Western Pennsylvania school districts receive email swatting threats
Several Western Pennsylvania school districts were the target of swatting emails this week, authorities said. They included Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and South Park in Allegheny County and Belle Vernon and Derry Area in Westmoreland County. The school districts reported receiving threatening messages via email on Tuesday and Wednesday....
Oakmont council celebrates pastor’s retirement
Members of Oakmont Council honored the Rev. Steve Wilson at their meeting Sept. 18. “I met him over 30 years ago,” said Oakmont mayor Sophia Facaros. “He was refereeing our son’s indoor soccer game. I was a coach at the time. I remember I turned to look at him and,...
Oakmont gets a step closer to hiring new police officer
Oakmont has narrowed its search to five candidates for one available full-time police officer position. The position was originally advertised by the borough in early August with applications due in-person by mid-August. Chairman of the borough’s Civil Service Commision, Les Leasure, presented council members with an update Sept. 18. Five...
Release of suspect in $1.6M drug case ignites political firestorm in Allegheny County
Allegheny County court officials are still trying to figure out how a man accused of carrying $1.6 million in fentanyl in Pittsburgh was released from custody this month, and now another judge is reportedly involved in the snafu. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda, 27,...
First Responders Back the Blue event set to roll out in Hyde Park
An event honoring first responders is coming to Hyde Park later this Saturday. The inaugural First Responders Back the Blue event will be held Saturday at the Hyde Park Heritage Pavilion, 291 Railroad St., said Jay Zanotti, president of the Hyde Park Volunteer Fire Company. The event is hosted by...
Freeport Area approves $13K to replace roof of salt storage shed that dates to 1960s
For a small school district with limited finances, stretching a dollar is a year-round school board proposition. Residents attending Freeport Area School District’s board meeting were reminded of that last week. This time it wasn’t computers, textbooks or teaching positions hovering over the chopping block but protection for the district’s...
Leechburg’s David Leech Elementary among state’s 13 National Blue Ribbon Schools
A Leechburg Area elementary school is celebrating earning a prestigious national distinction. David Leech Elementary School has been named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The district announced the news Tuesday on its official Facebook page. The school is one of 13 recognized in...
Arnold mayor seeks regulation on use of minibikes
Mayor Joseph Bia said he plans to rein in youths riding minibikes recklessly on Arnold’s streets before they injure somebody, including themselves. Bia brought the matter before city council at its meeting last week. “We’ve got a big problem with kids riding minibikes through the streets,” he said. “They’re breaking...
Serra Catholic student killed in school van crash in Dravosburg
A 15-year-old girl was killed Wednesday in a school van crash in Dravosburg, authorities said. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the girl as Samantha Lee Kalkbrenner of Dravosburg. Three other juveniles, all students at Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, were injured and taken to a hospital in...
Westmoreland happenings: Underground Railroad program, stuffed pork chop dinner, bingos, more
Fundraisers • Jeannette Knights of Columbus hosts bingo at 7 p.m. Fridays in Mersinger Hall at Ascension Church, 615 Division St., Jeannette. Doors open at 6 p.m. and early birds begin at 6:30 p.m. Players younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Food will be available. Details: 724-523-9244....
1 killed in Route 819 crash in Greensburg
It appears speed and drugs were factors in a fatal head-on crash Wednesday morning in Greensburg, according to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office. Robert J. Glendening, 37, of Hempfield was driving a Chevrolet Cruze southbound in the northbound lane of Route 819 just before 6 a.m. when the car collided...
Morning Roundup: 2 hurt in garbage truck crash in Overbrook; vandalism in Squirrel Hill; 2 shot in Mt. Oliver
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 20: 2 injured after garbage truck crashes in Overbrook Two people were reported injured when a garbage truck crashed Tuesday in Pittsburgh’s Overbrook neighborhood. Surveillance video showed the truck traveling down a hill before hitting several vehicles...
Derry man claims plea deal to domestic violence will support family
A Derry Township man told a Westmoreland County judge on Tuesday he would plead guilty to domestic violence charges to help his family. In doing so, Kane Markle will have limited contact with his two children, according to terms of a plea deal. The deal will enable his parole from...
Blood donations fall short by two-thirds in region, nonprofit says
Blood collection organizations say donations are down at least 25% — a trend they’ve been unable to break since the pandemic. The American Red Cross announced a national blood shortage last week upon receiving 30,000 fewer donations than expected in August. That’s a 25% decrease from the 12,500 donations it...
The Stroller, Sept. 20, 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. New Kensington to celebrate Fridays on Fifth The monthly Fridays on...
Police say Lower Burrell woman attacked boyfriend with hatchet, scissors
Lower Burrell police charged a woman with aggravated assault after she was accused of throwing an ax at her boyfriend and attacking him with scissors. Brittany Lynn Betts, 32, of Lower Burrell faces two counts of aggravated
assault with the attempt to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon. A...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in the Arnold, New Kensington areas
(Editor’s note: To mark Westmoreland County’s 250th birthday this year, we’ve come up with a list of 250 things — 10 things in 25 communities — that we consider to be important to the makeup of our area. This series will appear each week through December. If you have a...
Plum waterlines working as designed on day of deadly home explosion, municipal authority says
Plum Municipal Authority officials said the borough’s water system and hydrants were working as designed when firefighters responded to a house explosion that killed six people in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood on Aug. 12. Firefighters initially attempted to pull water from the hydrants at a greater rate than the system...
Lindsay Powell declares victory in special election race, giving Dems slim majority in state House
Democrats have declared victory in an Allegheny County special election and are poised to claim a slim majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Lindsay Powell, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, declared victory Tuesday night in the 21st District special election after receiving more than 65% of the vote with 96%...
‘Pilgrim George,’ trekked 40K miles to witness for Jesus, dies at 82
“Pilgrim George” lived a humble life focused on serving as a witness for Jesus Christ. For nearly 40 years, the Hampton native lived a hermit-like existence during the fall and winter months, using the time to plan his spring and summer pilgrimage in the name of Jesus. He believed the...
Man robs First National Bank in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood
No one was injured when a man robbed a Pittsburgh bank Tuesday afternoon, city police said. The man, possibly in his 60s, took an unknown amount of cash from First National Bank in the 400 block of East North Avenue, in the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood, according to police. Police...
Pittsburgh police probe armed home invasion in Bedford Dwellings
Pittsburgh police are investigating a home invasion reported early Monday in the city’s Bedford Dwellings complex. Police responded at about 12:15 a.m. to a home in the 900 block of Memory Lane. Police didn’t provide a description of a suspect who kicked in the front door and demanded money from...
New Kensington shooting suspect seeks move to juvenile court
Jonathan Felder was six days shy of his 18th birthday when, according to police, he and six others ambushed and fatally shot a man inside the lobby of a New Kensington apartment building last summer. A forensic psychologist testified Tuesday that Felder, now 19, of Arnold should be prosecuted as...
Gambling brings home $457M for Pa. in August
Gambling in August climbed over the prior year, with much of the haul for Pennsylvania taxpayers coming from online games. But the August total was a slight drop compared to revenue in July, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Gaming raked in $457.15 million in August, a year-over-year increase...
Washington County woman charged with homicide in 1-year-old daughter’s fentanyl death
A Washington County woman has been charged with criminal homicide in the death of her 1-year-old daughter, who authorities say died from fentanyl poisoning. Washington County District Attorney Jason M. Walsh announced charges Tuesday against Lindsey Rae Reho, 32, of North Franklin. In a criminal complaint, state police said medics...
