Local category, Page 1681
Wreaths Across America effort expands through Westmoreland County
Vietnam veteran Tim Brennan was among the few dozen volunteers who turned out on Dec. 19, 2020 — after a blizzard dumped 9 inches of snow on the region — to lay wreaths on 660 veteran grave sites in two Jeannette cemeteries in the inaugural Wreaths Across America event held...
Man shot in leg outside of Uptown bar, Pittsburgh police say
Pittsburgh police said a man is in stable condition after being shot in his leg Saturday afternoon in the 1300 block of Fifth Avenue. Police reported that officers responded to a Shotspotter alert for multiple shots fired in the area just after 2:30 p.m. Responding officers learned the wounded man...
Truck driver killed in crash on Route 22 in Salem, coroner says
A 32-year-old Fayette County man was killed Friday in a two-vehicle collision along Route 22 in Salem Township, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Ian C. Praster Sr. of Brownsville was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred just before 7 a.m. at the intersection of...
Leechburg Area Community Development Corp. continues area’s growth with launch of ‘coworking space’Video
As more people and companies experiment with remote work arrangements, the Leechburg Area Community Development Corporation (LACDC) wanted to provide a space that offers another option: an office-like environment not far from home. The former First Commonwealth Bank building has been transformed into a coworking space with a variety of...
Early-morning fire damages Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill in Harrison
A fire early Saturday extensively damaged and broke up a Christmas party at a Harrison bar and restaurant, according to social media posts from Hilltop Hose Co. The fire at Bird Dog’s Sports Bar & Grill, at 2615 Freeport Road, was reported at 12:12 a.m. Saturday, the fire department’s Facebook...
Family displaced, 1 injury reported in Jeannette blaze
One person was injured and a Jeannette family was displaced after a fire extensively damaged one side of a duplex early Saturday, according to city firefighters. Jeannette Fire Chief William Frye said the fire was reported about 2 a.m. at 317 S. Fifth St. “There was an adult resident who...
Houses planned for part of Kerber farm in Irwin
A North Huntingdon developer is preparing the Kerber farm along Guffey Road for about 60 single-family homes. Knights Landing Inc., a RWS Development company, bought 52 acres of the 65.2-acre farm from Thomas and Ellen Kerber for $1 million in late September. The Kerbers will retain the portion of land...
The Stroller, Dec. 18, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your holiday events, club meetings and fundraisers for free in The Stroller. Send information at least a week in advance to vndnews@triblive.com. Please include a daytime telephone number. Free Christmas Day dinner planned in Tarentum Abundant Joy Fellowship, Tarentum, will host a free dinner from 1 to 3 p.m....
Fresh-cut Christmas trees in short supply this season
Where are the fresh-cut Christmas trees? That’s what some Alle-Kiski Valley businesses are asking as fresh-cut trees are in short supply — or completely sold out. A large vacant lot has been empty for weeks at Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township. In previous years, it still would be offering...
Charleroi native in Florida displays borough’s old Christmas lights
The Rev. Frank Jacobs has the kind of vivid holiday memories we all hang on to. Jacobs, 68, lives in Port St. Lucie, Fla. But he has Christmas lights that once hung on lamp posts and stretched across the streets of Charleroi, where he lived from 1953 to 1962. Last...
Fox Chapel teen wins singing awards
Shady Side Academy junior Sloane Simon won two voice awards in the 2022 YoungArts National Competition, receiving an honorable mention in the Voice/Popular (Pop) category and a merit award in the Voice/Singer-Songwriter category. The YoungArts National Competition is open to artists ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12 in the United...
THRIVE in North Hills provides assistance, donations to refugees
THRIVE Pittsburgh helps refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers coming into the United States by providing basic necessities and the support needed to begin again. These individuals and families arrive in Pittsburgh with basically nothing after fleeing their home or country or after living years in a refugee camp, according to Pauline...
Wilkinsburg shooting victim dies 11 days later; suspect now charged with homicide
A man who was shot Dec. 6 in Wilkinsburg has died. Sirdorian Turner, 54, of Wilkinsburg, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital after he was shot in the 700 block of Wood Street, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Initially in critical condition, he was pronounced dead early...
Shots fired in Penn Hills as police set up a perimeter
Penn Hills police established a perimeter around Dollman and Mount Carmel roads and began searching the area around 10 p.m. Friday after responding to a call for shots fired, according to police Chief Howard Burton. Burton said officers initiated the search when they arrived at the scene and believed that...
Shetler hearing continued; injured deputy unable to testify
A New Florence man accused of injuring a Westmoreland County deputy sheriff when he was arrested earlier this month had his court hearing continued until Jan. 7 because the deputy sheriff is recovering from “serious bodily injuries” he allegedly sustained during a fight with the suspect, a prosecutor said Friday....
Mistaken identity has Pittsburgh eatery taking blame for Arkansas restaurant’s unpopular tipping policy
Suzanne Hrach, owner of Downtown Pittsburgh’s Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room, was in Philadelphia last week celebrating her wedding anniversary when she got a notification that her restaurant received eight new Google reviews. They were not good. “Seven of them were ‘one-star’ reviews, and I don’t think we’ve gotten...
Volunteers lay wreaths on all 14,500 veterans’ graves in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies
Green wreaths with red bows lay against the white tombstones. As they place the greenery at each of the 14,500 veterans graves at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil, Washington County, this weekend, volunteers will say the deceased’s name. They will take a moment to pause and thank...
Etna man found guilty of threatening FBI agent on social media
A former student at the University of Pittsburgh was found guilty Friday of using Twitter to threaten an FBI agent who was investigating him. A jury deliberated three hours before finding Khaled Miah guilty of seven counts, including interstate threats, retaliating against a federal officer by threats and destruction of...
Family of man who died after being tased by Pittsburgh police calls for charges against officers
Family and friends of a man who died in October after being tased by Pittsburgh police in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood gathered in front of the City-County Building on Friday to demand accountability in his death. “We’ve heard almost nothing in the months we’ve been fighting for this,” said Devon...
Murder charges dismissed against 2 women implicated in Arnold killing; both plead guilty to lesser charges
Westmoreland County prosecutors on Friday dismissed murder charges against two women implicated in the 2019 robbery and killing of a man in Arnold. Instead, Santyna M. Bennett, 28, of New Kensington and Bailey Ann Hines, 27, of Butler pleaded guilty to lesser charges in return for their cooperation with police...
Westmoreland County Transit Authority union rejects covid vaccine incentive
Leadership of the union that represents Westmoreland County Transit Authority fixed-route bus drivers and mechanics said Friday a proposal to offer additional sick leave to vaccinated employees who test positive for the coronavirus is not fair and won’t present the plan to its members. Dave Conley, president of the Amalgamated...
Greensburg tax hike to offset losses from parking garage demolition
Greensburg residents will see an additional 1-mill charge next year, and city officials will borrow $1 million as they look for ways to bolster funds dedicated to public safety that traditionally came from the J. Edward Hutchinson Parking Garage, which is slated for demolition. The charge and loan were part...
Police seek tips in attempt to solve slaying of Tarentum mother of 2
Kristina Arndt thought somebody suffered a medical emergency when she arrived at her apartment building on Fifth Avenue in Tarentum late Thursday night and saw police cars and ambulances lining the block. It wasn’t long before she learned they were there because her neighbor and friend had been shot to...
Authorities: Convicted rapist who violated his parole found hiding in Kiski Township home
Kiski Township police say they found and arrested a convicted rapist Friday who broke parole and was hiding in the bathroom of a township home. Township police and authorities with the Armstrong County parole and probation department arrested Frank Shaner without incident at a home along Isabella Avenue and took...
Ex-Shaler substitute teacher charged in Capitol riot poses ‘ongoing danger,’ judge says
A former Shaler substitute teacher facing numerous charges for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot will remain in federal custody, a judge said Friday in Washington, D.C. Robert Morss, 28, filed a motion last month seeking to be released from custody pending trial, alleging he was subjected...
