Madasyn Czebiniak stories, Page 3
Torrential rain leads to widespread flooding across Western Pa.
Traffic on several roads remained affected in Allegheny County Friday morning after heavy rains pounded Western Pennsylvania Thursday, causing widespread flooding and hazards that shut down major thoroughfares throughout the region. PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said those roads spanned from Frazer Township to Crescent Township: • A bridge on Kittanning...
Police: Mt. Pleasant woman lost $1,300 in gift card scam
A Westmoreland County woman was scammed out of $1,300 after she gave prepaid gift card numbers to an unknown person, state police in Greensburg said. Troopers said the suspect in April contacted the Mt. Pleasant woman by phone and identified themselves as a representative from Microsoft. The scammer said Microsoft...
Pittsburgh police investigating Spring Hill shooting
A man was shot in the leg early Wednesday in Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill neighborhood, city police said. The shooting was reported shortly before 3 a.m. in the 2100 block of Rhine Street, said Chris Togneri, a public safety spokesman. Togneri said officers arrived and found the man with a gunshot...
Pennsylvania ranks No. 2 in U.S. student debt
This is a list that Pennsylvania won’t be proud to be high on. The Commonwealth ranked No. 2 in the country in student debt, according to WalletHub research. The report looked at average student debt, unemployment rates for people ages 25 to 34, students with past-due loans and student work...
Pittsburgh police officer taken to hospital after Homewood crash
A Pittsburgh police officer was taken to a hospital Monday after a truck rear-ended a police cruiser in the city’s Homewood section. The incident was reported just after 3 p.m. on Frankstown Avenue near North Homewood Avenue, according to Cara Cruz, a public safety spokeswoman. When officers arrived, they found...
Fire causes significant damage to Shaler home
No one was injured when a fire caused heavy damage to the back of a Shaler home Tuesday morning. The fire was reported just before 5:45 a.m. at 602 Bluestone Drive, Shaler Police Lt. Sean Frank said. Crews contained the fire within one hour. The cause of the blaze is...
Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of boy in Lawrence County
A man suspected of stabbing an 8-year-old boy to death Monday night in Lawrence County was arrested Tuesday in Ohio. Police said that Keith Burley, 43, of Edinburg, stabbed the boy multiple times in front of his three brothers, telling him to “die” as he did so. Police identified the...
Taxes and snow cones part of the job for Gilpin accountant
Editor’s note: Building the Valley tells stories of businesses big and small and the employees who make them special. If you know of any standout employees, bosses or companies with a great story to tell, contact reporter Madasyn Czebiniak at mczebiniak@tribweb.com. The most stressful time of the year for Jean...
Springdale chief lauds officers for keeping community safe
Springdale police Chief George Polnar credits his officers and teamwork with keeping the borough safe. “We have great officers,” Polnar said in an interview with the Tribune-Review. “Obviously, in any organization, you’re not going to please everybody. But I think, by and large, our officers do a great job. People...
Pittsburgh woman killed, man hurt in Penn Hills crash
A woman who died when her SUV collided with a Hummer early Monday in Penn Hills has been identified. Jewell Motley, 33, of Pittsburgh was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 5:15 a.m. at Saltsburg Road and Sycamore Drive, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office reported. Allegheny County police...
Teens learn public safety through hands-on training, build ties with policeVideo
Fifteen-year-old Greta Mueller pulled her car over and sat still as two police cars stopped behind her flashing their red and blue emergency lights. “Driver in the vehicle, put your hands up,” a man said over a loudspeaker. Mueller complied. “Throw the keys out the window,” the man continued. Out...
Pitt police beef up patrols after reported burglary, attempted sexual assault
University of Pittsburgh Police have beefed up their patrols in the area of a reported burglary and attempted sexual assault of a university student early Friday, a university spokesman said. The incident happened at 4:15 a.m. in the 200 block of Oakland Avenue, according to a report posted on the...
Flash flood warnings issued for parts of Western Pennsylvania
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Western Pennsylvania until Friday afternoon. Central Allegheny County is expected to receive around an inch of rain and up to a half inch of additional rainfall, the weather service said. The flash flood warning remains in...
Mom of convicted Crafton bank robber pleads guilty to helping him, covering up crime
The mother of a convicted bank robber pleaded guilty in federal court for helping her son and attempting to cover up his crime, federal prosecutors said. Melissa Kane’s son, Brent Richards, stole just over $10,000 from the Citizens Bank at 31 Foster Ave. in Crafton last year. He pleaded guilty...
100 mph chase on Route 28 ends with crash near Fox Chapel
A Pittsburgh man wanted on a warrant was jailed early Wednesday after state police say he led them on a more than 100 mph chase down Route 28 in a stolen vehicle. Jozsef “Joe Ball” Harangozo, 36, was suspected of being “under the influence of controlled substances” as he fled...
Harmar bridge to close for 3 months for replacement project
A Harmar bridge will shut down this month and remain closed for three months for a $1.1 million bridge replacement project. Little Deer Creek Bridge on Jacoby Road will close at 6 a.m. July 17, according to the Allegheny County Department of Public Works. The closure will be followed by...
Harrison man indicted for possessing child pornography
A Harrison man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of possessing child pornography last year, according to federal prosecutors. According to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady, Jack Ulrich Jr., 41, used computer graphics files to store pornographic photographs and videos of minors, some of whom...
Tarentum jewelers create meaningful relationships with friends, families
Seita Jewelers in Tarentum has been putting engagement rings on people’s fingers for more than 60 years. Owners Curt and Sandi Marino have plenty of stories about how their customers popped the question, from putting a ring inside a specially made hockey puck to proposing on top of a Las...
Man killed in Arnold alley identified as East Franklin resident; police investigating
A heavy-equipment operator and father of three from Armstrong County died after being shot in an Arnold alley Friday night, according to investigators. Gregory Ray Wynkoop, 35, of East Franklin died of a single gunshot wound at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison. The shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. in the...
Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh gives $650,000 to victims of New Zealand mosque attack
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh will give more than $650,000 for victims of the March 15 attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 51 people dead. Of that money, more than $60,000 was raised by the Tree of Life congregation, a news release from the federation...
Highlands to pay special education director $16,000 to resign
The Highlands School District will pay its special education director just over $16,000 as part of a resignation agreement. According to the agreement, obtained by the Tribune-Review through a Right-to-Know Law request, Debra Lehew’s resignation is effective June 30. The board approved the agreement, along with accepting Lehew’s resignation during...
Penn Hills man sentenced to federal prison for creating, sharing child porn
A Penn Hills man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for producing and distributing child pornography, federal prosecutors said. John O’Donnell, 51, used a hidden camera to secretly videotape a 12-year-old girl in his bathroom, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. Brady said authorities found nearly 300...
Kittanning Sheetz sells $3M scratch-off lottery ticket
A scratch-off lottery ticket worth $3 million was sold at a Kittanning gas station. The winning $3,000,000 Diamond Dazzler ticket was sold at the Sheetz at 100 Walnut St. The gas station will receive $10,000 for selling the winning ticket. $3,000,000 Diamond Dazzler is a $30 game that offers five...
Man who said, ‘Sorry, Happy Holidays’ after robbing Crafton bank pleads guilty
A man who said “Sorry, Happy Holidays” after robbing a Crafton bank with a BB gun last year pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of armed bank robbery, according to federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Brent Richards, 33, of Crafton, took just over $10,000 from...
Beechview man accused of April robbery of Castle Shannon bank
A Beechview man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for allegedly robbing a Castle Shannon bank in April, federal prosecutors said. Deontre Simpson, 23, is accused of robbing the Dollar Bank at 400 Mount Lebanon Boulevard on April 29. According to a release from U.S. Attorney Scott...
