Local category, Page 2817
Developer showcases former Alcoa research center that he spent years, millions to redo
Patti and Dominic Giordano have lived in New Kensington their whole lives, and they’re glad to see someone restoring one of the city’s most notable landmarks — the former Alcoa property. “This is a piece of New Kensington and Pennsylvania history,” Dominic Giordano said. “It’s nice he’s keeping it alive.”...
Severe thunderstorm warning until at least 3 p.m. Sunday
Conditions exit for severe thunderstorms to pop up in a huge part of the state from east of Pittsburgh to Bradford through this afternoon until 4:45 p.m. , according to the National Weather Service. Weather service meterologist Pat Will said a warning is in effect until 3 p.m. Westmoreland, Armstrong,...
Young competitors show off rabbits, goats at Westmoreland FairVideo
Pennsylvania’s Rabbit King held court at the Westmoreland Fair on Sunday morning. Zach Farlow, 18, of West Newton was awarded the title of this year’s Rabbit King by the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeder’s Association, and this week he and his award-winning lagomorphs are at the Westmoreland Fair hoping for more...
Demo derby part of the fabric of Westmoreland CountyVideo
Before they even knew how to drive, brothers Nick and Owen Patrick of Unity had attended the demolition derby series held every summer across Westmoreland County. “Mom would take us almost every weekend to the derbies,” said Owen Patrick. “Since we were probably five or six.” The pair have been...
Pa. Turnpike to close this weekend between New Stanton, Breezewood
A bridge removal project in Somerset will close an 86-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in both directions for seven hours late tonight through Sunday morning between the New Stanton and Breezewood exits. The turnpike commission said that section will be closed starting at 11 p.m. tonight until about 6...
Microburst tears through Lawrenceville, MillvaleVideo
A microburst in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood heavily damaged two buildings, uprooted trees and left hundreds without power Saturday night, according to Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety. The National Weather Service said the winds caused some damage in Millvale, too. No one was hurt in the storm. In Lawrenceville, the top...
Pittsburgh police disperse large crowd on South Side, 2 officers injured
A driver ran over a Pittsburgh police officer’s foot and another officer injured his knee while trying to help his colleague as police dealt with a “large and disorderly” crowd on the South Side early Sunday morning,. Police were called to handle the crowd between the 1500 and 1700 blocks...
Town Talk: Carnegie couple marries in Colorado
Ashley Shiwarski and Andrew Rafalski were united in married Aug. 2 at Sapphire Pointe in Dillon, Colo. Ashley is the daughter of Debbie and Ron Shiwarski of Robinson Township and Andrew is the son of Linda and Ron Rafalski of Carnegie. The wedding was witnessed by an intimate gathering of...
Hempfield man among Terrible Towel twirlers for Steelers preseason game
George Muentzer was dressed in his finest black-and-gold regalia Saturday for his first foray onto Heinz Field for a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Attending 49 consecutive opening days of Steelers training camp were instantly worth it when the Hempfield man said he found out he was selected by the team to...
Dig at Indiana County ghost town unearths prehistoric pastVideo
The proof, it seems, was in the dirt. Fragments of tools and ceramic ware rested mere inches under the hillside cover where Native Americans scratched out a living until the 1820s in a village overlooking the Conemaugh River in Black Lick Township. This summer, 17 Indiana University of Pennsylvania archaeology...
Cost of library inventory project raises concerns at Highlands
Concerns about the cost of a project to inventory library books at elementary schools in the Highlands School District has administrators and school board members considering other options. At a board meeting Monday, a few residents said the more than $62,000 cost of the project with Follett School Solutions was...
Freeport Area gearing up for start of school year, enrollment up slightly
The Freeport Area School District is expected to welcome back just under 1,900 students for the school year that begins next Thursday. That’s an increase of 35 students over last school year. The number could increase if Freeport Area picks up students from the recently closed Evangel Heights School in...
Amtrak considers more Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg trains
Riders of Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian train between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg have long been limited to one morning and one evening train, but a hearing in Altoona on Aug. 28 is expected to explore the possibility of adding another train to the daily schedule. “If we can improve passenger service in Western...
North Huntingdon may ask Corps of Engineers to inspect flooded areas
North Huntingdon residents living along Brush Creek near the Irwin border are not optimistic that a tour of the creek by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will lead to any solution to their flooding problems. “I don’t think they are going to do anything,” said Janet Seman, whose Westmoreland...
St. Margaret Mary Festival proceeds to help ministries, Lower Burrell fire companiesVideo
The first night of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church’s festival Friday was more like a vibrant community party in the heart of Lower Burrell. Sunny weather aided the parish’s biggest fundraiser to attract a huge crowd that was hungry for family fun for young to old, music and games, congenial...
Resident convinces Upper Burrell to reconsider street paving list
For those who think one person can’t affect local government decisions, Dan Myers is proof to the contrary. The Upper Burrell resident wasn’t happy when he heard township supervisors planned to seal-coat Chapeldale Drive. He said it didn’t make sense because he felt so many other township roads, including Turkey...
Ligonier Valley Historical Society looks to revive tours, programs at Kinsey Museum
A Ligonier Township museum that preserves a pioneer family’s legacy is getting a new lease on life through a partnership with a local historical society. Officials with the Ligonier Valley Historical Society, which operates Laughlintown’s historic Compass Inn, announced last week they have finalized an affiliation with the Kinsey Museum...
Hundreds turn out for Back 2 School bash in GreensburgVideo
Hundreds of children got most everything they need for a new school year Saturday at the Salvation Army of Greensburg’s seventh annual Back 2 School Bash. The Salvation Army and other local organizations teamed up for the event, which offered activities like a bounce house and face-painting while also helping...
Police seek Salina man missing since Aug. 5, last seen in Delmont and IselinVideo
State police are looking for a man who has been missing almost two weeks. Jordan Olah, 31, of Salina was last seen Aug. 5 in both Delmont and Iselin. Anyone with information please contact PSP 724-697-4780 pic.twitter.com/hrRY3hYLbD— Troop A Public Information Officers (@PSPTroopAPIO) August 11, 2019 Olah may be driving...
2 firefighters injured in 5-alarm West Oakland apartment fire
Two Pittsburgh firefighters were injured while fighting a five-alarm blaze Saturday afternoon in an apartment complex in the city’s West Oakland neighborhood, according to the city Department of Public Safety. The fire on De Ruad Street started just after 2 p.m. as a two-alarm blaze, but it went to a...
Bakers flock to Westmoreland Fair for Cake & Pie ShowdownVideo
Sasha Lencoski was first in line at the Westmoreland Fair on Saturday morning, carefully cradling two bakery boxes. One held an apple pie, the other a chocolate cake. She had come to defend her title. Lencoski of Latrobe won the blue ribbon for her chocolate cake at last year’s inaugural...
Duquesne water conservation order lifted
A mandatory water conservation order in effect after more than 2 ½ hours in the city of Duquesne was lifted at 4 p.m., city police tweeted. The order was put into effect at about 11 a.m. when an electrical problem was discovered at the McKeeport Water Treatment Plant that processes...
Mars, Butler County man gets 48 months in federal prison for distributing child porn
A federal court judge in Pittsburgh has sentenced a 64-year-old Mars man to four years in prison for having and distributing a half-million photos and videos showing the sexual exploitation of a girls. U.S. Senior District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on David McAnally. Prosecutors said that in...
Metal fabrication, welding specialist from Laughlintown turns to blacksmithing as a careerVideo
William “Will” Kalkbrenner, 31, cracked up when asked if he foresaw a career in blacksmithing and making culinary knives 17 years ago as a freshman metal fabrication and welding student at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center. “No. Never once even thought about it,” he said. But for more than...
Pittsburgh policeman charged with June hit-and-run on North Shore
A Pittsburgh police officer has been arrested and charged in a June hit-and-run crash on the city’s North Shore that left a cyclist with a concussion. Brian M. Martin, 35, of Pittsburgh’s Westwood neighborhood, was charged Friday with accidents involving death or personal injury, reckless driving and drunken driving. Police...
