Western PA Local News category, Page 1191
FOREVER CHANGED
Tyrone Perry eased his pickup through the empty streets of Pittsburgh’s East End, headlights cutting through the predawn darkness. Flecks of light snow speckled the air as music from an R&B CD drifted through the Ford F-150’s speakers. Tyrone was partial to the smooth vibes of musicians like Isaac Hayes...
More than 100 permanent layoffs to take place at a Munhall pipe manufacturing plant
Leaders of a Munhall stainless steel pipe and tubing manufacturing plant plan to layoff more than 100 workers by the end of the year. Cuts have already begun as part of a four-phase process at Ascent Tubular Products, according to a notice posted on the state Department of Labor’s website,...
Construction to cause disruptions to ‘T’ service this weekend
Riders on Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light-rail “T” routes Downtown, on the North Shore and in parts of the South Hills should expect significant disruptions this weekend, PRT officials announced. Contractors are working on two separate projects from Friday night up to the start of Monday’s service. Riders should allow for...
Pot ‘sticking out of’ pants pocket leads to felony drug arrest at New Kensington hotel
New Kensington police arrested a man on felony drug charges after staff at a local motel reported that he refused to leave and was following a woman around the parking lot. When officers arrived at the Quality Inn off Tarentum Bridge Road about 6:45 a.m. Jan. 1, they found Melvin...
Police accuse Lower Burrell man of hitting woman in face with baseball bat during fight over dog
Lower Burrell police accused a man of punching a woman during an argument over a dog and then hitting her in the head and face with a baseball bat multiple times when she tried to fight back. Matthew Anthony Betts Sr., 56, of the 2700 block of Lori Drive was...
New Kensington man accused of trying to strangle woman during argument faces felony charge
A New Kensington man was charged with a felony after a woman told police that he tried to stop her from leaving his house during an argument and covered her mouth and nose until she couldn’t breathe when she screamed for help. Andrew Paul Ziencik, 39, of the 700 block...
Pittsburgh police arrest suspect in Greenfield robbery
Pittsburgh police arrested a man Friday who they said robbed a senior citizen this week outside of an automatic teller machine in Greenfield. The suspect, Brian J. Guiney, 50, of Pittsburgh, was charged with robbery and placed in the Allegheny County Jail, police said. Police said Guiney robbed the senior...
Murrysville officials continue debate on amphitheater project
When local officials began planning for a possible amphitheater at Murrysville Community Park in 2018, it was in response to a community survey about amenities residents wanted to see. In addition to the amphitheater, they included a playground and splash pad, both of which were installed over the next couple...
Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin weds at age 93
Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man to walk on the moon, proved that one is never too old to be married when, on his 93rd birthday, he wed his longtime girlfriend, a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Aldrin, who made his fourth trip into matrimony, married Anca Faur,...
2 killed in St. Clair Township crash
Two men were killed in a head-on collision on Route 56 in St. Clair Township on Friday afternoon, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. The victims were identified as Robert A. Deemer, 36, of Johnstown, and Gerald E. McGeary, 84, of Seward. The coroner said both men died of...
From Herminie to Rome: Famed fashion designer’s memorabilia up for auction
It’s a long journey from the coal patch town of Herminie in Sewickley Township to the top of the Spanish Steps at 15 Piazza Trinita del Monti in Rome. About 4,544 miles, to be precise. Although the late John W. “Jack” Savage might have grown up in the company town...
Greensburg firefighters plan May alternative to canceled Community Days
Greensburg Community Days festivities usually held at Lynch Field are canceled this year because of renovation work that will be underway at Kirk S. Nevin Arena. But the Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department is planning an alternative Memorial Day weekend event with free admission for the public — a “Party in...
Hempfield man announces second bid for Westmoreland commissioner
A former retired executive from Hempfield announced this week he will seek election as Westmoreland County commissioner. John Ventre, 65, said he will run in this year’s Republican primary and is targeting first-time incumbent Doug Chew as his chief opponent this spring. Chew and fellow first-term Republican Sean Kertes are...
Greensburg Restaurant Week returns with special dishes, deals
General manager Lynn Hepple likes to give diners at Bar Nine “something completely new” when Greensburg Restaurant Week rolls around. This time, special dishes at the Greensburg gastropub will include short rib pierogies, served with garlic gravy, sour cream and scallions. The pierogies are one of two appetizer options for...
How Maggie Hardy caught Immaculate Reception ball for Dad
It was another fairy tale ending for the Immaculate Reception ball. The same ball that Franco Harris miraculously caught 50 years ago to give the Steelers their first playoff victory in franchise history inspired another happy, though bittersweet, outcome. For the past half-century, the ball had been in the possession...
A-K Health Foundation footing the bill for EMT certification to help alleviate responder crisis
Free EMT training by the Allegheny-Kiski Health Foundation will help stop the bleed for ambulance services hit hard by dwindling funding and worker shortages, local officials said. John Pastorek, president of the Harrison-based foundation, said his group will pay up to $21,000 to cover EMT training for 21 students, beginning...
Demolition of former Springdale power station expected to be completed in 2024
Demolition of the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale likely won’t be completed until March of next year. Although what will become of the property after the power plant demolition is still unknown, workers this week were using blowtorches to remove exterior panels. Removal of the metal cladding is part...
Frazer parents say children’s walking route to school bus stop is dangerous
A road in Frazer has been deemed too dangerous for a school bus to drive on, yet the Deer Lakes School District considers it safe enough for an 8-year-old girl to walk nearly a mile to the bus stop along the same street. Dana Russell of Frazer said her 8-year-old...
The Stroller, Jan. 21, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Veterans banners available for Springdale veterans Springdale Team of Active Residents...
21 Fox Chapel Area students make honors bands
Twenty-one Fox Chapel Area School District students were selected by audition to perform with the 2023 Allegheny Valley senior and junior high honors bands. Seventh to 12th grade student musicians from the Avonworth, Fox Chapel Area, Hampton, North Allegheny, Northgate, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Riverview, and Shaler Area school districts auditioned,...
DECA team wins big for North Allegheny
An impressive win by the DECA team has North Allegheny students headed to a state competition in February. North Allegheny stood out at the District 2 DECA Conference at the Community College of Beaver County in December. NA received 64 out of 76 individual awards, including first place awards in...
Homicide charges withdrawn for 2 men accused in North Side shootout
Homicide charges against two men who were accused in a North Side shootout that killed three people were withdrawn by prosecutors on Friday after they said that the trajectory from which the shots were fired did not match evidence against them. Charron Troutman, 19, and Samuel Pegues, 30, will both...
Staffing issues force temporary closure of Periwinkle’s in O’Hara
An O’Hara bakery renowned for its award-winning donuts is temporarily closed. Periwinkle’s Bakery & Cafe — a spinoff from the original, popular 1970s Harmar bakery — shut down in late 2022. A sign posted to the door of the RIDC Park location cites a worker shortage as the problem. “We...
3 Pittsburghers charged with domestic terrorism following Georgia incident
Seven people, including three from Pittsburgh, are facing charges of domestic terrorism after a shoot-out Wednesday at the future site of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in Georgia. Spencer Bernard Liberto, 29, Matthew Ernest Macar, 30, and Sarah Wasilewski, 35, were taken to DeKalb County Jail earlier this week...
Mt. Pleasant man not guilty of attempted homicide, convicted of assaulting former girlfriend
A Westmoreland County jury Friday found a Mt. Pleasant man did not intend to kill his former girlfriend when he beat and choked her into unconsciousness and left her in the woods. Charles P. Etling, 41, was convicted of lesser counts of aggravated assault, strangulation and reckless endangerment in connection...
