Local category, Page 1357
Vandergrift VFD No. 1 celebrates 125th anniversary with games, parade and food
An event more than a century in the making took place in Vandergrift Saturday. Borough officials, volunteers and firefighters from various parts of the state came together for the 125th anniversary of the George G. McMurtry Fire Department, also noted as Vangergrift Volunteer Fire Dept. No. 1. “It’s meant to...
Longtime DA’s spokesman resigns after more than 2 decades on the job
Mike Manko, the longtime spokesman for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., has left his position. “Another opportunity presented itself, and the time is right,” said Manko, 58, of Scott. He did not say what is next for him. Manko joined the district attorney’s office in January 2000,...
Police say guns discharged during fight at East Huntingdon home
A Verona woman who is on parole for stabbing a man outside a Westmoreland County strip club in 2018 is back behind bars on attempted homicide charges stemming from a fight in East Huntingdon, according to court papers. State police said Kristin M. Kruel, 26, of Verona, handed a pistol...
Benedum Center stage gets major upgrade
For the first time in over two decades, Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center has a new stage floor. The Benedum Center is one of the busiest theaters in the world, so the old 7,000-plus-square-foot stage had a lot of wear and tear from the past 20 years. According to the trade publication...
‘Night of the Living Dead’ display to be added to Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village
The latest addition to the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad & Village will have a “Night of the Living Dead” theme. The addition being unveiled later this month is a replica of the Evans City Cemetery chapel featured in the iconic zombie movie made in Western Pennsylvania. It was where...
Child car seat safety check scheduled for Youngwood, Hyde Park
Six child car seat safety checks by Pennsylvania State Police, including events in Youngwood and Hyde Park later this month, will help motorists keep young passengers safe. Troopers who are certified as child passenger safety technicians will examine car seats and share guidance for proper installation and how to prevent...
Moon Township teenager killed in ATV crash in Robinson
A Moon Township man died late Friday after authorities said he crashed into a fixed object while driving an ATV along railroad tracks. Shane Wardropper, 18, was pronounced dead at a hospital after the 9 p.m. incident in the area of Elizabeth Street in Robinson, according to the Allegheny County...
The Stroller, Sept. 3, 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 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Super bingo planned Oct. 1 in Gilpin Christ the King and St....
Paranormal investigations continue in Jeannette in advance of Oct. 8 Ghost Tour
Paranormal investigators are finding eerie evidence in some of Jeannette’s buildings. Members of Truth Seekers Paranormal Researchers have been using specialized equipment at several downtown locations in preparation for an Oct. 8 fundraiser for the Jeannette Historical Society and You Are Here gallery. “We’re still going through the audio recordings...
A tale of 2 floods: Unity’s Dorothy neighborhood mirrors Connellsville’s Dutch Bottom experience
Josh Biller wasn’t thinking about floods when he bought his first house in May 2021. He was focused on getting moved in and setting up a home office, while enjoying a huge patio and having a place of his own. “I’ve only been here a year,” he said. “I was...
Indie duo closes Greensburg concert season expected to match previous high attendance
Couples of all ages and families, too, turned out Friday evening to enjoy the guitar stylings and harmonized vocals of indie folk-pop duo The Sea, The Sea — the final act in this season’s SummerSounds weekly concert series at Greensburg’s St. Clair Park. Regular attendee Lynne Roth of Hempfield came...
Bari Club celebrates 100 years of Italian heritage and fellowship in Vandergrift
Vandergrift’s oldest Italian social club celebrated a major milestone last Saturday, Aug. 27. The Bari Club, the sole surviving Italian social club in the borough, celebrated its 100th anniversary with wall-to-wall well-wishers celebrating all things Italian. “All the other Italian clubs are gone in Vandergrift,” said Frank “Beans” Moliterno, 92,...
Freeport still can’t find a mayor after 3 months; residents encouraged to apply
Longtime Freeport Mayor James Swartz Jr. resigned in early June, and borough council still hasn’t been able to find someone to fill his shoes. No one qualified enough has stepped up, said Council President Clint Warnick, who is serving as acting mayor. “We’re still working through, trying applicants,” he said....
1 flown to hospital after crash in Mt. Pleasant Township
One person was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital after a wreck Friday evening in Mt. Pleasant Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 dispatcher. First responders had to free the motorist from the vehicle after it crashed into a tree along Clay Pike Road near Stairs Road, the dispatcher said....
Police probe death of 14-year-old girl fatally shot inside car in Duquesne
Police are investigating a shooting Friday evening that left a teenage girl dead in Duquesne. Lajaponis Roberts, 14, died at the scene, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner. Allegheny County Homicide detectives said they learned Roberts was a passenger in a burgundy-colored Chevy Cruze when the shooting occurred. The...
Derry Township street to close; traffic restrictions extended on I-70
A Derry Township street is set to close beginning Tuesday as PennDOT extends detours and traffic restrictions for other work areas in Westmoreland County — including a stretch of Interstate 70. A section of Hickory Avenue, also know as North Valley Street, is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Tuesday...
East Hills woman charged with homicide in fatal shooting of friend’s brother
A woman who told investigators that she “wasn’t going to be hit by a man” is charged with homicide in connection with a shooting Thursday at an East Hills housing complex, according to a criminal complaint filed against her. Toddia Smiley, 25, of East Hills, said she was drinking in...
Southwestern Pa. awarded $63M to boost robotics and AI industries in region
Southwestern Pennsylvania has secured a $62.7 million federal grant that local officials hope will boost the region’s robotics and artificial intelligence industries and allow small businesses to take advantage of that growth. The White House announced Thursday the newly formed Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative will receive its funding through...
Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Festival kicks off at Westmoreland Fairgrounds
The 29th Annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Festival kicked off Friday. It runs through Labor Day at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township. Exhibitors come from 14 states and display and sell a wide variety of arts and crafts, including jewelry, clothing, home decor items, soft sculpture,...
Indiana County man pleads guilty in sex assault of minor
A Smicksburg man has pleaded guilty to charges related to the sexual assault of a minor. Michael Stiles, 54, is charged with statutory sexual assault as well as involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with and indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault of a child under 16 years old. The victim reported...
Suspect charged with shooting man in the leg on Downtown side of Rachel Carson Bridge
Pittsburgh police have taken into custody a man accused of shooting another man in the leg midday Friday in the city. Dremajjae Reddix, 26, is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Court documents did not list a...
Allegheny County expands eligibility for monkeypox vaccine
The monkeypox vaccine is now available to a wider swath of people in Allegheny County as health officials work to get the prophylaxis to those most at risk of coming into contact with the virus. In addition to those already eligible for the vaccine, which can prevent illness if received...
Springdale Jr.-Sr. High School students learn importance of mental health from Listen, Lucy founder
Jordan Corcoran felt relief for the first time in her life after hearing the news. When she was 19, she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. After years of struggling with mental illness, she was able to make her first step forward in finding help. “Asking for...
Pittsburgh’s Rib Fest getting off to smoking hot start after Backyard Brawl brings in record fans
Pittsburgh’s annual Kickoff and Rib Festival has been running on the North Shore for more than 30 years and some longtime vendors say this year’s opening day on Thursday brought the biggest crowds they had ever seen. It helped that tens of thousands of football fans flooded the North Shore...
Section of Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills to close through end of September for slide repair
Work to fix a slide will close part of Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills for much of September, PennDOT announced Friday. Saltsburg Road between Sycamore Drive and Route 380 is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Tuesday, weather permitting, and remain closed through late September. Through traffic will be prohibited...
