Haley Daugherty stories, Page 15
Norwin Lions Club hosts 10th annual ‘Cubcake Wars’ to benefit food-insecure students
Norwin High School cafeteria was transformed into a sugar lover’s dream March 9. The Norwin Lions Club hosted its 10th annual “Cubcake Wars,” where 19 neighborhood and professional bakers volunteered their best recipes for a good cause. Bakers sold their goods individually with all proceeds going toward the Lions’ Kitty...
Oakmont woman sentenced to prison after embezzling $250K from employer
An Oakmont woman was sentenced to prison Tuesday after pleading guilty in federal court to bank fraud. The Justice Department said Christy Myers, 64, embezzled around $250,000 from her employer across five years. She was sentenced to two years and 10 months in prison and five years on parole when...
Semper Gratus focuses 10th anniversary on autism and STXBP1 awareness
Cassie Snedecor said she grieved when her son Jack received a level three autism diagnosis almost 19 years ago. “It’s the autism nobody likes to talk about,” Snedecor said. “He’s not like Rain Man or the Good Doctor or any type of autism you see on television.” Jack’s diagnosis comes...
Riverview students set to perform ‘Something Rotten!’
Ever wondered what it’d be like to live at the same time as Shakespeare? What about being a writer trying to compete with the literary great? More than 90 Riverview students help answer those questions during this year’s school musical, “Something Rotten!” The story follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom,...
Multi-community project finds little blight in West Leechburg
West Leechburg is in better shape than a lot of communities when it comes to blight. In the second phase of a multi-community blight study, the borough has only three properties considered to be blighted. The study is led by the Westmoreland County Planning Department with help from the Westmoreland...
Search continues for missing Pitt student on spring break in Dominican Republic
Officials believe a University of Pittsburgh student missing since Thursday in the Dominican Republic died of drowning, according to a report by ABC News. A search is continuing for Sudiksha Konanki, 20, who was last seen just before 5 a.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Hotel Riu Republica in Punta...
1 identified after fatal Homewood North shooting
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner has named Therreus Lindsey, 27, as the man found dead after a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Friday night. Officials were called to the 7200 block of Mount Vernon Street around 11:30 p.m. Friday night following reports of the incident. When police arrived on...
‘We had so many plans’: Hempfield man mourns wife, a school van driver, after fatal crash
Harry Davis wasn’t surprised to hear others speak about his wife’s kindness after she was killed Friday morning. “It doesn’t surprise me,” Davis said. “From being around her, I know how she is with other people and (how she) wanted to help people.” Rene Davis, 60, of Hempfield was killed...
Forum covers the ‘roses and thorns’ of Hempfield firefighting
Creating an “inviting environment” was the theme at Hempfield Township’s second annual fire forum Saturday morning. The first forum took place last year to smooth over concerns, answer uncertainties about the state of the fire department and clarify the “nonchartered” process, where a fire station goes under the direct management...
Local groups take financial worries out of prom season
Hidden behind the glitz and glam of dresses, suits, pictures, flowers and all things that makes prom night magical is the realization of how quickly the expenses can add up. For the students and families worried about the cost as prom season approaches, there are groups in the area that...
Leechburg Youth Baseball Association creates 12U team, switches to Pony League
After an almost complete overhaul and rebuild, the Leechburg Youth Baseball Association is offering a program for players 12 and younger for the first time in 10 years. Jonathan McLaughlin, president of the organization, said the association’s board has mostly new leadership after previous board members’ children aged out of...
Penn Hills students meet therapy dogs as part of counseling options in wake of teacher’s death
Penn Hills students were introduced to emotional support dogs from HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response recently to help them cope with the death of a beloved teacher. Gordie, a golden retriever, and Fergus, a black Labrador, met with students in groups Feb. 28 and accepted lots of pets and hugs. The...
7-year-old BMX rider follows passion to championships
Arya “Arie” Kowal never needed training wheels. The 7-year-old began riding bikes when she was 2, racing toddler-friendly electric balance bikes. “It was a little too chaotic (at the track) with big dirt bikes there,” said Arie’s father, David Kowal. “I didn’t really like the atmosphere — a little dangerous...
Armstrong County Children, Youth and Family Services caseworkers get new deal, higher wages
After working without a contract for eight months, union members who work for Armstrong County Children, Youth and Family services and the county Assessor’s Office reached an agreement with the county that increases the starting wage to $20 an hour. That was a main sticking point during negotiations between the...
Paving project is the 1st step in Verona’s transportation improvements
Transportation is going to become smoother on Arch Street in Verona. A paving project is set to take place sometime next year, said borough Manager Stefanie Woolford. “The biggest change is paving and some revitalization,” Woolford said. She said the “revitalization” aspects of the project have remained undecided since borough...
Penn Hills students push for their voices to be heard
Time is being reserved at Penn Hills School Board’s next public meeting for a group of students to speak publicly after their comments were cut short during the Feb. 26 voting meeting. The Linton Middle School Media Center was filled with students and teachers seemingly wanting to show support to...
Sex offender arrested after being found near school in West Deer
A registered sex offender was arrested after allegedly being found on the campus of Deer Lakes School District’s East Union Intermediate Center on Tuesday afternoon. Mark Campbell, 60, of West Deer was seen by an officer walking on the front sidewalk of the school. Campbell is a lifetime Megan’s Law...
Penn Hills resident publishes book of poetry inspired by 15 years of riding bus to work
Michael Frachioni has been riding city buses for years. Unlike most who use the commute to zone out, listen to music or close their eyes for a moment, Frachioni uses that time to observe his fellow riders to find the subject of his next poem. A lawyer for PNC Bank...
Bird flu affecting more than 600 birds at Butler County farm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed Butler County’s first case of bird flu. The virus was detected in a backyard flock of 610 birds. The USDA confirmed the infection on Feb. 20. It classified the farm, which was not identified by the USDA, as a kind that does not...
Oakmont restaurant owners speak up against food truck ordinance
A proposed ordinance meant to regulate food trucks in Oakmont, while not encouraging their use, could have a negative impact on borough restaurants. The operation of food trucks not affiliated with borough restaurants is what brought about the proposed ordinance. Borough Manager Scot Fodi said Oakmont officials have been contacted...
Firearms meet varying fates after moving through law enforcement
From 2022 to the end of last year, Pittsburgh police took in more than 2,700 firearms used in crimes, some confiscated via court order and others simply turned in by people who didn’t want them anymore. But only a little more than 570 of those guns were destroyed. Almost 650...
Oakmont zoning hearing raises more questions than answers for businesses
Questions remained unanswered and issues unresolved after a public hearing before the Oakmont Zoning Hearing Board was postponed Thursday night and rescheduled for a second time. The hearing was initially scheduled Feb. 8, after an ongoing legal battle involving various Oakmont businesses and the borough was to be brought in...
Vandergrift man apprehended after standoff facing multiple charges
A Vandergrift man is facing a slew of charges after being involved in a standoff with several police agencies Friday afternoon after he allegedly ran from police the day before. Westmoreland County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jen Shipley said 44-year-old Luis Brackman refused to surrender to deputies Friday when authorities attempted...
Riverview alum wins national teaching award
A Riverview alum has been recognized by the White House for her work in shaping the minds of young scientists and engineers. Ella Hereth, 42, of Indianapolis, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching — the highest honor a math or science teacher can receive...
Gilpin supervisors hear complaint about stopping livestreaming public meetings
The Gilpin supervisors are fielding complaints after deciding to stop livestreaming public meetings. According to a social media post by Supervisor Charles Stull, the issue of livestreaming meetings was raised by a “few board members” and added to the February voting meeting agenda for discussion. “Once on the topic, I...
