Western PA Local News category, Page 3177
Lower Burrell councilman on harassment conviction: ‘I will be vindicated’
Lower Burrell Councilman Joseph Grillo denies claims that he harassed his ex-fiancee. Grillo accused Cecelia Sharrock of making false statements before a Turtle Creek district judge as well as in a private criminal complaint she filed against him on charges of harassment and defiant trespass. “I feel that I will...
McKeesport woman charged with homicide after man she struck dies
Attempted homicide charges against a McKeesport woman were upgraded to homicide after the man she allegedly ran down with her car in late July died last week, authorities said. Jakiia Williams, 33, was awaiting a bench trial on charges she struck a 72-year-old man outside the Harrison Village housing complex....
Upper Allegheny officials ‘very pleased’ with improvements to sewer systems
The Upper Allegheny Joint Sanitary Authority’s member municipalities have made progress with their state-mandated sewer improvement projects, but officials say there’s still work to be done. The communities received status reports at an authority meeting last week on what still needs to be done to satisfy the state Department of...
Stolen WAMO gear returned in Walmart rendezvous, says station GM
A crook with a conscience returned more than $14,000 in equipment stolen this week from a Pittsburgh hip-hop radio station, its general manager said. After media coverage Monday about the theft, WAMO-FM General Manager Jamal Woodson said he got a phone call from a buddy of the man who, with...
Snow make-ups add 2 days to Fox Chapel Area school year
The school year just got a little longer for Fox Chapel Area School District students. School board members approved tacking on two days of classes for students in kindergarten through 11th grade. The last day of school will be Tuesday, June 11. Classes were to end on Friday, June 7,...
State police in Uniontown looking for missing Markleysburg man
State Police in Uniontown are searching for a missing 43-year-old man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to police, Edward Eakle of Markleysburg was last seen at his doctor’s office on New Salem Road in Uniontown on Tuesday. Police said Eakle was caught on surveillance video leaving the office...
Ross commissioner says no development planned for Cemetery Lane property
A social media post calling on Ross residents to oppose a housing development on a 16-acre tract of land along Cemetery Lane prompted a township commissioner to issue a response on Wednesday clarifying that no such use is planned for the property. “I and other township officials have received a...
Work begins near Route 28 ramps on Hite Road in Springdale Township, Harmar
Traffic along Hite Road in Springdale and Harmar townships will be reduced to a single lane in each direction beginning Monday as crews make preparations for a bridge repair project near ramps to and from Route 28, PennDOT said. The lane restrictions will start at 8 a.m. and continue around...
Point Park partnering with Penguins, Cavs on esport tourney
If you needed further proof of the growing popularity of esports, Point Park University is hosting a multi-game esports tournament this spring. Point Park’s Rowland School of Business, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Cleveland Cavaliers and Pittsburgh Knights, is presenting the tournament May 10-12 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in...
Washington County man accused in North Belle Vernon bar stabbing
Three people were stabbed at a North Belle Vernon bar this month after an off-hand comment was made about a man’s recent release from prison, according to court documents. On Wednesday, Westmoreland County Detective Randy Gardner and borough police Lt. Ronald VanScyoc obtained an arrest warrant for Eric D. Cook,...
Wyland Elementary students headed to states in Odyssey of the Mind tournament
The Hampton Township School District’s Odyssey of the Mind program had seven teams from Central, Poff, and Wyland Elementary Schools participate in the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament held at Keystone Oaks High School this year on March 2. The Wyland balsa team took first place in their divsion...
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers summer camps
Kids can explore Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens this summer at one of its camps. There are options available for children ages 2-13, including full day camps beginning June 10, according to a news release. Phipps’s summer camps provide engaging activities for kids to explore exciting science-related topics, including plants,...
Quaker Valley baseball opens season Wednesday
With sunny skies and dry conditions prevailing, the Quaker Valley baseball team is set to open its season Wednesday afternoon at 4 at Chartiers-Houston. The Quakers hope to contend for a playoff spot in 4A after going 5-11 overall and 4-10 in section play last spring. QV is slated to...
North Hills communities well represented in annual recognition program
Ten North Hills municipalities and a pair of government authorities were named 2019 Banner Communities by the Allegheny League of Municipalities. According to the organization, the Banner Community Program recognizes an “outstanding commitment to professional development, prudent fiscal management, transparency, accountability and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders.” North Hills...
Seton Hill students to pitch shoe concept at national entrepreneurship competition
When the call went out for innovative concepts that could change the way America lives and launch an entrepreneur into the stratosphere, a team of Seton Hill University students jumped. The five students came-up with a concept they dubbed U-TREKS, an athletic shoe with retractable spikes that could take trail...
Photos: Carnegie Science Center sessions at Franklin Regional
Students at Heritage Elementary in Murrysville recently had a visit from Carnegie Science Center instructors, who brought the center’s “Science on the Road” programming to the school. Each classroom was able to participate in science hands-on during the programs. Kindergarten experienced “Bubble Trouble,” first graders created “Chemical Concoctions,” second grade...
Pittsburgh’s controversial gun legislation passes first hurdle
Pittsburgh’s controversial gun ban passed its first hurdle Wednesday with a 6-3 preliminary approval vote by City Council. Council members Darlene Harris, Theresa Kail-Smith and Anthony Coghill voted against the three bills, citing among other things a state law that prohibits municipalities from regulating firearms. Council is expected to schedule...
Search continues for 70-year-old North Buffalo farmerVideo
The search for a missing North Buffalo man continued Wednesday. As of this afternoon, there was no sign of Paul Walker, 70, a farmer last seen Tuesday afternoon, according to an Armstrong County 911 dispatcher. Police suspect he suffers from dementia. For the second day, the search involved people on...
New interactive newsletter produced at Plum School District
Plum School District has launched an interactive monthly newsletter designed to promote positivity and highlight students and staff. The inaugural issue of PlumIS was revealed this month. It’s posted on the front page of district’s website, pbsd.net, and emailed to parents registered on the district’s student database. The newsletter was...
O’Hara residents are asked to follow rules for leaf collection
O’Hara’s spring leaf collection starts Monday. Residents can track pick-ups on the township website to see which streets are being targeted each day. The east and west sides of the township have been divided into zones and the public works crew will follow a set route which will be highlighted...
Chase the Wolf 5K set for June 1 at WCCC
Registration is open for the Chase the Wolf 5K race at Westmoreland County Community College on June 1. Proceeds benefit the Council on Undergraduate Research, which has helped students with travel expenses to a national conference where they represent the community college. The race is a run or walk with...
Foreign exchange students shine at Highlands musical ‘Hunchback’Video
An all-female foreign exchange student troupe graces the Highlands High School stage this season. Five young ladies — Elisabetta Negrosini from Italy, Froydis “Freya” Rygh from Norway, Luna Vavourakis from Belgium, Tehreem Komal from Pakistan and Pat Sampantanarak from Thailand — will appear this week in the spring musical “The...
Donora man ordered to repay $159K he scammed from retired Lancaster teacher
A former Indiana University of Pennsylvania basketball star will avoid prison time after he promised to repay the $159,000 that he admittedly conned from a retired school teacher. Yancey Darnell Taylor, 47, of Donora, pleaded guilty Friday in Lancaster County to two felony theft counts and was sentenced by Judge...
Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks among municipalities to receive state transportation funding
The Commonwealth Financing Authority on Tuesdayapproved $54.7 million in state grant funding for 106 multimodal transportation projects in 40 counties, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said. Allegheny County will receive more than $6.8 million of the allocation, which will fund an array of projects ranging in scope from $390,000 for Verona’s...
Greensburg artist featured at East Suburban Artists League’s April meeting
In high school, Brian McCall of Greensburg didn’t take art classes, despite having a seemingly natural ability to draw. Instead of delving into a creative career path, he signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox. But when injuries cut short his baseball career after just four years in 1964,...
