Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 48
Harrison man accused of setting fire in basement of Natrona house after argument with homeowner
A Harrison man is accused of starting a fire early Sunday in the basement of a home in the township’s Natrona section. Allegheny County Police announced Monday that Eric Knabenshue, 35, has been arrested. He is charged with two felony counts of arson, felony counts of criminal mischief and endangering...
Refinery issues could offset lower prices cheaper winter gas typically brings, analyst says
While one in five states has seen average gasoline prices decline in the past week, an industry analyst says, Pennsylvania is not one of them. According to price-tracking service GasBuddy, the national average increased nearly 5 cents per gallon in the past week to about $3.83. That’s a penny less...
Plum matches $26,000 in county funding for cameras at 3 intersections
Surveillance cameras to be installed at three intersections in Plum will become part of a network police use to help solve crime, a police department spokesman said. Plum Council has approved spending $26,000 for the cameras, matching $26,000 offered by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. They will be placed...
Plum man accused of fleeing from police after finding them searching his home
A Plum man is accused of fleeing from police this week after coming home to find officers serving a search warrant at his house. Police charged Mitchell Patrick Stewart, 31, on Wednesday with a misdemeanor count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and several summary traffic offenses,...
Man injured in accidental self-inflicted shooting in Arnold, authorities say
A man was injured in an accidental shooting Thursday night in Arnold, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office. The shooting was reported just before 7:30 p.m. outside in the 1400 block of Constitution Boulevard, said Melanie Jones, a spokeswoman for county DA Nicole Ziccarelli. Jones said a man...
Kiski Township supervisors toss animal regulation proposal amid pet alligator escapes
Regulations governing the keeping of animals in Kiski Township are unchanged, for now. Facing a crush of public criticism and opposition, the township supervisors voted Wednesday to toss out the draft of an ordinance governing everything from pets to farm animals. It specifically would ban crocodilians, including the American alligator....
Leechburg’s Pink Day blossomed from flower sold in support of breast cancer research
More than 100 vendors, selling everything from honey to homemade dog treats, are expected to attend Leechburg’s 12th annual Pink Day on Saturday. It’s the most they’ve ever had for the event, which has raised about $217,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation since the first one in 2011, according...
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...
New Kensington man dies at scene of Route 28 crash in Fawn
A New Kensington man died at the scene of a crash at the Tarentum interchange on Route 28 early Saturday, according to state police. State police identified the driver as Dominic E. Montemurro, 28. According to state police, the single-vehicle crash happened shortly after 4 a.m. on the southbound Route...
Plum fire trucks among vehicles at food truck rally, touch-a-truck event benefiting Rustic Ridge
Three of the Plum fire trucks that responded to the Rustic Ridge house explosion Aug. 12 were out in the community for a different, but related, reason on Saturday. Ladder trucks from the Holiday Park and Unity fire departments and an engine from the Renton company were among the vehicles...
Plum School District pays $3K to settle dispute with transportation contractor
Plum School District paid $3,000 to settle a dispute with a transportation contractor that accused the district of failing to reimburse it during the covid disaster emergency. The school board approved the agreement with A-1 Transit in July. The district released the agreement following a Right-to-Know request by the Tribune-Review,...
Squonk Opera uses New Kensington digs to prepare a ‘Brouhaha’Video
New Kensington has a new claim to fame: home of the first “Squonkcordion.” The device — described as “an enormous musical instrument powered by behemoth bellows topped with towering tuba bells” — will make its public debut at the Kickoff and Rib Festival on Sunday and Monday outside Acrisure Stadium...
Apollo-Ridge officials condemn racist social media posts ahead of game against Valley
Apollo-Ridge School District officials Tuesday condemned racist images targeting Valley High School’s football team ahead of the schools’ scheduled game Friday in New Kensington. In a statement, Apollo-Ridge Superintendent Matt Curci said the racist material posted to social media was brought to officials’ attention Monday night. One image was a...
Labor Day drivers likely to find higher gas prices, AAA says
Drivers taking road trips this Labor Day weekend will likely see slightly higher gas prices compared to last year, according to AAA. The national average for a gallon of regular was $3.78 on Labor Day 2022, but has been above $3.80 for the past couple of weeks, AAA said in...
Plum mayor, police advise residents to secure vehicles parked outdoors
Plum officials are warning residents to secure vehicles that are parked outside. At the August borough council meeting, Mayor Harry Schlegel said police had 866 calls for service in July, a 16% increase over June. Thefts from vehicles are one of the things he said have been keeping officers busy....
New Kensington Bridge on schedule to reopen on Labor Day
The New Kensington Bridge is expected to reopen as scheduled on Sept. 4, a PennDOT spokesman said Friday. A six-week closure of the bridge over the Allegheny River between East Deer and New Kensington started July 24, diverting more than 15,000 vehicles that use it every day. The posted detour...
Tarentum sisters, boyfriend stage robbery of Asay’s newsstand, police allege
A pair of Tarentum sisters and one of their boyfriends staged the Wednesday afternoon robbery of Asay’s newsstand to get money to pay bills and buy fentanyl, borough police are alleging in charges filed against the trio Friday. Police said April and Leah Baczynski came up with the idea with...
Neighbor near fatal Plum house explosion can get house fixed but mourns loss of friends, wonders about the future
Andy Zarroli might be the first of nearly a dozen homeowners in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood to know his house can be repaired following the fatal house explosion two weeks ago. But while his house can be fixed, he’s not sure if he and his wife can call it home...
Olympus Energy donating 250 gas detectors to Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood
A Washington County-based oil and natural gas company is donating 250 methane detectors for homes in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood where six people died from a house explosion Aug. 12. Olympus Energy of Cecil Township gave the detectors to the Rustic Ridge Homeowners Association. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Rich Negrin,...
Public information session scheduled about increase in activity at Parks Township nuclear waste dump
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Thursday that it will hold a public information session about an increase in activity at the Shallow Land Disposal Area in Parks Township. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Parks Township fire department, 1119 Dalmation...
Armstrong County woman charged with abandoning dog at Pittsburgh airport
Allegheny County Police charged an Armstrong County woman with cruelty to animals and other offenses, saying she abandoned a dog at Pittsburgh International Airport earlier this month. Police announced Thursday that charges were filed against Allison Lyn Gaiser, 44, of East Franklin. They said investigators determined Gaiser intentionally abandoned a...
Plum holds first council meeting since house explosion killed 6, including 2 borough officials
David Soboslay has been named the interim manager of Plum, replacing Michael Thomas, who was one of the six people killed in the Rustic Ridge house explosion Aug. 12. Plum Council met Wednesday night for the first time since the explosion. Its regular August meeting, scheduled for Aug. 14, was...
Second I-79 crash of the day claims life of New York State man
A New York State man is dead following a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 79 in Washington County. Coroner S. Timothy Warco identified the man Thursday as Gary M. Reinhardt, 58, of Lancaster, a village east of Buffalo. His cause and manner of death were pending an autopsy. The...
Wendell August Forge ornament to honor, support Plum community
Wendell August Forge announced Wednesday it is producing an ornament honoring the Plum community following the fatal Aug. 12 house explosion in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood. The “Plum Proud” ornaments cost $20 and are available directly from Wendell August Forge through its website. The Grove City company said half...
Resource center event announced for Plum’s Rustic Ridge residents
Multiple services and help will be available for residents of Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood during an event Thursday afternoon at the borough’s municipal center, officials announced Tuesday. The Multi-Agency Resource Center will be offered from noon to 8 p.m. in the municipal center’s gymnasium. Individuals will need to provide identification...
