In events like the Springdale high-rise evacuation, coordination is key, officials say
Evacuating a high-rise building full of senior citizens, many of whom are physically handicapped, during a cold January night could spell a recipe for chaos. But on Tuesday night in Springdale, it wasn’t. The Springdale Manor high-rise, which houses about 90 residents, was evacuated because of a natural gas leak....
Monroeville police sergeant’s car sprayed with bullets; officer struck 3 times
The armed robbery suspect who sprayed a Monroeville police sergeant with gunfire Wednesday night has been identified as 32-year-old Jamal Brooks. Brooks has been charged with striking the officer three times as he sat inside his marked car, according to a criminal complaint. The sergeant — who was not identified...
Meteorologists say weekend’s expected snow to be a ‘non-event’
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh are debunking social media posts that have predicted a foot of snow to be dumped across Pittsburgh early Saturday. “It’ll be a non-event,” said Lee Hendricks, from the weather service in Moon Township. “We will see little to no accumulation Saturday or...
Morning Roundup: Crews battle fires in Manchester and Elizabeth Borough; break-in reported at Monroeville pizza shop
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Jan. 5: Two-alarm fire in Elizabeth Borough Crews battled a two-alarm structure fire early Friday in Elizabeth Borough. The fire was reported at about 5:10 a.m. along South Third Avenue, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. No injuries...
Wage increases included for some Frazer part-timers in 2024
Frazer supervisors opened 2024 with reappointments to boards and commissions as well as pay increases to some part-time employees. Matthew Beacom was unanimously reappointed as the supervisors chairman, and William Creevey will remain vice chairman. Supervisor Lori Ziencik was reappointed as the township’s secretary and treasurer. Because Ziencik is an...
The Stroller, Jan. 5, 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. Local schools competing in Paint the Plow contest Leechburg Area and...
Lack of snow, where rainfall ends up factors in declining Beaver Run reservoir levels
There’s been little change to an extended dry spell that has dropped water levels to rarely seen lows in the region’s reservoirs. But water customers who’ve been asked to cut back on their use are doing their job, according to municipal authority officials. Customers have been conserving, said Michael Kukura,...
Wilmerding receives funding to demolish 3 blighted properties
Wilmerding code officer and Fire Marshal Al Hussey doesn’t have any specific plans for the property at 109 Middle Ave. But he sure was glad to find out the borough would be able to tear it down in the near future. “It’s literally leaning on Angie’s Restaurant next door,” Hussey...
Nature walk set for Powdermill Nature Reserve
The Powdermill Nature Reserve along Route 381 in Cook Township is conducted a guided walk through the trails in its woods from 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 17. The After-School Story Stroll will have educators and naturalists guiding the hike. There will be pages along the way and hands-on activities...
Zappala sworn in as Allegheny County DA for 7th term
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. was sworn in Thursday to his seventh term in office. It was a notable achievement for Zappala, the Democrat who won only by running on the Republican ticket after he lost both the endorsement by his party and the primary. Pennsylvania Supreme...
Hospitals seeing ‘exponential’ rise in flu cases in Western Pa.
After a holiday season filled with travel, family gatherings and relatives breathing on each other, respiratory illnesses are on the rise in Western Pennsylvania — with flu cases spiking the fastest. Area hospitals are seeing an “exponential increase” in flu diagnoses, said Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention...
Pitcairn man sentenced to at least 8 years in prison for attacking elderly neighbor with hammer
A Pitcairn man faces eight to 16 years in prison for beating his 71-year-old neighbor with a hammer last summer. Commons Pleas Judge Beth A. Lazzara imposed the sentence on William Alan Jackson, 43, on Thursday for the Aug. 10 attack, court records show. Jackson had negotiated a guilty plea...
McKeesport man going to prison for driving drunk, hitting PennDOT worker in construction zone
A McKeesport man is headed to prison for up to seven years for drinking an alcoholic slushee and smoking marijuana in his car shortly before he struck a PennDOT worker in a construction zone and dragged her 30 feet on the city’s Jerome Street Bridge. Common Pleas Judge Kelly Bigley...
Death penalty prosecution can continue against New Kensington man accused of child’s murder
A Westmoreland County judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a New Kensington man to trial and seek the death penalty for the alleged first-degree murder of a 2-year-old boy in 2020. Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears rejected defense claims that medical evidence was insufficient to prove...
New Hampton council members take seats
Hampton Township kicked off the new year with council’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 2, welcoming two new members. Alfred Midgley IV and Daniel Sciulli were sworn in following their wins in the general election. Both were surrounded by family members as they took their seats on council for the first...
Norwin area: St. Elizabeth Ann church to hold bingo; North Huntingdon appoints board members
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to hold bingo A Super Bingo with a $1,000 jackpot payout will be held at Mack Hall at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 200 Leger Rd., North Huntingdon, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 24. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. The price is $30 per ticket, with...
Police say Blairsville women conspired in Derry Township man’s overdose death
Two women are facing charges in connection with the August 2022 drug overdose death of a Derry Township man, according to court papers. Ashley N. Kirkland, 35, of Blairsville was arrested Wednesday on a charge of conspiracy to commit drug delivery resulting in death. An arrest warrant has been issued...
Rep. Dunbar’s former aide to seek seat
A former chief of staff to Republican state Rep. George Dunbar is seeking to succeed his former boss in the 56th District. Brian Rasel, 37, of Penn Township, announced his candidacy last month for the Republican nomination in the wake of Dunbar’s announcement that he would not seek reelection for...
North Hills horse-riding community mourns decorated teen killed in Christmas weekend crash
At 18, Taylor Orlowski stood just 5 feet tall and weighed no more than 98 pounds, her sandy blonde hair falling on petite shoulders. Those who survive her in the tight-knit horse-riding community of Pittsburgh’s North Hills, however, remember the Beaver County teen as a giant in their extended family....
Narcotics agents say Tarentum man on parole for drug conviction arrested for selling cocaine, heroin
A Tarentum man was accused of being a drug dealer after state narcotics agents found cocaine and heroin in his SUV and at his home. Sir John Withrow, 33, of the 100 block of Second Avenue was charged Dec. 21 with two counts of possession of drugs with the intent...
Shaler Township commissioners welcome back four returning members
Shaler commissioners swore in four incumbents on Jan. 2. Frank Iozzo (Ward 1), David Shutter (Ward 3), Susan Fisher (Ward 5) and Bill Cross (Ward 7) all took a familiar oath before participating in the rest of the reorganization meeting. This will be Iozzo’s second term and Fisher’s seventh term...
Delmont to purchase choking prevention devices for borough, policeVideo
Delmont officials will equip their borough staff and police department with a device designed to save choking victims. Borough council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of LifeVacs. The device, created in 2016, uses a tight-fitting mask and suction to dislodge an item stuck in a person’s throat. LifeVacs have...
Harrison woman with 4 kids in car charged with DUI, speeding
State police accused a Harrison woman of being drunk and speeding with four children in her car, including an infant who wasn’t buckled in a baby carrier. Tiffany Lynn Carter, 36, of Princeton Avenue was charged Dec. 29 with four felony counts of endangering the welfare of children along with...
Suspect named in shooting of Monroeville police sergeant
The armed robbery suspect who sprayed a Monroeville police sergeant with gunfire Wednesday night has been identified as 32-year-old Jamal Brooks. Brooks has been charged with striking the officer three times as he sat inside his marked car, according to a criminal complaint. The sergeant — who was not identified...
East Deer couple faces 11 felony counts, accused of causing 1-year-old’s skull fracture
An East Deer couple face nearly a dozen felony charges after police accused them of causing a skull fracture to a 1-year-old while fighting with the child’s mother. Catalina Hirth, 26, and Lewis Davis, 23, both of the 100 block of Clarks Pike Road, were charged by Allegheny County Police...
