Local category, Page 1008
Automated service takes the place of garbage collectors July 1 in Tarentum
Tarentum residents will say goodbye to their garbage collectors on July 1, when Waste Management rolls out its automated collection system, all but eliminating any personal service that previously was part of the contract. The biggest difference for residents: no more unlimited trash pickup and only one garbage can per...
Building renovations drive Kiski Area tax increase
Kiski Area School District residents will pay more in real estate taxes for the 2023-24 school year. The board voted 8-0 to raise taxes by 5.37 mills, a 5.7% increase, for the district’s Westmoreland County communities and 2.19 mills, a 5.1% increase, for Parks Township, the district’s only Armstrong County...
Religious items from closed Guardian Angels Parish find new home — across the globe
Two ornate altars that graced St. Ladislaus Church in Natrona for more than 100 years will be used again for prayer — across the globe on the South Pacific island of Tonga. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the town of Nukualofa acquired the cream-colored altars, a baptismal font,...
Westmoreland closes juvenile detention center amid state investigation, staffing shortages
Westmoreland County’s juvenile detention center is temporarily closed amid ongoing state child welfare investigations and staffing issues that resulted in an inability to properly staff and secure the 16-bed facility in Hempfield. Director Rich Gordon confirmed that state investigators are conducting a review of operations in the wake of two...
Pa. antlerless deer licenses soon available in stores, online
Change is in the air this Pennsylvania hunting season. Hunters in the state soon will be able to buy their 2023-24 antlerless deer licenses wherever hunting licenses are sold. The new process will go into effect at 8 a.m. Monday when sales begin for general hunting and furtaker licenses. Hunters...
The Grandeur Estate boutique hotel opens in historic Greensburg mansion
Tony and Julia Taneja liked road trips that took them about four hours from their home in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. One of those trips took them through Greensburg, where they came upon a stately property for sale — a three-story brick edifice near downtown built in...
Pogopalooza’s high jump sets world records in Market Square
Pogopalooza returned to Pittsburgh this weekend for an active showcase of the world championships of pogo sticking. The main events began Friday, June 23, with the high jump competition. Spectators gathered at Market Square to watch the athletes run their practice jumps. Pogopalooza has been touring cities for the past...
Medical examiner: Remains found in Sharpsburg might be part of burial ground
Skeletal remains uncovered this week in Sharpsburg are human, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday. The remains were found by a utility crew earlier in the week while working on private property along Short Canal Street. The Medical Examiner’s Office said it is continuing its investigation of the...
2nd suspect arrested in 2021 Pitcairn shooting death, police say there are 2 more
Police have arrested a second suspect in the 2021 fatal shooting of a young man in Pitcairn — and they’re looking for two more people they say are also responsible for his death. Finel Javon Thompson, 21, of Wall, was charged Friday with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering...
Private Industry Council hires former Norwin administrator
A former Norwin administrator has been hired as the chief operating officer for a non-profit that operates employment, education and training programs in Westmoreland and Fayette counties Thomas Wrobleski, a former human resources director for Norwin, was hired recently as the COO for the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc.,...
Suspect identified with help of DNA pleads guilty in Lower Burrell robbery
An Allegheny County man was ordered to serve up to five years in prison for the armed robbery of a beer distributor in Lower Burrell. Blair Adam Payne, 29, of Mt. Oliver pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and receiving stolen property in connection with a heist police said was solved...
Fayette man accused of sending sexually explicit videos
A Fayette County man is accused of recording himself having sex with a 17-year-old Westmoreland County girl and sending seven videos of the encounters to her 15-year-old friend, according to court papers. Trevor N. Mayfield, 28, of Luzerne, was arrested Friday and jailed on $50,000 bail. State police said they...
Harmar elevates part-time officer, bringing police force to 9 full-timers
Harmar supervisors expanded the township’s police department to nine full-time officers by elevating part-time Officer Erik Brannock to full-time status. Township officials said Brannock has been employed by the township as a part-timer for about seven months. Brannock will earn the starting salary of $57,676. Supervisor Bob Exler said Brannock’s...
Tarentum Bridge restrictions to continue next week
PennDOT announced that single-lane restrictions will continue next week on the Tarentum Bridge. Restrictions will include: Monday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., westbound and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastbound for concrete patching. Tuesday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. westbound for concrete patching. Wednesday and Thursday: 12:01 a.m. Wednesday through...
2 face drug charges after Allegheny Township traffic stop
A New Kensington man and a Harrison woman are facing drug charges after a traffic stop. According to court records, Allegheny Township police charged Michael Luffey, 38, of the 1500 block of Leishman Avenue, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, misbranding a controlled substance, possessing drugs and...
Wildlife Works caring for albino raccoon found at Somerset County lumberyard
A rare albino raccoon is in the care of a Westmoreland County wildlife rescue after it was found with its two siblings at a Somerset County lumberyard, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The three baby animals were captured Tuesday by state Game Warden Andy Harvey at Berlin Lumber, southeast...
Mac Miller’s estate drops 10th anniversary album
Mac Miller’s album “Watching Movies With the Sound Off” celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special edition of the record. Rostrum Records released the new edition along with the estate of the Pittsburgh native, according to Rolling Stone. The 20-track album contains three original bonus songs — “Goosebumpz,” “O.K.” with...
Police charge man in connection with work not completed at Lower Burrell gas station
Lower Burrell police charged a Findlay Township man with theft of services because the owner of a city gas station said contracted work was not completed. Gregory Alan Scott, 33, of the Clinton section of Findlay Township was charged with two felony counts of deceptive business practices and theft by...
$52 million Highlands budget includes no tax increase for residents
Highlands School Board Vice President Nicole Kocon said the district’s conservative budgeting combined with growing local revenue has helped hold taxes steady for the 2023-24 school year. The board approved the $52 million budget, maintaining the property tax rate of 25.13 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000...
Franklin Regional adopts 2023-24 budget with 2-mill tax hike
Franklin Regional school directors approved a $66.6 million budget for the 2023-24 school year that includes a 2-mill tax hike. The budget will bring in $66.27 million in projected revenue. In the past few years, district officials have offset budget gaps using money earmarked to fund annual state-mandated increases in...
Pittsburgh to Erie Trail Alliance fundraiser on tap at Pittsburgh Brewing Co. in East Deer, a future trailhead
Nearly two decades after the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance took the initial steps to create regional recreation opportunities, leaders are celebrating 188 miles of trails that have been carved out amid dozens of communities showcased along the path. The goal to connect the two cities and thousands of steps...
Natrona Comes Together offers children one-stop shop for summer reading, art and sports
A crushed soda can and a jar of paint might be enough to inspire the next generation of artists. At the very least, the craft sessions could unleash creativity for the 25 or so children who gather at Natrona Community Park for educational programs all summer long. “Having a weekly...
97th annual Cinderella Ball celebrated on Father’s Day
For a girl, her father is her first love. On Sunday, that bond was evident as dads and male role models reached out for the hand of the young women they’ve embraced their entire lives at the 97th annual Cinderella Ball — fittingly on Father’s Day. Sixteen debutantes were presented...
Early-bird teachers contract approved, tax rate unchanged in Jeannette
The Jeannette City School District property tax millage rate will remain unchanged for the 2023-24 school year, and new positions will help students with internships and teachers manage classrooms and learning. Plus, teachers will earn more starting in the 2024-25 school year under a new contract struck between the education...
Highmark Health cuts 118 jobs
Highmark Health laid off 118 employees this week across the regional health insurer’s operations, the company said. The layoffs occurred across all departments and included a small number of management positions, said Lynn Seay, a Highmark Health spokeswoman. With the layoffs announced Wednesday, Highmark has eliminated 259 positions this year,...
