Men get mandatory life in prison for Downtown shooting that killed 18-month-oldVideo
Dea’Shea Green told a judge that she hasn’t been herself for one year, three months and seven days — since her 18-month-old son, De’Avry Thomas, was killed in a drive-by shooting Downtown. Green said she struggles to sleep because every time she closes her eyes, the events of May 29,...
Plum names new high school, middle school principals
The Plum School Board filled the remaining vacancies in the district’s administrative team created by the departure and advancement of personnel. During a special voting meeting Tuesday, the board approved hiring Patrick Baughman as principal of Plum High School, Stephan Sereda as an assistant high school principal and Adam Szarmach...
Brackenridge revises 2 ordinances for seamless police enforcement with consolidated department
In a move to streamline police operations with Tarentum, officials in Brackenridge are revising two of their ordinances. Council last week gave Solicitor Craig Alexander the green light to prepare two draft ordinances that will mirror Tarentum’s and enable more seamless enforcement for the newly consolidated Tarentum-Brackenridge police force. Alexander...
Search for missing Indiana County hunter continues
State police are looking for an Indiana County man who went missing, after telling coworkers he planned to go hunting with his dogs after work on Monday. Bryan J. Bialas, 45, of Conemaugh Township, was reported missing by coworkers on Wednesday. He is known to hunt in the Apollo and...
Greenfield Elementary students help design schoolyard proposal
Students at Greenfield Elementary often play in a parking lot or on a grass field during recess and after school. Soon, they’ll have a new community schoolyard with playground equipment, a turf field, trees and other amenities. Students on Wednesday helped unveil designs for the schoolyard, which were crafted, in...
5 homes evacuated in Laurel Mountain borough amid gas leak report, 911 says
Several homes in the small borough of Laurel Mountain near Laughlintown were evacuated briefly Wednesday morning as authorities investigated reports of a gas leak, according to county emergency officials. First responders were called to a home on Walnut Road in the small community off of Route 30 shortly after 11...
Greensburg Salem Alumni Picnic planned at Mt. Odin Park
The annual Greensburg Salem Alumni Picnic for all graduating classes will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at Mt. Odin Park in Greensburg. Food and beverages are included in the cost: $10 in advance by Sept. 20, $15 on the day of the event. There is no cost...
Bridgeville man died in Allegheny County Jail of brain hemorrhage, officials say
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled a Bridgeville man’s May death at Allegheny County Jail an accident. James Washington, 42, died from a brain hemorrhage, the medical examiner’s office said. Washington was being processed into the jail around 9:30 a.m. May 7 when he became unresponsive, the medical examiner’s...
Westmoreland happenings: Glass City Heritage Festival, car cruise, health screenings
Submissions from nonprofit organizations for Briefly Speaking should be emailed to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Include a complete address and daytime phone number. Submissions are due at least two weeks prior to the event. Each announcement is printed once; there is no fee. Art • Greensburg Art Center and Greensburg Hempfield Area Library...
Friendship takes center stage in upcoming ‘Steel Magnolias’ performance in Scottdale
You wouldn’t guess from their performance that the cast of “Steel Magnolias” at the Geyer Performing Arts Center come from very different places in their acting careers. Of the show’s six stars, three have never acted in a performance at the theater. For one of those three, the upcoming performance...
Residents ask Delmont to consider adding dog park to borough
Delmont residents asked their council to consider some additions to the borough — specifically a dog park, and speed humps on West Pittsburgh Street. “There are more than 300 dog license applications processed for Delmont, and that’s just in 2023. We want our dogs to be happy and healthy, and...
Morning Roundup: Tractor-trailer gets stuck on Upper St. Clair road
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Sept. 13: Upper St. Clair road closed after tractor-trailer becomes stuck Painters Run Road in Allegheny County was shut down Wednesday morning after a tractor-trailer became stuck trying to make a tight turn. The incident happened near the...
The Stroller, Sept. 13, 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. Deer Lakes HS plans homecoming celebration The annual Deer Lakes High...
New covid booster can update protection from severe disease, Western Pa. doctors say
Western Pennsylvania doctors say the newly approved covid booster vaccine will help protect from severe impacts of the most recent variants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially approved updated covid vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer on Monday. The vaccines have been tweaked to correspond to the Omicron variant XBB.1.5,...
Street closures set for upcoming implosion at former Cheswick Generating Station
Preparations are underway for next week’s implosion of the boiler house at the former Cheswick Generation Station in Springdale. On Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. or soon thereafter, the former Cheswick Power Station’s boiler house will be felled through a controlled use of explosives. Handling the implosion are the Cheswick...
Stations of the Cross removed from St. Ladislaus in preparation for building demolition
Fourteen timeworn cherubs and crucifixes were carted off from St. Ladislaus Church in Harrison as the building continues to be stripped of religious artifacts. The items, part of the wall-mounted Stations of the Cross for 120 years, were saved by an anonymous donor who is paying to have them restored...
Penn Township Fall Festival to continue 17-year tradition
The 16th annual Penn Township Fall Festival aims to live up to its original motto this weekend. “Our original concept was to continue bringing the community together,” festival co-chair Robert Kuster said. Kuster and fellow co-chair Michael Ginsburg came up with the idea for a fall festival when the township...
Westmoreland 250: 10 things to see in the Donegal area
(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...
Hunker man not guilty of sexual assault
A Westmoreland County jury on Tuesday acquitted a Hunker man who was charged with sexual assault. After more than three hours of deliberations, jurors found Dakota Archibeque, 21, not guilty of indecent assault and simple assault in connection with accusations made by an 18-year-old woman. “I knew exactly what happened...
Trial begins for Mt. Pleasant man accused of shooting at police
The trial began Tuesday for a Mt. Pleasant man accused of firing a gun at police as officers responded to a report of an alleged home invasion in 2021. Westmoreland County prosecutors say Richard Teeters, 52, was the lone occupant of the Pine Street home when police fled for cover...
Chatham University reduces staff, streamlines operations to address budget deficit
One of Pittsburgh’s small, private universities is facing layoffs and cuts, joining a dubious trend hitting institutions of higher education across the country. The university said it is working to reduce its budgetary deficit and reviewing academic programs as possible areas to cut costs. Chatham projected an operating budget deficit...
Westmoreland County man drowns while vacationing at Hilton Head Island
A Westmoreland County man drowned Monday while vacationing on Hilton Head Island Beach in South Carolina. Beaufort County Deputy Coroner Andrew McNece identified the man as David Owens, 64, of North Huntingdon. Emergency responders were called to the Disney Club Beach in Palmetto Dunes around 3:30 p.m. Monday for a...
Police chief leaving Allegheny Township for Lancaster County post
Allegheny Township’s police chief is headed to Eastern Pennsylvania. Chief Duane Fisher, who succeeded longtime Chief John Fontaine in 2018, was named police chief Monday night in Manheim Township, a Lancaster County community of 44,000 residents. Fisher, who grew up and attended college in York County’s Susquehanna Valley, is set...
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy looks to expand youth environmental programs
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is looking to create young naturalists with the help of a $100,000 federal grant. The nonprofit said Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency grant will help it develop a Junior Young Naturalist program for middle schoolers across the city. Participants will learn about environmental careers and...
Pittsburgh to become sanctuary city for gender-affirming care
Pittsburgh is on its way to becoming a sanctuary city for gender-affirming health care, under legislation approved Tuesday by City Council. Councilwoman Barb Warwick, D-Greenfield, sponsored a measure that will shield gender-affirming health care providers, recipients and legal guardians from out-of-state prosecution or investigation. A second, related bill will deprioritize...
