Local category, Page 2090
Christine Oldham set to retire as Ligonier Valley superintendent
The Ligonier Valley School Board has less than five months to select someone to succeed Christine Oldham as superintendent. The board, at its February meeting, approved Oldham’s retirement, effective June 30. Oldham said her decision to end her stint at Ligonier Valley was a bittersweet one. “I’m excited about what...
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and PennDOT officials try to keep up with wintry weather
After being spoiled by a lack of snow last winter, Western Pennsylvania residents have been confronted by multiple snow events since November. The total with Monday’s 1.5 inch snowfall is now 51.2 inches, according to the National Weather Service in Moon, putting it in the Top 10 snow accumulations through...
Armstrong County to give $733K in grants to restaurants hard hit by pandemic
Armstrong County announced it expects to distribute about $733,000 in grants to county restaurants for relief from pandemic losses under the new state covid-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program. The program recently announced by Gov. Tom Wolf includes $145 million in funding to the state’s 67 counties, based on population, to...
Ligonier Valley classrooms to see part-time return of remaining students
All Ligonier Valley students in grades 7-12 will be able to return to a hybrid instructional model, beginning Tuesday. District officials decided to make the move — to a weekly mix of in-classroom and at-home lessons — following two consecutive weeks when covid-19 transmission rates in Westmoreland County were at...
Pittsburgh’s Art House damaged after weekend fire
A fire damaged the Art House in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood on Sunday. Artist Vanessa German wrote in an Instagram post Sunday that no one was injured. “Everyone is OK,” she wrote. “The Art House caught on fire last night. There is a lot of damage, but everyone is OK.” She...
$1.5M Babcock Nature Center under construction in Buffalo Township
A soft opening is planned this spring for the $1.5 million Babcock Nature Center in Buffalo Township, under construction off Monroe Road next to the Butler-Freeport Community Trail. A collaboration between the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and Buffalo Township, the new 2,500-square-foot center and a 1,200-square-foot pavilion will offer...
Pittsburgh’s Original Oyster House to reopen just in time for Lent
The Original Oyster House is reopening Tuesday, a day before Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season that begins Wednesday is usually a busy period for the seafood restaurant. “We are ready to go and excited to be back,” said owner Jennifer Grippo. “The staff is super-pumped. When they all came back...
Save a snowball for the Carnegie Science Center
With the Greater Pittsburgh area dealing with a winter storm expected to bring several inches of snow, it seems like a perfect time to start saving snowballs. The Carnegie Science Center is encouraging potential visitors to make a snowball this winter, save it in their freezer, and bring it to...
Pitt, NCAA knew about dangers of football concussions, lawsuits claim
Two former University of Pittsburgh football players filed separate federal lawsuits against the university and the NCAA, as well as the Big East and Atlantic Coast conferences, alleging the organizations were aware of the potential health ramifications caused by concussions and repeated blows to the head but never took action...
Tarentum house fire spreads to neighboring homeVideo
Tiffany Lott stood on Tarentum’s Lock Street on Monday afternoon, a blanket draped over her, as smoke billowed from her home and firefighters pumped it full of water. A fire Lott said had started in her home had spread to another beside it, ultimately destroying both. “I am OK,” she...
Westmoreland County sees over 60% drop in covid cases in past month
Westmoreland County’s coronavirus situation continues to improve — and dramatically when compared to just one month ago. Another 129 cases of coronavirus were reported over the past two days in the county, according to data released Monday by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That total is 6% lower than a...
Covid figures tallied for Feb. 15, 2021, for Murrysville-Export-Delmont area
The most recent data from the state Department of Health shows 1,209 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Murrysville area since the pandemic started in March. Of those positive results, 19 cases were reported in the past seven days. The health department on Monday released figures for the three ZIP...
Medical shuttles across Alle-Kiski Valley among services funded by St. Margaret Foundation
A free medical shuttle that transports patients throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley is among services funded by $675,755 in grants recently announced by the St. Margaret Foundation. Money will be distributed with the specific goals of supporting patient access, education and experience, foundation President Mary Lee Gannon said. “This past year...
Former court clerk Amy Altman McChesney to run for Derry district judge
A Derry Township woman said her work as a clerk with the Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts and in a district judge’s office provides with the experience and knowledge to succeed retiring Mark Bilik as district judge. Amy Altman McChesney, 42, has announced her candidacy for the seat that includes...
Monroeville doctor accused of writing illegal painkiller prescriptions
A Monroeville doctor was charged last week in federal court with nearly 100 counts of writing illegal oxycodone prescriptions, as well as Medicare fraud. An indictment returned Thursday by the federal grand jury said Joseph Dicroce, 64, wrote dozens of prescriptions for oxycodone to just three people from 2016 to...
South Greensburg police chief to run for Hempfield district judge post
South Greensburg’s police chief believes his 27 years in law enforcement best qualifies him to fill the vacant district judge seat in Hempfield. Scott Fanchalsky, 49, said he will cross-file and run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries May 18 for the position formerly held by District Judge Anthony...
New covid cases continue to decline in Allegheny County
Allegheny County continues to see a decline in the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths associated with covid-19. The county added 394 new cases of coronavirus over the past two days, according to county’s Health Department. That’s more than 12% fewer new cases than a week ago (450) and...
North Huntingdon sewage authority says $30M upgrade won’t require rate hikes
North Huntingdon’s sewage authority is planning to spend $30 million to upgrade its plant near the Youghiogheny River. The project will allow the facility to treat more sewage, but it will not cause a rise in rates, the authority’s executive said. The authority is designing the upgrades to the Turner...
News Briefs: Self-guided litter pickups, preview nights at La Roche, book club and more
Allegheny CleanWays and Friends of the Riverfront invite people to participate in self-guided litter pickups. They will provide the necessary gear for safety. The next litter kit distribution event will be 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 20 at the South Side Dog Park. Register at flipcause.com to request a...
News Briefs: Plum Republican Committee to meet, Oakmont looking for seasonal employees, library news and more
Committee to meet Plum Republican Committee will meet Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at Palmieri’s Restaurant, 951 Old Frankstown Road. Guest speaker will be Frank Gamrat, executive director of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. The meeting is open to all registered Republicans and serves as a forum to meet...
News Briefs: Fee to fix flooding, college visits, fish fry time, art show, summer jobs and more in Hampton
Bills for new stormwater fee mailed Jordan Tax Service, which collects taxes for Hampton Township, recently sent out bills for the new Stormwater Management Fee being levied to help pay for state and federally mandated work to control flooding and reduce water pollution. In January, Hampton residents were notified by...
News Briefs: Indiana County fugitive arrested in Monroeville, students make dean’s list, baseball tryouts and more
Monroeville police arrested Marcus A. Niehenke, 41, on Feb. 7. Niehenke had been a fugitive from Indiana County and was wanted for a 2020 DUI and three violations against Protection from Abuse orders. He is in Allegheny County Jail and is scheduled for a court hearing in March. Student news...
News Briefs: Area students named on dean’s list at Saint Francis University, fish fry slated, networking sessions and more
Two students from Penn Hills, Wilkinsburg, Wilkins or Churchill attending St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa. have been named to the school’s dean’s list. To be named on the list, students must be full-time students and maintain a 3.5 GPA on 12 or more credits during a single semester. The...
News Briefs: Free tax prep, litter collection, La Roche preview nights and more
Free tax prep is available through the North Hills Community Outreach. This is a seasonal program that helps low-income households who earn less than $57,000. The service is available through April 14. A fully virtual option through an IRS-approved website can be accessed at getyourrefund.org/nhco. Limited contact options are available...
Police: Bronze emblems stolen from veterans’ graves in New Florence
Four metal emblems were stolen from veterans’ grave markers at St. Mary’s Cemetery in New Florence, according to state police. Three bronze World War II emblems were taken, along with a World War I emblem made of an unspecified metal. Police believe the theft happened within the last week. They...
