Local category, Page 2818
Assault, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Sep. 16, 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 • Lawrence Sampson, 29, of Penn Hills on charges of possession of marijuana...
Oakmont to start next year with new trash collector, recycling changes
Oakmont residents will see a new garbage collector and major changes to their recycling starting next year. Westmoreland Sanitary was the lowest of three bidders vying to be the borough’s trash hauler. Council unanimously voted Sept. 16 to approve a new five-year $3.54 million deal with the Belle Vernon company....
Jeannette to maintain increased game security
Increased security at Jeannette’s home football games will remain in place for the final two home games of the season, a school district official said. Fans entering McKee Stadium for the Sept. 27 game against Brownsville and the Oct. 18 game against Riverview will continue to pass by a metal...
Allegheny Township to sue sewage authority over unpaid bill collections
Allegheny Township officials have had enough of Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority’s inaction in collecting delinquent sewage bills. The supervisors last week voted to hire attorney Leslie J. Mlakar to represent the township in a legal action against the authority. Mlakar will be paid a $1,500 retainer and an...
Hempfield school board approves purchase of property
School board members voted Monday night to purchase a property adjacent to the Hempfield Area High School and administration building. During Monday night’s public meeting, members unanimously voted to purchase the property for $45,000. Online records show the parcel, off of Route 136, is currently owned by Toya Eubank, and...
Lower Burrell pet-sitting business more than just walks and treats
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Lee at mlee@tribweb.com. Babysitting cats and dogs isn’t all fun and games....
Local nonprofit organizing climate strike this week
Local students and community members are joining a global climate strike Friday to demand action on the “climate catastrophe.” Hosted by Voices of Westmoreland, a non-profit organization that promotes racial, economic and educational equity in the county, the goal is to raise awareness of the need for immediate action and...
Parenting expert ‘Dr. G’ to speak at Greater Latrobe Senior HighVideo
Squirrel Hill family physician and nationally recognized parenting expert Dr. Deborah Gilboa will speak to parents and other members of the Greater Latrobe and Derry Area school communities on Oct. 10 at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Gilboa’s presentation is set for 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The mother...
Turtle Creek woman gets probation for part in heroin conspiracy
A Turtle Creek woman was sentenced to four years of probation in a federal drug trafficking case, according to the U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh. Shyanne Johnson, 27, was the last person sentenced in the conspiracy. Prosecutors said a June 2016 federal wiretap revealed that Johnson traveled to Mechanicsburg, Pa., to...
Duquesne man who bought 23 guns for felons gets nearly 3 years in prison
A Duquesne man will spend almost three years behind bars for a straw-buyer scheme that helped get at least 23 guns to felons prohibited from owning firearms, federal prosecutors said Monday. Khalil Armstrong, 27, also must spend three years on probation after his release from federal prison, U.S. Attorney Scott...
Northland Library vendor/craft sale part of month-long effort to raise funds
A craft and vendor sale sponsored by the Northland Public Library Foundation on Sept. 14 was among an array of fundraising activities held to mark September as “Love Your Library” month. The event, held at the Ross Township Municipal Center, featured a variety of handmade crafts, clothing and specialty gifts...
WPIAL to look into alleged racial, homophobic slurs during Connellsville-Allderdice boys soccer game
Two varsity soccer players from Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh were “goaded … with racial slurs” during a Labor Day boys soccer match against Connellsville Area High School, according to a group of parents. Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet said Monday in a prepared statement he is aware of...
Despite plea for leniency, Donora man gets up to 30 years for attack on girlfriend in Hunker
A Donora man was sentenced Monday to serve up to 30 years in prison for the assault and strangulation of his pregnant girlfriend. Travis Magash, 33, was convicted after a three-day jury trial in May in connection with the attack against 25-year-old Danielle Rose Thompson at her home in Hunker....
Unity man already imprisoned on child porn charges pleads guilty to raping boy
A Unity man already serving an 11-year federal sentence for possession of child pornography on Monday pleaded guilty to additional charges of raping a child. Westmoreland County prosecutors said Timothy Piper, 24, had sexual contact with a young boy over a seven-year period that ended in 2015. According to court...
Westmoreland transit seeking new bids for bus, shared-ride services
After a bumpy ride over the past year, including nearly a quarter-million dollars in fines, the Westmoreland County Transit Authority could move on from the company that runs its bus and shared-ride system. National Express, which in 2018 was awarded a five-year, $29.5 million contract, has been in the cross-hairs...
Police chief: Edgewood home explosion was a suicide
Hours before his daughter’s wedding on Saturday afternoon, an Edgewood man severed a natural gas line in his home, then used gasoline to ignite a fire that destroyed the house and caused his death, the borough’s police chief said Monday. “All of the facts point to suicide,” Chief Robert Payne...
Trib newsman Dick Mears remembered for his creativity, problem-solving skills
Richard “Dick” Mears was always there for his friends and family, whether it was to lend a helping hand or offer a laugh. “He was always willing to help anybody at all and make a difference whether it was a co-worker, a family member, a neighbor or whoever,” said Frances...
Support your local java joint (with a $1,000 sweetener)
Self-described Starbucks junkies, please apply. Business.org, a community of small-business advocates, is going to pay java addicts $1,000 to ditch corporate establishments for locally-owned coffee shops. The job requirements are: Must be a Starbucks fanatic; must be willing to share your experience going local and must commit for a full...
Company cuts Elizabeth Forward bus routes as contract showdown continues
More than 350 children in the Elizabeth Forward School District won’t be able to take a bus to school this week as the contract spat between the district and its transportation provider continues with no end in sight. Pennsylvania Coach Lines is under court order to continue transporting students while...
Steelers Nation reacts to losing Ben Roethlisberger for the seasonVideo
Big Ben is gone, but the season goes on. Western Pennsylvanians on Monday had mixed reactions to news that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be out for the rest of the season because of an elbow injury. The reaction ranged from: “There’s no hope” to “Out with the old,...
‘Very Special Proms’ charity seeks donations after Hempfield flood damages dresses, more
Faith-based nonprofit The Celebration of Life, which runs the annual Very Special Prom, is in need of help after flooding in July damaged donated gowns, dress shoes and other items set for sale at a flea market. Organization volunteer president Tina Rusiski said the items were being stored in the...
More than 5,000 attend 2nd Greensburg Music Festival
Lisa Hegedus stood on West Otterman Street on Friday evening and heard music from three different concerts at once — including one happening in Caffe Barista, which she owns. “It was wonderful. It couldn’t have been better,” she said. “We had people coming that had never been there before. It...
Former Youngwood worker accused of parking vehicles in floodwater faces trialVideo
Two Youngwood public works employees testified Monday that during a September 2018 flood, another worker admitted he intentionally moved a dump truck and street sweeper into waist-deep water so the borough could collect insurance money to replace the decades-old equipment. After listening to nearly two hours of testimony at a...
Monroeville employee faces drug charges
A Monroeville Public Works employee was charged last week on drug-related offenses. Christopher Masters, 44, of Monroeville was not home when Pennsylvania Attorney General investigators entered his residence with a search warrant. According to a criminal complaint filed against him, police found several types of drugs during the probe. Police...
Export councilman completes 2,500-mile Cross Country ChaseVideo
Joe Ferri’s 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle made it the full 2,500 miles of the Cross Country Chase, from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to Key West, Fla., in 10 days. Along the way, Ferri and fellow riders — including several other members of the Allegheny Mountain Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle...
