Western PA Local News category, Page 1922
3 transported to hospital following Turnpike crash
Three people were taken by ambulance following a crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Wednesday afternoon in Penn Township, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatcher. Crews responded to mile marker 61 around 3:15 p.m. for reports of the crash, where vehicles went off the roadway and into a ravine, the dispatcher...
Donation to provide scholarships at Harrison’s St. Joseph High School, 3 other Catholic schools
An anonymous donor has offered an undisclosed amount of scholarship funding for students at four Catholic schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, including Harrison’s St. Joseph High School. In addition to St. Joseph, the St. John Paul II STAR Student tuition assistance scholarships are available for students at Butler Catholic...
Party bus fundraiser benefits Arnold firefighters
It’s a fundraiser with an emphasis on fun. The Arnold Volunteer Engine Company #2 is offering a party bus package fundraiser, featuring a 26-passenger party bus from Extreme Limousines in Lower Burrell. The unique fundraiser prize is in response to what company volunteer and secretary Chris O’Leath said is a...
Suspected drug mule found guilty in Westmoreland heroin trafficking scheme
A woman who prosecutors said served as a drug mule for a heroin trafficking organization in Westmoreland County that was conceived of as a way to pay a convicted drug dealer’s legal expenses was herself convicted Wednesday. A jury deliberated about two hours before finding Sade Franklin, 34, formerly of...
Warrant issued for Beaver County man accused of killing cousin, dumping body, fleeing to Mexico
A Beaver County man allegedly shot and killed his cousin, left him in the trunk of his own car at an abandoned gas station early Tuesday in Moon and then caught a flight to Mexico, according to the charges filed against him. Anoosh Almas, 25, is charged with homicide, abuse...
Penn Hills High School to host volleyball, basketball games with students and first responders
Penn Hills School District officials believe some friendly games between students and first responders will build community relationships. They will get a chance to test that theory Sunday afternoon at the high school, 309 Collins Drive. The high school volleyball team is expected to play against firefighters and EMS around...
15-year-old boy charged as adult in fatal stabbing in Fayette County
A 15-year-old Fayette County boy is charged as an adult in connection with a fatal stabbing Monday in rural Springhill Township. Christopher S. Gaydos Jr. of Smithton was ordered held without bond after his arraignment Tuesday on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in Fayette County Tuesday....
Neighbors help troopers locate Hempfield break-in suspect
Residents in the rural Hempfield village of Hannastown helped direct state police to a man accused of forcing his way into a home Tuesday and initially refusing to leave before running away moments before officers arrived. Blake R. Quakenbush, 26, of Latrobe was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal trespass,...
Butler County man dies after getting caught in Ocean City current, but son pulled to safety
A Butler County man died Friday after getting caught in a strong current while swimming with his 7-year-old son in Ocean City, Md., but the man’s wife managed to rescue the boy. Jessica White, of Prospect, said she and her nephews were playing with water guns on the shore outside...
Police: Argument over pizza sparked weekend shooting on Pittsburgh’s South Side
An argument over pizza led to the weekend shooting on Pittsburgh’s South Side that left a man in critical condition, according to charges filed in the case. Rafik White, 22, is charged with attempted homicide in the shooting, which happened shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday. Police said they responded to...
Monroeville Council approves building of outpatient VA clinic at Monroeville Mall
The Monroeville council voted unanimously July 13 to green light the construction of an outpatient clinic near the Monroeville Mall for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affair. Milwaukee-based Summit Smith Development was awarded a contract in April to construct the two-story, 70,000-square-foot clinic. The project’s estimated budget is $91 million....
Store security tape, red paint lead troopers to charge woman in Salem hit-and-run
Surveillance tapes from a convenience store and red paint on a car grille helped state police identify a woman they say was involved in a hit-and-run accident last month, according to court documents. Tamara J. Stoken, 46, of Irwin, was charged this week with careless driving, fleeing the scene of...
Diocese of Greensburg to put $20M in pledged donations toward tuition assistanceVideo
The Catholic Diocese of Greensburg said Wednesday that pledged donations totaling about $20 million will help it provide tuition assistance to students in diocesan schools over the next five years, and contractors are doing about $300,000 in capital improvements at no cost to the diocese. During an announcement at Mary...
No tax money at issue in case of Latrobe councilman charged with theft of fire department funds
Taxpayer money is not at issue in a criminal case against a Latrobe councilman and another man who were arrested by police in connection with thefts from a city fire department, according to Latrobe Mayor Rosie Wolford. “None of the allegations … comes from the funds that the city provided...
Food Podcast: Gleaning yields fresh corn for Pittsburgh food bank
On this episode of the Food Podcast presented by Clearview Federal Credit Union, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank takes the show on the road with an episode at Harvest Valley Farms in Gibsonia. On Monday, more than 20 food bank staff members and volunteers took up an offer from Art...
Aspinwall Riverfront Park expands, changes name to Allegheny RiverTrail Park
Aspinwall Riverfront Park, the recreational gem off Freeport Road with a fishing dock, dog park and garden-lined trail, has expanded by six acres and has changed its name, officials announced. The site will be called Allegheny RiverTrail Park (ARP), largely because of its vital gateway service to the Three Rivers...
Hollow Oak Land Trust to issue permits next month for hunting on conservation areas
The Hollow Oak Land Trust plans to begin issuing permits on Aug. 17 for deer hunting in conservation areas, the non-profit organization announced. The permits are being issued by appointment only while supplies last. Hunters can sign-up for an appointment to get a license by sending an email to: info@hollowoak.org....
Medical experts not alarmed by recent rise in Pa. covid casesVideo
The number of new covid-19 cases is increasing in Pennsylvania, but the uptick — fueled by the highly contagious delta variant — is not yet cause for alarm among experts in the Pittsburgh region. In the past week, there have been 2,930 new cases of the virus reported by the...
Riverfront Theater Company eager to return to in-person productions with ‘Into the Woods Jr.’
Hampton junior Lauren Michael joked that she does some of her best singing in the car. She has no jitters belting out tunes along with the radio. This summer, the 15-year-old pushed past her comfort zone to audition for a part in Riverfront Theater Company’s live production of “Into the...
Westmoreland news includes concerts, art exhibits and reunions
Art • The Greensburg Art Center will participate in a free dual exhibition with the Westmoreland Museum of American Art that is being presented by the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society. An exhibit will be held July 23 to Sept. 20 at the Rowe Gallery of the Greensburg Art Center. A free...
After $100K in damages, Hempfield Area to charge students insurance on borrowed computers
Hempfield Area School District officials want students to be more careful with their school-issued Chromebooks. After shelling out a whopping $107,000 in repair costs last school year, the district announced families will have to pay for a damage insurance policy this year to be able to take one of the...
Verona gets beautification boost through business, foundation partnership
A Verona business has partnered with a local nonprofit to help rid the borough of dog waste. Four waste stations, complete with plastic bags and a reminder to “please clean up after your dog,” were recently installed as part of a beautification project from Etta’s Blvd Doggy Daycare and the...
Chartiers Valley School Board offers 5-year contract extension to superintendent
The Chartiers Valley School Board voted unanimously during its July 6 meeting to offer a contract extension to superintendent Johannah Vanatta. Vanatta’s contract, originally set to expire in March 2023, will now extend through June 2026. The superintendent previously worked as an assistant superintendent in the McGuffey School District before...
AHN offering free screenings for variety of cancers at sites in Wexford, Butler
Allegheny Health Network will be conducting free cancer screenings at its facilities in Wexford and Butler. Screening for breast, lung, skin and prostate cancer will be conducted Aug. 21 at the AHN Cancer Institute on Hollywood Drive in Butler. Screenings for breast and lung cancer will take place at AHN’s...
Beltzhoover native Angelique Bradford appointed new associate pastor at Sharpsburg’s Roots of Faith
The new associate pastor at Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg lives by the motto, “Say yes to God and great things will happen.” “I am not fully aware of the possibilities that God has in store for me,” said the Rev. Angelique Bradford, a Beltzhoover native who celebrated her installation...
