Western PA Local News category, Page 829
Bethel Park joins Wreaths Across America in honoring veterans
While active in the U.S. Marine Corps, Devlin Robinson fought in both hotbeds for post-9/11 American military action, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was in the same general age range of two Army servicemen from near his Bridgeville home, a few years older than Russell Kurtz of Bethel Park and slightly...
Pittsburgh to extend lease on North Side police HQ with option to buy
Pittsburgh City Council voted Thursday to renew the city’s lease on its North Side police headquarters, a week after opposing the measure in a preliminary vote. The city has been leasing a Western Avenue building for its police headquarters for 20 years. The existing lease was set to expire at...
Frazer police nab man for driving stolen vehicle, theft at Walmart
Frazer police say a North Versailles man drove to Walmart at Pittsburgh Mills on Wednesday in a stolen vehicle and, while at the store, took merchandise he didn’t pay for then tried to return the items for cash. Brandon Jamar Murray, 40, faces a felony charge of receiving stolen property...
Contractor accused of ripping off Lower Burrell family awaits trial
A home improvement contractor who is awaiting trial in Allegheny County for allegedly taking money up front for work that wasn’t done has been accused of doing the same thing to a family in Lower Burrell. Jason Raymond Mager, 47, of the 400 block of Ridge Avenue in Springdale was...
5 things to do in Westmoreland: Dec. 29-31
It’s the final weekend of 2023, and there are plenty of ways to celebrate. Live Casino New Year’s Eve party On Sunday night, Live Casino Pittsburgh will host a New Year’s Eve ’70s disco inspired celebration at the Hempfield casino, off Route 30 adjacent to the Westmoreland Mall. Starting at...
New Kensington Municipal Authority lands $1 million in grants for waterline upgrades
Public infrastructure in New Kensington will get a boost after $1 million in grants was awarded last week to the city’s municipal authority. The funding was part of $2.6 million awarded to Westmoreland County agencies for eight projects that will enhance water systems. The money came through the Commonwealth Financing...
Morning Roundup: Rivers Casino manager accused of stealing $20K; 58 animals seized from Butler home
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Dec. 28: Rivers Casino theft arrest State police said they made an arrest in a $20,000 theft from Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino on Dec. 4. Police said the casino’s security director reported the crime on Dec. 23. After reviewing...
After 60 years, Ligonier barbers hang up their clippers
When cousins Ken Knupp and Walt Boyd closed the doors of their Ligonier Borough barbershop Wednesday, one thing was clear — they will miss their customers the most. After working as barbers for more than 60 years, the two decided to retire together from their longtime practice at Knupp’s Barbershop....
Second deep well coming to West Deer; construction expected to start in June 2025
A second well pad will be coming to West Deer, near the Pittsburgh National Golf Club. Supervisors approved the plan for the Tyche deep well last week. The approval makes way for the development and operation of an unconventional natural gas well pad and associated pipeline on property owned by...
The Stroller, Dec. 28, 2023: 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. Rotary offers annual scholarships The Bob Williams Memorial Rotary Scholarship, sponsored...
Westmoreland DA wants to review police video before it’s released to public
Four months after police released body camera video showing an officer shooting a Ligonier Township man, the Westmoreland District Attorney’s Office is asking local police departments to have prosecutors review similar footage before it is released publicly. The request hasn’t been opposed by police, but legal, law enforcement and open...
Covid, flu, RSV on the rise amid holiday gatherings
Covid-19 struck Beth Green just in time for Christmas, upending her annual holiday gatherings. She planned on hosting her extended family at her Derry Township home on Dec. 23. She was especially excited because it’s difficult to get two of her adult sons together with their hectic schedules. Green, an...
Fayette County native Rachel Duda takes over reins of PennDOT District 12
A 1984 fire that destroyed Rachel Duda’s childhood home in Fayette County had a major impact on her life in more ways than one. For two years, Duda lived with relatives in California. That’s where she set her mind on a career in civil engineering, one that has led her...
‘Life is not promised’: Family and friends mourn loss of Richland teen in car crash
In June, Ellie Tourney had to bury her husband. Now, she has to bury her son. “We were proven twice that life is not promised. We’ve learned that twice in seven months,” Tourney said Wednesday. “If God wants you, he’s going to wrap you in his arms. It’s hard to...
No injuries in Upper Burrell trailer home fire; 4 cats missing
No one was injured following a fire late Wednesday afternoon that destroyed a trailer home in Upper Burrell. Crews were dispatched at 4:32 p.m. to the 200 block of Manchester Hill Road for a report of a structure fire, said Upper Burrell Fire Chief Bryan Fitch. The trailer’s occupant was...
Kiski Township launches police dog fundraiser amid pushback from supervisor-elect
Kiski Township police officials are looking to add a dog to their roster of officers. Chief Lee Bartolicius is spearheading efforts to raise about $20,000 to purchase and train a police dog. The department launched the Kiski Township K-9 Fund this month and to date has raised just over $3,000....
1 taken to hospital following Pleasant Hills crash
One person was taken to the hospital following a crash Wednesday afternoon on Curry Hollow Road in Pleasant Hills, emergency officials said. First responders were called to Curry Hollow Road near Bliss Drive just after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Crews arrived to find a head-on collision and one person trapped in...
2 tractor trailers involved in Pa. Turnpike crash east of Donegal
Emergency crews responded to a Pennsylvania Turnpike crash involving two tractor trailers Wednesday afternoon, Westmoreland 911 officials said. The crash happened about 4 p.m. in westbound lanes of the turnpike at mile marker 91.2 just east of Donegal. Additional information was not immediately available....
White Township man dies after being struck by truck
A White Township man died of injuries suffered when he was hit by a truck early Wednesday morning. Indiana County Coroner Jerry Overman Jr. said Noah M. Chappell, of Winding Lane in White Township, was riding a bicycle southbound on the 500 block of Old Route 119 North when he...
State troopers investigate nearly 44% fewer Christmas weekend crashes than 2022
Westmoreland and Allegheny counties saw a decrease in crashes during the holiday weekend from last year, according to state police. State police covering Westmoreland, Allegheny and six other counties responded to 62 crashes from Saturday to Monday, down nearly 44% from 2022. The crashes resulted in 17 injuries, which matches...
Seton Hill offers free online genocide, Holocaust education certificate program to local teachers
Seton Hill will waive tuition costs for 15 local teachers to complete an online genocide and Holocaust education certificate program starting in March. The nine-credit program features three courses that will give secondary education teachers the strategies to address topics like genocide in the classroom, said James Paharik, director of...
Penn Township holiday project enters 8th year supporting Western Pa. homeless shelters
The best part of Kellie Haldie’s Christmas is delivering gifts, clothes and personal care items to people living in local homeless shelters. About 35 volunteers join Haldie in the annual giving project, Blessing Our Sheltered Hearts, which started in 2016. This year, volunteers supported three shelters and about 150 families...
North Huntingdon holds line on taxes
North Huntingdon property owners will not pay higher real estate taxes to operate the municipality’s government in 2024. The budget retains the tax rate at 11.55 mills. Of that 9.23 mills is devoted to the $15.8 million general fund, which was reduced from $16.4 million this year. Revenue from an additional...
Monongahela River fishermen find car stolen 15 years ago
Two men fishing in the Monongahela River on Sunday found a car that had been reported stolen 15 years ago. The men were fishing near the Point Marion boat launch in Fayette County when they noticed the outline of a vehicle on their fish finder, state police said. On Tuesday,...
Michigan teens jailed after police investigate gift card theft in Ligonier
Three teenagers from Michigan were jailed over the weekend after police said they provided fake names while authorities were investigating a theft of $400 in gift cards in Ligonier Borough. Keenen E. Reese II, Rashad A. Shahid and Malik S. Spillers, all 18, of Flint, Mich., all are being held...
