Conley retains Upper Burrell supervisor seat
Mike Conley will serve another six years on Upper Burrell’s board of supervisors. Conley, 60, had 438 votes, or 62.48%, compared to 263 votes, or 37.52%, from challenger Cari Armstrong, 40, according to unofficial but complete vote tallies from the Westmoreland County Elections Department. “I certainly appreciated all the support,”...
GOP takes 3 out of 4 Bethel Park Council seats
Republicans took three out of the four council seats up for election on Nov. 7, according to unofficial Allegheny County results. Ward 4 incumbent Todd S. Cenci joined Kimberly Kamenicky, Ward 2, and Jim Jenkins, Ward 6, in winning on the GOP tickets. Democrat Viola Garis won in Ward 8....
Veterans Day observed with activities across Westmoreland County, region
Those who have served in the armed forces will be recognized during the following Veterans Day programs: • WCCC The Center for Healthcare Solutions and Unity in the Community will hold a free Veterans Suicide Prevention Walk and Human Services Fair Friday on the main campus of Westmoreland County Community...
4 Gateway School Board members reelected
Four Gateway School Board incumbents won reelection, and they will be joined by two new members, according to unofficial Allegheny County results posted Nov. 7. John M. Bova, board president, was unopposed for a two-year term. Running cross-filed as a Democrat and Republican, he received 6,905 votes. Write-in votes totaled...
Gigler, Stoneburner, Taliani win commissioner seats in East Deer
Two longtime incumbents and a 22-year-old newcomer were victorious Tuesday in the East Deer commissioners election. Anthony Taliani, 75, a 51-year incumbent, was the top vote-getter among the five candidates, notching 202 votes, or 23.68%, according to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Department. Newcomer Jacob Leonard Gigler had...
New Kensington-Arnold approves 3.5% pay increase for superintendent
The outgoing New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved a raise for the district’s superintendent over the objection of one of three new members set to join the board in December. The board voted unanimously in favor of a 3.5% pay increase for Superintendent Chris Sefcheck. It is retroactive to July 1,...
Newcomer Corey Ochai wins 2-year term on Sharpsburg Council
Democratic newcomer Corey Ochai earned a victory in his race for Sharpsburg Council, beating Republican Diana Oliver. Ochai earned 484 votes to Oliver’s 234. The term is two years. “I am beyond honored to be elected to serve this amazing community,” said Ochai, 37. “I’m excited to be working alongside...
8 incumbents, 3 newcomers win races for Allegheny County Council, controller, treasurer
Much of the attention during Tuesday’s election in Allegheny County focused on high-profile races for county executive and district attorney. Democrat Sara Innamorato won a hotly contested race against Republican Joe Rockey to become the first female elected to be Allegheny County executive. She will replace Rich Fitzgerald, who has...
Hempfield man charged with child rape
A Hempfield man is behind bars after state police said he raped a girl over the summer, according to court papers. Bryan D. Rockmore, 32, was arrested Tuesday on charges of rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child and indecent assault of a person younger than 13....
Republicans win Hampton council seats after narrow defeats in 2021
Two Republicans were elected to four-year terms on Hampton Township Council, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Daniel J. Sciulli and Alfred Midgley IV both narrowly missed winning seats on council in 2021. This year, Sciulli led a field of four candidates with 3,569 votes. “I am truly humbled...
2 Pittsburgh students hospitalized after eating ‘unknown edible candy’
Two students at Brashear High School in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood were hospitalized Wednesday after they ingested “am unknown edible candy,” a school spokeswoman said. Four students were involved in the incident. Two fell ill after eating the candy, Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said. School officials are investigating to...
Cullen, Petrucelli earn 4-year terms on O’Hara Council
Two newcomers, a Republican and a Democrat, were elected to O’Hara Council on Tuesday for four-year terms. Democrat Paul Cullen handily won the top spot with 2,072 votes, followed by Shamus Petrucelli with 1,704. Petrucelli is a Republican who won enough Democratic votes in the spring to appear on both...
Searchers come up empty in search for man believed to have jumped from Hulton Bridge
Sonar was used to search the Allegheny River on Wednesday for a man witnesses say jumped off the Hulton Bridge after crashing his car on the bridge Tuesday evening. The man, believed to be 42 years old and from the Verona area, has not been found, Harmar police Chief Jason...
Dadowski, Smith earn Tarentum Council seats; 3rd position will be filled by appointment
The race for an at-large Tarentum Council seat finished with a razor-thin margin, as Democratic incumbent Scott Dadowski edged Republican newcomer Maggie Smith by eight votes. According to unofficial results from the Allegheny County Elections Division, Dadowski earned 319 votes to Smith’s 311. “I want to thank the residents for...
Proposed Murrysville budget tweaks Medic One allocation
Murrysville will make some changes in the way the municipality designates some of its tax millage, according to a 2024 budget proposal. The $15.6 million budget, first presented at council’s Nov. 1 meeting, represents a 1.34% increase over 2023, finance director Jacie Milchak said. “The (property) tax rate will remain...
Pittsburgh City Council incumbents win easily, 2 new members to replace outgoing councilmen
Pittsburgh City Council incumbents running for reelection Tuesday cruised to easy victories, and two newcomers won seats replacing outgoing councilmen, according to unofficial results. Council members Bobby Wilson, D-North Side, and Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, did not face Republican challengers in their reelection bids, while Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, collected 79.4%...
Calvert, McCloskey, Neidig, Porco and Verdetto win Deer Lakes School Board seats
Deer Lakes School District voters selected three Democrats and two Republicans on Tuesday to fill five open seats on the school board. Incumbent Democrat Cristy McCloskey led the seven-person race with 2,714 votes, or 16.89%, according to unofficial election results from the Allegheny County Elections Department. Others who secured seats...
Pittsburgh school board VP handily reelected along with 3 new members
A Pittsburgh Public Schools board first-vice president cruised to a second term Tuesday, while three newcomers secured board spots following uncontested races. Democrat Devon Taliaferro, who was first elected in 2019, will sit on the board in 2024 alongside newly elected Democrats Emma Yourd and Dwayne Barker. Board member-elect Yael...
Public review of proposed English resources available for Burrell parents
Burrell School District is opening the book for interested parents and taxpayers who want to review proposed English resources for elementary and middle school students. Until Nov. 28, taxpayers in the district can review three sets of proposed English resources — two of which are for kindergarten through fifth grades...
Wilkinsburg tries to demolish ‘deplorable’ buildings, avoid gentrification
Sunlight pours into the shattered roof of a four-unit Hill Avenue rowhouse — bricks and shingles fall onto neighboring properties. An abandoned Glenn Avenue home sits with its glass windows broken out. Weeds snake up toward its second floor. A 2,900-square-foot shell of a home on North Avenue has its...
Republican Mike Doyle edges to victory for Plum, Oakmont district judge office
A nail-biting night for Mike Doyle ended in his favor Nov. 7. Doyle, the Republican president of Plum Council, won the race for the vacant district judge office serving Plum and Oakmont over Democrat Melanie Pallone by 95 votes, according to complete but unofficial Allegheny County election results. Doyle received...
Iron City taps into region’s history with 1870s-style rye whiskey at East Deer distillery
Pittsburgh has long been known as a shot-and-a-beer town. And for more than 160 years, much of the beer consumed here was made by Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Now the iconic company is making the shots to go with its beer. After years of sitting in oak barrels until just the...
Westmoreland happenings: candlelight open house, craft shows, black light puppet show, more
Fundraisers • Westmoreland Historical Society will sponsor a free candlelight open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at Historic Hanna’s Town, 809 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg. Refreshments will be served by the fire in Hanna’s Tavern. Lanterns will light the path to the Westmoreland History Education Center Museum...
6 squatters escape blaze in abandoned East Huntingdon house
No one was hurt in a fire at an abandoned house Wednesday morning in East Huntingdon. East Huntingdon Second Assistant Chief Chris Brinker said six people were squatting inside the two-story house and made it out safely. The house, on Mt. Pleasant Road, is just outside Scottdale and close to...
1 newcomer, 4 incumbents elected to Penn Hills School Board
Five members have been selected from the six candidates running for Penn Hills School Board. According to Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial election results, Heather Broman, Jackie Blakey-Tate, Erin Vecchio, Robert Marra and Devon Goetze will each serve four-year terms. Democrat newcomer Broman was the top vote-getter with 6,974...