Western PA Local News category, Page 2914
Judge hears arguments in Franklin Regional’s Sloan ‘elementary campus’ appeal case
Judge Harry Smail has a lot to consider in an appeal of Murrysville council’s approval of an “elementary school campus” project for the Franklin Regional School District. Smail heard oral arguments Wednesday in Common Pleas Court from attorneys representing three parties to the appeal — the municipality, school district and...
McCandless council considering conflict-of-interest rules for appointed positions
McCandless council is considering guidelines for people interested in serving on town boards, commissions and committees to make sure applicants do not profit from the appointments. “I’ve received some complaints from people who are worried that certain people were applying for committees for personal gain,” council President Kim Zachary said...
Judge’s order continues restrictions on Rostraver landfill
A consent order signed by a Fayette County judge Wednesday prohibits the discharge of harmful effluent into the Monongahela River by a landfill and a treatment facility. The action by Common Pleas Judge Steve Leskinen continues a 90-day order he issued in May at the request of Fayette County District...
Body of 24-year-old homeless man found in Bull Creek in Tarentum
Emergency crews removed a man’s body that was found floating in Bull Creek on Wednesday afternoon in Tarentum. Allegheny County police said the victim is a 24-year-old homeless man reported missing by a friend Aug. 19. His name has not yet been released. According to police at the scene, the...
Longtime Blawnox police chief George Bucha retires at 81
Blawnox police Chief George Bucha signed off for the final time with his 2501 code on July 31. But the lifelong borough resident guaranteed he’ll still be a familiar sight in the community. “I consider everyone in town family,” said Bucha, 81. “That’s what’s nice about a small town. You...
Demolition of Pittsburgh’s ‘sagging’ garage beginsVideo
Contractors have started demolishing one of Pittsburgh’s oldest parking garages to make way for a new one. The Pittsburgh Parking Authority closed the Downtown Ninth and Penn garage on May 31 to prepare for the demolition work. The 62-year old building was known as the “sagging” garage because its long...
Overbrook residents win long-running battle with PWSAVideo
Residents of Homehurst Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood have prevailed in a legal battle against the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority over a faulty sewer line along the street. PWSA on Monday began excavating the line for repairs. “We’re very happy that this is finally being repaired,” said Natalie Leon,...
Aspinwall paving work set to begin
Aspinwall paving is finally set to begin, officials said Tuesday. A bid was awarded Aug. 14 that will target four borough roads, including Field Avenue, which has been a priority for council. Members approved $100,000 for the annual road improvement program with a paving list that includes 6th Street, Center...
Photos: Final touches put on Kerr Elementary
Palumbo Construction is making the final upgrades to the new Kerr Elementary School on Kittanning Pike in O’Hara. Students will be welcomed Aug. 22 for the start of the school year at Fox Chapel Area School District. The $21 million building includes all new designs with a SMALLab learning space...
Chartiers Valley welcomes back students
Excitement was in the air Tuesday as the Chartiers Valley School District welcomed back students for the new school year. Children at the primary school were hugged and high-fived by teachers, staff members and school police officers who offered words of encouragement as they exited their buses or were dropped...
Committee to present plan to save decaying Harrison World War II memorialVideo
A memorial to Harrison’s greatest generation is in such bad condition it may not survive the winter unless action is taken to save it. A volunteer committee has come up with an $80,000 plan to restore the 74-year-old Honor Roll memorial at Freeport and Springhill roads and will present it...
Bradford Woods fire department hosting bike parade, benefit breakfast to help fire victims
The Bradford Woods Volunteer Fire Co. is holding its annual bike parade and pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Proceeds from this year’s breakfast will be given to the Milliken family, whose home on Cedar Road was damaged by fire Aug. 19, according to fire department officials....
Petland moving out of Pittsburgh Mills mall
A lack of foot traffic and business is driving Petland out of the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. Store owner Alan Caplan said they will be leaving the mall by the end of August. The last day for business will be Monday. “Unfortunately, we’d love to stay with the mall,...
Cause of Harrison house fire ‘undetermined,’ fire marshal says
The cause of a fire that destroyed an empty house on Spruce Street in Harrison’s Natrona neighborhood last week remains undetermined, according to the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office. The fire at 51 Spruce St. was reported around 1 a.m. Aug. 16. No one was hurt, and firefighters prevented it...
Vigilance Theater Group produces immersive theater
There is a theater experience where guests become part of the show. “Welcome to Moonside” is a production of the Vigilance Theater Group where there is no stage, no curtain. You, who attend, will be asked to assist evil spirits who are from a place called Moonside. Some of them...
Former Elizabeth police chief pleads guilty to stealing heroin from evidence room
The former Elizabeth Borough police chief pleaded guilty to theft and other charges after he was accused of emptying the department’s evidence room of its heroin to feed his personal drug habit. Timothy Butler, 43, of Finleyville, pleaded guilty in Allegheny County court to two counts of theft, one count...
North Hills church offering free English classes for non-native speakers
Free classes for non-native English speakers will be held on Wednesdays beginning Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Reformed Presbyterian Church of the North Hills. The weekly program runs through April. Five levels of classes are designed to meet the needs of international students from beginners who speak little...
Police: Fired worker at Pa. poultry plant kills boss, himself
NEW OXFORD, Pa. — Police in Pennsylvania say a recently fired employee at a poultry processing facility returned to the business, shot and killed his former boss and then himself. Officers with the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department were dispatched to Plainville Farms distribution facility in New Oxford at around...
Calf born at Westmoreland Fair, named after longtime workerVideo
There are two high profile Marians at the Westmoreland Fair. One has reddish hair and runs the information booth all day. The second was born at the fairgrounds Friday night and has four legs. Marian Parker of North Huntingdon, meet Marian the Holstein calf. “I go see Marian every day,”...
Parents, teachers from shuttered Evangel Heights still waiting for reimbursements
The closing of Evangel Heights Christian Academy in Buffalo Township has parents and teachers wondering when — or whether — they will get back money owed to them by the school. Most of the academy’s staff of about 15 still are awaiting paychecks, and staff and parents alike have complained...
Spring Hill woman charged in shooting that left man in ‘grave condition’
Police arrested a Spring Hill woman and charged her with attempted homicide in connection to a shooting that seriously injured a man on Wednesday morning. A 31-year-old man is in grave condition after being shot several times on Rhine Street in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood, Pittsburgh police said. Judith White,...
Penn Hills fire departments in need of volunteers, funding
Tragedy could lead to provision for the Penn Hills volunteer fire departments. Penn Hills Mayor Sara Kuhn lined up fire chiefs from each of the municipality’s six volunteer fire departments as she led the audience in extended applause for fighting the fire that destroyed a shopping plaza along Frankstown Road....
Penn Hills hires 3 new police officers
Three police officers were sworn in by Penn Hills Mayor Sara Kuhn and two tenured officers were recognized for saving a life at the Aug. 19 council meeting. The hires bring the municipality’s police force up to 52 officers. Police Chief Howard Burton expects to hire one more to bring...
Fox Chapel soccer season kicks off against Pine-Richland
The Fox Chapel varsity boys soccer team kicks off its regular season on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against Pine-Richland. The game is at Fox Chapel Area High School along Field Club Road. Next up, the Foxes will take on Shaler in an away game at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5....
GoFundMe accounts created for 20-year-old Crabtree man severely beaten with baseball bat
Collision Shoppe owner Jason Mignogna says he was stunned Monday after learning that Justin Hayden, a worker at his Unity auto repair shop, was critically injured after being beaten outside his home in Crabtree. “In today’s world, you really don’t know what to initially think, but anyone who has ever...
