Western PA Local News category, Page 1666
Call from school leads to arrest of Leechburg woman on child-abuse charges
A Leechburg woman faces three felony charges after elementary school officials reported that a 5-year-old had suffered injuries to his face, back and arms. Amanda L. Charles, 37, of Beale Avenue, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child, which...
Westmoreland prison officials say covid cases on the decline
The most recent surge of coronavirus cases at Westmoreland County Prison appears to have peaked. Warden Bryan Kline said Monday that no additional cases among inmates have been diagnosed since late last week. The number of inmates who were in quarantine reached as high as 102 on Jan. 26. That...
State police in Fayette County investigate fatal car crash
State police in Uniontown are investigating a fatal car crash reported Sunday in South Union Township where a man was found dead inside his overturned vehicle in Redstone Creek. Troopers said Monday that James E. Hayden, 65, of Hopwood, was deceased inside his 2007 Subaru Outback, which was discovered in...
Hearing set for Marcellus Shale gas compressor station in Upper Burrell
Upper Burrell supervisors will hold a hearing on a proposed Marcellus Shale gas compressor station following their 7 p.m. meeting on Wednesday. Olympus Energy of Canonsburg wants to install a gas compressor station on undeveloped industrial land owned by Arconic along White Cloud Road. The compressor station, known as the...
Mendelssohn Choir to present April 2 concert at Shady Side Academy
This April, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh presents “Toward the Unknown Region,” a concert about boldly emerging from these uncertain times with daring optimism and a sense of renewal. The concert will take place April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillman Center for the Performing Arts at Shady Side Academy....
Crane pulls Port Authority bus from Frick Park bridge wreckageVideo
The operator of a towering crane pulled a 60-foot Port Authority bus from the wreckage of Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge just before sunset Monday, punctuating a cleanup that also saw workers remove at least one other vehicle three days after the span collapsed. The 21-ton bus was first secured with...
Sharpsburg Council seeking candidates to fill vacancy
Sharpsburg council has a vacant two-year seat. Letters of interest and resumes can be sent to the borough office, 1611 Main St. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 16. Council plans to interview candidates and make an appointment at its Feb. 24 meeting. The vacancy was created when Councilman-elect Brian Kozera...
Jeannette, Tarentum, Sutersville among those getting funds for emergency vehicles
Jeannette EMS is buying two new ambulances and the Sutersville Volunteer Fire Department is adding a fire truck to its fleet as a result of receiving federal grants and loans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Tarentum was awarded a $33,700 economic impact initiative grant to buy a new Ford...
Fundraiser set for Latrobe woman hit by pickup truck
A fundraiser Sunday for a Latrobe woman who remains hospitalized after a hit-and-run will hopefully ease some of the burden on her two sons, Union Mission director Dan Carney said. All proceeds from the spaghetti dinner at Latrobe American Legion Post 515 will benefit Mary Bathurst, 42, and her family....
Highmark announces process for obtaining no-cost rapid covid-19 tests
Millions of Highmark members with prescription drug coverage are now able to obtain over-the-counter rapid covid-19 tests with no out-of-pocket costs. Bob Wanovich, vice president of provider strategy for Highmark, said Monday that customers will now be able to get the tests at their regular pharmacy counter through a partnership...
Burned-out license plate bulb leads to arrest of 3 men wanted on warrants in New Kensington
A man was charged with felony drug possession and arrested for an outstanding warrant along with two other wanted people when the vehicle they were riding in was pulled over by New Kensington police for a burned-out license plate bulb. Don Lamont Carter Jr., 26, of Broad Street in South...
Freeport scuba shop owners produce documentary on Cedarville freighter shipwreckVideo
The Freeport couple who own Scott’s Scuba Service are behind a just-released documentary, “The Cedarville Expedition,” exploring the famous shipwreck of a freighter in Michigan in 1965. Jennifer and Josh Dillaman, the local diving experts who bought the Freeport scuba shop in 2019, assembled a team of scuba divers from...
Penn Township police charge North Huntingdon woman with DUI, drug charges following crash
In the middle of processing a woman on drunken driving charges over the weekend, Penn Township police tacked on more charges after reportedly finding three containers of methamphetamine, $1,230 in cash and a loaded 9 mm handgun inside her purse, according to court documents. Malinda Sue Kovac, 24, of Larimer...
Fox Chapel Area’s Liu a piano virtuoso with international titles
Growing up, Fox Chapel Area junior Lawrence Liu had only one CD to listen to – Michael Jackson’s “Essentials.” That one album spanned the best of Jackson’s hits from “ABC” to “Beat It” and was the launching point for Liu’s musical achievements. The teen recently captured top awards in several...
Police: Leechburg men charged after telling cops they burglarized house to rescue dogs
Two Leechburg men have been charged with multiple felonies after telling police they got drunk, broke into a neighbor’s house and took two dogs because they thought they were being abused, according to their arrest papers. Michael Paul Keim, 39, and Kevin Karl Trefelner, 55, of Evergreen Road each were...
2 victims stable after shooting outside Greensburg bar; suspect sought
Two men injured in a weekend shooting outside a downtown Greensburg bar remained in stable condition Monday as city police continue to search for a suspect who fired on them. According to police, the gunfire happened just before 2 a.m. Sunday outside the Rialto Bar and Bistro on West Otterman...
Fawn earns state grant to pave Thompson Road
Fawn Township Secretary Pam Ponsart was pleasantly surprised to learn last week that the township had earned a state grant for road work. “I had no idea,” Ponsart said. “That’s great.” The township will receive $50,000 from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, which announced the awards Wednesday. Fawn is...
Costly decisions loom about whether to build a new Hempfield high school, fix other buildings
A multimillion-dollar project could soon be on tap for the Hempfield Area School District as officials consider renovating or rebuilding the high school based on a recently approved study. The yearlong feasibility study, initiated by the school board in December 2020, examines the district’s physical, educational and functional needs. It...
Tickets going fast for upcoming ‘Hamilton’ run in Pittsburgh
The hit musical “Hamilton” returns to Pittsburgh for performances Feb. 22 through March 13 at the Benedum Center in the downtown Cultural District. Prospective audience members who haven’t purchased tickets yet would be well advised to do so soon, said Marc Fleming, vice president of marketing, communications and Broadway programming...
Johnstown man charged with disorderly conduct at North Apollo supermarket
Kiski Township police arrested a Johnstown man on charges including disorderly conduct Saturday evening at a North Apollo supermarket. According to police, Ryan Fredericks, 27, was going down the aisles of Held’s Shop ‘n Save taking bites out of food items then returning them to the shelves at about 8:30...
Jeannette allocates some of its $900K in American Rescue Plan funds
The first half of Jeannette’s American Rescue Plan allocation is being moved into the general fund. Solicitor Tim Witt said that is the first step to begin spending the money, $267,000 of which already has been earmarked. Council has been mulling over for months how to use its $900,000. The...
State trooper honored for Unity fire rescue
A state trooper was honored Thursday by the Westmoreland County commissioners for rescuing a Unity family from their burning home. Trooper Tony Anthony was on his way to work Jan. 5 when he spotted flames at a Donohoe Road house in Unity, not far from where he lives. “Originally, I...
Greensburg band to provide Groundhog Day music in Gobbler’s Knob
Greensburg’s Derek Woods Band will provide the musical backdrop for this year’s Groundhog Day festivities Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney. And if the past is any indication, Woods and his band members had better start layering their clothes now. “The sets we played were limited to about 10...
In brief: Coffee tasting at the Press House, library book bag sale and more around Sewickley
Galentine’s Coffee Tasting The Press House, located at 505 Broad St., is holding a Galentine’s Coffee Tasting on Feb. 10-14. Sessions are 90 minutes and cost is $125 total for one to five guests and $200 total for six to 10 guests. To reserve a time slot, email audrey@presshousecoffee.com or...
New assistant principal at Kiski Area Upper Elementary brings homegrown passion to role
A familiar face has a new leadership role at Kiski Area Upper Elementary School in Washington Township. Maggie Nicholas, a longtime teacher at the school, became assistant principal at KAUE on Jan. 3. She replaced Dan Smith, who moved to a new position as the district’s technology integration specialist. For...
