Local category, Page 1847
Joe Fischetti out as Plum buildings and grounds supervisor, employment search to start soon
Plum buildings and grounds supervisor Joe Fischetti has resigned after eight years as one of the borough’s top administrators. Council accepted his resignation and approved a separation agreement Aug. 9. Borough manager Michael Thomas said the deal comes with two weeks severance pay, three months of health care benefits and...
Molting or mites? Seeking an explanation for ‘bald birds’
Lillian DeDomenic of Monroeville was snapping photos of birds in her backyard when one in particular caught her eye. At first, she wasn’t sure what it was. It had red body plumage, but its head was a deep gray, and as she looked closer, it didn’t appear to have any...
2 arrested in Jeannette after deputies find drugs, children in ‘horrible living conditions’
Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies serving warrants in Jeannette Tuesday said they turned up counterfeit cash, suspected crystal methamphetamine and a house of filth, according to court papers. Two people are facing charges — Anthony Bittinger, 22, and Jennie Wagner, 27. Deputies said they served warrants at the pair’s South Fourth...
Duquesne University invokes mask mandate as students head to campusVideo
Citing a troubling increase in covid-19 infections regionally, Duquesne University announced Wednesday it is invoking a temporary mask mandate, effective Friday. The Pittsburgh university, which has required covid-19 vaccines as a condition of attendance this fall, said officials are requiring all individuals on campus to mask indoors, both in public...
Westmoreland news: burger bash, concert and pet blessing service
Art • The Harlan Gallery at Seton Hill University is accepting entries for Women Artists 2021, a juried exhibition that will showcase women artists in all media. The event will be Nov. 2 to 26 and an opening reception will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 4. Artists may submit up...
Fire, police and public works vehicles on display at Hampton’s Touch-A-Truck event
Township trucks of all sizes will be on display and open to tour during Hampton’s Touch-A-Truck event. Police cruisers will blare their sirens and fire engines will be available to climb through, thanks to organizers who planned the free event. EMS trucks and public works vehicles also will be on...
Man charged with choking woman at Mt. Pleasant Township home, burning her face with cigarette
A Herminie man is behind bars after state police accused him of using a cigarette to burn a woman’s face and later breaking into her home and choking her, according to court papers. Titus Isaiah Wright, 28, is charged with strangulation, burglary, criminal trespass and related offenses. Troopers were called...
Export’s annual Ethnic & Food Festival set for Aug. 21
Export officials are making plans for the borough’s annual Ethnic Food & Music Festival, set for Aug. 21 throughout the downtown area. Washington Avenue will close late in the evening on Aug. 20 to allow vendors to stage booths and bring in equipment, and to construct the main performance stage...
Car charging stations, ramp equipment among electric additions eyed at Arnold Palmer airport
The Westmoreland County Airport Authority wants to reduce the carbon footprint at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport by replacing some diesel-powered aircraft ramp equipment with electric-powered models. The authority also wants to install charging stations for those who drive electric cars to the airport, at routes 981 and 30 in Unity....
Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival returns for 5 days next month
Labor Day. Football. Ribs. The Heinz Field Kickoff and Rib Festival returns Sept. 2-6 at Heinz Field. Hours will be 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 3-5 and noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 6. The event was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Solomon...
Crash affects traffic on Interstate 70 near New Stanton
No one was hurt in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 Wednesday morning, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. The 7:30 a.m. crash closed the westbound lanes for a time near the Madison exit, not far from New Stanton. The crash caused traffic backups, according to a PennDOT traffic map....
Embracing our differences at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
If you spend much time chatting with a public librarian, chances are you’ll end up hearing a lot of idealistic talk. Lofty terms like intellectual freedom, equity of access and civic engagement are always rolling off our tongues — we tend to be a pretty values-driven bunch. Of course, we...
The Stroller, Aug. 11, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your club meetings, community events 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. Mobile vaccination clinic planned Aug. 18 in Harrison Community Library of Allegheny Valley will host a mobile covid-19 vaccination clinic from...
Ribbon-cutting scheduled for completion of shared-use path on Springhill Road
All traffic restrictions are scheduled to end on Springhill Road in Harrison as construction on a new shared-use path nears completion. “Our plan is to end the traffic restrictions on Thursday and complete the project by Monday,” Allegheny County Public Works spokesman Brent Wasko said Tuesday. Some miscellaneous work, mostly...
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival moving from the North Shore to the Strip District
Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkins Festival is carving out a new space. After three years on the North Shore, the two-day event in October has found a new home in the Strip District. The new location will be on Railroad Street between 28th Street and 29th Street. The free event is scheduled...
Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force planning sobriety checkpoints, patrols
Members of the Laurel Highlands DUI Task Force are planning an enforcement weekend around Westmoreland County later this month. They’ll be out looking for intoxicated motorists during roving patrols and stationary checkpoints Aug. 19-23. The group did not release specific details or locations but said all of the enforcement activities...
Woman in critical condition following Manchester shooting
A woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition after being shot Tuesday evening in the city’s Manchester neighborhood, according to Pittsburgh police. Officers from Zone 1 responded to a report of shots fired along Bidwell Street near Pennsylvania Avenue around 6:15 p.m., and arrived to find a woman...
Strong Women Strong Girls Inc. and Sarah Heinz House receive Enterprise grants
Two Pittsburgh non-profit organizations have been awarded $70,000 in local “ROAD Forward” grants from Enterprise Holdings through the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. Strong Women Strong Girls Inc. and Sarah Heinz House Association will each receive $35,000. The grants are made available to “advance social and racial equity,” according to a statement...
Man charged in arson damage to D’s Six Pax & Dogz in Swissvale
Wheeling Police arrested a Pittsburgh man on Wednesday wanted on charges he started a fire that damaged a Swissvale bar over the weekend, according to police and West Virginia news reports. Joseph Pepp, 28, is charged with three counts of aggravated arson. Pepp is accused of setting fire to a...
Latrobe wrestling coach on trial, accused of failing to stop and report alleged hazing incidents
Ritual hazing among members of the Greater Latrobe Area Junior High School wrestling team was ongoing as the boys’ coach stood feet away, a district administrator told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday. That testimony came during the first day in the nonjury trial of former wrestling head coach Cary...
New cardio monitors a ‘lifesaver’ for Allegheny, Westmoreland EMS outfitsVideo
For an 18-year-old man who suffered a heart attack, the use of a new remote cardiac monitor/defibrillator by Plum first responders proved to be a lifesaver. EMS personnel were providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the patient’s heart had stopped, said Brian Maloney, director of operations for Plum EMS. The patient was...
Chartiers Valley administrator in line to become Kiski Area’s next superintendent, district’s first female leader
An administrator with the Chartiers Valley School District is poised to become Kiski Area School District’s next superintendent — and the first woman to hold the district’s top post. Kiski Area School Board is expected to vote Monday, Aug. 16 on a proposal to hire Misty Slavic to a three-year...
Inspection to restrict traffic Wednesday, Thursday on Hulton Bridge
Traffic will be restricted on the Hulton Bridge over the Allegheny River between Harmar and Oakmont for inspection work Wednesday and Thursday, PennDOT announced. The work will be done between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, weather permitting. There will be lane restrictions in each direction between Freeport Road...
Kiski Township police twice have a run-in with a dancing man high on narcotics over weekend
Kiski Township police said they fielded calls regarding the same Apollo man twice over the weekend for public intoxication, possession of suspected illegal drugs and other charges. Douglas E. Laedlein of Apollo is facing charges of criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night, possession of controlled substances and public drunkenness....
Blairsville woman pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $600K from Indiana doctor’s office
A Blairsville woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges that she embezzled nearly $600,000 from the Burrell Township doctor’s office where she worked, according to acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman. Sandra Jo Doak, 63, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing false income tax returns before U.S. District Judge...
