The Stroller, Aug. 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. Rick Gercak and Three Who Rock to play Tarentum Park Tarentum...
‘It was too astronomical for us’ Latrobe manager says as city rejects garbage bids
Latrobe Council rejected as too costly a proposal by sole bidder County Hauling to collect garbage and recyclable items in the city from 2026 through 2030. With Monday’s vote, city officials indicated they will seek another round of bids through Oct. 28 for the collection services, noting that at least...
Norwin names assistant high school principal
Norwin has a new assistant high school principal, who has been the dean of students at the high school since 2017. The Norwin School Board Monday unanimously approved Kelly Jones as the assistant high school principal at a salary of $109,500. Superintendent Natalie McCracken said Jones was an English teacher...
Trump’s talk with Elon Musk includes discussion about Butler County assassination attempt
Former President Donald Trump told X owner Elon Musk he plans a return to Butler County in October for a campaign rally before the presidential election. The livestream was intended to be a normal conversation between Trump and Musk and not an interview, Musk said. The talk was initially set...
50,000 pounds of car parts and 1 Beetle later, dredging improves Allegheny River
The ghosts of cars from the 1960s and earlier haunt the confluence of the Pittsburgh’s three rivers. Parts from up to 100 vehicles — many believed to be from a long-defunct Downtown parking lot — are submerged in the Allegheny River, according to Captain Evan Clark of Three Rivers Waterkeeper,...
1 dead in Stowe shooting; police seek suspect
A man was killed in a shooting Monday afternoon in Stowe, police said. The man, identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office as James Nelson Jr., 42, was found by first responders and pronounced dead after he was taken to an area hospital, according to Allegheny County police. County...
Man shot in domestic incident in Penn Hills, police say
A man was shot Monday morning in Penn Hills in what detectives have described as a domestic incident, according to the Allegheny County Police. Officers were dispatched for a shooting shortly before 11:40 a.m. Monday to the 400 block of Elias Drive. Police found a man shot. He was taken...
Plum schools seek $9.9M loan for $30M renovation and expansion project
The Plum School Board on Tuesday will consider borrowing the first one-third of the money needed for a roughly $30 million building project. During its meeting Tuesday, the board is expected to hear a presentation from the district’s financial advisors, PFM Financial Advisors, before voting on proceeding with borrowing nearly...
Northern lights return to Western Pa.
The northern lights made another appearance in Western Pennsylvania on Monday, raising questions about future visibility. Bill Modzelewski, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said it’s possible that they’ll return. “Right now, as far as what we’re seeing from the Space Weather Prediction Center, it doesn’t look too...
Man accused of stalking Murrysville rock singer to remain jailed in Westmoreland
Lacey Sturm knows she and others in her industry could be a potential target. The decorated rock singer said Monday following a court hearing for an Ohio man accused of stalking her that she understands the relationship between music and mental health. “I make rock music, and there’s a risk...
In brief: Penn Hills and Verona area happenings, week of Aug. 12, 2024
Back-to-school event to feature giveaways The Penn Hills School District is hosting its annual Back-to-School PHamily Fun Fest from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 17 at Penn Hills High School. Students’ first day of school is Aug. 20. While the Fun Fest is taking place at the high school, it...
Hempfield, state officials see $16M site near Route 30 as community. emergency response hubVideo
Looking out over the bare dirt across 43 acres in eastern Hempfield, township Commissioner Jay Anderson was reminded of his days as a Boy Scout leader. “You’d arrive at Scout camp and it’s just this big open area, but then everyone starts getting set up and before long, it really...
State police to increase late-night patrols in Export
State police will increase late-night patrols in response to recent reports of car break-ins in Export. Lt. Michael Sbardella was at council’s Aug. 6 meeting to address concerns about thefts from vehicles along Lee Street, Pierce Street, Italy Road and Lincoln Avenue. Sbardella said he would speak with midnight-shift officers...
Pittsburgh food vendor settles with Labor Department over overtime abuse, worker threats
A Pittsburgh food vendor has paid workers $15,000 in back wages and damages for refusing to pay workers the mandated overtime rate and threatening employees, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday. Simon’s Food Concessions, located in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood, denied time-and-a-half wages to six employees for work beyond the...
Jeffrey A. Manning, veteran Allegheny County judge who presided over high-profile criminal cases, dies at 77
In court, whether as a prosecutor or judge, Jeffrey A. Manning controlled the room. With a commanding presence, deep knowledge of the rules of evidence and a knack for the most minute of details, Manning was known for his brilliant legal acumen, an occasional short temper and a quick wit....
Couple accused of smuggling drugs into Westmoreland prison
A husband and wife are accused of smuggling drugs into the Westmoreland County Prison by concealing them in a suit jacket needed for a court appearance, according to police. Westmoreland County detectives detailed in court papers numerous conversations John Joseph Kukonik, 35, had with Olivia A. Weber, 46, while he...
Fox Chapel graduate crosses the globe to learn new language
Summer vacation for most college students is about earning some extra money or sitting back and relaxing. Others, however, decide to learn a new language. That’s true for Fox Chapel graduate Daniel Thomas, who spent his summer studying Japanese in Okayama, Japan. Thomas, a rising junior at the University of...
Plum holds solemn vigil for those lost in house explosion a year ago
At 10:23 a.m. Monday, Plum paused to remember those who died in a house explosion in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood exactly one year ago. Church bells at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church were among those that began chiming at the precise moment Paul and Heather Oravitz’s home exploded...
Deer and drought kill Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival
Days before the popular Schwirian Farm Sunflower Festival was set to begin, deer ate about a half-million sunflower blossoms at the farm, which gave organizers no choice but to cancel. Leslee Schwirian, who owns the Forward Township farm alongside her husband, Jay, said there were only about 10 flowers left...
Jeannette EMS plans to remove former station from bankruptcy estate because of liens on property
If there are no objections filed this week, the former Jeannette EMS station will be removed from the organization’s bankruptcy estate, according to court filings. Because of liens on the property, the South Sixth Street station and its contents have no value to the estate, attorneys said in a notice...
North Huntingdon woman charged with providing alcohol, corruption of minors
While investigating a fatal dirt bike crash in North Huntingdon, police said they learned that a township woman had regularly been hosting drinking parties for teenagers in the community, according to court papers. On Friday, they arrested Kimberly Strashensky, 53, on charges of child endangerment, corruption of minors and providing...
Meet Thelma Tambellini, Wholey’s longest-tenured employeeVideo
She doesn’t eat seafood, but that hasn’t stopped a longtime employee from making a career out of crustaceans and fish at Wholey’s in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Thelma Tambellini, 65, the longest-employed staff member at Wholey’s, is easy to spot in her standard uniform featuring a bright-blue Wholey shirt and name...
Wreck knocked out power to part of Lower Burrell, closed Leechburg Road for hours
A wreck closed Leechburg Road in Lower Burrell for nearly 12 hours Monday. Leechburg Road, the main thoroughfare through the city, was closed between MacBeth Drive and Edgecliff Road from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. after a vehicle struck a utility pole. The vehicle sheered a utility pole, which fell...
Morning Roundup: Burning ban issued in North Franklin; 3 injured in North Versailles crash
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Aug. 12: Burning ban issued in North Franklin A temporary ban on burning has been enacted in a Washington County township as dry weather is expected to continue this week. Trib news partner WTAE reported that North Franklin...
Blair County frozen custard stand posts naming contest for groundhog discovered in claw machine game
A groundhog is looking to make a name for itself after being rescued from a claw machine at a Blair County frozen custard shop. The Meadows is taking suggestions for a name for the animal that is in line to become the third-most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania. A $25 gift...
