Local category, Page 2634
Lower Valley’s sanitary authority on track for $50 million treatment plant expansion
The Allegheny Valley Joint Sewage Authority’s treatment plant expansion plans are not only on track, they are slightly ahead of schedule. Authority officials said initial permitting has been approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The electrical and structural plans are done, and a second round of permitting involving...
Prohibition thinned ranks of Western Pa. distilleries, breweries — but some survivedVideo
Southwestern Pennsylvania’s whiskey industry overflowed with more than 100 distilleries making rye whiskey between the 1880s and early 1900s, but they went dry when Prohibition took effect a century ago. “The distilleries had to close and most did not reopen” when Prohibition was lifted in 1933, said Samuel Komlenic, a...
War on alcohol: An experiment that was a ‘catastrophic failure’
The United States was a battleground before World War I — with armies of people opposed to liquor and saloons lobbying politicians and marching on Washington, D.C., in their mission to outlaw what they considered a scourge on nation’s morality — alcohol. “Prohibition had been a long time in coming,...
Highlands to lose $260K in yearly revenue after Heights Plaza assessment drops
An assessment appeal that slashed nearly $11 million from the value of the Heights Plaza shopping center will cost the Highlands School District $260,000 in revenue each year, according to district Business Manager Lori Byron. The total value of four parcels making up the plaza dropped from $17.3 million to...
Timeline of events important to ProhibitionVideo
Prohibition timeline Calls to ban the production and sale of alcohol in the U.S. started nearly a century before Prohibition, with the creation of temperance societies and growing support of the abstinence movement. Here are some key dates in the push for Prohibition and its eventual repeal: 1826: American Society...
One woman’s marathon journey to a perfect fit in the classroomVideo
Vicky Krug was determined to become a teacher. Her resolve only grew during nearly two decades she spent as a social worker, substance abuse therapist, substitute teacher and tutor earning multiple degrees and certifications along the way. A brain injury she suffered when her car and a truck collided on...
Scouts — both boys and girls — clash at Pinewood Derby in IrwinVideo
Cub Scout Pack 293 leader Daryl Muzy admits technology has improved significantly in the 50-year history of the North Huntingdon-area Cub Scout pack’s annual pinewood derby race. Instead of eyeballing the finish line, as was once done by the scoutmasters, the speedy wooden cars now cross a laser beam that...
The Stroller, Jan. 19, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Volunteer opportunities available HOPE Center The Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center has many opportunities for volunteers to help the organization in its quest to eliminate domestic violence. Volunteers are needed to work with children, drive to Pittsburgh to courier food to Tarentum, organize events, present programs in schools and assist in...
Westmoreland bus authority pays $12,500 in overtime in 1st week of running service
Westmoreland Transit Authority paid out about $12,500 in overtime wages for the first week in January after it assumed control over bus and paratransit services from a private contractor. Officials said scheduling procedures that had been in place for years as well as a driver shortage required the agency to...
Women’s March rallies for 4th year in Downtown Pittsburgh, with anti-war, anti-Trump focus
Flanked by a giant inflatable chicken with orange-gold hair, Tracy Baton urged hundreds of people gathered Saturday in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square to sustain momentum for the national Women’s March movement — an effort she says aims to confront the challenges that hit families closest to home. The director of...
New Kensington, Arnold police continue to follow leads in killings
Authorities say they continue to follow leads in the cases of two killings within about 24 hours of each other in New Kensington and Arnold. New Kensington police are still searching for whoever fatally shot Anthone Williams, 31, of Arnold early Wednesday evening in a vacant part of the city’s...
Cheswick couple grateful for support after house fire
A Cheswick couple is expressing their gratitude for an outpouring of support after a Friday morning house fire destroyed almost everything they owned and killed their two dogs. Kayla Fischerkeller and Ryan Brittingham, who are engaged to be married this spring, were at work when the fire engulfed their single-story...
HOV lanes remain closed because of snow, rainstorms Saturday
The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that run along I-279 remained closed to traffic Saturday afternoon for snow removal on the mainline, PennDOT said. The HOV lanes have been closed since about 4 a.m. Twelve hours later, they remained closed, PennDOT said. Normally, the HOV lanes are open to all...
Federal authorities join East Huntingdon gas tanker explosion probeVideo
Federal investigators have joined the probe of a fuel tanker explosion Friday that leveled an East Huntingdon tanker truck garage and sent three workers to a Pittsburgh hospital, including one with critical burns. Officials from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. Department of Transportation gathered Saturday...
Pitt student struck, killed by Port Authority bus in Oakland
A University of Pittsburgh student was struck and killed by a Port Authority bus Saturday in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section, authorities said. The dead woman was identified as Barbara Como of Chester Springs, Chester County. Como was a senior anthropology student and research assistant with the Learning Research and Development Center...
Volunteers work to improve Freeport Community ParkVideo
Wednesday’s sunshine encouraged volunteers to move ahead with plans to add electricity to the Freeport Area High School’s girl’s softball and fast-pitch softball field inside the expansive Freeport Community Park. David Zembrzuski, who owns DRZ Excavating in Harrison, donated know-how and operated equipment to dig a trench from the electrical...
PennDOT lifts speed restrictions on I-79, I-80
PennDOT has lifted the speed limit restrictions it had imposed on Interstate 79 and Interstate 80 due to snow and rain that hit the region Saturday morning. A 45-mph speed limit had been is in place on I-79 from the Butler and Allegheny County exit (Exit 78) to Erie, which...
Lights sought for Miracle League field in Murrysville Community Park
A request by Miracle League of Western PA officials to add lighting to the Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field at Murrysville Community Park could end up as a delicate dance balancing player safety and respect for nearby residents who were told the park would not be lit. “There were commitments made...
Cops: Missing Ruffsdale girl, 13, found safe
A 13-year-old Ruffsdale girl who went missing this week was found safe late Friday, state police said. Troopers issued an alert early Friday saying Lainey Ucman had not been seen since 9 p.m. Thursday in the area of Story Frye Road in South Huntingdon. Late Friday, state police in Belle...
Piano bar opens at the Waterfront in HomesteadVideo
A new brand of piano music has come to the Waterfront Shopping Center in Homestead. The shopping and dining destination has added the national dueling piano chain, The Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar. It opened Friday. A crowd gathered for opening night offering song requests from country to pop. Guests...
State Sen. Lindsey Williams opening district office in Harrison
State Sen. Lindsey Williams will be opening an office in Harrison. The new district office will open sometime this spring in the Heights Plaza. “Currently, we have a signed lease, and there is some work being done to update the space,” said her spokeswoman, Becky Boyle. “Bringing a full-service office...
Agreement nearly complete on Agan Park joint recreation board
Springdale and Cheswick boroughs are forming a joint recreational board to oversee Agan Park, an underused park in need of some care and direction. The park, located along Riddle Run Road in Springdale Township, was bequeathed to Springdale and Cheswick boroughs, which took over ownership in the 1950s. The park...
The Stroller, Jan. 18, 2020: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Bowl-A-Thon to raise money for foundation The annual Bowl-A-Thon, sponsored by Burrell Education Foundation, will be 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 9 at Wildlife Lanes, 1000 Wildlife Lodge Road, Lower Burrell. Cost is $20 per bowler; and includes bowling and shoe rental. There will be prizes and raffles and the...
Greensburg police ask for help identifying burglary suspect
Greensburg police are asking the public’s help identifying a suspect in a burglary Saturday in the city’s Northmont area. An unknown suspect reportedly burglarized a residence during the morning hours and fled in a Subaru SUV. Police described the burglar as a white male about 5 feet 5 inches tall...
Franklin Regional students will perform ‘Joseph’ selections at Symphony East
Students in the Franklin Regional spring production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will perform selections from the show during the Symphony East program. It will be at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 13 at the Westmoreland Country Club, 7100 Mellon Road in Penn Township. The event will begin with a...
