of Sligo, Clarion County, and his granddaughter, Hannah, certainly weren’t against it, as they chowed down on their sandwiches around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the U.S. Open in Oakmont. Atzeni has been...
Young fans give tips regarding the hunt for U.S. Open autographsVideo
To get an autograph at the U.S. Open, you must be assertive, pushy and, for the most part, you have to be a kid. On Tuesday, Oakmont Country Club was flooded with people and families coming from all over the country. Among the crowd, tiny hands gripped flags, posters, hats...
USGA Museum offers attendees glimpse of past during U.S. Open
For John Meyers, many of the items on display in the USGA Museum at Oakmont Country Club were familiar sights. An Oakmont member for several decades, the “old fan” said he’d been to every U.S. Open since 1983. But he still enjoyed seeing objects like Johnny Miller’s clubs from the...
Oakmont caddies look to fill roles during U.S. Open, on and off the bag
Aaron Williams is among a select few when it comes to Oakmont Country Club caddies: He has found himself on a bag this week for the U.S. Open. After narrowly missing an opportunity to caddie at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Williams was committed to working the tournament this...
A trip inside the U.S. Open merchandise tent in OakmontVideo
Before Yasuhiro Kano strolled over to the 34,000-square-foot U.S. Open merchandise tent Monday at Oakmont Country Club, he set a budget: $500. By the time he was done, Kano, 55, of Chicago, had shirts, hats and souvenirs for friends back in Illinois, but he stayed on budget. “I like golf,”...
FAA, county bar drones from flying near U.S. Open grounds
Amateur drone operators, take note: You need to avoid the air space this week around Oakmont Country Club. A Temporary Flight Restriction has been put in effect above the historic country club while the U.S. Open golf championship makes its 10th visit to the Allegheny Valley, officials announced Monday. The...
Traffic calm in Oakmont during 1st day of U.S. Open practice rounds
Drivers in Oakmont experienced mostly traffic-free travel as U.S. Open practice rounds kicked off Monday morning. While there might have been a bit more travel than usual, traffic wasn’t an issue, Oakmont police Chief Michael Ford said. People, however, shouldn’t necessarily get used to those quick travel times through the...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of June 9, 2025
Plum Class of 1985 to hold reunion in November Plum’s Class of 1985 will host its 40th class reunion on Nov. 28 at Veltre’s Wedding Venue on Coxcomb Hill Road. Organizers are seeking contact information for class members. Details about the reunion are available at the “Plum HS 1985 —...
Golf’s greatest face Oakmont’s ultimate test at 125th U.S. Open
The likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau have arrived in Oakmont with ambitions of raising a trophy Sunday at the 125th U.S. Open being held at historic Oakmont Country Club. They will be greeted, starting with practice rounds on Monday, by tens of thousands of...
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of June 8, 2025
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Estate of Anna Reabe sold property at 125 Wilkins Ave. to AAE Engineering LLC for $63,000. Churchill Timothy Mullins sold property at 12 Lewin Ln to Bryce Cooper for $390,000. Cedar Brook Properties Funding 1 LLC sold property at 140 Thornberry Drive to Robert and Jeannette Fisher...
Veteran fan, former Oakmont caddie offers suggestions for fans attending U.S. Open
Derek Gionta has seen the U.S. Open both inside and out. That’s because, in addition to attending multiple opens over the years, the 44-year-old Monroeville resident also was a caddie at the Oakmont Country Club during his high school and college days. “My brother was already doing it when I...
U.S. Open offers fans full plate of culinary options at Oakmont Country Club
As soon as the U.S. Open’s final putt is sunk, Susan Lacz starts thinking about the next year’s tournament. Lacz is CEO of Ridgewells Catering in Maryland, the United States Golf Association’s longtime catering partner for the event. She’s one of the people in charge of making sure hungry U.S....
Riverview business manager recommends 2.23% tax increase
Riverview School District’s business manager doubled down on her recommendation for a tax increase for next school year. Business manager Sheila Lubert once again recommended a 2.23% tax increase for 2025-26 during the school board’s June 2 agenda meeting after reviewing the district’s proposed budget. The 0.5591-mill real estate tax...
Oakmont deer could be target of survey
Whitetail deer are on the minds of Oakmont officials. During a recent council meeting, Councilwoman Debra Ormay floated the idea to make a survey available for residents to share whether there’s a deer issue in Oakmont. She said she has received a few complaints about the presence of deer and...
Verona man arrested in connection with December robbery and shooting
Verona police made an arrest Friday morning in connection with a December robbery and shooting in the borough. According to Verona Officer Thomas Dessell, Price Riley, 37, was wanted for allegedly robbing his Uber driver and later firing a gunshot inside a gas station bathroom in December. “With the assistance...
Jury finds Oakmont rape suspect not guilty
An Oakmont man was acquitted by a jury this week of rape and sexual assault charges involving a teenage girl. Jurors spent about four hours deliberating Wednesday in the case against Jeffrey Thomas McMeekin, 63, according to a court order. He was found not guilty of 21 counts including rape,...
Championship-round tickets sold out for U.S. Open at Oakmont; limited practice-round spots remain
Tens of thousands of golf fans have secured their tickets for the 125th U.S. Open being held next week at Oakmont Country Club. The USGA announced Friday that the championship rounds, scheduled for Thursday through June 15, are sold out. Around 30,000 spectators are expected at the course each day...
Longtime fans recount stories, experiences at past U.S. Opens at Oakmont
Curt Coulter has a deep connection to Oakmont Country Club and the U.S. Opens played there. The golfing bug bit him early, at just 7. By the time he was 13, he was a junior member at Oakmont living a chip shot away. Coulter, 59, went on to win seven...
Verona’s annual farmers market returns to East Railroad Avenue
Verona Borough’s annual farmers market kicked off on Thursday, June 5. Local farmers, vendors and community clubs set up stands at 736 East Railroad Ave. to sell produce, plants and other wares. The market will take place every Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. through October. For more information, visit...
Here’s where to eat if you’re visiting the U.S. Open
Looking for a nosh after a long day watching the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club? We’ve got you covered. From classic American handhelds to elevated Italian, here is your go-to list for some local eats. Zen Restaurant and Sushi Bar Distance from golf course: 3 minute drive...
Riverview baseball proud to go down fighting
Carter Loughren put on the Riverview uniform one final time Monday afternoon when he and his Raiders teammates battled District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep in the first round of the PIAA Class 2A baseball playoffs. He hoped the Raiders would keep going in the state tournament, but the Lakers had...
Businesses take advantage of opportunity as vendor partners for U.S. OpenVideo
Bob Rivers can’t wait for golf fans to try his coffee at the U.S. Open. The owner of National Grind Coffee & Tea Shop in Ellwood City has good reason to be excited for the event. As a vendor partner with the USGA, Rivers anticipates doing a full year’s worth...
USGA to open U.S. Open merchandise tent early for fans without tickets
Golf fans without tickets to attend the U.S. Open next week still will have the opportunity to purchase tournament merchandise, according to the USGA. The merchandise pavilion at Oakmont Country Club will be open to the public from Thursday to Sunday, prior to the tournament, the organization said. Featuring a...
Storms delay work, finish date on long-awaited Oakmont parking lot
The completion date for a long-awaited parking lot in Oakmont’s business district is being pushed back. Oakmont Community Foundation president Ray Rogers said work on the lot along Allegheny Avenue has been slowed repeatedly by bad weather. Oakmont was hit hard by severe thunderstorms at the end of April, leaving...
