Local category, Page 1774
Uniontown man gets life for 2017 slaying in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
A Uniontown man will serve life in prison with no chance for parole after he was sentenced Thursday for killing a man in 2017 in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. An Allegheny County jury found Tevin Patterson, 27, guilty of first-degree murder in the Aug. 8, 2017, shooting death of Calvin Turner,...
Suspect in mail carrier’s fatal shooting in Collier thought victim was poisoning him, feds say
The man suspected of gunning down a mail carrier Thursday in Collier told investigators he believed the carrier had poisoned him, according to charges filed in federal court. Eric Kortz, 53, of Pittsburgh, is charged with murder of an employee of the United States and possession of a firearm, court...
Mon Valley artist, 95, gets career retrospective at Rivers of Steel in Homestead
Kathleen Ferri has seen a lot of history. Now 95, she first picked up a paintbrush at age 58 and began painting “memory scenes” from her life in the Mon Valley. Rivers of Steel in Homestead has gathered those vignettes into a career retrospective that includes a number of Ferri’s...
Prosecutors offer guilty but mentally ill plea deal to Fox Chapel man accused of killing 2 men
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office has offered a Fox Chapel man accused of killing two men in separate incidents a deal that would call for him to serve concurrent life sentences in exchange for a plea of guilty but mentally ill to two counts of first-degree murder. Adam Rosenberg,...
Tarentum church kicks off concert series with ‘Todo Tango’
Central Presbyterian Church will launch the return of its concert series on Sunday with tango music, an upbeat show that gets people dancing in the aisles after the series’ extended pandemic-related hiatus, organizers said. “Todo Tango” will feature Argentine singer Ada Lis Jimena performing classics with pianist Tom Roberts and...
Pa. beer and wine producers get $2M in grants from PLCB
Pennsylvania’s liquor industry has had to deal with several economic challenges during the pandemic. Gov. Tom Wolf this week had some good news for beer and wine makers, announcing the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved nearly $2 million in grants to increase production of beer and wine made in the...
3rd annual Vandergrift Halloween Party kid-geared, but open to entire community
An annual community Halloween party in Vandergrift is growing in popularity. The third annual Vandergrift Halloween Party, organized by Vandergrift resident Heather Miller, is scheduled for Oct. 16 at The Center on Franklin. The free party welcomes all ages, but Miller said the festivities are geared with youngsters in mind....
Auction slated for Ligonier Beach items; demolition of 2 buildings planned
Memorabilia and furnishings from the shuttered Ligonier Beach swimming pool and restaurant will go on the auction block Oct. 23 in preparation for plans to demolish two structures there and clear the way for revitalization of the Ligonier Township landmark. Mark Ferry Auctioneers of Unity will conduct the 9 a.m....
New Florence man jailed without bail for pointing gun at 3 relatives
A New Florence man was jailed without bail Wednesday after state police said he pointed a gun at three family members, one of whom had just picked him up from police custody, according to court papers. Corey Kaufman, 49, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and...
Tako restaurant ready to open in Pittsburgh’s Bakery Square
Taco lovers rejoice. The second Pittsburgh location of Tako is set open at Bakery Square in the city’s East End on Oct. 14. The opening has been delayed because of the pandemic and finding enough staff to operate. “It’s been pretty crazy,” said Casey Henderlong, director of public relations for...
Quaker Valley School District officials, architects feeling good about proposed high school process
With a proposed Quaker Valley High School project still in its early design phase, district officials and architects feel things are heading in the right direction. “Although this has been a time-consuming process, we want our community to know that we remain steadfast with our excitement for this building project,”...
Report: State Rep. Matt Dowling hurt in crash
State Rep. Matt Dowling, whose 51st District covers part of Fayette and Somerset counties, was reported to be in serious but stable condition Thursday as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident Wednesday night, a Republican Party official said. Dowling, 36, of Uniontown, was en route to a...
Connellsville man pleads guilty to raping girl, 12, fathering child
A Connellsville man is facing at least 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in a few months for the 2013 rape of a then-12-year-old girl in Derry Borough. Prosecutors say the girl gave birth to the man’s child. Shawn Tracy Melville, 44, entered a general plea Monday to...
Woman’s body found in Beaver County, police investigating as homicide
Police have ruled a woman’s death a homicide after her body was found in a field in Beaver County Wednesday morning. The woman, identified as Sharon Benyo, 46, of Beaver Falls, was found in the 2400 block of Route 51, also know as Constitution Boulevard, in Chippewa Township around 8:15...
Pittsburgh weighs amended parking code to include non-resident permits
A proposal to amend Pittsburgh’s parking code would provide virtual permitting, adopt regulations for visitor and non-resident permits and create hybrid residential parking permit areas. The proposed legislation also seeks to “clarify the administrative process for the program” and add permit fees to the city’s annual fee book. “The main...
Halloween events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Community events To have your event listed, send information to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084; or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Trick-or-treat and events open only to residents of the designated community include: Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 Apollo: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct....
The Stroller, Oct. 7, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch is compiling a list of autumn events and Halloween parades, parties and trick-or-treat nights. Information should be emailed to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Deer Lakes HS plans homecoming celebration The annual Deer Lakes High School homecoming parade will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Deer Lakes Middle School and...
Irwin couple spearheads tire cleanup along the YoughVideo
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Murrysville history program explores Nazi saboteurs in the U.S. during World War II
It’s rare for Ken Serfass to show up in a community dressed as, well, Ken Serfass. Typically, Serfass is dressed as Civil War general and former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, providing a fully immersive look into Grant’s life and times through a traveling historical program. But, while Serfass’ outfit...
Penn Township siblings reunite neighbors with missing cat
Editor’s note: Neighbor Spotlight is a monthly feature that aims to let our readers learn more about the people in their communities who are working to make them a better place, who have interesting stories to tell or who the community feels deserve “15 minutes of fame.” If you would...
Pittsburgh police: Man, 85, found safe after reported missing in Sheraden
Pittsburgh police said a man reported missing on Tuesday has been found and is safe. The police department’s Special Victims Unit had been searching for Peter Jackson, 85, after he was last seen in the city’s Sheraden neighborhood....
Greensburg police arrest burglary suspect accused of raping, sexually assaulting girl
A 31-year-old Greensburg man held in the county jail since March 2020 for committing a string of daylight burglaries in Greensburg and Hempfield was arraigned Wednesday for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a girl. James E. Dickant Jr. is charged with sexual assault and rape and three counts each of...
‘Person of interest’ in custody as California Borough police investigate shooting
Police in California Borough are investigating a report of shots fired Wednesday morning near the corner of Union and Third streets, about a half-dozen blocks from the California University of Pennsylvania campus. According to Twitter alerts by campus police no injuries were reported in the incident, which began at about...
Pitt players John Petrishen, Tre Tipton use NIL to help others in need
From coast to coast, athletes are benefiting from the NCAA’s relaxed rules on the use of their name, image and likeness. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young had deals approaching $1 million before he took a snap. Linebacker John Petrishen and wide receiver Tre Tipton watched from afar on the Pitt campus,...
Verizon Wireless service restored in Freeport
Verizon Wireless service has been restored to the Freeport area after cuts to fiber-optic cables disrupted service Tuesday. Company communications manager Chris Serico said service was restored Wednesday afternoon after technicians fixed the cables. He said one cut was made by wildlife and the cause of the other cut still...
