Pittsburgh police arrest 2nd of 3 suspects in fatal West End stabbing
Pittsburgh police have arrested the second of three suspects in a fatal stabbing in March at an abandoned West End house. Police on Thursday arrested Carlena Wells, 18, in the death of Marc Kovach, 37, who was beaten and stabbed, according to a criminal complaint. His body was then hidden...
Concert, food truck event in Jeannette kicks off May 23
A popular event combining music and food trucks in downtown Jeannette is set to kick off May 23. That’s when the first event will begin at 6 p.m. at the Elliott Group Amphitheater at Clay Avenue and South Fifth Street, with crowds spilling out into the surrounding blocks. Every other...
Foot chase in Verona leaves police searching for West Deer man suspected of retail theft
Verona police have issued an arrest warrant for a shoplifting suspect they say was last seen trying to board a boat along the Allegheny River. Keith Hohman, 33, of West Deer is charged with retail theft, evading arrest, escape, trespassing, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct. At approximately 3 p.m....
Fungi enthusiasts turn entrepreneurs with Bounty Beneath Mushrooms in Armstrong County
Fungi-loving friends Michael Zaccano and Nicholas Wadding are growing their specialty mushroom business in Armstrong County. They co-own Bounty Beneath Mushrooms, a gourmet mushroom farm housed above ground on the second floor of a former 1800s-era wool factory in Worthington. Zaccano of Springdale and Wadding of Kittanning met at a...
In its 20th year, Ride for Homeless Vets continues to grow; fundraising surpasses $400,000
When Tom Grates first heard the term “homeless veterans,” the Tarentum resident was appalled. “It made me sick,” Grates said. “I’m a vet, my dad and grandfather were both vets, and my son’s in the military now. “I figured I’d better do something to address this.” It was 20 years...
GAMA Sports Training working on move into new $2.5M facility in Plum
A sports training facility in Plum is growing again. Joe Fischetti hopes to move his family business, GAMA Sports Training, into a 27,000-square-foot home in September. The new building would be at the end of Sheena Drive, a dead-end road off Davidson Road, where GAMA currently is housed in a...
Galley Group takes over Mindful Brewing Company in Castle Shannon
Mindful Brewing Company in Castle Shannon will soon have a new name: Chimera Brewing. Galley Group announced on Mindful Brewing’s Facebook page Friday that it is the new owner of the brewing company located on Library Road. The Facebook post garnered more than 370 likes and hearts within the first...
Prantl’s purchases Lincoln Bakery in Bellevue
Joe Porco recalled an anniversary party to celebrate Lincoln Bakery’s 65th year in business — more than 700 customers lined up along Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue. “A bakery is about community,” Porco said on Wednesday as he reflected on the sale of the bakery after nearly eight decades in business....
Latrobe Art Center to host sampling of local cuisine, craft brews
Local cuisine and craft brewery and winery offerings will be in the spotlight when the Latrobe Art Center hosts “A Taste of the Neighborhood: Pizza, Brews & More.” The center’s annual event for participants age 21 or older is set for 6 p.m. on May 17 in downtown Latrobe, at...
Fire destroys Avalon home, damages others
A fire destroyed one home and badly damaged several others Friday morning in Avalon. “It was a very hard fire,” said Avalon Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dave Meyer. The blaze was reported about 5:30 a.m. in the 200 block of McKinley Avenue. A lack of water pressure presented a challenge,...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: May 10-12
Craving music? Good food? Some shopping? Don’t let the weekend go to waste. Here are a handful of fun things to do in Pittsburgh. Pittonkatonk Get ready to enjoy some free live music without boundaries. Starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park, Pittonkatonk is...
Solution to Oakmont flooding years in the making for some residents
Anne Alcorn loves her neighbors, her 7-year-old son’s school and the safety of the Oakmont Commons. There’s only one thing she’d change about her home. The flooding. Since moving there in 2016, Alcorn, 38, has had an issue with her backyard flooding during rainstorms. On multiple occasions, water has come...
The Stroller, May 10, 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. Kiski Area jazz camp accepting registrations The Kiski Area Summer Jazz...
Freeport Borough fills vacant council seat
Kimberly Barr has been a reliable sight at Freeport Council meetings since moving to the borough in 2021. Now, she’ll help call the shots. On Monday, council appointed Barr as its seventh member, rounding out the ranks of a group that’s seen remarkable turnover since last year. All but one...
Records: Former Greensburg cop received $5K pension payment on day she pleaded guilty to drug charges
Retired Greensburg police Officer Regina McAtee collected a $5,160 pension payment the day she pleaded guilty in federal court to engaging in a methamphetamine distribution operation with the former city police chief. McAtee, 51, of New Kensington has received about $51,400 in pension payments from the city since Aug. 1,...
Jeannette residents, officials hear report on plans to demolish former Fort Pitt Brewery
The impending demolition of the former Fort Pitt Brewery in West Jeannette will be bittersweet for Colleen Ott. She’s wistful because of memories she has of hitting tennis balls off a wall at the complex decades ago with her siblings. But she’s also happy because she and her husband, Chris,...
URA OKs $2 million in federal funding to build affordable housing across Pittsburgh
More than $2 million in federal grants will help build for-sale affordable housing in eight Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The Urban Redevelopment Authority board on Thursday approved money to help build and rehabilitate 13 single-family homes through OwnPGH Construction Grants, using American Rescue Plan Act dollars. The homes will ultimately be sold...
Kiski Area School District administrative reorganization taking shape
Several key hires are in place for the Kiski Area School District administrative reorganization set to take effect July 1. Four administrators were appointed to new or modified roles by the school board on Wednesday: • Chad Roland to assistant to the superintendent for K-12 education and safety at $158,190...
Removal options vary for embattled Westmoreland register of wills
Efforts to remove Westmoreland County Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton from office could come down to three words: “Misbehavior in office.” Duquesne University School of Law Professor Bruce Ledewitz said judges could make that finding as part of a sentence imposed next month for contempt of court that allows...
New McCandless bike rental charged up for customers
ASR North, located near the East Ingomar Road entrance to North Park, is slightly switching gears on bike rentals and bait. The shop rents, sells and services electric bikes in addition to renting and servicing regular bikes. Adam Rossi and Jeff Blood opened the store at the start of May...
Sewickley Township woman convicted in fatal head-on Arona Road crash
Dawn Coyne’s two daughters embraced outside of a Westmoreland County courtroom Thursday after the woman police said caused the crash that resulted their mother’s death was convicted of vehicular homicide and 16 other charges. Ahna L. Malik, 44, of Sewickley Township was handcuffed and taken to prison to await a...
Ecotone Renewables turns food waste into gold with Soil Sauce
Banana peels and thrown-away leftovers can hold surprising value. Ecotone Renewables, for example, takes food waste and transforms it into Soil Sauce, a plant fertilizer. While composting often is the first solution that comes to mind for food waste, Ecotone aims higher. The partially Black-owned company’s goal is to divert...
Southern Allegheny Valley Emergency Services to host Junior Fire Camp to recruit young members
Joining the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department at 14 is a move that benefited Jean Daniher far beyond learning rescue skills. She was able to earn an associate degree and a registered nurse’s license for free through the Community College of Allegheny County solely because of her status as an active...
Pine seeks recreation grants from state
As part of their mission to enhance Pine Community Park, township supervisors approved two resolutions to apply for grants to fund recreation projects. The board voted May 6 to apply for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant for the Pine Athletic Complex concession stand and bathroom project....
Islamic center eyes purchase of former Holy Family church in East Deer
A potential buyer for the shuttered Holy Family Church in East Deer appears to be another religious organization. Alfatimiah of Pittsburgh, a group that describes itself as operating “under the teachings of Islam,” is eyeing the site at 787 Freeport Road, according to East Deer officials. However, the group will...
