Local category, Page 2613
West Hempfield Elementary School recognized for Veterans Day programVideo
Teachers at West Hempfield Elementary School were awarded a plaque from AMVETS deeming their Veterans Day program excellent. The program drew several veterans — who were related to students — to the school for breakfast and a music show. “I was stunned,” said Rege Riley, former National Commander for AMVETS....
Witness testifies to chaos of 2016 Wilkinsburg shooting scene as defense attempts to discredit police evidenceVideo
Bleeding from her own gunshot wound, Tonjia Cunningham begged Tina Shelton to stay alive. “Tina, Tina, Tina.” “Talk to me.” “Tina, Tina, Tina, Tina.” “Don’t you (expletive) die on me,” she wailed. Jurors in Cheron Shelton’s murder trial heard the recording of the call Cunningham placed to 911 just before...
Delaware man pulled over on turnpike near New Stanton accused of concealing heroin
After pulling over a Delaware driver on Friday in Mt. Pleasant Township for following another vehicle too closely on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, state police discovered seven bulk packages of suspected heroin hidden inside a compartment built into his SUV, according to court documents. Jaime Cruz, 40, of Wilmington, was driving...
Fire marshal: Spontaneous combustion caused Allegheny Township fire
A fire that extensively damaged an Allegheny Township house last month was caused by the spontaneous combustion of some oily rags, a fire marshal said Monday. The fire at 1241 Bagdad Road was reported after 1 p.m. Jan. 26. The house was under construction and unoccupied. The homeowners declined to...
Newlonsburg associate pastor retires following 37 years of service
For the first time in nearly four decades, Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church will have a new associate pastor following the retirement of the Rev. Marion Silbert on Jan. 31. A Western Pennsylvania native, Silbert is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Princeton Theological Seminary. She joined Newlonsburg in...
Opus 2 Orchestra prepares for winter concert in Trafford
Members of the Opus 2 Orchestra are gearing up for their winter concert set for Feb. 22 in Trafford. “An International Affair: Music from Around the World” will begin at 4 p.m. at Christian Life Church, 900 Seventh Street Ext. It will feature musical styles from different countries including Soon...
Seton Hill to offer RN to BSN program online
Seton Hill University is joining the growing list of colleges and universities offering online bachelor of science programs for registered nurses. Officials at the Greensburg private university said the new program will offer working professionals the ability to complete a bachelor’s degree in a flexible format. The move comes as...
Pennsylvania health department officials say ‘coronavirus threat remains low’
While China has accused the U.S. of causing panic in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is doing what it can to keep residents calm. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine reminded Pennsylvanians Monday that the threat from coronavirus remains low. There have been...
Pennsylvania ranked as 5th best state for singlesVideo
Being single for Valentine’s Day might not be so bad this year — especially for people in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth came in fifth out of all 50 states as the best place to be single in 2020, according to a recent WalletHub.com report. The report used 29 metrics related to...
Latrobe Police looking for SUV involved in hit-and-run
Latrobe Police are asking the public’s help identifying the driver of an SUV that struck a building on Lincoln Avenue Sunday and fled. Police reported the crash occurred about 9 a.m. when the white vehicle struck the Holzer’s Deli store at 1700 Lincoln Ave., at the intersection of James Street....
Delmont library captures $40,000 grant for solar panels, geothermal system
Delmont Public Library officials were excited when they broke ground on a new building in mid-November. Now they will have an additional $40,000 to help install solar panels and other “green” features. The library received a West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund grant, which will go toward the purchase of...
Charges dismissed against accused gunman in Wilkinsburg mass shooting
Charges have been dismissed against one of two men charged in the 2016 Wilkinsburg mass shooting case. Robert Thomas, 31, was taken back to the Allegheny County Jail about 9:30 a.m. Monday after Judge Edward J. Borkowski granted a defense motion made last week to dismiss the six counts of...
Police: Online scammer bilked Loyalhanna woman out of $45K
It started with some messages exchanged with a new Facebook connection. A 60-year-old Loyalhanna Township woman believed she was talking to a man in Denmark. He told her he needed some money to help his daughter, who supposedly was attending a private school in West Africa, according to state police....
Victims in apparent murder-suicide in Pittsburgh’s Hays section identified
Two people died in an apparent murder-suicide early Monday in Pittsburgh’s Hays neighborhood, police said. Officers responded to a duplex in the 700 block of Baldwin Road at about 1:40 a.m. after a report of a man barricaded inside a home with a possible hostage. A third man inside the...
The Stroller, Feb. 3, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Free event about Second Amendment rights planned State Rep. Joseph Petrarca will host a free informational event about concealed carry Second Amendment rights from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the West Leechburg Firemen’s Recreation Hall, 1116 Gosser St. Representatives from the county sheriff’s office, state police, local law enforcement...
Carnegie sewage rates affected by ALCOSAN increase
Carnegie residents will see a hike in sewage rates in 2020 due to an increase in Alcosan rates. Borough leaders, however, agreed to a small reduction in the municipality’s charges to help ease the burden on residents. Council members in January approved the change in rates. Alcosan rates went from...
Carnegie Carnegie Corner: The flavor of Mardi Gras in our own backyard
For many, Mardi Gras season is a time to get a little wild, enjoy some of life’s indulgences and revel in the music, parades and excitement of New Orleans. If you haven’t booked your flight yet, don’t worry. The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is bringing a bit...
Public hearing in February set to discuss the Saturday open to deer season
Hunters across Southwestern Pennsylvania will have a chance this month to let state officials know how they feel about having rifle deer season open on a Saturday. The House Game and Fisheries Committee announced a public hearing is planned Feb. 20 in Speers, Washington County. The meeting will be from...
Peebles in Allegheny Township to take on sister store name Gordmans
Gordmans, a discount department store, will soon replace its sister brand, Peebles, in Hyde Park Plaza, Allegheny Township. Both stores’ owner, Stage Stores, headquartered in Houston, Texas, announced the grand opening for Gordmans for 9 a.m. Feb. 18 at with gifts and other giveaways. Given the demise of big box...
New automatic CPR machines already saving lives at Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS
New automatic CPR machines in use for about a month on Vandergrift/Oklahoma EMS ambulances have already helped paramedics and EMTs save lives. Vandergrift/Oklahoma Emergency Medical Services recently used a state grant to buy two CPR machines for their ambulances. The device, called LUCAS, is a mechanical chest-compression system. It fits...
She didn’t want to be a nurse. Now she’s director of a Frazer school that teaches nurses
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Lynne Rugh never thought nursing was for her. But a nudge from a friend’s mother led her to a rewarding career she has been working in for close to five...
Small vape shops scramble for survival as government, Big Tobacco put up ‘one hurdle after another’
Chris McGrath doesn’t plan to give up his dream of helping people quit cigarettes by vaping. But the Harrison vape shop owner is worried the mounting challenges confronting his industry, particularly its smallest players, could push his and hundreds of other small shops and manufacturers out of business. “Small businesses...
Chocolate-covered dreams at Speckled HenVideo
Chocolate lovers have a sweet destination in rural Clinton Township. Speckled Hen Chocolate Co. opened in 2013, specializing in unique gourmet hand-dipped chocolates, gift baskets, event favors, chocolate-themed classes and homemade fudge. Sarver native and owner Valerie Cannon, 45, often provided homemade chocolate-covered pretzels for her co-workers. She made the...
Franklin Regional fifth-graders explore a variety of career paths
When Olivia Hamilton of Murrysville was younger, she spent a lot of time with her father working on cars. “I knew I didn’t want to be a mechanic, but I remember thinking that welding sounded pretty cool,” she said. She may not have had that career path chosen by fifth...
Natrona fire leaves 6 people homeless
Four adults and two children escaped a fire Sunday night in Harrison’s Natrona section despite a lack of working smoke detectors in the duplex that burned, according to Hilltop Hose Fire Chief Krzeminski. “This could have been a tragedy,” Krzeminski said. “If this had happened in the middle of the...
