Local category, Page 1388
St. John’s Harrold church marks 250 years in Hempfield
When Susan Miller moved back to Hempfield in 1983, she knew without a doubt that she would be joining St. John’s Harrold Reformed United Church of Christ. Miller, 66, who lives outside the township’s Fort Allen neighborhood, has ties in the church dating back to 1900s when her grandfather was...
Pets can compete to serve as Greensburg’s 1st animal ambassador
Greensburg community leaders have a new pet project underway. They’re looking for the ideal animal companion to serve as the city’s first designated pet ambassador. The spotlighted pet will be selected this month through a contest including online and in-person segments. The winning pet and owner will be invited to...
New Lower Burrell police dog paid for with grant from Officer Brian Shaw Foundation
The main attraction at Lower Burrell council’s Monday night meeting was the city’s new police dog, “Buc.” The 17-month-old German shepherd from Slovakia was accompanied by his handler, K-9 Officer Aaron Rodgers. The dog was paid for with a grant from the Officer Brian Shaw Foundation, which helps local police...
Pittsburgh native David McCullough remembered as ‘guiding light’ for preserving Western Pa. history
Local historians and government leaders on Monday celebrated the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Pittsburgh native David McCullough and said he played a pivotal role in helping to preserve Southwestern Pennsylvania history. McCullough, who grew up in Point Breeze, died Sunday at 89. Two local history organizations — the...
Riverview School Board has vacancy following resignation
Riverview School Board vice president Tara Jean Schaaf has resigned. Her departure was effective Aug. 1. The Verona parent cited a new job as her reason for leaving the board. “I loved my time on the board and was sad to have to resign, but I had to make decisions...
Cleanup continues after flash flooding in Unity’s village of Dorothy
Peggy Gross watched as an antique sewing machine that belonged to her great-grandmother was carried out of her flood-ravaged Unity home. “Oh, that breaks my heart. You have no idea how old that is,” she said while standing under the shade of a tree in the front yard. Bags of...
Former Fort Pitt Brewery in Jeannette among dozen of properties bought by land bank
Westmoreland County’s Land Bank purchased a dozen tax delinquent properties Monday, including a former brewery building in west Jeannette that officials long have described as blighted and targeted for removal. The county’s tax office sold 27 properties at Monday’s judicial sale and earned more than $199,600. Officials put 49 parcels...
Fire departments in Western Pennsylvania warning people about scam involving T-shirt sales
Volunteer fire departments across the region, including at one in Allegheny Township, are alerting people about a scam involving the sale of T-shirts to raise money to support their operations. Markle Volunteer Fire Department posted a warning on its Facebook page Monday asking people to be wary of the solicitation...
Bethel Park celebrates life of teacher: Jon Gentile remembered by family, friends and fellow Phish fans
Ask the average music listener about the rock band Phish, and a likely response is either the faintest hint of recognition or a flat-out blank stare. But concerts by Phish — yes, that’s with a “Ph” — marked special occasions for Bethel Park High School teachers Jon Gentile and Rich...
Duquesne man charged with homicide, DUI in fatal crash near Allegheny County Airport
A Duquesne man had a blood-alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit when he led police on a chase through West Mifflin last month before crashing on airport property and killing his passenger, according to charges filed Monday. Eugene McLemore, 36, is charged with homicide by vehicle, fleeing...
Latrobe Art Center to host 9th annual Yellow Tie Gala
Time to grab your favorite yellow dress out of the closet. On Friday, Aug. 19, the Latrobe Art Center will host its ninth annual Yellow Tie Gala to kick off the city’s Great American Banana Split Celebration. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy appetizers made by Ricolita’s Café,...
Lawyers argue for new trial, reduction of $19 million verdict for pool injury
Lawyers for a Washington Township family ordered to pay $19 million to a Vandergrift man injured in a swimming pool accident nearly a decade ago on Monday called for a Westmoreland County judge to toss out the jury verdict and order a new trial. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Harry...
2 dead, 12 wounded in weekend violence across Allegheny County
A violent night in Pittsburgh capped off a weekend of carnage across Allegheny County that left 2 people dead and 12 injured between Friday night and early Monday. Stephone Drayton, 40, died around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, less than an hour after he and three others were shot on Pittsburgh’s North...
Jeep hits home in Mt. Pleasant Township
No one was hurt when a Jeep veered off a Mt. Pleasant Township road Monday morning and slammed into a house. Calumet Fire Assistant Chief Kris Lewis said the call came in around 6 a.m. The Jeep apparently left Route 981 across from St. Florian Parish, went down a driveway...
Vandergrift police partner with Kiski Area East Primary to collect back-to-school supplies
The Vandergrift Police Department is hosting a back-to-school supply drive for students at Kiski Area East Primary School in the borough. The annual collection is in collaboration with the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. Donated items may be dropped off through Aug. 15 at the Vandergrift Police Station at 109 Grant...
Part of Old Freeport Road in O’Hara to close through November for bridge work
A short bridge that sits near the post office along Old Freeport Road in O’Hara is scheduled to close Aug. 22 for reconstruction for up to three months. Motorists will be detoured away from the 1300 block of Old Freeport Road while work on Squaw Run Bridge No. 7 is...
Cranberry library presents ‘From Pittsburgh to the Moon’
Cranberry Public Library will host a curator from the Heinz History Center for a program about the Pittsburgh region’s contributions to the space race. Curator Emily Ruby will present “From Pittsburgh to the Moon,” on Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m., to look back at the history of the Apollo 11...
Women’s Board of Pittsburgh raises $73,000 for children’s initiatives
Beneficiaries of the annual Women’s Board of Pittsburgh fundraiser have been revealed. Grants will be doled out to not only one or two, but three local charities whose mission is to improve the lives of children. They are: • 412 Boxing, a group associated with the Police Athletic League that...
Kiski Area plans 4-day camp to give incoming kindergartners a jump-start
The Kiski Area School District is rolling out a new, free program to help incoming kindergartners adjust to life on campus. Kinder-Camp will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 15 to 18 for any incoming kindergartner at the district’s three elementary schools: East, North and South Primary. The...
Pa. average gas price could fall below $4 by late August, analyst says
The national average price of gasoline could go below $4 per gallon as soon as today as prices fall for an eighth straight week, industry analyst Patrick De Haan said. AAA was reporting the national average at $4.06. National gas price-tracking service GasBuddy has it lower, at $4.01. “By the...
Faces of the Valley: Pair of Burrell Girl Scouts teach public about gun safety
A pair of soon-to-be freshmen at Burrell High School, decided to get serious about gun safety for a public presentation July 16 at the Upper Burrell Volunteer Fire Department. The freshmen’s Girl Scout project sought to increase public awareness of gun safety to prevent accidental shootings by children. The event...
6th suspect arrested in New Kensington homicide; 1 remains at large
One of two teens still at large and charged in the shooting death of a man last month in New Kensington was arrested Monday. U.S. marshals apprehended Elijah Rashad Gary, 18, on Ella Street in Wilkinsburg without incident, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said. Gary is one of seven...
Peters man faces charges after loaded gun found in backpack at Pittsburgh airport
A man is facing charges after Transportation Security Administration officers said they found a loaded handgun in his backpack at Pittsburgh International Airport on Monday morning. The 54-year-old man from Peters tried to go through the main security checkpoint around 5:30 a.m. with a 9mm handgun, according to Allegheny County...
Pittsburgh man arrested after car chase in Kittanning
A Pittsburgh man faces charges after state police said he led troopers on a chase in Kittanning early Sunday. Troopers tried to pull over a vehicle driven by Jeffrey Ledonne, 42, around 1:30 a.m., but he refused to stop, police said. During the pursuit, police said Ledonne slammed on his...
Lower Burrell man killed in Somerset County crash
A Lower Burrell man was killed Thursday in a crash in Somerset County, according to state police. Dylan M. Corey, 31, was standing next to the driver’s side door of a Ram 2500 while it was parked along the shoulder of New Centerville Road in Somerset Township, just outside of...
