Local category, Page 2964
Hempfield, Greensburg Salem, Aquinas 3rd-graders reach spelling bee final
After months of preparation, area third graders will meet Thursday at Stanwood Elementary School in Hempfield for a battle of wits and words. The 13th annual Rotary Club of Greensburg Spelling Bee will feature students from Hempfield Area School District, Greensburg Salem School District and Aquinas Academy. “It’s just so...
Westmoreland County fire departments get $43,000 from SAFER grant
More than $43,000 was handed out to nine Westmoreland County fire departments Saturday in the form of new turnout gear, college tuition reimbursement and physicals. Part of the $4.3 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, or SAFER, which was awarded to Westmoreland County fire departments in September...
Coroner, police remain mum on Greensburg death investigation
An autopsy was performed Wednesday on the body of a Greensburg man who was shot and killed a day earlier inside his home, but investigators still refuse to identify him or provide details of the investigation. The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office confirmed that forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril H. Wecht conducted...
Greater Latrobe students join International Thespian Society
Greater Latrobe Senior High this week saw 25 of its students inducted into the International Thespian Society. The honor society for theater arts students has enrolled more than 2.3 million members since its founding in 1929. To become a member of the organization, a student must earn 10 points, with...
Greensburg Salem band parents donate trailer to district
The Greensburg Salem High School Marching Band will transport its gear in safety and style next school year thanks to a new trailer purchased by the band parents association. Until now, the band needed to rent a U-Haul or other truck every time it traveled with its equipment. That was...
Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris reflects on primary loss
Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Darlene Harris was back at work as usual Wednesday morning, one day after losing a primary election to her Spring Hill neighbor, Bobby Wilson. Harris, 66, the longest serving member of the current council, said she had no regrets about losing the race. She attributed the loss...
Memorial Day happenings around the Alle-Kiski Valley
All events are on Monday unless otherwise noted. Allegheny Township The Pennsylvania Hero Walk Team, also known as Kiski Valley Veterans and Patriots, will sponsor a service at 10 a.m. Saturday at the War Memorial, 21 Towne Center Drive. The event will honor the late Sgt. Jason M. McClary, and...
Close Lower Burrell council race sees 1 incumbent dumped, mayor loses bid as well
Attorney Steve Yakopec Jr. squeaked by in the 11th hour — literally — of election night Tuesday to win a Democratic nomination for one of two city council seats up for grabs in November. Yakopec edged out incumbent Democrat Christopher Koziarski by just five votes, but only after absentee ballots...
Penn Hills mail carriers, EMS unite to help feed community
Some Penn Hills EMS staff put their ambulances to unique use May 20. They loaded the vehicles up with food collected as part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger drive conducted by the local members of the National Association of Letter Carriers on May 11. Penn Hills area U.S. Postal...
How did the region’s embattled candidates fare in the primary?
Several incumbents went into Tuesday’s primary election facing strong criticism or controversy over decisions they made in office. Some won, some lost. Here’s a look at how the embattled candidates fared. Bobby Wilson topples Darlene Harris for Pittsburgh City Council District 1 Unofficial vote tallies show Wilson taking more than...
Highlands assistant middle school principal retiring
After 25 years in education, Debbie Beucker is ready to call it a career. Beucker has worked in the Highlands School District for 16 of those years, split evenly between serving as assistant principal of the district’s high school, then in the same job at the middle school. She’ll retire...
Penn Hills continues to address aging sewage system
Another round of sewer repairs set to occur this summer is slated to cost Penn Hills around $870,000. Penn Hills Council unanimously approve two separate bids May 20 that include 32 sanitary sewer repairs for $583,000 and 40 lining repairs for $288,000. The work could start around mid-June, said Rick...
Increased state police patrols, DUI checkpoints coming this summer
AAA and Pennsylvania State Police are partnering this summer to reduce deadly crashes. The two entities announced Wednesday the implementation of Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E). Under Operation C.A.R.E. police will step up efforts to combat speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving and driving under the influence. Officers will increase...
Homestead Grays Bridge to have daylight restrictions Friday
Traffic along the Homestead Grays Bridge will be down to one lane in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday as work continues on a $2.5 million project, according to a news release from the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. Police will be directing traffic from 9...
No surprises among uncontested primary races in North Hills
A number of candidates in North Hills municipalities with seats up for re-election faced no competition for their party’s nomination in Tuesday’s primary. A candidate who runs unchallenged in the primary automatically receives their party’s nomination unless a write-in candidate gets more votes. A minimum of 10 write-in votes are...
Cheswick primary comes up 2 candidates short for council spots
The race for Cheswick Council appears to have still come up two people short after Tuesday’s primary election. Republican incumbents Michael Girardi and Brad Yaksich were the only two running for three open four-year seats and one open two-year seat. Girardi got the nomination for both the two-year seat and...
North Huntingdon hikes tap-in sewage fees
Residents and developers tapping into North Huntingdon Township Municipal Authority’s sewer lines will pay an additional $100 fee, effective July 1. The municipal authority approved raising the tap-in fees to $4,500 per equivalent dwelling unit. The authority calculates the fee based on the need to recover some money spent on...
Hempfield students have chance to make apps thanks to grants
Hempfield area students can soon bring their app ideas to fruition, thanks to a new program offered at the middle schools. App Creator by Project Lead the Way teaches eighth grade students how to design, code and program an application that is used on smartphones, aimed at solving real world...
2 Tarentum council members lose seats in primary
Two incumbent Tarentum council members lost their seats in Tuesday’s primary, according to unofficial election results. In the Democratic race for a four-year, at-large seat, Councilman Tim Cornuet lost his bid for re-election to 3rd Ward Councilwoman Carrie Fox, who also won her party’s nomination for her four-year seat in...
Vandergrift house fire was arson, police say
A Tuesday morning house fire in Vandergrift was arson, state police Tpr. Seth Hellman said Wednesday. The intentionally set blaze caused about $3,500 in damage, mostly to flooring to a vacant house at at 924 Holland St. , Vandergrift fire Chief Steve Potoka said. There were no injuries. Patrolman Willie...
Meet the Pittsburgh zoo’s clouded leopards, Rukai and KansasVideo
Born four days and 1,000 miles apart, two clouded leopard cubs now have names – and a home together – at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Rukai, born March 14 to a pair of clouded leopards at the Pittsburgh zoo, is named for an indigenous Taiwanese tribe that believes...
2 McCandless council members knocked off in GOP primary
Two first-term McCandless council members who were propelled into office amid community outrage over plans to build a Walmart supercenter, failed to win party nominations in Tuesday’s primary to run for a second term. Ward 1 Council President Kim Zachary lost the Ward 1 Republican nomination to Greg Martin, who...
1 incumbent out of Hempfield Area School Board race
At least one incumbent is out of the Hempfield Area School Board race. Eleven candidates fighting for five open seats ousted Paul Adams, who in this week’s primary received almost 9% of the votes on the Republican ballot and over 10% on the Democratic ballot. “I think there’s some very...
Pittsburgh receives $464K to help kids get to school safely
Pittsburgh received a $464,000 state grant this week to help make it safer for children to walk or bike to elementary or middle schools. The money comes from PennDOT’s Transportation Set Aside Program. “The ability to walk or bike to school has long been one of the classic characteristics of...
Hope Run brings in record amount for UPMC St. Margaret patients
More than 500 runners, walkers, strollers — and even four-legged participants — came out May 19 for the St. Margaret Foundation Brian Demchak Hope Run. In its 31st year, the family friendly 5K raises money to help underserved patients at UPMC St. Margaret, near Aspinwall. Streets are filled with people...
