Trib Extra

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series about Westmoreland County residents who have been honored as Hometown Heroes. World War II and Korean War veteran Ross Saunders celebrated 87 Christmases before he answered the final call, dying on Dec. 26, 2011. The most memorable of those holidays was without...

A team is being formed to bring back a program recognizing distinguished graduates of the New Kensington-Arnold School District and its predecessor districts. The team is expected to include area historians, former district administrators and teachers and community leaders, school board member Sarah Yurga said. “Once we form that team,...

The Roaring Run Watershed Association will host what they believe is the area’s first Civil War reenactment Aug. 13 and 14 at the Roaring Run Trail in Kiski Township. The program, “A Walk Through History,” will feature Civil War reenactment stations along the first half-mile of the trail from the...

Vandergrift No. 1 Volunteer Fire Department turns 125 years old this year and organizers plan to host a daylong community celebration. Alexandra Berger, company member and fundraising committee chairperson, said she was motivated to organize a birthday bash for the firefighters of the borough when she did the math and...

Harrison residents in the 2nd Ward have a chance to build up their neighborhood through a series of small group get-togethers hosted by Commissioner Jamie Nee. Nee was elected to represent the 2nd Ward in November. “I wanted to find out what’s important to them, what will make us strong,”...

After years of delays, the renovation of Low Grade Road appears to be around the corner. The traffic artery, jointly owned by Harmar, Cheswick and Springdale Township, is set to receive work this summer. Construction bids will be sought, and a contract will be awarded by the Allegheny County North...

Following the recent retirement of two veteran police officers, Allegheny Township is hiring three younger, full-time officers and spending less money at the same time. Officials Monday night unveiled a plan to expand the staff of full-time officers from 10 to 11 but with law enforcement budget savings of $11,650,...

Ben Pollock often dominated the competition while playing at Cheswick Christian Academy. Pollock then went to Mount Vernon Nazarene, an NAIA program located about 45 minutes northeast of Columbus, Ohio, but adjusting to the college game took time, and he decided being closer to home would be better for his...

Samantha Gildner was introduced to soccer by the age of 4, and she quickly picked up the game while playing for Highlands Area Soccer Club. A few years later, she played for North United, a cup team with a roster primarily comprised of players from the Sewickley and Cranberry areas....

Last season, Hempfield’s baseball team had an historic year, reaching the WPIAL Class 6A finals for the first time. With several seniors graduating, Hempfield will look much different this year. But that doesn’t worry senior Brandon Coughlin. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that are pretty talented,” Coughlin said....

Three students had three words to describe Valley High School English teacher Rachael Link. “Energetic” was the word senior Rachel Schrock used. “You can hear her down the hallway teaching her class,” said Schrock, 18. The word that came to 16-year-old Elisabeth Ervin’s mind was “inspiring.” “She gets kids to...

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and President Joe Biden are rolling the dice on runaway inflation and slow growth. Global supply-chain disruptions and cost pressures on businesses are likely to persist into 2023 but by merely phasing down purchases of Treasury and mortgage-backed securities, the Fed is still adding significant liquidity....

In recent weeks, the federal court of appeals that includes Texas and two Deep South states has issued rulings in two cases that exemplify the extent of its conservative domination — and the continuing influence of former President Donald Trump. In one, it allowed the controversial new Texas law that...

Remember those “shovel-ready jobs” promised by the Obama-Biden administration in 2011? When many failed to appear after passage of this spending boondoggle, President Obama joked, “Shovel-ready was not as shovel-ready as we expected.” That law, noted Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), cost $787 billion, of which $48 billion was supposed...

The United States has slipped into cold wars with Russian and China characterized by military brinkmanship and economic competition. To address these challenges, President Joe Biden envisions a community of democracies and strengthening cooperation with Europe and the Quad (the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.) However, each member, most notably...

Democrats have a messaging problem, as you’ve no doubt heard since their recent election losses. The problem hardly started with President Joe Biden, a weak messenger given that he’s been underwater in the polls since August. Weak messaging has defined Democrats for most of the years I’ve covered them. Theirs...

The Norwin Historical Society’s annual Holiday House Tour will again be held virtually Dec. 4-5, coupled with a special Dec. 4 indoor “watch party” of the locations with music, a light dinner, wine tasting, and basket raffle planned from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Greenhouse Winery, 2155 Gracin Lane,...

It’s been eleven years since a state law was created to help municipalities target blighted property owners who owe taxes and other bills, in part, because of a costly situation in Jeannette. City officials are planning to tap into the law’s powers. Solicitor Tim Witt has a draft ordinance prepared...

Six years ago, Steve and Amy Boop decided to turn their experience working in restaurants into their own venture: a food truck with gourmet wraps. But another opportunity was knocking, right around the corner. “We had everything pretty much ready to do that,” said Amy Boop, 35, of the food...

It was a record-scratch of a moment: Texas actor and potential gubernatorial hopeful Matthew McConaughey, who is vaccinated against covid-19, declared in an interview last week that his younger children are unvaccinated and that he wants more information. The comment sparked a headline frenzy and touched off waves of dismay...

Owen Tutich School: Greensburg Salem Sport: Hockey Year: Junior Claim to fame: Tutich had two goals and two assists to lead Greensburg Salem (2-4) to a 9-4 win over Moon in Class A action on Nov. 11. Tutich has 17 points, which is third in Class A, with eight goals...

Shortly after the Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s basketball coaches picked Saint Vincent to finish eighth among the league’s 10 teams, the Bearcats proceeded to lose their regular-season opener by 60 points. Mt. Union, which began the season ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division III, made sure of it with a...

It appears it could be another typical season in women’s basketball at Saint Vincent. The Bearcats are overwhelming favorites to repeat as Presidents’ Athletic Conference champions after completing an abbreviated 10-0 schedule a year ago, capped by a victory over Washington & Jefferson in the PAC Tournament championship game. “Typical...

In basketball, a “brick” is typically not a good thing. But for Meaghan Volek and the Penn State New Kensington women’s basketball team, they’re hoping to pile them up. “Our slogan for our program is that we’re building brick by brick,” said Volek, a Kittanning grad who coached at Burrell....