70th Westmoreland Fair set to begin Friday
Aside from some bleating goats and snorting camels, the Westmoreland Fairgrounds were relatively quiet on a sun-drenched afternoon early this week. That will change Friday when the 70th edition of the Westmoreland Fair gets underway at the fairgrounds on Blue Ribbon Lane in Mt. Pleasant Township. Attendance at the annual...
Verona increases police pay rate in effort to attract new officers
As part of a continuing retention and recruitment effort, police officers in Verona soon will be making more money than ever before. Verona Council voted Tuesday, Aug. 13 to raise the pay rate by 15% for all of the department’s current and future police officers. The borough is looking to...
Plum School Board approves finance team for first step of $30M borrowing for building project
The Plum School District has flexibility as it begins a three-step process to borrow $30 million for a building project. The school board last week authorized district administration to work with financial advisers, bond counsel, an underwriter and the district’s solicitor to prepare for borrowing nearly $10 million for the...
Murrysville area: Class reunion, art show and more
Class reunion The Franklin Regional Senior High School Class of 1989 will hold a 35th-anniversary reunion on Sept. 7. It will be at the Red Barn Winery, 275 Manor Road just outside Delmont. For more, see the “Franklin Regional Class of 1989” page on Facebook or email Christopher Ward at...
Labor board files for injunction seeking to end lengthy Post-Gazette strike
The National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday asked for an injunction to force the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to take back striking workers and return to the bargaining table in a nearly two-year strike that union leaders say is the longest in the city’s history. The petition for injunction in federal court...
Jeannette man, wanted in Wisconsin, crashes car after 105 mph police chase on Route 30
A 3-mile midday police chase on Route 30 in Hempfield reached speeds of 105 mph before the suspect crashed, according to court papers. State troopers charged Nathan M. Etheridge, 33, of Jeannette, Wednesday with fleeing from police, driving under the influence and related offenses, as well as a list of...
Penn Hills prepares for students’ return; parent forum set
Big changes are coming to the Penn Hills School District as students head back to the classroom Aug. 20. Teachers and staff already have been in the buildings preparing for students since Aug. 13. In the days leading up to students’ return, there will be multiple events hosted for students,...
Plum approves new contract with police chief, promotes 2 officers
Plum police Chief Lanny Conley has a new five-year contract and two newly promoted officers to go along with it. Council approved the contract and promotions at its meeting on Monday, Aug. 12. Conley’s current salary is $154,628. The contact includes 3.5% annual raises with the first effective in January....
Deer Lakes Park, Burrell Lake Park dealing with lake water issues; officials eye treatment plans
The lower lakes at Deer Lakes Park are “virtually unfishable,” said Tom Fitzgerald, a longtime fisherman and East Deer resident. Fitzgerald walks the park nearly every day and notes three glaring issues with the ponds: overgrowth, algae and lily pads out of control. “There are parts where it looks like...
Camp Fete-Fete revives childhood joys for adults with summer adventures
Camp Fete-Fete offers summer camp activities exclusively for adults — typical childhood activities and events that folks may not have had access to, but they can experience now. It’s never too late. The camp’s most recent activity included an evening of double Dutch at Highland Park taught by the founders...
2 arrested in North Huntingdon drug sting operation
Two men are facing charges after police said they were planning to sell drugs to an undercover officer in North Huntingdon, according to court papers. Austin E.M. Moore, 30, of McKeesport, is charged with drug offenses and was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison on $200,000 bail. Deandre L....
Police say Rostraver man drugged, raped woman
A Rostraver man was jailed Wednesday after state police said he drugged and raped a woman earlier this month. Nathaniel T. Johnston, 33, of the Collinsburg neighborhood, is charged with rape of a substantially impaired person, sexual assault and related offenses. The female accuser told troopers that Johnston gave her...
Vance criticizes Biden, Walz during visit to Lower Burrell VFW
Vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance used his speech to an invitation-only crowd at Lower Burrell’s VFW post to criticize President Joe Biden’s administration for its withdrawal from Afghanistan. “We lost 13 brave service members we didn’t need to lose,” said Vance, flanked by Republican lawmakers, most of whom also are...
Morning Roundup: Standoff ends in arrest in Monongahela; Mayor Gainey’s communications director resigns
Here are a few news items for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024: Standoff ends in arrest in Monongahela A Carnegie man was arrested Wednesday evening after an hourslong police standoff in Monongahela that began after a chase. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh told Trib news partner WTAE that Emmanuel Houghton,...
Man accused of killing his mom in Homestead double homicide
A man accused in a double homicide in Homestead was arrested Wednesday, according to Allegheny County Police. John Malcolm Smith V, 25, of McKeesport is charged with fatally shooting Antoinette Porterfield, 45, and John West, 54. Porterfield is his mother, police said. They were killed Tuesday around 4 p.m. in...
Highlands’ tennis team preps for all-away season while courts are renovated
The girls tennis team at Highlands School District will be serving up their skills away from their home court this season while the district completes a $1 million capital project. Court resurfacing and a revamped track at the nearby middle school are included in the work. “Crews will come Monday...
The Stroller, Aug. 15, 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. Professional wrestling event to benefit Citizens Hose/EMS/Rescue Citizens Hose Fire, EMS...
Study to determine feasibility of roundabout at tricky Chartiers Street intersection
A Robinson-based traffic engineering firm will analyze the feasibility of a roundabout at a Chartiers Street intersection that straddles Bridgeville and Upper St. Clair. Bridgeville Council on Monday, Aug. 12 authorized working with Upper St. Clair to have Trans Associates prepare a roundabout traffic analysis, plan and estimate to determine...
Westmoreland DA unveils courthouse retreat for crime victims
It was a pre-teen victim of a sexual assault who two years ago made it clear to Westmoreland prosecutors that the sterile courthouse environment was not a comfortable place to spend time. Victims and their families had few options during court downtime. They could sit outside the courtroom as a...
Man killed in Wilmerding
Allegheny County Police are investigating the murder of a man in Wilmerding. Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of State Street for a shooting around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. First responders found a man fatally shot. No further information about the victim or possible suspects was immediately available. Anyone with...
Retired Ligonier Valley teacher calls for investigation into how incident with special needs student was handled
It’s been a year and a half since Linda O’Sullivan had a life-changing encounter with a special needs student while she was working as an art teacher at Ligonier Valley High School. Now retired, the 60-year-old Ligonier Borough woman is still recovering from face, head and neck injuries resulting from...
North Huntingdon karate school owner in critical condition after motorcycle crash
Elizabeth Lindsay is no stranger to pushing physical limits. The owner of C.S. Kim Karate in North Huntingdon, Lindsay has practiced karate since she was 4 years old. The 39-year-old Greensburg resident earned a place in a national Black Belt Hall of Fame in 2019. Her brother, Peter Lindsay, believes...
Guilty plea averts trial for woman accused of running over man with car in Hempfield
A woman pleaded guilty to lesser charges Wednesday in a case brought after she was accused of running over her boyfriend with a car at a Hempfield home last year. Cassidy Christi Colbert, 30, of East McKeesport, was originally charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, simple assault and other...
Defense contends biased probe led to arrest in New Kensington boy’s death
Lawyers for Brackenridge man facing a potential death penalty if he is convicted of killing of his 9-year-old son contend the investigation that led to his arrest in 2022 was the product of biased prosecutors and based on insufficient evidence. Jean J. Charles, 44, is awaiting trial on charges of...
New home placements in Monessen help address ‘dire need’ for revitalization
Five houses that could be in place this fall in Monessen may be a harbinger of how Westmoreland County communities can move forward after clearing out abandoned homes. Westmoreland Community Action is embarking on the project that executive director Mandy Welty Zalich hopes will grow. Both county Commissioner Sean Kertes...
