Western PA Local News category, Page 1584
New wedding/event center unveiled in former Buffalo Township landmark restaurant
Monarch Veil, a new multi-venue wedding and event space, is open on the grounds of the former J-Barn Country Inn in Buffalo Township. Dean and Janae McAfee purchased the popular rural restaurant last year and opened for business this month. The J-Barn, once known as Jardine’s, closed in 2018. After...
Sandcastle to open early with new look, first new slide in 10 years
Like its sister attractions Kennywood and Idlewild & SoakZone, Sandcastle will open earlier than usual this season. On Friday, the water park in West Homestead announced opening day is May 21 — a week prior to the traditional Memorial Day weekend start. Kennywood opens April 16 and Idlewild on May...
Murrysville man starts ‘Trout Glam’ Instagram with unique fishing photos
There are men and women who take the sport of fishing seriously, with that approach reflected in photographs of their catches. Mike Ruane, 47, of Murrysville is not one of those people. He might be serious about his fishing — but not about his photos. You can catch him yelling...
Hempfield man told police he ripped state flag from pole over tax refund check
A Hempfield man who state police said ripped the Pennsylvania state flag from a pole last week was angry he had yet to receive his tax refund check, according to court papers. Misdemeanor charges of theft, maliciously taking down a flag and defacing a flag and a summary criminal mischief...
Hill District woman accused of stabbing her children, ages 3 and 7, as they slept
Pittsburgh police said a Hill District woman told them how she walked into her sons’ room early Friday and stabbed both in the neck with a kitchen knife. The children’s father was able to wrestle away from her before summoning police for his critically injured sons, police said. Sydnie Jefferson,...
Unity’s Victory Brinker earns Guinness Record as youngest opera diva
Among pint-sized opera singer Victory Brinker’s early public appearances were the openings of the two Westmoreland Art Nationals exhibitions in spring 2019. “Her dad got in touch with us and asked if she could perform,” said Diane Shrader, executive director of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, which sponsors the...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: April 1-3
It’s the weekend. Here are some ways to spend it. Car Bazaar Car Bazaar returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Downtown. The shopping market in the Forbes and Smithfield (400 Cherry Way) garage will feature 100 makers, artists, retailers, vintage dealers and garage-sale vendors selling wares from...
Traffic crossover to begin on Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills
A 1-mile stretch of Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills will be the site of road work for the next several months, prompting traffic changes that are set to begin Friday evening. Eastbound traffic on Route 30 will be reduced to one lane and directed onto the westbound side of the...
Penn Hills community honors 50th anniversary of fallen officers
After a half-century, the Penn Hills community continues to honor the deaths of two police officers. Penn Hills community members, retired officers and municipality officials gathered on March 25 to honor the 50th anniversary of losing Penn Hills Sgt. William Schrott and Officer Bartley J. Connolly Jr. The two officers...
Pitt-Greensburg community gives back during week of service
Service was the theme of this week at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Dozens of students volunteered through “Into the Streets,” a multiple-day service event that runs through Saturday and encourages students to give back to the community. This semester, volunteers planned trips to places like the Westmoreland County...
Georgia man jailed after police say he tried to break into several Derry Borough apartments
A Georgia man is behind bars after state police said he attempted to break into several apartments this week in Derry Borough, according to court papers. Jonathan Gaston, 28, is charged with attempted burglary, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia. Troopers were called to Hays Street at 10:15 p.m....
The Stroller, April 1, 2022: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your community events and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free STEM program and camp offered to high school students The Digital Foundry of New Kensington will host a free STEM program...
Springdale power plant shuts down, demolition work to begin
Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale is shutting down today after more than 50 years of operation. It was the the last coal-fired electric power plant in Allegheny County. Commissioned in 1970, it produced 565 megawatts of electricity. Charah Solutions Vice President Scott Reschly said Charah will take possession of the...
Moratorium lifted on Pennsylvania utility shutoffs; services can be interrupted beginning Monday
It’s no April Fools’ joke — utility companies across Pennsylvania can begin turning off services for delinquent customers beginning Monday under state regulations lifting a ban on winter shutoffs. “There are still a substantial number of at-risk residential and business customers” although the number of accounts in arrears has continued...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 1-3
Whodunit? Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht will engage in “A Pathological Discussion,” with sessions at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at The Lamp Theatre, 222 Main St., Irwin. With host John McIntire, the 91-year-old Wecht will cover cases of notorious deaths, including those of Jeffrey...
McCandless kept largely intact in latest legislative redistricting
The new 2022 House and Senate district maps largely split McCandless from other North Allegheny communities but kept the township itself intact, according to town manager Robert Grimm. The reapportionment process takes place every 10 years as required by the Pennsylvania State Constitution to reflect population changes, according to Dr....
Murrysville woman charged after walking in front of traffic in Kiski Township for 2nd time
Kiski Township police arrested a Murrysville woman Thursday afternoon who they said was walking in front of oncoming traffic on Route 156 just north of Avonmore for the second time this month. Police said they were called to Route 156 near Adair Road where they found Janne D. Hussak, 31,...
Uptown man, 67, charged with 3 Downtown Pittsburgh bank robberies
An Uptown man is facing a federal indictment, accused of robbing three Downtown Pittsburgh banks between Jan. 31 and Feb. 8. Calvin Leavy, 67, of Pride Street, was arrested Feb. 8 in the Midtown section of the city, police said. They said Leavy had taken a Port Authority bus after...
Franklin Regional ‘unpauses’ teaching of honors English novel ‘Persepolis’
The Franklin Regional School District’s curriculum committee called a special meeting earlier this week, at which its members voted to “unpause” the teaching of Marjane Satrapi’s 2004 graphic novel “Persepolis,” set during the Iranian Revolution. The committee voted 3-0 — school director and committee member Traci Eshelman Ramey was not...
Pittsburgh police: Man shot in Arlington Heights in serious condition
A man is in the hospital in serious condition following a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Arlington Heights neighborhood Thursday afternoon, according to police. Pittsburgh police were called to the 3000 block of Cordell Place around 4:15 p.m. and arrived to find a man who had been shot in the leg. He...
Pittsburgh police: Stolen vehicle crashes into Downtown construction site, the suspect’s 4th arrest in a week
Construction crews doing sidewalk repair and street work at the closed intersection of Wood Street and Sixth Avenue now have some additional work to do, after a stolen vehicle crashed into the closed intersection Thursday morning. Just before 10:30 a.m., Pittsburgh police responded to the 300 block of Sixth Avenue...
$12,720 tax lien filed against Westmoreland Coroner Tim Carson
Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson owes more than $11,000 in unpaid state income taxes, according to court documents. Carson, a Republican from Scottdale, won the November election and took office in January. For more than two decades, he has owned and operated Carson’s Tavern and Catering, a restaurant and events...
Alcosan moving ahead with tunnel project to reduce sewage overflow, part of $2 billion plan
The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is moving ahead with a massive project aimed at curbing sewage overflow by creating a massive tunnel system under Pittsburgh and its rivers. Alcosan officials said the new system — along with other elements of their Clean Water Plan — will reduce sewage overflow by...
$12,720 tax lien filed against Westmoreland Coroner Tim Carson
Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson owes more than $11,000 in unpaid state income taxes, according to court documents. Carson, a Republican from Scottdale, won the November election and took office in January. For more than two decades, he has owned and operated Carson’s Tavern and Catering, a restaurant and events...
Parks woman to serve house arrest, probation for assault on Vandergrift police
A Parks Township woman was sentenced to probation and house arrest on Thursday in connection with assaults on two Vandergrift police officers in 2019. Candy Lee Yockey, 43, formerly of Plum, pleaded guilty in July to two charges of aggravated assault for an incident in Vandergrift three years ago in...
