Western PA Local News category, Page 2815
Delmont firefighters say criticism from council hurts fundraising, recruitmentVideo
Delmont firefighters say an ongoing rift between the department and borough council has stymied fundraising and recruitment efforts. “It’s completely unnecessary, but they keep bashing our fire department,” said Rich Balik, Delmont fire chief. “We’ve been trying to build this department back up for two years after the past problems...
Trafford taxpayers could be on the hook for cost of razing former Mellon Bank buildingVideo
Trafford taxpayers may have to pay for demolition of the dilapidated and condemned former Mellon Bank building, which could cost between $135,000 to $165,000, officials said. The borough is hoping to come to an agreement with the building’s owner, Lanalex Cloyd Inc. of Export, to share the costs of razing...
Allegheny Land Trust nears end of community fundraising for former country club
The future owners of a 150-acre swath of land in Penn Hills and Churchill are $10,000 away from reaching their $100,000 community fundraising goal, according to an organization executive. Sewickley-based Allegheny Land Trust began eyeing the former Churchill Valley Country Club property in May, when it sought out to raise...
Teen girl hurt in fall while jumping between roofs in Butler
A teenager was injured Tuesday night when she fell while jumping between the rooftops of buildings along Main Street in downtown Butler, according to authorities. The girl fell about 20 feet and suffered leg and back injuries, first responders said. She was unable to move in the roughly 2-foot wide...
Paramedics in Washington County taken to hospital after exposure to unknown substance
Paramedics responding to a medical call overnight in Washington County were taken to a hospital to be examined after they were exposed to an unknown substance, according to a 911 supervisor. The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. in the 1000 block of Garfield Avenue in Roscoe. A hazardous materials team...
The Stroller, Oct. 30, 2019: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Orders being accepted for Highlands AFS citrus fruit sale Orders are being taken for the annual Highlands High School AFS citrus fruit sale. Fruit available includes large and small boxes of California navel oranges and ruby red grapefruit, tangelos, clementines, pears, apples, pineapples and mixed boxes. To order, contact Kathy...
North Huntingdon man remembered for love of family, travel
Marty Klanchar remembers seeing a plane used by former President Harry Truman at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Ohio — a plane his father, Donald, once helped maintain. An Air Force veteran who served at the time of the Korean War, Donald Klanchar had a passion...
Stormy weather on tap for Halloween trick-or-treating
Few municipalities are altering their community Halloween plans despite a worsening weather forecast for Thursday evening. Several boroughs and townships have trick-or-treating scheduled for Halloween with no adjustments in place for thunder and lightning. “If it rains, it rains,” said Barb Jones, office clerk for Brackenridge. Jones said police and...
Veterans Day events planned in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Veterans Day events are planned throughout the Valley. They include: Apollo Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home will host the 16th annual Apollo Area Veterans program at noon Nov. 11 at the funeral home, 100 Owens View Ave., Apollo. Funeral director Norman E. Connors will celebrate the lives, contributions and impact of each...
California man convicted in Coraopolis ‘pill mill’ scheme gets 11 years in prison, owes $1.6M
A judge sentenced a California doctor to more than 11 years behind bars for running a “pill mill” in Western Pennsylvania through which he illegally prescribed fentanyl and opioid painkillers for cash, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Dr. Paul Michael Hoover, 59, formerly of Novato, Calif., also must pay the federal...
Things to do in Plum and Oakmont this week
Want to do something fun in Plum or Oakmont this week? Here are some ideas: • Oakmont Carnegie Library hosts a special Halloween themed Book Buddies Story Time 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at 700 Allegheny River Blvd. It’s open to children ages birth to 5 with a caregiver. Children...
Pittsburgh man charged with injuring police dog
A man who was running from police in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood Tuesday night hit and attempted to choke a police dog before he was taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint. Police were seeking Arthur Patterson, 28, of Perry South, after Patterson’s ex-girlfriend reported that he had threatened...
North Side man sought for alleged assault of teen girl
A man from Pittsburgh’s North Side is wanted for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl. Pittsburgh police issued an arrest warrant for James McCray, 41, on charges of unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault and three counts of corruption of minors. Charges were filed Tuesday. Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV...
Pittsburgh area jobless rate up slightly but still better than a year ago
The Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.0 % in September, the first time it’s been that high since February, the state said Tuesday. With 600 fewer people employed in the seven-county region in September, the jobless rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.0% in September,...
Westmoreland commissioner hopefuls tout their goals but offer few specifics at forum
The four candidates for Westmoreland County commissioner looked to the future Tuesday night during one of the last campaign events leading up to next week’s general election. Each candidate said the county needs to attract new residents and to promote jobs and tourism but offered few specific programs or policy...
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Oct. 29, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Matthew Lenart, 34, of Penn Hills on charges of possession of controlled...
Opening celebration set for bike trail extension in IndianaVideo
Local officials and trail advocates next week will celebrate the “soft opening” of a new extension of Indiana County’s Hoodlebug Trail that brings the hiking and bicycling route through the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus and into downtown Indiana. The event is set for noon on Nov. 8 at the...
Franklin Regional youth football teams will play for two championships this weekend
When Big East Youth Football League teams get together for four championship games this weekend in Vandergrift, squads from Franklin Regional will have a chance to win half of them. The Franklin Area Midget Football Association’s 7/8 and 11/12 teams will go up against Gateway and McKeesport, respectively, on Saturday...
Abuse survivor calls on Greensburg Diocese to support window of opportunity for clergy abuse claims
A clergy sexual abuse survivor whose testimony sent a Greensburg diocesan priest to prison stepped forward Tuesday to blast the church for opposing a law that would allow adults with old claims to sue the church. Josh Kiley, the 37 year-old man whose tale of sexual abuse as a 10-year-old...
Judge strikes down Pittsburgh’s controversial gun bills
An Allegheny County judge Tuesday struck down Pittsburgh’s controversial gun control ordinances, ruling the city is prohibited by state law from regulating firearms. Common Pleas Judge Joseph James issued a five-page opinion granting three Second Amendment rights groups and three individuals a summary judgment that declared the ordinances illegal. The...
New population of hellbenders found in Butler CountyVideo
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy found a new population of hellbender salamanders in Butler County. Researchers came up empty looking for the salamander, which can grow to more than two feet long, in the Kiski and Youghiogheny rivers and some other locations this summer, according to Eric Chapman, director of aquatic...
Celebrate everything Pittsburgh during EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler
From pickles and pierogies to Pittsburghese, runners will be able to celebrate their love of all things Pittsburgh Saturday during the seventh annual EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler. More than 4,500 runners from 34 states are expected to participate in the race, which begins at 8 a.m. at Station Square on...
Westmoreland Register of Wills race pits office holder against longtime office worker
The race for Westmoreland County register of wills pits the incumbent against one of the office’s longtime staff members. Democrat Katie Pecarchik, 51, is challenging Sherry Magretti Hamilton, 42, a Republican who is in her first four-year term. Pecarchik, a Hempfield resident, questions how much time Magretti Hamilton spends at...
Mussel discovered in Kiski River for first time in a century
Researchers went looking for a salamander not seen on the Kiski River for more than a century. Instead, they happened upon another river resident that has been missing from the Kiski equally as long or maybe longer – the pink heelsplitter mussel. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently reported its summer...
Pittsburgh Council clears way for development, Whole Foods on Penn Plaza site
Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday cleared the way for a $50 million development on the site of the former Penn Plaza Apartments in East Liberty that will include a “flagship” Whole Foods market, according to the developer. Council voted to approve a land swap with Pennley Park South, owner of...
