Local category, Page 2598
Sage’s Army to hold family recovery meetings
Sage’s Army, a nonprofit fighting drug addiction, will hold a free family reinforcement/recovery session on Feb. 27. The event will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the group’s headquarters, 216 Fourth St., Irwin. The sessions are designed to provide information and guidance for family members who deal with...
Lloydsville Fire Department officer steps into Unity Township emergency management roleVideo
A longtime member and officer of the Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Department is the new emergency management coordinator for Unity Township. The township supervisors on Thursday appointed Tom Schultheis Jr. to the coordinator post. Schultheis is the water rescue lieutenant for his fire department, Pete Tenerowicz, who had served as the...
2 Pittsburgh schools lock down while police chase suspect’s vehicle, wanted man escapes on foot
Two Pittsburgh schools went on lockdown Thursday afternoon while a police chase ended in a crash in East Liberty, officials said. School district police ordered the security measure as a precaution when they learned that officers were pursuing a man wanted by Allegheny County detectives traveling in a vehicle nearby,...
Let the nesting season begin: Pittsburgh Hays bald eagles lay first eggVideo
Such a power couple. The Pittsburgh Hays bald eagle couple — the first pair of the formerly endangered eagles to nest within the city limits in more than 150 years — have entered their eighth nesting season on the same bluff above the Monongahela River. A live webcam captured the...
Lower Burrell mayor names permanent police chief
Lower Burrell’s mayor has named acting chief John Marhefka the city’s police chief. “John brings a wealth of knowledge and experience,” Mayor John Andrejcik said Thursday. “He was everyone’s best choice that I talked to including city police, employees and others.” Marhefka is Andrejcik’s brother-in-law. The State Ethics Commission has...
New board appointed to hear Westmoreland property assessment appeals
A new three-member board will begin hearing Westmoreland County property assessment appeals. The county commissioners on Thursday reappointed Barbara Moffe along with newcomers Camdon Porterfield and Dan Galbraith to the board that will conduct hearings to determine whether assessments of the county’s 191,000-plus parcels are accurate. The appeals board conducted...
Penn Township survey seeks feedback for comprehensive plan
Penn Township is asking for residents’ input as it prepares to update its comprehensive plan. The township is conducting an online survey that asks some big questions: What core values do residents share? What are some of the biggest issues likely to challenge the township over the next decade? Responses...
Republican commissioners nix labor pact for Westmoreland County projects
Nonunion firms no longer can say they are being frozen out of securing high-dollar construction contracts with Westmoreland County. Republican county Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew on Thursday terminated a controversial agreement with local trade unions. They said the Project Labor Agreement with the Pittsburgh Regional Building and Construction...
Pucker up: Leechburg teachers kiss pig as part of PTA fundraiserVideo
Wherever Sully waddled, squeals of delight weren’t far behind. Sully, a 6-month-old, black-and-white Kunekune pig from Gilpin, was the guest of honor Thursday at David Leech Elementary School. “I love the pig!” one student shouted as Sully trotted by. Sully’s visit was in honor of Pig Wars, a fundraiser sponsored...
Long before JLo, A-Rod or FloJo, New Kensington had NoJo
Editor’s note: The original online version of this story inadvertently used a photo of a different Ken-Hi player. Long before athletes and celebrities were known by the first few letters of their names — J-Lo, A-Rod, FloJo — New Kensington had NoJo. Nolan “NoJo” Jones Jr., star of the 1957...
Defense repeats calls for mistrial in Wilkinsburg shooting case as jurors remain undecided on verdict
More testy court filings on Thursday in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case hurled more accusations at prosecutors as jurors wrapped up their third day of deliberations without rendering a verdict. The filing by defense attorney Randall McKinney, who represents homicide suspect Cheron Shelton, renewed calls for a mistrial in...
Greensburg auditions for starring role on HGTV
Greensburg is hoping a new TV show can bring some star power to the city’s efforts to eliminate blight. The city is one of many communities that applied for a shot to be featured on HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover,” which is set to premiere early next year. “Even though in...
Carnegie Science Center names new director
Jason Brown was named director of the Carnegie Science Center on Thursday. Brown has served as the interim director of the Science Center since December 2018. He took the position following the retirement of former co-directors Ann Metzger and Ron Baillie. Before then, he was senior director of science education....
Region’s financial, job health focus of Washington County State of the Economy event
Despite some bright spots, the Pittsburgh region’s economy is showing signs of strain from low natural gas prices, slow job growth and a manufacturing downturn, a Federal Reserve Bank official said Thursday. “I’m not downbeat about the longer-term prospects, but 2020 is going to be a bump in the road...
Pittsburgh police officers reject Peduto’s pay hike offer; another contract vote to happen Monday
Pittsburgh’s police union is throwing out a revised contract pitch by Mayor Bill Peduto’s office because it failed to generate enough votes, union officials said Thursday night. Just 32 police officers, or less than 5% of voters, supported the Peduto administration’s latest proposal — which offered a slightly higher pay...
Somerset County gets $1 million grant for drug rehab expansion
Somerset County received a $1 million grant from the federal government for the expansion of a drug detox unit. The award to the Somerset County commissioners was announced on Wednesday by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The project is meant to expand drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services for residents...
No one injured in crash on northbound Route 28 near Aspinwall
Authorities responded to a crash that briefly snarled traffic Thursday afternoon in the northbound lanes of Route 28 just before the Aspinwall exit. No one was injured. Initial reports indicated the incident was a multi-vehicle crash shortly before 3 p.m. A school bus was spotted pulled over at the scene....
Newly elected Monessen district judge trying to pass test in order to take office
Although Monessen voters elected a new district judge in November, it could be at least March — or longer — before he is finally sworn in. Wayne P. Vlasic, 63, the city controller, confirmed he still needs certification from the state minor judiciary board to begin serving as district judge....
Police: Pedestrian killed in crash with tractor-trailer at Crafton Ingram Shopping Center
An 81-year-old woman was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer Thursday morning at the Crafton Ingram Shopping Center, police said. The woman, Florence Hall, of Pittsburgh, was identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Police have not...
Municipal authority to build new $5.5M office, garage for sewer operation in New Stanton
Work will soon begin on a new office and garage facility to house the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County’s growing sewer operation. The authority this week awarded nearly $5.5 million in construction contracts for the project, to be built on its campus off Park and Pool roads in New Stanton....
McKeesport Candy Co. among locations chosen to wholesale Clark candy bars
McKeesport Candy Co. hit the Clark Bar lottery. Only a select number of businesses were chosen by Boyer Candy Co. for distribution of the sweet piece of Pittsburgh history. Jon H. Prince, owner of McKeesport Candy Co. and candyfavorites.com, said customers won’t be able to buy the bar there, as...
Jefferson Hills zoning update presented to council
Jefferson Hills council members are closely reviewing a proposed overhaul to the borough’s zoning regulations. For the last three years, members of the Jefferson Hills planning commission have worked to create a new zoning ordinance and corresponding map that will create new rules for development. In December, planning commission members...
Woman accused of selling heroin, cocaine out of New Stanton apartment
Complaints from neighbors about persistent foot traffic to and from a New Stanton apartment resulted in the arrest Wednesday of a 22-year-old woman on drugcharges, state police said. Olivia J. Vandyke of Jeannette was arraigned before East Huntingdon District Judge Charles Moore on charges of manufacturing, delivery and possession of...
Youngwood braces for ‘traffic nightmare’ with water, sewer line replacement projectVideo
Youngwood residents soon will live the highway construction mantra of “temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement.” All four lanes of Route 119 will be torn apart to install new water and sewer lines, followed by PennDOT’s reconstruction of the borough’s main north-south thoroughfare. “It’s going to be a traffic nightmare for two...
Derry awaits new police dog, training to continue program
A four-footed crime-fighter should once again be patrolling the streets of Derry, if all goes as planned. Derry Police Chief Randy Glick is hoping to drive to Washington, D.C., next week and return with his newest police dog partner — a 9-month-old Malinois pup that is to be flown in...
