Local category, Page 1754
Halloween happenings around Westmoreland County
Irwin The Irwin Halloween Costume Par-tay for adults age 21 and older will feature food, music provided by AJ Entertainment and karaoke singing from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Masonic Hall, 415 Main St., Irwin. The event is BYOB. Tickets are $12 per person plus fees through Eventbrite,...
Hung jury declared in sexual assault case against former Regent Square restaurateur
For the second time, a jury deliberating the case of a former Regent Square restaurant owner accused of sexual assault could not reach a verdict. After four days of deliberation, the panel of five women and seven men was dismissed by a judge after advising the court it was unable...
Faded license plate leads to drug bust in Lower Burrell
A faded license plate highlighted with a marker led Lower Burrell police to drug bust along Greensburg Road this week. Inside the car that was pulled over, police say they found heroin and methamphetamine hidden in various places, including a potato chip can. Officer Aaron Rodgers was on patrol near...
West View boy, 15, tried twice to poison parents, police say
A West View teen faces attempted homicide charges after police said he tried to poison his parents by pouring furniture polish into their spaghetti sauce on one occasion and using pesticide on another, police records show. Police filed charges against Jeff Miller, 15, on Friday morning — a day after...
Cleanup continues from wrath of 8 tornadoes in Western Pa. region
Daniel Andreko knew a tornado might be coming after receiving an emergency alert on his smartphone. But as he watched the rain turn from a drizzle to a torrential downpour with howling winds shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, he thought the warning might have been a false alarm. “I was...
Volofit brings ever-changing, high-intensity workouts to Ross
If you’ve packed on some pandemic pounds and want to get back in shape, Earl Schweinsberg has the perfect place for you. On Sept. 28, he opened a Volofit franchise in Ross Township to offer high-intensity interval training workouts. It is located in the McKnight-Siebert Shopping Center at 885 McKnight...
Fundraising effort for New Ken firefighter exceeds goal, public event in works
An online fundraising effort for a New Kensington volunteer firefighter battling cancer has exceeded its goal, and a public event is in the works. Chris Ploski, 59, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer that spread to the pituitary gland in his brain. Although he works as...
Police: Road rage leads to confrontation at Latrobe gas station
Latrobe police are investigating a road rage incident involving two motorists who drove into town Thursday evening. Police Chief John Sleasman said it isn’t clear what started the conflict, which began as the two vehicles were on Route 981, heading south into the city from Derry Township. “They got angry...
Man charged in fatal Club Erotica shooting guilty of third-degree murder
A Carnegie man accused of killing another man at a McKees Rocks strip club earlier this year was found guilty Friday of third-degree murder. Charles Becher, 24, faces a possible prison term of six years in the standard guideline range when he is sentenced by Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge...
Officials toast Jeannette Glass site’s transformation to cryogenic testing facility
Friday will be one of the memorable days in Jason Rigone’s career. He has seen the former Jeannette Glass site transform into Elliott Group’s $60 million cryogenic pump test stand and experienced the behind-the-scenes work to make it happen for years as a member of the Westmoreland County planning department...
Springdale Council to fill vacant seat after November election
Springdale Council is looking for applicants to fill a vacant council seat, but the person filling it will only serve through December. Council voted, 6-0, Tuesday to hold off appointing a person to the vacant seat until their Nov. 16 meeting. The seat became vacant when Harry Helwig stepped down...
New Kensington-Arnold hires co-principals to oversee Hunt Elementary
Two principals are replacing one at a New Kensington-Arnold elementary school. Tyler Roberto will join Todd Kutchak as co-principals of Roy A. Hunt Elementary around Nov. 1, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said. They are replacing Thomas Rocchi, who retired this year after 60 years in education. Kutchak, 50, an assistant principal...
Covid-19 vaccinations lag at Westmoreland County Transit Authority
Covid-19 vaccinations among Westmoreland County Transit Authority drivers, mechanics and administrative staff continue to lag. Executive Director Alan Blahovec said just 57% of the agency’s nearly 140-person workforce has been vaccinated and little progress to increase that number is expected in the coming months. “The noes we’ve gotten are pretty...
6 candidates vie for 3 council seats in Franklin Park council race
There are contested elections in each of the ward races for Franklin Park council in the Nov. 2 General Election. Uday Palled and Adam Szymkowiak are running for the Ward 1 seat; Anne Graziani and incumbent Luke Myslinski are seeking the Ward 2 seat, and Amanda Cross and incumbent Thomas...
Franklin Park Mayor O’Keefe facing challenger Naik in November election
Incumbent Dennis O’Keefe faces challenger Sumana Naik in the race for mayor of Franklin Park in the Nov. 2 election. The mayor is elected at-large and serves a four-year term. Here are the candidates’ responses to questions posed by the North Allegheny Journal. Sumana Naik Political party: Democrat Age: 43...
South Buffalo officials seek IUP building as new municipal center
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania branch campus in the Northpointe Industrial Park might become the next South Buffalo Township Municipal Building. That’s if the university accepts the township’s bid of $400,000. Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s branch campus at Northpointe sits on nearly 5.5 acres of land. Its lone building includes...
6 battle for 4 seats on Irwin council; 2 vie for mayor’s seat
Irwin voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to give a younger generation a say in borough government. Republican council members Ronald Romeo, 62; Frank Rossi Jr., 64; and Leslie Savage, 52, are running for reelection on the GOP ticket, along with Tyler Baum, 23, who won a spot on the...
3 candidates seek pair of Penn Hills council seats
In the Penn Hills Council race, two incumbents and a newcomer are vying for two open seats. Deputy Mayor Catherine Sapp and councilman John Petrucci are trying to hold off newcomer Joanne Fascio. Here are the candidates and their responses to election questions posed by the Penn Hills Progress: Joanne...
Harmar officials update residents on sewage issues, next steps
Harmar officials gave residents an update Thursday on efforts to resolve the ongoing sanitary sewage overflows happening in their homes. The issue was brought up during a supervisors meeting Sept. 16. Many residents from the Chapel Downs neighborhood said they face issues of water flooding their basements or raw sewage...
Pittsburgh Roller Derby Undead team ready to lace up skates and get rolling
Roller Derby is back rolling again. After more than a year outside the rink because of the pandemic, the Pittsburgh Roller Derby Undead team will have an intra-league bout at 5 p.m. Saturday at Neville Roller Drome on Neville Island. The name “Undead” is a nod to the zombies from...
Highlands offers voluntary on-site covid-19 testing for students and staff
Highlands School District students can opt for on-site covid-19 testing through a federally funded program. The district is participating in Operation Expanded Testing, supported by the Department of Health and Human Services. Tests are voluntary and provided for free. Administrators said the district’s participation is expected to help schools remain...
5 candidates vie for 4 open seats on Delmont council
Five candidates will compete for four open seats on Delmont Council in the Nov. 2 election, each with their own ideas for the future of the borough. “With input from the citizens of Delmont, council needs to identify issues and plan to correct them as we move into the future,”...
Greensburg man accused of inappropriately touching 2nd girl
A Greenburg man who was arrested in June in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a 9-year-old girl was arraigned Thursday on similar charges involving a 13-year-old girl, according to court papers. John Harry Patak III, 30, was arraigned Thursday on charges of indecent assault, corruption of minors and...
Don’t expect to see a price break at the pump anytime soon in Western Pa.
Gas prices usually drop considerably in the fall. Instead, the cost of a gallon of gas is surging. The national average price is now $3.36 a gallon, the highest since 2014. In the Pittsburgh area, the price has soared to $3.50 a gallon this week, up from $3.33 a month...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Oct. 22-24
Here are some ways to spend the weekend in Pittsburgh. Immersive Van Gogh The Vincent Van Gogh exhibition — “Original Immersive Van Gogh Pittsburgh” — will celebrate its first weekend Friday through Sunday. Located at Lighthouse Artspace on Lacock Street on the North Side, the exhibit surrounds viewers with van...
