Local category, Page 1445
No injuries in early-morning fire at Tarentum high-rise
Residents at Golden Towers in Tarentum returned to their apartments shortly before 6 a.m., following a three-alarm fire reported early Thursday. Residents were partially evacuated following the fire, which was reported shortly before 4 a.m. at the apartment complex on the 200 block of Allegheny Street. “It took about 40...
Fox Chapel author earns prize for her children’s book, ‘Brave Buddy’
Fox Chapel native Chris Yukevich has hundreds of children’s books. “When I was a little girl, my father would read us picture books before we went to sleep. I associate that with a wonderful time,” Yukevich said. Yukevich has authored and self-published numerous books, calling it her “passion.” Her most...
Norwin Class of ’72 plans reunion; library offers summer reading program and more
Norwin class of 1972 set reunion The Norwin High School class of 1972 will hold a 50th reunion at Ferrante’s Lakeview Lounge, Route 30, Hempfield, on June 25. Registration starts at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. The cost is $50 per person. For more information, contact Wendy Bigelow...
Jeannette City tax increase spurred by decrease in property values, school leaders say
Jeannette City School District property taxpayers will see their bills go up by 1 mill after the school board approved the increase in the $23 million 2022-23 budget. District interim business manager Dale Kirsch and superintendent Matthew Jones said the rate will rise to 89 mills, which is about average...
Man found stabbed in Hazelwood
A man who was found late Wednesday night in Hazelwood with two stab wounds to the chest was hospitalized in critical condition, Pittsburgh police said. Police said they found the man outside his vehicle at the intersection of Trowbridge Street and Glenwood Avenue at approximately 9:30 p.m. They had located...
Crash near Mt. Pleasant sends driver to hospital
The male driver of a car involved in a one-vehicle crash along Route 31 was flown to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh late Wednesday, according to state police at Greensburg. The Honda Accord veered off the westbound lane of Route 31 after 9 p.m. and hit a tree along Laurelwood...
Monroeville’s Independence Day Parade returns with minor route change
After a two-year hiatus, Monroeville is getting back into the swing of traditional activities with the return of the longstanding Independence Day Parade and Fireworks. “We have around 68 entries for floats, but more walkers and drivers always show up for the parade day of,” Councilman Joseph Hyzy said about...
Severe thunderstorm downs trees, wires in Southwestern Pennsylvania
A storm blew through Southwestern Pennsylvania early Wednesday evening and toppled numerous trees, knocking out electricity and damaging homes. West Penn Power reported it had about 12,500 customers without electricity in Southwestern Pennsylvania, primarily in Westmoreland, Washington, Indiana, Butler and Fayette counties, as of 5:52 a.m. Thursday morning. Outside of...
58th Carnegie International announces artists
“Good morning.” It’s a saying we probably hear daily, but everyone’s “morning” might not be the same. The better question might be “Is it morning for you yet?” a Mayan Kaqchikel expression that is the title of the 58th Carnegie International. Kaqchikel is a language spoken in Guatemala. The exhibit...
Belle Vernon dad organizes blood drive in honor of ‘superhero’ son battling eye cancer
Albert Jasso knows how important it is to have donated blood at the ready during a medical emergency. Jasso’s 11-year-old son, Cam, recently needed blood transfusions while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for orbital rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the eye. “This time around, we knew it was going to be more intense,...
Wecht testifies Hyde Park woman’s injuries not caused by accidental fall
Head wounds and multiple bruises on the body of Patricia Fondrk after her death were not caused by an accidental fall, forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht testified Wednesday in the murder trial of her husband, Jeffrey Mark Fondrk. The prosecution rested its case against the 59-year-old Hyde Park man, who...
Activist Leon Ford, outgoing Pittsburgh police Chief Schubert form nonprofit to improve police-youth relations
An unlikely friendship forged out of healing and the desire to help Pittsburgh led to the creation of a new nonprofit aimed at repairing and growing the relationship between police and the city’s young people. The Hear Foundation, launched Wednesday, was co-founded by Leon Ford, an activist and police shooting...
South Greensburg McDonald’s closed for makeover; drive-thru expansion included
Travelers at the busy junction of routes 119 and 30 in South Greensburg who are anticipating a stop at the sign of the Golden Arches may not be “lovin’ it” so much for the next several weeks. The busy McDonald’s restaurant at 1207 S. Main St. (Route 119) is temporarily...
Del’s Plum Creamery marks a year of serving community
With the start of summer, thoughts often turn to ice cream. And Del’s Plum Creamery is ready to tempt taste buds with frozen treats. The latest business to open as part of the revitalization of the once-deteroriating Unity Plaza, Del’s has been in operation since May 31, 2021, and is...
Pittsburgh City Council advances Oakland Crossings zoning legislation
Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday advanced zoning legislation that would allow the controversial Oakland Crossings Development to proceed. The Planning Commission recommended the measure with conditions, though members of the Oakland community appear to be split on the matter. Walnut Capital, the Shadyside developer that revitalized Bakery Square, needs City...
Judge to decide if Shaler disabled veteran must pay back taxes to school district
An Allegheny County Common Pleas judge will decide whether a permanently disabled Vietnam veteran ought to be required to pay about $20,000 in back taxes to the Shaler Area School District. After hearing arguments on the issue Wednesday, Judge Dan Regan said he would issue an order in the case...
Penn Hills councilman Jim Getsy resigns
Penn Hills councilman James Getsy has resigned from office because of medical reasons, according to Mayor Pauline Calabrese. Getsy submitted his resignation before the June 20 council meeting, so accepting the resignation wasn’t on that night’s agenda. Council had to vote to add it, as well as accept it. “I...
Swimming pool supply, installation costs spike as summer begins
Justin Rushin, who has been involved in the swimming pool industry for 20 years, said he has never seen prices spike like they have in the past year. “There’s been periods of inflation, little bounds of inflation, but nothing like this,” said Rushin, who co-owns Cheswick Pools and Patios with...
Pittsburgh Art Commission approves portion of pedestrian wayfinding project
Pittsburgh’s Art Commission on Wednesday approved part of a major pedestrian wayfinding project, but will continue reviewing a portion of the project that has concerned some commissioners. The wayfinding project aims to encourage both locals and tourists to explore neighborhoods and visit local landmarks, said Kathryn Schlesinger, senior mobility project...
Longwood retirement community honors Plum EMS
Residents at Longwood At Oakmont Retirement Community honored Plum Emergency Medical Services with a certificate of appreciation during borough council’s June 20 meeting. “We do a lot working with them,” said Brian Maloney, EMS operations director. “Especially before the pandemic, we did a lot of presentations for education. We still...
Red Cross seeking blood and platelet donors surrounding 4th of July holiday
Holidays always coincide with significant declines in blood availability of hospital patients, and the American Red Cross is reminding Western Pennsylvanians that the upcoming Fourth of July holiday will be no different. The nonprofit is asking Southwestern Pennsylvania residents for blood in platelet donations to combat an anticipated shortage. According...
Monroeville man who had to cancel wedding over misread covid test result sues UPMC
By late July 2020, Michael Martin and his fiancee, Inger Tyree, had everything set for their Aug. 1 wedding. Because it was the height of the covid-19 pandemic, Martin and Tyree planned to have their 125 guests attend the Boyce Park reception in shifts so they could follow capacity rules...
Portion of Argonne Drive in Harrison to close for 2 months
A portion of a heavily traveled Harrison road will close in early July for up to two months. Argonne Drive, which runs from Freeport Road near Highlands Middle School to the railroad tracks in Natrona, is scheduled to shut down at 9 a.m. on July 5. Work is part of...
Tickets to get $2.38-per-gallon gas in Lower Burrell were gone in 45 minutes
Margie Shutack of Tarentum got to Lower Burrell three hours early to buy gas at a BP station Wednesday for a special event featuring $2.38 a gallon for regular unleaded. “It pays to be first,” said Shutack, who needed to fill up three-quarters of her tank. It pays to be...
‘Be on the lookout!’: Bear sighted in Plum neighborhood
Let’s say that she or he was, uh, bear-ly noticeable. Following what probably were a series of double takes and/or rubbings of eyes, several Plum residents were quick to grab their smartphones to photograph an unexpected mid-June visitor. An ursine character of undetermined gender, at least from a layman’s cursory...
