Western PA Local News category, Page 2168
National mask mandate that covers public transportation goes into effect
If you’re not wearing a mask, you’re not going to be able use public transportation or fly out of Pittsburgh International Airport, under an executive order President Biden issued that goes into effect today. Wearing masks as a protective measure during the coronavirus pandemic has been required since May 2020...
Animal Friends has 2 new Humane Society police officers
Two Humane Society police officers, Justin Galvin and Krista Koontz, were officially sworn in as Allegheny County Humane Society police officers on Jan. 25, according to a release from Animal Friends. Koontz and Galvin will serve Allegheny County as members of Animal Friends’ Humane Investigations team. Among the many programs...
Artist Baron Batch selected as resident artist to new gallery in SouthSide Works
Artist Baron Batch will bring his works to life on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Batch has teamed with SomeraRoad, the ownership group redeveloping the SouthSide Works, to be the artist for “The Residency,” an initiative that features an interactive gallery with a focus on community programming. The gallery is expected to...
Longtime member Jeff Stephens takes reins at Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company
As the Blawnox Volunteer Fire Company nears its 100th anniversary, members have elected a new chief — one who has served nearly half of the department’s existence. Jeff Stephens, a 42-year member, was elected in January to a two-year term after longtime head George McBriar retired. “I would like to...
Sharpsburg considering volunteer litter program to beautify streets
Sharpsburg councilman Jon Jaso wants residents to walk the walk when it comes to keeping the borough clean. He is spearheading an Adopt-a-Street program where volunteers would pledge to rid litter from a section of borough roads. “They would have to do a cleanup once a quarter, or more if...
Pittsburgh Public Schools eyes closure of schools as it reassesses footprint
Pittsburgh Public Schools announced Monday that it is recommending the closure of seven schools and six buildings, along with the creation of two new schools. The schools that could close are: Miller PreK-5 in the Hill District, Fulton PreK-5 in Highland Park, Woolslair PreK-5 and Arsenal 6-8 in Lawrenceville and...
Police log: Theft, trespassing, drug possession among recent charges filed in Monroeville
Monroeville police filed the following charges recently with District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted: • Jennifer Harshman, 33, with resisting arrest, defiant trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia. Charges were filed Dec. 25 in connection with an incident along the 2700 block...
Cases of child corruption handled by District Judge Regis Welsh in Sharpsburg
The following cases were handled recently by District Judge Regis Welsh in Sharpsburg: • Kelshon Lovelace, 19, of Pittsburgh waived to court charges of corruption of minors. The charges were filed Dec. 14 by O’Hara police. • Shaylon Pinkston, 21, of Pittsburgh was held for court on charges of corruption...
Fleeing, escape, DUIs among charges recently handled by Monroeville judge Jeffrey Herbst
Monroeville District Court Judge Jeffrey Herbst handled these cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Charges were filed by Monroeville police unless otherwise noted. Held for court • Shaquawn Cole, 24, of Rankin on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude...
The Stroller, Feb. 2, 2021: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
The Stroller is compiling a list of fish fries taking place Ash Wednesday and/or Fridays during Lent. To your non-profit’s fish fry listed in the paper and online, send complete information in writing to Carol Pinto-Smith, Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084 or email cpinto-smith@triblive.com. HOPE Center...
George Romero documentary to debut Thursday
Zombies are as much a part of Pittsburgh’s cultural cachet as the Steelers and Primanti’s sandwiches. And we have George Romero to thank for that. The father of the modern zombie film, who began creating his horror classics in the Steel City in the late 1960s, is the subject of...
Month in review: A look at the top stories from the Verona area in JanuaryVideo
Here is a look at what happened in Verona this past month. • Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to fill the vacant seat of former council president Pat McCarthy, who resigned due to health reasons a few weeks ago. Hredzak-Showalter is the chairwoman of the parks and recreation board and...
Ex-Plum star, NFL punter Pat McAfee gives Nesbit’s Lanes fundraiser big boost
A GoFundMe effort to help Nesbit’s Lanes in Plum exceeded its $100,000 goal with the help of an athletic alumnus. The page was created Jan. 29 by Verona bowler David Poremba, who heard about how the covid pandemic had caused league games to be canceled and hundreds of players to...
2nd Allegheny County vaccination clinic could open in Ross Township by March 1
A second covid-19 vaccination clinic could be up and running at the Ross Community Center by March 1 if Allegheny County and township officials can hammer out an agreement. Brian Dunbar, a deputy county solicitor for the county, attended the board’s online meeting on Feb. 1 to outline the proposal...
Streets for this year’s Plum paving project announced, contract to be awarded Feb. 8
Plum officials plan to repair more than 20 streets and alleys as part of this year’s paving program. Bids are expected to be opened Thursday and a contract awarded at Monday night’s council meeting. The borough budgeted about $900,000 for paving. Assistant borough manager Dave Soboslay said they were hoping...
Franklin Regional wants to improve high schoolers’ experience during 2nd semester
Ron Suvak, principal at Franklin Regional Senior High School, said his goal for 2021 was simple: To ensure students’ second semester experience is better than the first, educationally, socially and emotionally. Suvak presented school board members with the results from a recent survey of high school students, focused on their...
Norwin to expand in-class elementary teaching
Norwin plans to give its 1,850 elementary school students the option of returning to school four days a week beginning Feb. 15, which doubles the number of in-class instruction days under the hybrid instruction model Norwin has used since school began. Superintendent Jeff Taylor said students in the four elementary...
Shenango River named Pa. River of the Year; Buffalo, Loyalhanna creeks finish in Top 5
Although the 82-mile-long Shenango River in Northwestern Pennsylvania earned recognition as Pennsylvania’s 2021 River of the Year, promoters of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Buffalo and Loyalhanna creeks said they were happy to see their waterways finish in the Top 5. Sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the River...
Kennametal quarterly earnings up
Strong sales for the October through December quarter combined with savings from its restructuring and modernization initiatives helped to boost the quarterly net income of Kennametal Inc. to $20.2 million and earnings to 23 cents per share, a turnaround from losses a year ago, the metalworking toolmaker said Monday. Pittsburgh-based...
Peduto bill to be introduced making Juneteenth a Pittsburgh holiday
Juneteenth is a step closer to becoming an official holiday in the City of Pittsburgh. Mayor Bill Peduto is introducing a bill to the City Council following up on his pledge to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Last August, Peduto announced his intentions at a Black Voting Rights Forum at...
Man arrested after bomb threat prompts evacuation of Federal Building in Pittsburgh
One person is in custody after a bomb threat prompted police to evacuate the federal building in Downtown Pittsburgh Monday evening, officials said. Albert Henard Morris, 60, was arrested at a house in Homewood and is charged with terroristic threats and a threat to use weapons of mass destruction, according...
Upgrades underway at Cribbs Field in Verona
Upgrades are underway at Cribbs Field in Verona. Plum-based Pampena Landscaping & Construction demolished the old pavilion, and excavation was done in preparation of the new building. The park is off Second Street and South Avenue. “It’s really exciting. It’s long overdue,” said Janet LoAlbo, councilwoman and parks and recreation...
Lawsuit alleges bedbugs at East Liberty’s Hotel Indigo
An Indianapolis man is suing Hotel Indigo in East Liberty after he claimed he got bedbugs when he stayed there on a work trip. Christopher Carlson filed the complaint against the hotel in Allegheny County Court on Monday. It also names as defendants the former general manager of the North...
Greensburg area man’s frustration ends, finally gets unemployment benefits
Seven months of frustration trying to get the state to release thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits from last year ended for a Southwest Greensburg man this past weekend when he got a long-awaited check from the Labor Department. “I won’t have to worry so much,” Scott Flanigan, 58, said...
Dr. Abraham Twerski remembered as a ‘visionary’ in addiction field
With a twinkle in his eye, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski dispensed timeless wisdom others used to solve life’s problems. “Every time he spoke, people listened,” James Troup, CEO of Gateway Rehab, a regional leader in treatment for addiction that Twerski founded, said Monday. “He just had this aura about him....
