Local category, Page 3202
Attorney for Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held appeals for acquittal
The attorney for embattled Westmoreland County Sheriff Jonathan Held contends at least six errors were made during his December public corruption trial, and according to a detailed appeal filed this week, wants the two remaining criminal charges against Held to be dismissed. Held, 44, of Hempfield, is currently awaiting a...
‘Festival’ category added for 2019 Laurel Highlands photo contest
Camera or smartphone owners who are inspired by the area’s scenery, citizens, flora or fauna have until July 31 to enter such images in the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau 15th annual photo contest. In addition to those longstanding photo categories — people; plants and animals (nature); places (attractions and landscapes),...
Penn Hills man charged in 2018 fatal overdose of Lower Burrell man
A Penn Hills man is accused of selling and providing the drugs that police allege killed a Lower Burrell man last summer. Christopher Krishawn Napper, 24, was charged this week in connection to the death of Douglas Shirey. Shirey, 41, of Lower Burrell died Aug. 26. Police said they were...
Justin Severino reflects on closing Pittsburgh’s Cure restaurant
Justin Severino will deeply miss his employees at Cure in Lawrenceville when it closes on March 23. “One of my goals when I opened Cure was to build a team and to treat my employees the way I wanted to be treated, because that translates into an excellent guest experience...
Video: The Herald weekly news highlights
Here are some of the news highlights from around the Lower Valley for the week of Feb. 18: • Anonymous donor steps up for Sharpsburg Community Library • Site preparation moving forward at Riverfront 47 in Aspinwall and Sharpsburg • Traffic near Highland Park Bridge restricted through March 1 •...
Nation’s first female assistant police chief visiting Shaler library
The nation’s – and Pittsburgh’s – first female assistant police chief will discuss her career, memoir and documentary at 1 p.m. March 13 at Shaler North Hills Library. The law enforcement veteran will sign copies of her 2017 book “Therese Rocco: Pittsburgh’s First Female Assistant Police Chief” available for $20,...
‘We’re here to help’: Excela bolsters system’s health with focus on primary careVideo
When officials at the Excela Health System were looking to leverage their impact in Westmoreland County, it didn’t take long to target diabetes care. “There’s no shortage of diabetics in Western Pennsylvania and we’re here to help,” said Dr. David S. Richards. Richards, a Westmoreland County native, is executive medical...
Markle Road slide area in Allegheny Township remains hazardous, one-lane
Next week PennDOT plans to install a lane barrier along a part of the two-lane Markle Road in Allegheny Township. But a permanent fix is nowhere in sight. It’s been more than a month since the Jan. 3 landslide closed one lane between Park and Pine Run roads. At some...
Goodwill names board officers, welcomes 2 new directors
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s board recently elected board officers and two new directors. Shawn Hanlon, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, was elected for his second, two-year term as chairman of the Goodwill board. A member of Goodwill’s board since 2009, Hanlon lives in Gibsonia. Newly elected board officers include: David Lund, vice...
Turtle Creek man out on parole for manslaughter sentenced to federal prison for gun violations
A Turtle Creek man was sentenced in federal court to nearly four years in prison for having firearms while on parole. U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Hashim Rashad, 28, for his conviction of federal firearms violations, authorities announced Friday. Rashad’s imprisonment of three years and 10...
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Scott Township, condition unknown
A pedestrian was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle in Scott Township on Friday evening. Allegheny County officials said the accident occurred around 6:35 p.m. near the intersection of Washington and Carothers avenues. The pedestian’s condition was not released. No other injuries were reported. Washington Avenue was closed for...
Retired cop on Garfield skeleton discovery: ‘This is the end of the story.’
Retired Pittsburgh police Assistant Chief Therese Rocco knew Albert and Mary Arcuri intimately. She was godmother to their daughter. Her family and the Arcuri’s were neighbors when Rocco lived in the Lower Hill District. She described the couple as loving parents and great people. But unsettled details started to add...
Westmoreland, Butler, Washington flagged for accepting gifts from voting machine vendors
Elections officials in Western Pennsylvania say they’re rethinking accepting even small gifts like coffee and doughnuts from potential vendors after state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale flagged counties around the state for behavior that “smacks of impropriety.” Westmoreland, Butler and Washington counties were among those cited for accepting gifts from voting...
Investigators unsure if Pittsburgh school director’s name was forged on Amazon letter
A handwriting expert was unable to determine whether a Pittsburgh school board member signed a letter last year in support of the region’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters, according to a report released Friday. Director Kevin Carter said he felt justified by the findings. “I’m sad that we spent so...
Virginia man, 19, found dead in burned-out Mustang in East Franklin
Investigators are trying to confirm the identify of a man whose body was found in the driver’s seat of a burned out car in East Franklin on Friday morning. The authorities believe the man is a 19-year-old from Manassas, Va. The 2000 Ford Mustang apparently had been driven off the...
Westmoreland Transit issuing temporary bus trip cancellations, negotiating with contractor
Westmoreland Transit Authority officials plan to temporarily cancel certain bus routes and trips rather than release individual announcements each day — just one step being taken to fix ongoing issues with its Ohio-based contractor. The bus authority has recently announced a string of last-minute cancellations due to a driver shortage...
Irwin appoints new EMA director
Irwin Borough has appointed a paramedic supervisor at North Huntingdon EMS/Rescue as the borough’s new emergency management coordinator. Robert Leuthold, 40, of North Huntingdon, was named by council at its Feb. 13 meeting to replace Christian Koury, who resigned in July. Leuthold, a member of the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department,...
Judge brokers deal on Rivertowne Pub equipment
A federal bankruptcy judge in Pittsburgh on Friday brokered a deal between owners of the former bankrupt Rivertowne Pub & Grille in North Huntingdon and the man who bought the tavern’s inventory last month so the buyer can remove the tables, chairs, coolers and freezers from the site. U.S. Judge...
Experts: Westmoreland has dire need for halfway houses
A lack of halfway houses in Westmoreland County has officials calling for community partners to help fill that gap. During a meeting with the Tribune-Review editorial board Thursday, Westmoreland County Detective Tony Marcocci and Tim Phillips, director of the Westmoreland County Drug Overdose Task Force, said that type of living...
Hempfield pawn shop owner assists state troopers in Ruffs Dale burglary investigation
The owner of a Hempfield pawn shop said he was happy to lend a hand Friday to state police troopers investigating the theft of hundreds of decorative pen knives and three firearms during a burglary at a home in Ruffs Dale this week. The suspect, Brandon J. Spallone, 22, of...
High wind watch issued for Sunday; gusts up to 55 mph forecast
Strong winds forecast for Sunday could bring down trees, limbs and power lines, leading to scattered power outages. A high wind watch will start Sunday morning and run until Monday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Rich Redmond said Friday. Sustained winds of 15-to-30 mph are expected, with gusts up to...
U.S. Steel Tower earns LEED distinction
Pittsburgh’s tallest building is also now among the most environmentally-friendly. The U.S. Steel Tower is now LEED Silver O+M certified. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and O+M means the building earned for its operations and maintenance. The certification measures how existing buildings perform in the areas...
2 injured after vehicle strikes Giant Eagle in Verona
Two people were taken to local hospitals for evaluation after a vehicle struck a pillar outside the Verona Giant Eagle. Allegheny County dispatchers said the crash took place at 3:19 p.m. Friday at 200 Allegheny River Boulevard. Verona Police Chief Ron McLemore said the driver and a woman sitting on...
Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District claims it prevented $1 billion-plus in flood damage
With record-breaking rain in 2018, the Army Corps of Engineers claimed its dams, reservoirs and other projects prevented $1.1 billion in flood damage in Upper Ohio River Basin. The $1.1 billion in damage prevented substantially exceeded the Pittsburgh District’s 10-year average of $310.3 million a year, according to data released...
Roads closing Feb. 25 for 45-day project to replace West View’s Martsolf Bridge
Starting Monday, a stretch of Center Avenue in West View will be shut for about 45 days while a deteriorating bridge is replaced, borough officials announced. Center Avenue will be closed between Frankfort and Park avenues while contractors demolish and replace the Martsolf Avenue Bridge. In addition to the road...
