Local category, Page 3036
Kennametal in talks with union about closing its Carbidie plant in Hempfield
Kennametal Inc. could close its Carbidie manufacturing operations in Hempfield, potentially shuttering yet another of the industrial toolmaker’s Westmoreland County plants. “No final decisions have been made at this time, and we are currently in discussions with (United Steelworkers) … about this plan,” Kennametal spokeswoman Christina Sutter said in an...
Capezzuto’s Pizza opens in Greenfield, at site of old Conicella’s
This piece of advice stuck with Matthew Capezzuto when he opened his own place – Capezzuto’s Pizza — on Tuesday in Greenfield. “Concentrate on one pie at a time.” “I remember Joe Aiello telling me that,” said Capezzuto, who had worked at Aiello’s Pizza in Squirrel Hill since 1996. “You...
Communications could improve at Hempfield schools with new app
A new system could make communication easier among teachers and parents at Hempfield Area School District. Remind, an application that can be used on a smartphone or through a district email, would allow teachers to interact with students in specific classes, send reminders for homework or notify parents in case...
Hempfield Area School District approved preliminary budget
Hempfield Area School District’s proposed 2019-20 budget would reduce six positions — five paraprofessionals and one building aide — and saves district residents from yet another property tax increase. School board members voted unanimously to move forward with a budget of more than $98.1 million budget. The budget sets taxes...
Highlands budget proposal raises property tax to state limit
A property tax increase up to the state limit is possible in Highlands School District for the upcoming school year. But even with a 3.3% increase, the district would still need to spend about $1.7 million from its reserves to cover all of its spending, according to a presentation Monday...
Greater Latrobe students rise to challenge of creating, solving escape rooms
A team of Greater Latrobe Senior High students last week had to retrieve fake IDs that had been stolen from them. Another group of sophomores enrolled in Renee Stallings’ academic English 2 course had to defeat a dragon — actually, a donkey-shaped pinata. Ending a months-long class project, the teams...
Highlands hires new bus company; longtime provider threatens to sue
W.L. Roenigk didn’t take kindly to Highlands School District’s decision Monday to hire a new transit company as its school bus contractor. “We’re not done,” company President Sue Roenigk said after the board voted 7-1 Monday to award a five-year contract to ABC Transit. Pat Roenigk, an attorney and shareholder...
Mt. Pleasant Area’s Rumbaugh Elementary School to close
Lloyd F. Rumbaugh Elementary School, which has educated Mt. Pleasant Area students for about 60 years, will shut its doors for good at the end of the school year. Operational efficiency as well as academic opportunity were the driving factors in the decision to close Rumbaugh and reconfigure the elementary...
Greensburg votes to dissolve Historic and Architectural Review Board
Greensburg City Council has begun the process to dissolve the Historic and Architectural Review Board, an organization that served as gatekeeper for most commercial development in the city. Council unanimously voted on the motion Monday. The ordinance to make it official will likely be introduced at June’s council meeting, and...
Michael Gray will remain as Latrobe’s city manager
Michael Gray became Latrobe’s city manager on Monday, after holding down the position on an interim basis since March 25. Council voted unanimously to keep Gray in the new role, setting aside plans to search for additional candidates from outside the city staff. “We had talked about doing a search,”...
Diocese of Greensburg priest removed pending sex abuse investigation
A Diocese of Greensburg priest has been placed on leave as law enforcement investigates an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, the diocese said. Officials said they received the allegation Monday against the Rev. Andrew M. Kawecki. He served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Everson and St....
Verona’s Verner Elementary principal retiring, replacement selected
Verner Elementary School in Verona will have a new principal next school year. Mary Ann Plance is calling it a career after five years in the district and 35 years overall in education. Her official retirement date is July 1. The new principal will be current district special education director...
Slain Freeport woman had PFA against ex-boyfriend, faced threats
Shortly after Mary Jo Kornick kicked Nicholas Domek III out of their Freeport apartment, Domek told a neighbor that Kornick “was going to get hers.” That neighbor, Donna Dreyer, told the Tribune-Review on Monday she never expected him to do anything drastic. “I just thought it was going to blow...
Westmoreland County Democratic judicial candidates outspend Republican opponents
The six candidates seeking two judicial vacancies on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas combined to spend more than a half-million dollars during this spring’s campaign season, most of which came from their own family accounts. According to campaign finance reports filed in Harrisburg, three Democratic candidates, attorneys Michael...
Stranger storms into Apollo home, grabs knife, police say
A woman charged into an Apollo home during a Mother’s Day dinner and grabbed a knife before an occupant wrested it away, police said. Eric Cheierici, 41, a chef from North Apollo, and his 62-year-old father had just made a spaghetti dinner for Cheierici’s 87-year-old grandmother in her Apollo house...
Vandergrift woman arrested with drugs in stolen car, police say
A Vandergrift woman suspected of burglarizing a Parks Township home was arrested over the weekend after police said they found her with drugs in a stolen car in Harrison. Harrison police said they found several stamp bags of heroin on Heather Stefanik, 24, after they were called to Walnut Street...
2 Harrison commissioners face challengers in Democratic primary
Two of three Harrison commissioners whose terms expire this year are seeking re-election, and both face challengers in the Democratic primary. In the township’s 1st Ward, the May 21 primary features a rematch between incumbent Commissioner Charles Dizard and former commissioner William Mitchell Sr. In the 3rd Ward, Eric Bengel...
Here’s where Franklin Regional school board candidates stand on the issues
As the primary election nears, 13 candidates are jockeying for general-election ballot spots in the Franklin Regional school board race. Below are Q&A responses and biographical information for each candidate. RICHARD ARNOLD • Age: 74 • Education: Bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University; master’s degree from West Virginia University; doctorate...
Police: Woman ran stop sign before 2-car crash in Frazer
One person was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital in connection with a two-vehicle crash early Monday afternoon at Murray Hill and Riddle Run roads in Frazer. Frazer police Chief Terry Kuhns said a woman traveling on Riddle Run ran a stop sign about 1:40 p.m. and her vehicle crashed into...
Pittsburgh region’s rainfall above average in 2019, but behind 2018 pace
If it seems to have been wet for a solid week, it wasn’t your imagination. The Pittsburgh area saw rain for six consecutive days, with about an inch of rain recorded at Pittsburgh International Airport from Thursday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service Pittsburgh office in Moon. The...
Congressman Lamb learns about issues affecting medical supply companies
U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb received a crash course in issues affecting medical supply companies and people who need equipment they provide during a meeting Monday at Tarentum-based Blackburn’s. The 83-year-old medical supply company hosted Lamb for a roundtable discussion with company executives, University of Pittsburgh researchers and other industry professionals....
USDA funds available to communities trying solve stormwater runoff problems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering grants to small, rural communities to help them deal with stormwater runoff problems. USDA announced on Monday the latest round of grants awarded through its Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. Rural communities, water districts and other eligible entities can use...
Plea deals get Hempfield man time served in assault, DUI cases
A Hempfield man charged in two separate cases alleging rape and strangulation of a woman on Monday pleaded guilty to a lesser assault charge. Harold Franks, 36, was sentenced to serve the 251 days he has spent in jail. He was immediately paroled after pleading guilty to one count of...
13th person this year caught with gun by Pittsburgh airport security
A Crawford County man tried to take a loaded handgun through security Sunday at Pittsburgh International Airport, security officials said. It is the fourth firearm found in carry-on luggage at the airport in the last three weeks, according to the Transportation Safety Administration. Security agents stopped the Cochranton man after...
New mural shares Monroeville Mall memories through 50 years
The Monroeville Mall became one of the country’s largest shopping centers of its time 50 years ago. Staff, elected officials and residents gathered Monday to celebrate, reminisce and tout the mall’s successes over the years. A mural that included photos of the mall under construction in 1968, the old ice...
