Local category, Page 2807
Gregerson takes helm as president of Pitt-Greensburg as the new semester beginsVideo
Robert Gregerson is still in awe of the lush greenery that surrounds the grounds of the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus. It’s a world away from the sandy beaches of Fort Myers, Fla., where he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University prior...
Here’s a look at 5 top high school football teams in Westmoreland history
Westmoreland County has been blessed with many outstanding high school football teams since the sport was introduced in the 1890s. Here’s a top 5: 1927 Mt. Pleasant Hurst Hurricanes One of the most dominant teams in WPIAL history, the Hurricanes outscored the opposition 615-0. But it wasn’t enough to win...
Few split over love of banana treats at Latrobe festivalVideo
Latrobe’s annual Great American Banana Split Celebration has plenty of attractions — live music, classic cars, games and a magic show — even for those who don’t fancy the titular treat. But for many who attended Saturday, the second of the event’s three days, the split that Latrobe has claimed...
Riverview band boosters celebrate annual Pie Night with songs and sweets
There were pies and spirits in the sky Aug. 23 at a Riverview Band booster fundraiser. Hundreds of apple, pecan, blueberry and other slices of pastries were served at the seventh annual Pie Night at Riverside Park in Oakmont. “The weather’s perfect,” said Wendy Wilton, band booster president and event...
Mt. Pleasant man jailed for allegedly hitting borough cop
A Mt. Pleasant man was jailed Friday for allegedly hitting a borough police officer on the shoulder multiple times last month when the officer was arresting him, police said. Gregory N. Freed, 26, of 114 First St., is accused of hitting Mt. Pleasant Patrolman Timothy Ferree as the officer attempted...
New Ken-Arnold School Board approves personnel actions
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a number of personnel changes ahead of the start of the new school year. The board accepted five resignations: Kathleen Perkoski, elementary teacher; Anna Rogers, licensed clinical nurse; Tammie Bayne, Roy A. Hunt cafeteria monitor; Sheldon Simmons, middle school head football coach; and Bobbie...
North Huntingdon bans tobacco products from parks, playgrounds
North Huntingdon has joined other communities and school districts in Westmoreland County in banning the use of tobacco products from the township’s public parks, playing fields and playgrounds. The township recently received a certificate for joining the “Young Lungs at Play!” initiative to keep the public play areas free of...
Training urges Pittsburgh cops to acknowledge emotions, biasesVideo
Pittsburgh police received a different kind of training this week, one focusing on turning inward in order to better their outward interactions with their colleagues, their families and their communities. The name of the training — Racial Intelligence Training and Engagement — was deceptive to some. Sgt. Donald Mitchell said...
Charges proceed against Pittsburgh firefighter charged in Greenfield scuffle with boyVideo
A 13-year-old boy testified Friday he was trying to defend himself in a June 25 scuffle with an off-duty Pittsburgh firefighter at a Greenfield playground. The firefighter, Thomas Louis D’Andrea, 46, however, claims he was defending himself from the boy. D’Andrea contends he was trying to detain him until police...
Pitt suspends Chinese language program
The University of Pittsburgh has joined a growing list of American universities that have shuttered a Chinese language and culture program sponsored by the Chinese government. Ariel Armony, Pitt’s vice provost for global affairs and director of the University Center for International Studies, said the university closed its Confucius Institute...
Burrell chooses grass over artificial turf for stadium makeover
Burrell School District and its architects will soon seek bids for a new, natural grass playing surface ringed by a new track at the high school stadium. Drainage problems have long plagued the stadium. The track replacement is estimated to cost about $757,000, while the stadium improvement with natural grass...
Hempfield doctor seeks to withdraw no-contest plea to murder charge
Prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s office say that a Hempfield doctor should not be permitted to withdraw a no-contest plea entered earlier this year to a murder charge. Edgar Peske, 80, was charged two years ago with drug delivery resulting in death in connection with the 2015 overdose death...
Parkway East reopens after vehicle fire
The Parkway East (Interstate 376) has reopened to traffic westbound in Pittsburgh after a vehicle fire. Inbound traffic was forced for a time to exit at the Second Avenue (Exit 71B) off-ramp Downtown, and then only one lane of traffic was open for a time. Allegheny County dispatchers said the...
Murrysville officials: Heritage trail users must obey traffic controls
If cyclists using the Westmoreland Heritage Trail want to be treated like cars, they need to act like cars. That was the general sentiment among Murrysville officials after hearing from residents about the safety situation where the trail crosses Trafford Road. “Stop signs are not optional,” Murrysville Chief Administrator Jim...
Coroner: Electrocution caused driver’s death in fiery Beaver County school bus crash
An Ellwood City man was electrocuted when the school bus he was driving struck a utility pole and caught fire Friday in North Sewickley Township. Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer has ruled Timothy VanKirk’s death accidental, caused by high-voltage electrocution. Beaver County dispatchers said the crash occurred around 2:45...
McKees Rocks woman convicted in fatal 10th Street Bypass wreck
A McKees Rocks woman was convicted Friday of involuntary manslaughter and other charges stemming from a crash last year that killed a Crescent man. Desiree Nelson, 41, will be sentenced Oct. 4. On May 12, 2018, Nelson was speeding on the 10th Street Bypass in Downtown Pittsburgh when she lost...
4 more gas wells planned for Midas well pad in Plum
There are plans to drill four additional unconventional natural gas wells on a pad along Coxcomb Hill Road in Plum, and surrounding landowners have been asked to help. A letter was sent in July to all landowners whose property sits within 1,000 feet of a proposed vertical and horizontal well...
Football field, track surfaces to be replaced at Valley High School
New Kensington-Arnold School District plans to spend more than a half-million dollars to replace the track and football field surfaces at Valley High School. Work on the football field’s artificial surface will be done after this fall’s season, school board President Bob Pallone said. It could be done immediately after...
Former Mt. Pleasant, South Greensburg cop accused of oppression, retaliation
Police say a former Mt. Pleasant police patrolman conducted an illegal traffic stop to berate an ex-coworker who allegedly told his bosses that he drank alcohol before reporting to work. According to court documents, Trevor J. Ely, 29, of Greensburg, who also worked then as a part-time patrolman in South...
TSA: What not to bring on a planeVideo
From hammers to hatchets, miniature baseball bats to tire irons, camping forks to cat-eye knuckles, Transportation Security Administration agents have seen it all. And agents have probably confiscated it as well. Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for the TSA, said as the number of travelers increases, so does the number of...
Pittsburgh City Council candidates face petition challenges
Four residents running as independent candidates for Pittsburgh City Council are due in court Tuesday to defend nominating papers. The hearing will determine whether their names appear on November election ballots. Several voters are challenging papers filed by Quincy Swatson of East Allegheny, Barbara Daniels of Homewood, B. DeNeice Welch...
Alabama man charged with stabbing woman in Pittsburgh’s Downtown
An Alabama man is charged with stabbing a woman Friday afternoon in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Triangle Park along Market Street, police said. Johnny Lee Martin, 36, is charged with aggravated assault, possessing instruments of crime, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension and paraphernalia use or possession. The stabbing was reported just...
Former Kiski Area trainer receives probation for corruption of minors, harassment
A Plum man who worked with athletes at Kiski Area High School will serve two years on probation after pleading guilty Friday to misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors and harassment. Westmoreland County prosecutors agreed to dismiss one felony count that accused Ryan O’Toole of having sex with a student....
Bear steals delivery package of dog food from Pa. porchVideo
A family in Lackawanna County says the thief that stole a delivery package of dog food from their porch turned out to be a hungry young bear. Eighteen-year-old Aidan Newman tells WNEP-TV he was just arriving home to pack up for college when he saw the black bear in his...
Tarentum church plans memorial for man found in Bull Creek
A Tarentum pastor said the man whose body was found Wednesday in Bull Creek became active at BridgePoint Church several months ago and had just been baptized less than two weeks ago. The Rev. Val Schubert of BridgePoint Church said the parish plans to hold a memorial service Sunday for...
