Former Allegheny County 911 dispatcher indicted on charges of producing, possessing child porn
A Turtle Creek man who worked as an Allegheny County 911 dispatcher used two children to produce child pornography, according to a 20-count federal indictment. Robert Bookshar, 46, was indicted on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced Thursday. According to the indictment,...
Irwin to seek funding for police body cameras
Irwin’s police chief is seeking money to purchase six body cameras for the department’s police officers. “We want to make sure that our officers and the borough are protected,” Irwin police Chief Dan Wensel told borough council at a recent meeting. Wensel told borough council that Axon Enterprise Inc. could...
Morning Roundup: Zoo announces elephant calf’s death; snow could impact evening commute
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 16: Pittsburgh Zoo announces death of elephant calf An elephant calf died after a sudden and brief illness, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announced. The calf, named Tsuni, was 2 years old and lived with a herd...
The Stroller, Feb. 16, 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. Job fair set at CareerLink in New Kensington Pennsylvania CareerLink Alle-Kiski...
Acmetonia students build sense of belonging, community with new program
Students at Acmetonia Elementary School not only have homework, they also have house work. Under the “House System,” students are assigned to one of five groups, or houses. House meetings are held each month, and students collaborate with their peers to work on various community-building activities, said Rebecca Garbisch, school...
Hempfield Area out $2.4M in payments to architectural firm for high school project
Hempfield Area School District paid more than $2.4 million to departing firm Core Architects for work on its now-stalled $150 million high school renovation project, according to district business manager Paul Schott. Core Architects resigned from the ambitious project last week by sending the district a letter, according to Ryan...
Deteriorating railroad bridge causes concern for Indiana Township officials, residents
An old train bridge continues to cause big safety concerns for officials in Indiana Township. The 127-year-old concrete bridge over Little Deer Creek Valley Road has been steadily deteriorating since the 1990s. Police Chief Steven Colucci said he is determined to navigate the situation with bridge owner Canadian National Railroad....
Potential covid quarantine guidance change draws mixed reactions
Eleanor Nicholson of Apollo says she isn’t that concerned about covid. “Maybe (it’s) because I’ve never really had it. Nobody in my family has,” she said. Her opinion hasn’t changed with the reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could drop the five-day waiting period for people who...
Baldwin Borough mom follows partner to prison in overdose death of infant son
Tracy Humphreys was a drug addict for 35 years. She described herself as a horrible mother who put drug use before her children. Heroin, meth, cocaine, gabapentin — she took whatever she could get her hands on. Sixteen months ago, Humphreys got clean in jail. She said she found God....
Burrell High School unified bocce team get fine escort upon its return from the playoffs
The Burrell High School unified bocce team rolled back from the playoffs in style Thursday night. The team returned to the high school at 5:45 p.m. with an escort from city fire and police following the team’s playoffs at Plum earlier in the day, said parent Courtney Kobelenske. Sixteen students...
Greensburg man jailed on rape charges
A Greensburg man was arrested Thursday on rape charges. Shamon M. Jackson, 23, was being held on $100,000 bail at the Westmoreland County Prison. Jeannette police spoke with the accuser early Jan. 27 at Westmoreland Hospital, according to court papers. She told authorities she was visiting a friend in Jeannette...
Trial set for Monessen teen charged with friend’s killing
The murder trial for a Monessen teen charged with the fatal shooting of a friend as they played video games is set to begin May 6. Terry Newton, 17, is awaiting trial on charges of criminal homicide in connection with the November 2022 shooting death of 16-year-old Amari Altomore. Police...
5 Things to do in Westmoreland County: Feb. 16-18
This weekend is all about the parties. Decorations, dancing and unveilings make up a full calendar of things to do this weekend in Westmoreland County. Student exhibition Beginning Friday, the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Ligonier, off Boucher Lane in Ligonier Township, will open the Artists of the 21st Century,...
Hampton council addresses improvement projects
Feb. 14 not only marked both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, but it also marked a first for newly appointed Hampton Township manager Ryan Jeroski. The council meeting that night was the first he handled solo since succeeding former manager Christopher Lochner. Jeroski took care of business like he had...
Attorneys for Rostraver murder-for-hire suspect say case details remain elusive
Prosecutors in Westmoreland County must turn over evidence to defense attorneys for a Philadelphia man charged with orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot. Common Pleas Judge Tim Krieger made the ruling Thursday in the case that resulted in the shooting death of Boyke Budiarachman, also of Philadelphia, in the parking lot of...
Automated trash, recycling carts generating mixed reviews in Penn Hills
“Atrocious,” “an eyesore” and “an insult to the community.” Resident Jim Getsy is talking about the free trash and recycling carts distributed throughout Penn Hills in December. Not everyone feels so strongly, but the new receptacles have generated dozens of phone calls to the municipality and hundreds of online comments,...
Letter to the editor: With garbage cans, one size doesn’t fit all
I am writing to explain my frustration with the garbage bins recently delivered to my neighborhood. I was encouraged to learn Penn Hills would be upgrading trash services to include matching garbage and recycling bins. Unfortunately, these oversized bins have been anything but an upgrade for many residents as they...
Penn Township author to offer tips on book publishing
A Penn Township author who has self-published two fictional books and is working on a third one says she loves what she is doing, even if she will not get rich from pursing her passion in writing. “I sell my books for $10. It’s not always about money. You have...
Human resources director for Penn Hills School District accused of harassment
A Penn Hills School District administrator is accused of physically harassing an adult at Linton Middle School. Robert Kollar, the district’s director of human resources, placed his midsection on the alleged victim’s back and neck on Dec. 12, according to a summary citation filed in the case. The citation did...
Norwin area: Norwin student shine in history contest; Softball team holds fundraiser
Norwin softball team to hold fundraiser The Norwin High School softball team will hold an “egg your yard” fundraiser for Easter morning for school district residents. Families will be able to wake up Easter morning on March 31 to candy-filled eggs in their yard. The team is charging $15 for...
New Jeannette fire station OK’d for first phase of construction
Jeannette is moving forward with building a new fire station, but the project will have to be completed in phases while officials find more money. Council last week approved the first phase of the project using a $1.2 million grant the city received in 2022. That amount will foot the...
AAUW award honors North Allegheny teacher
Dana Cornelius will receive the American Association of University Women’s Gateway to Equity Award from the North Hills Branch on March 20 at La Roche University in McCandless. The award will be presented during the branch’s Women’s History Month program. The AAUW Gateway to Equity Award honors an individual, group...
Northland Public Library in McCandless presents ‘Gatsby In the Garden’
Secure tickets now to the biggest party in town on April 20 at Northland Public Library’s “Gatsby In the Garden,” the theme of this year’s Garden Gala fundraiser. Much thought goes into deciding on a theme for the annual spring fundraiser, held by Northland Public Library Foundation, said Alexis McKinley,...
‘A celebration of what we bring to the community’: Westmoreland Cultural Trust hosts annual fundraising gala at Palace Theatre
Suits, ties and evening gowns will grace the stage of the Palace Theatre in Greensburg for the Westmoreland Cultural Trust’s “Party at the Palace” fundraising gala. The theme is “shaken, not stirred,” inspired by the way James Bond takes his martini cocktails. The trust has held the gala for 18...
Spring Thaw Run set for Feb. 24 in North Park
The annual Spring Thaw Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Boathouse in North Park, 10301 Pearce Mill Road, McCandless. Runners can register to complete in distances of 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles. The event, presented by GCXC Race Timing and Management, supports 412 Food Rescue,...
