Western PA Local News category, Page 2127
Baldwin High School students, teachers get ‘popped’ into cold to support Special Olympics PennsylvaniaVideo
The look of this year’s Polar Plunge at Baldwin High School was different but at least one element of the event remained: it was cold. The longstanding tradition of plunging into freezing water — whether a river or a pool — wasn’t feasible this year because of covid-19. Instead, Special...
Woman who sued BNY Mellon for wrongful termination over Antwon Rose post loses appeal
An appellate court upheld a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a former BNY Mellon employee who alleged racial discrimination after she was fired for writing on social media that a man should have driven a bus through a group of protesters in Pittsburgh. Lisa Ellis, of...
Pa. Game Commission says game-law violations dip slightly
Wildlife game law violations dipped slightly last fiscal year compared to the year before, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s recently released 2020 annual report. The Game Commission said it pursued 6,708 prosecutions for alleged game-law violations during the fiscal year that ended June 30, down 1.7% from the year...
Export officials talk trash about garbage, recycling hauler Republic Services
Export officials hope making headway with their garbage and recycling contractor will lead to fewer issues with hauling service in the borough. Council members have been unhappy with Republic Services for some time, discussing unaddressed issues at council meetings and fielding complaints from residents about missed pickups and poor service....
West Newton police say traffic stop netted illegal drugs, gun
A man pulled over by West Newton police early Friday for minor traffic violations was subsequently arrested for possessing heroin and large amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine, according to court documents. Tyler R. Smiley, 27, of Connellsville, also was charged with carrying a loaded .45-caliber handgun without a license, according...
Hempfield man gets probation for sexually assaulting mentally disabled woman
A Hempfield man was sentenced to three years of probation Friday for sexually assaulting a mentally disabled woman. Charles A. Stephenson, 67, is required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, according to a sentencing order. Stephenson pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault of a person...
Easter events a little easier to plan after a year of adjusting to covid-19
Local towns are planning for another Easter under the specter of the covid-19 pandemic. But, unlike last year, those planning the events have a much clearer idea of how to safely host them. “It was easier to plan and anticipate what we wanted our holiday event to look like,” Murrysville...
Hempfield man accused in sexual assault of teen girl
State police arrested a Hempfield man Thursday, charging him with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in 2017, according to court papers. Michael John Flowers, 22, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. Troopers said in court papers that they spoke to the accuser, now 17,...
Police charge Pitcairn man with rape of 11-year-old girl
Allegheny County Police have charged a 29-year-old Pitcairn man in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl. Joshua Davon Austin-Pollard faces multiple felonies, including rape and sexual assault. Police say the events took place at Austin-Pollard’s Third Street home three days after Christmas. The charges also include interference with...
Manor man pleads guilty in 2 drug overdose deaths
A Manor man who cooperated with prosecutors in a case against a co-defendant pleaded guilty Friday to two drug delivery resulting in death charges. Jeremy S. Mason, 35, admitted guilt during a virtual court appearance in connection with two fatal drug overdoses in 2017. His “exemplary” cooperation with prosecutors was...
Westmoreland County adds 95 covid cases, 2 deaths
Westmoreland County on Friday reported an additional 95 cases of covid-19, keeping the seven-day average at 63 cases for the third consecutive day and below 70 for nearly two weeks. Of the new cases, 60 are confirmed via 290 new PCR tests and 35 are listed as probable, according to...
Elderly residents in Scottdale targeted in ‘grandparent scam,’ police warn
Scottdale police are warning that some elderly residents recently were targeted by a phony telephone caller claiming to be a young relative who wrecked his car and was in dire need of bail money. Chief Barry Pritts said one resident received a call from a young person claiming to be...
Route 30 signal upgrades in Hempfield, Jeannette could take through year’s end
Motorists on a stretch of Route 30 in Hempfield and Jeannette will have to put up with traffic restrictions for the better part of a year as PennDOT updates traffic signals at 11 intersections to assist the flow of vehicles. Work is expected to occur between 9 a.m. and 3...
Dick’s Sporting Goods and AHN team up to give 5,100 covid vaccinesVideo
Dick’s Sporting Goods teamed up Friday with Allegheny Health Network to host a covid-19 vaccine clinic, administering about 5,100 vaccine doses to high-risk patients. Individuals who fall into Phase 1A of Pennsylvania’s covid-19 vaccine distribution plan were able to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the clinic,...
Youngwood shelter animals bond with young readers during Zoom sessionVideo
Kids, animals and books were a winning combination for a program at Animal Friends of Westmoreland in Youngwood. The shelter teamed with teachers and students from Hempfield Area Cyber Academy on Thursday and Friday for a Zoom reading session in conjunction with Read Across America Week, an annual celebration of...
Greensburg looking to bolster its police dog unit
Greensburg plans to add two police dogs to its roster. The police department previously had two dogs. One, Dax, retired last year, and died soon after at 13. The other, Falco, is nearing retirement age. City council will start the process of acquiring two dogs Monday with a vote on...
Greensburg offers free lifeguard certification course to boost lagging recruitment
A good lifeguard is hard to find, which is why Greensburg’s recreation department is offering free lifeguard certification courses as a new recruitment tool. “We had a difficult time in general getting kids to apply for the jobs,” said Trudy Ivory, former recreation facilities manager for the city. Ivory retired...
Virtual tribute will celebrate Mister Rogers’ 93rd birthday
One of Latrobe’s favorite sons, Fred Rogers, would have turned 93 on March 20, and a virtual celebration on his birthday will feature singers and songwriters from across the country. The celebration of Mister Rogers will be livestreamed beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at ThankYouMisterRogers.com. It also will appear on...
Allegheny County adds 288 covid cases, 9 deaths
Allegheny County on Friday reported 288 additional cases of covid-19, bringing the total to 77,803 since the pandemic began. The county’s seven-day case average, currently at 238, has remained below 300 cases since Feb. 9. Of the new cases, 185 were confirmed via 864 new PCR tests and 103 are...
Help wanted: Wigle Whiskey is filling 99 positions
Looking for a job? Wigle Whiskey posted via social media it is planning to fill 99 positions over the next nine weeks. “We are definitely in rebuilding mode,” said Meredith Meyer Grelli, co-owner of Wigle Distillery and Threadbare Cider & Mead, an award-winning craft distillery. The concept of “99 jobs”...
New director at Etna Community Organization demonstrates commitment to the borough
Armed with a passion for her small river town and a desire for its revitalization, Megan Tunon has taken the lead at the Etna Community Organization. A seven-year resident of the borough who also serves on council, Tunon hopes to advance projects of the Etna EcoDistrict and expand on the...
Semper Gratus charity 5K race returns to West Leechburg
The Shamrock Shuffle race is back and scheduled for March 13 in West Leechburg. The annual 5K race/one-mile walk by the nonprofit Semper Gratus will return this year, about a year after the 2020 race was postponed and ultimately canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic. “Our efforts as an organization...
That old shovel in the shed could be part of a giant pine cone sculpture for Tree Pittsburgh
Tree Pittsburgh is asking for donations of garden-related tools — particularly shovels and wheelbarrows — for a massive pine cone sculpture. The sculpture, expected to be 8 feet high, will commemorate the nonprofit’s 15th anniversary. Tree Pittsburgh is an environmental group dedicated to restoring and protecting urban forests in the...
The Stroller, March 5, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Valley News Dispatch will publish a list of community Easter egg hunts and activities. To have an event listed online and in the print edition, send the information as soon as possible to The Stroller, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Fourth Ave., Tarentum PA 15084 or email Carol Pinto-Smith; email...
Mt. Pleasant man arrested after police say he fled in stolen truck that later was set on fire
State police say a Mt. Pleasant Township man stole a pickup truck and led police on a 20-mile pursuit early Thursday. Seth G. Klingensmith, 24, of Acme, was arrested in Youngwood close to where the stolen 2010 Chevrolet Colorado was abandoned about 6:20 a.m. and believed to have been torched....
