Western PA Local News category, Page 499
Veterans Day observed at Pine-Richland High School
Pine-Richland High School observed Veterans Day with a Nov. 11 assembly with guest speakers state Rep. Rob Mercuri, R-Pine, and Ron Schall, a community member and Vietnam era veteran. The program was hosted by the school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets and included a flag-folding ceremony, explanation of the...
Collier Eat’n Park reopens in a larger space
Bill Mitchell recalled his aunt and uncle writing down when the Eat’n Park across the street from their home in Collier was scheduled to open. The date was June 21, 1956, a Thursday. “Saturday of that week they took me to eat there,” said Mitchell, as he sat in the...
Authority calls for voluntary conservation in response to state drought conditions
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers are being asked to conserve water as drought conditions take hold throughout Pennsylvania. Conservation efforts are voluntary, and municipal authority officials said there is no immediate expectation mandatory cutbacks of water use will be required. “It’s not panic time. It’s nothing like that,”...
State Rep. Venkat looks to another 2 years in office
State Rep. Arvind Venkat returns to office as representative in Pennsylvania’s 30th District, defeating Republican challenger Nathan Wolfe, 21,795 to 17,687, according to the Allegheny County Department of Elections. Libertarian party candidate William Johnson Baierl garnered more than 650 votes. District 30 includes McCandless, Franklin Park and part of Hampton...
Get ready for Hampton Band Holiday Extravaganza
Organizers of the 13th annual Hampton Band Holiday Extravaganza are hoping to keep up the momentum. “Last year was record-breaking. We had the most number of vendors, most number of attendees. We raised the most amount of money we ever had,” Jennifer Blakeley, co-chairs the event committee, reported. “So we...
Ex-director of Gloworms day care in McCandless gets probation for mistreating toddlers
A McKees Rocks woman accused of mistreating five toddlers at the McCandless day care she ran will serve two years probation. Melissa Marie Populo, 38, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court to a single misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of children. Populo worked as the director...
Demolition of Springdale trestle bridge set to begin; detours in place
Overnight closures on Pittsburgh Street in Springdale begin Wednesday. The road, between Duquesne Court and Washington Street, will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night through Monday or Tuesday as demolition crews remove the overhead trestle bridge. Crews estimate the work will take about five days. The...
No tax increase proposed for 2025 Arnold budget as officials correct projections
Arnold’s proposed budget for 2025 carries no tax increase for city property owners. Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a first reading of the city’s tax rate, revenue and expenditures for 2025. Councilman Adam Zweig was absent. As presented, the city would take in and spend about $4.6 million. The...
Rostraver Airport will have Dunkin’ Donuts, barbecue and catering business
The Rostraver Airport will add a Dunkin’ just two months after leasing its former on-site restaurant to a barbecue and catering business. The coffee and doughnut chain expressed interest in acquiring a piece of the airport’s 197-acre property this summer. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport, rejected...
Proposed 2025 Bridgeville budget holds the line on taxes
Property owners in Bridgeville won’t see a tax increase next year if the borough’s proposed budget for 2025 is passed. The budget would maintain a tax rate of 6.5 mills on buildings, and 10 mills on land, said Manager Joe Kauer. The proposal totals just more than $8.1 million, he...
Derry Township firefighters update lighting gear with LED equipment
Derry Township firefighters will have a better view of the emergency situations they encounter after purchasing a new set of lights. Chief Mark Piantine said Derry Township Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 of Bradenville was able to replace two failing tripod lights, upgrade others for its fleet of fire trucks...
Jeannette seeks more time to complete plans, construction of new fire station
Jeannette officials are expecting to get an extension on a $1.2 million grant designated for a new fire station. City manager Ethan Keedy said, based on communication with state officials late last week, the expected extension will allow work on the new station to continue into 2025. The deadline to...
Sewage, garbage rate increases expected for Cheswick residents in 2025
Cheswick residents won’t pay more for property taxes or water next year, but they can expect to pay more in garbage and sewer rates. That’s according to the borough’s proposed budget for 2025, which totals about $2.6 million. Councilman Frank Meledandri said borough council will consider advertising the proposed budget...
FBI investigating robbery at Citizens Bank in Penn Hills
The FBI is investigating a bank robbery Tuesday morning in Penn Hills. Police were dispatched about 11:30 a.m. to Citizens Bank at 6125 Saltsburg Road for reports of a robbery. A man was seen running from the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, Penn Hills police Chief Ronald Como...
Pedestrian struck, killed by vehicle in Forest Hills
A pedestrian has died after being struck by a car late Tuesday night in Forest Hills, according to Allegheny County Police. Police said an adult male was struck shortly before 10 p.m. near the intersection of Ardmore Boulevard and Sumner Avenue. The pedestrian, who police have not identified, was taken...
Could Springdale Church’s donated Pittsburgh Christmas tree be the last from the property?
A reliable supply of towering Christmas trees for Pittsburgh’s annual display may come to an end Saturday after crews cut down two more evergreens from an old church in Springdale. The city has sourced the centerpiece of its Light Up Night festivities from the former St. Alphonsus Church, owned by...
Morning Roundup: McKeesport teacher’s aide charged with assaulting special-needs student
Here are some news items for Wednesday, Nov. 13. McKeesport teacher’s aide charged with assault A teacher’s aide at Francis McClure Elementary School in White Oak has been charged with assaulting a 5-year-old special-needs student. Allegheny County Police were assigned to investigate a ChildLine report about an incident that allegedly...
The Stroller, Nov. 13, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Hats, scarves to be...
Driest summer since 2002 leads to increase in brush fires
Southwestern Pennsylvania set an April record for rainfall this year, racking up nearly 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service. But over the past six months, the region has experienced drought-like conditions that have left Western Pennsylvania at a 3-inch rainfall deficit. This has created ideal conditions for brush...
Pittsburgh eyes extending controversial purple curb parking program
Pittsburgh may indefinitely extend a controversial program that aims to discourage drivers from monopolizing much-needed parking spots in certain busy areas. Marked by purple curbs and matching signage, smart loading zones are areas where a graduated payment system encourages drivers to get in and out of parking spots quickly, freeing...
Sidney Crosby and the Pens joined by Steelers QB Russell Wilson at UPMC Children’s HospitalVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was joined by his teammates, and surprise guest Russell Wilson, quarterback of the Steelers during a visit Tuesday to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. Ran into a special guest at our visit to @ChildrensPgh today! ???? @DangeRussWilson pic.twitter.com/KcowCmUv3D— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 12,...
North Shore’s Esplanade development gets green light, giant Ferris wheel and all
Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission on Tuesday approved the master plan for a riverfront development that intends to bring a nearly 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel, housing, entertainment and shopping to the city’s North Shore. Dubbed Esplanade, the development would revitalize a roughly 15-acre brownfield along the Ohio River in Pittsburgh’s Chateau neighborhood. Canonsburg-based...
Judge rejects former Ligonier Valley police chief’s bid to dismiss sexual assault charges
A former police chief accused of sexually assaulting a patient at an addiction treatment facility will be tried on the charges, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Tuesday. Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio rejected a defense claim that the case against former Ligonier Valley police Chief John Berger was defective. The...
Hempfield’s Powerex gets $1M in state aid for growing semiconductor operations
The state has awarded $1 million to a Hempfield company that produces semiconductors, adding more government support to help add jobs and manufacturing capacity. Powerex Inc., located near the Westmoreland County Community College, will be able to increase production and hire 25 or more employees as a result of the...
Latrobe attorney accused of stealing $31K from inmate asks for bail reduction, change of venue
A Latrobe attorney jailed on $250,000 bail is looking to have that amount reduced and his theft case moved out of Westmoreland County. In court filings Tuesday, John Allen Roth, 69, called the bail amount excessive and unconstitutional and said he has a meritorious defense. “Roth needs to be released...
