Local category, Page 2265
Hempfield board members hope to set precedent with decision on band trip
Despite their major fundraiser in limbo, members of the Hempfield Area Marching Band could be encouraged to raise money for a proposed trip to Nashville in the spring. However, the trip that might be nixed by school board members depending on the state of the coronavirus pandemic at the time....
Staffer at Hempfield middle, elementary schools tests positive for coronavirus
A staff member who works at both West Hempfield elementary and middle schools tested positive for the coronavirus last week, said Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The staffer, who was not identified, notified school officials of the positive test Thursday. Contact tracing implemented by the state department of health determined that no...
Mountain View Elementary student tests positive for coronavirus
A student at Mountain View Elementary School tested positive for coronavirus, but the school will remain open for in-person classes. Greater Latrobe School District Superintendent Georgia Teppert reported the positive test result in a letter to district parents posted on the district website. She said district officials were notified of...
DUIs, drug charges among cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Jeffery Ali Knox, 28, of Columbia, Md. on a charge of simple assault....
Shrine to ‘Our Lady of the Parkway’ in Pittsburgh receives historic designation
The Shrine of the Blessed Mother, often called “Our Lady of the Parkway” because of its location overlooking the Parkway East from a South Oakland hilltop, received historic designation by Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday. The Shrine was created in the mid-20th century and blessed in September 1956. Though not...
Westmoreland County sees highest 7-day covid-19 case total, reaches 2,500 cases
Westmoreland County reached its highest seven-day covid-19 case total after Tuesday’s new reported cases. The county has 39 new cases Tuesday, bringing the total to 240 cases over the past seven days. Total cases now stand at 2,500. No new deaths were reported Tuesday, leaving the death total at 57....
Pair of accomplished veterans vying for District 37 state Senate seat
Voters in much of Allegheny County’s southern and western suburbs will be asked to choose between a pair of candidates with impeccable credentials running for the 37th District state Senate seat. Incumbent Democrat Pam Iovino faces a challenge from Republican Devlin Robinson. Both are accomplished military veterans, highly educated and...
State police ask for help identifying Hempfield theft suspect
State police in Greensburg said Tuesday they hope a hoodie will help them identify a suspect in a theft at a Hempfield convenience store late Saturday. Troopers said a woman stopped 11:25 p.m. Saturday at the Sunoco convenience store in the West Point area to ask the clerk for directions....
Pittsburgh invited to make a mark for change through 10 muralsVideo
The larger-than-life painting of two Black women on the Center that Cares building in the Hill District represents much more thant a pretty picture. “This mural shows the beauty in Black culture, and that there is a solution to gun violence and systemic racism,” said the Rev. Glenn Garrett Grayson...
North Allegheny School Board votes to return to full-time, in-person learning
North Allegheny elementary and middle school students will return to full-time in-person instruction in November, two months after starting the year in a hybrid instructional mode to stem the spread of covid-19. Elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade will be back in class beginning Nov. 4; middle schoolers are...
Labriola’s Italian Store in Penn Hills to remain closed; site will be used as kitchen for other locations
The Penn Hills landmark Labriola’s Italian Store will stay closed to the public and instead be used as a storage facility and kitchen, the owner announced on social media Oct. 5. “We explored renovated space and new services, but in the end, we decided that the store will remain closed...
2 political newcomers squaring off to fill vacant state House 28th District seat
Two candidates with no prior political experience and starkly different backgrounds are vying for the open state House seat created when Republican Mike Turzai resigned in June. Democrat Emily Skopov of Marshall is facing off against Republican Rob Mercuri of Pine for the 28th District seat that Turzai held for...
Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew has coronavirus; some courthouse offices closed
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew tested positive for coronavirus, causing county leaders to shut down their courthouse offices and cancel three public meetings this week. Chew, a first-term Republican from Hempfield, confirmed the diagnosis in text message Tuesday morning. “I was last in the commissioners’ suite on Wednesday afternoon/evening. I...
D&L Industrial Supply sold to Oklahoma company
An Irwin company that supplies cutting tools for the metalworking industry was sold to an Oklahoma firm, the companies said. D&L Industrial Supply Inc., at 117 Main St., was purchased Monday by BlackHawk Industrial of Broken Arrow, Okla., which distributes carbide cutting tools, abrasives, saw blades and lubricants, said Brad...
Pittsburgh officer returns to work 2 years after Tree of Life shooting
It was a long road back from the Tree of Life shooting, but Pittsburgh Police SWAT Officer Timothy Matson is on the job once again. Matson returned to work Monday, according to a social media post. He return comes nearly two years after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the...
While Fort Ligonier Days goes virtual, events still planned around town
Like many other fairs and festivals, Fort Ligonier Days was canceled this year due to the pandemic — though it will be available in virtual form at fortligonierdays.com. But that doesn’t mean the streets of the picturesque borough will be empty and quiet this weekend. The Ligonier Valley Chamber of...
New charges filed against Latrobe woman jailed on sex assault allegations
A Latrobe woman accused of sexually assaulting two teen boys was arraigned Monday on new charges that she repeatedly groped a fellow inmate at the Westmoreland County Prison, according to court papers. Shanda Rae Hitchcock, 34, is charged with five counts of indecent assault in the new case. County detectives...
Pittsburgh Zoo parking lot and front entrance to get makeover
The deteriorating parking lot at The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is expected to get an overhaul, thanks to an Allegheny County gaming grant. It will be the first extensive renovation to the lot in 40 years. The zoo was awarded $450,000 through the county’s Gaming Economic Development and Tourism...
Freeport nixes Halloween parade and trick-or-treating
Freeport canceled its annual Halloween parade and trick-or-treating in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic. “We do not condone informal trick-or-treating,” Freeport Mayor James Swartz said. “Understanding that families and close friends may visit with each other, we recommend that you follow CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines.” The...
Lancer the emotional support dog provides smiles, comfort to Deer Lakes middle schoolers
Lancer the emotional support dog is settling into her new role at Deer Lakes School District. The now 15-month-old doodle was introduced to district families in March, but didn’t make her in-person debut until Friday because of the coronavirus. Deer Lakes Middle School Assistant Principal Samantha Abate, who owns Lancer,...
Fort Allen Elementary School closes after 2 positive coronavirus cases
Fort Allen Elementary School is closed until Oct. 13 after two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Hempfield Area School District Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The district learned Monday about the positive cases. State department of education guidelines say that if between two and four staff members in...
Lifelong Pirates fan writes book on 1960 championship season
Wayne Stewart remembers running home from school in Donora on Oct. 13, 1960. He was 9 years old and was hoping to make it in time to catch the end of Game 7 of the World Series between the Pirates and the New York Yankees on TV. The game was...
Dooker’s Hollow Bridge in North Braddock to close through 2021
Dooker’s Hollow Bridge between North Braddock and East Pittsburgh Borough will close Oct. 19 for up to 14 months. The 80-year-old bridge will be reconstructed, with work expected to last through December 2021. Project cost is $9.95 million and includes paving, drainage and lighting. Allison Park Contractors from Gibsonia will...
The Stroller, Oct. 6, 2020: 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. Send an email to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Creatures of the Night event planned at Beechwood Farms The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will host its annual “Creatures of the Night,” event Oct. 15 to...
North Huntingdon planners recommend approval for Huntingdon Marketplace buildings
Two multi-tenant buildings planned for the Huntingdon Marketplace mixed-use retail complex in North Huntingdon got a stamp of approval Monday from the township planning commission. The group recommended for approval two 6,887-square-foot buildings along Mills Drive that Colony Holding Co. intends to build across the road from the Walmart store....
