Western PA Local News category, Page 879
Late Vietnam vet from Freeport gets proper military honors 5 years after death
Late Freeport Navy veteran Bob Johnston described his time in the Vietnam War as a shooting gallery where soldiers lived like pirates. “We took the rockets, the mortar fire and the artillery fire from the enemy at night,” Johnston wrote in his 2017 raw account of battle, “Blood and Brown...
Wagon Wheel restaurant will close doors after 6 decades
Jodi Susick wasn’t going to miss her chance to order the red devil’s food cake from the Wagon Wheel. “My dad would pick me up on his lunch break and bring me with him for lunch,” said Susick, 49, of Salem as she waited for a massive slice of Our...
5 things to do in Westmoreland this weekend: Nov. 10-12
From a benefit concert by The Clarks to a candlelight tour of the Compass Inn, there are plenty of things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region annual benefit concert At 7 p.m. Saturday, The Clarks will be taking the stage at...
Free art event in Latrobe will help kids ‘feel less alone’ this Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Local kids who are grieving loved ones will have the opportunity to decorate pots and plant seeds of hope on Children’s Grief Awareness Day. This year, the day falls on Thursday, Nov. 16, and Maria Graziano-Bickerstaff, funeral director at the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home in Latrobe, said its intent is to...
Unity man pleads guilty to assaulting woman who wouldn’t listen to him compose music
A Unity man was ordered to serve up to 23 months in jail in connection with two separate assaults against a woman. Mark D. Marcinik, 32, pleaded guilty Thursday two counts of simple assault and criminal mischief for incidents that police said occurred at two homes in Unity in December...
Santa Claus greeted warmly as he arrives at Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield
Santa Claus arrived with much fanfare at the Westmoreland Mall on Route 30 in Hempfield on Friday. His return to center court began with a parade led by the Hempfield Area High School Marching Band and a show from the Westmoreland Performing Arts group. A Christmas tree lighting and reveal...
3 injured in crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County
An adult and child were flown to a hospital after being injured in a two-vehicle crash that shut down parts of Interstate 70 in Westmoreland County Thursday night. Dispatchers from 911 said another person was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The adult who was flown had been ejected from...
Students welcome veterans during appreciation event at East Union Intermediate Center
Veterans were the guest of honor Thursday during an appreciation event held at East Union Intermediate Center in West Deer. About 40 veterans mingled with third, fourth and fifth graders during the gathering held in the school gymnasium. Lonnie Long, a Navy veteran from Ford City, helped to pack veteran...
Boil water advisory lifted for Ligonier area following repair, testing
Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County water customers in the Ligonier area no longer have to boil or conserve their water. The water advisory was lifted as of 6 p.m. Thursday. A water main break Sunday near Waterford caused the disruption, specifically along the transmission line from the Greater Johnstown Water...
2 new members elected to Hampton Township School Board
A Republican candidate earned a Hampton Township School Board seat by defeating an incumbent, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Jenny L. Kennedy edged Democrat Trisha Marie Webb, 3,476 votes to 3,428, to join four candidates running on both parties’ tickets in winning four-year terms on the board. Reelected...
Hempfield Area security committee ‘ironing out details’ before renting metal detectors
Hempfield Area School District is considering additional metal or weapons detectors for its buildings, but options to safeguard its schools could depend on staffing levels and training, members of the new security committee said. At the committee’s meeting this week, board member Mike Alfery said the group is considering renting...
Pittsburgh’s URA giving $2.8M to group developing affordable housing where prices have soared
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is providing $2.8 million in grant money to a nonprofit that wants to develop affordable housing in neighborhoods where housing prices have soared in recent years. The grant, approved by the URA’s board on Thursday, will go to City of Bridges Community Land Trust. The nonprofit...
Allegheny County announces plan to add beds for homeless population as winter approaches
With temperatures dropping and winter approaching, Allegheny County officials have announced a plan to increase the number of available beds for homeless residents when overflow facilities become full or a shelter has to close unexpectedly. The county Department of Human Services said Thursday it is partnering with the city of...
Former St. Alphonsus Church in Springdale supplies Pittsburgh’s official Christmas tree — again
Pittsburgh’s 108th Christmas tree once again will hail from Springdale. While the approximately 40-foot blue spruce won’t be cut down until Saturday, crews from the city’s public works department were at the former St. Alphonsus Church on Thursday to cut down another tree on the property. Officials intend to use...
Remains of Pittsburgh native, shot down over Sicily in 1943, positively identifiedVideo
On July 10, 1943, Pittsburgh native and Army Air Force 2nd Lt. Gilbert Myers was flying a bombing mission over Sicily with crewmates from the 310th Bombardment Group, part of the 381st Bombardment Squadron during World War II. Myers’ B-25 Mitchell was struck by anti-aircraft fire and went down near...
For every goal the Penguins score at home, the Pittsburgh area gets a new tree
Fourth-grader K.K. Cunningham had never planted a tree before Thursday. But the 9-year-old Hazelwood boy was a natural, grabbing a shovel, pivoting and plunging it into soil outside Pittsburgh Mifflin Elementary on what was a gray November morning in the city’s Lincoln Place neighborhood. By the time K.K.’s in eighth...
Council members reelected in Verona
Races for Verona Borough Council included an incumbent winning both a two- and four-year seat, according to unofficial Allegheny County election results. Running as a Democrat and Republican for a four-year term, Nancy A. Carpenter received 288 votes to finish third, with three seats up for election Nov. 7. She...
Pittsburgh office market stabilized in 3rd quarter after being pummeled by pandemic
Office vacancies in Pittsburgh stabilized in the third quarter after the market was pummeled by a pandemic that forced many workers out of offices and into their homes, according to reports from two real estate firms. “One of the reasons why you haven’t seen much adjustment to the overall vacancy...
Unity man pleads guilty to theft of $380,000 from mother
Christopher Treasure told a Westmoreland County judge on Thursday he stole $380,000 from his 75-year-old mother to dull the pain of personal loss. Those losses — the deaths of his father and son — caused him to spiral, Treasure said before pleading guilty to one felony theft charge. Prosecutors said...
Knights of Columbus donates coats to Plum, Riverview students
Holy Family Knights of Columbus Council 4242 donated 48 new winter coats for elementary students in Plum and Riverview school districts. Coats are being distributed to students through the assistance of the elementary guidance counselors at both school districts. Coats for Kids is one of the many charitable programs that...
Monessen man sentenced on federal drug charges
A Monessen man will serve more than five years in federal prison after his conviction on drug charges, U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan announced Thursday. Daniel Smith, 41, was part of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine between June 2020 and July 2021, which involved residents of Brownsville as well as Chicago,...
Former Pittsburgh cop facing wiretapping allegations to receive $6,500 monthly pension
A former Pittsburgh police zone commander who retired amid investigations into whether he wiretapped fellow officers will receive a monthly pension of nearly $6,500 unless he’s convicted on criminal charges, police officials said Thursday. The board of managers of Pittsburgh Policemen’s Relief and Pension Fund voted unanimously Thursday to pay...
Jeannette projects $75K more in wage tax collections in 2024 budget
Jeannette plans to hold the line on its property tax rate for 2024. City manager Ethan Keedy said the $6.15 million budget is balanced without a tax increase. Council was expected to tentatively approve the spending plan Thursday in advance of a final OK next month. Work on the budget...
Harvest Moon Coffee & Chocolates soon to be serving Harrison
A Tarentum coffee shop is all the buzz with news of its expansion to Harrison. Harvest Moon Coffee & Chocolates is set to open a second location in the Heights Plaza, near the post office along Union Avenue. Owner Desiree Singleton expects to be brewing beans at the new site...
Murrysville area: ‘Christmas Carol’ senior breakfast, woman’s club meeting, Delmont wellness checks and more
Senior citizen holiday breakfast The Franklin Regional School District will host a senior citizen holiday breakfast featuring a performance the classic “A Christmas Carol” on Nov. 30. It will be at the senior high school cafeteria, 3200 School Road in Murrysville, and is open to senior citizens 65 and older...
