Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 9
Shaler’s Undercliff fire department suspends 5 members suspected of answering call impaired
Five volunteer firefighters in Shaler are accused of responding to a call under the influence of alcohol, officials with the township and Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company confirmed. The fire department suspended the five members on Aug. 8, Undercliff President John Klocko Sr. said. The department is accelerating its internal review...
Millvale approves rezoning long-vacant home for use as short-term rental duplex
A long-vacant Millvale house is a step closer to a new life as a short-term rental property. Council voted 5-1 at its meeting Aug. 12 to approve rezoning 127 Howard St. from residential to commercial. Councilman William Stout, who opposed the proposal as a member of the borough’s planning commission,...
Shaler names assistant manager, longtime employee Judith Kording as new township manager
A familiar face is taking over as Shaler manager, but she doesn’t plan to keep the job for very long. At their Aug. 12 meeting, Shaler commissioners promoted Assistant Manager Judith Kording to manager, effective that day. Her salary was set at $155,000, up from $126,000. Kording, 64, of McCandless...
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ to remain optional novel for Pine-Richland academic English 9 students
The 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be available for Pine-Richland High School’s English teachers to use in ninth grade classes, but they won’t be assured of reading it. After lengthy discussions over multiple meetings, the school board voted 6-2 on Aug. 11 to approve curriculum for academic English...
Longtime West View medical practice hosts 2nd backpack, school supplies giveaway
A West View family medicine practice started giving backpacks and school supplies to children in need last year, but this year was the first time that Savannah Bledsoe came with her three children. “I love it. I absolutely love it,” she said Aug. 9 while attending the second annual giveaway...
Motorcyclist dies after crash with SUV in Sewickley Township
A motorcyclist died after a crash with an SUV in Sewickley Township Sunday afternoon, according to county Coroner Tim Carson and state police. Carson identified the motorcyclist as Michael A. Jones, 30, of Old Trail Road, North Huntingdon. The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. at Clay Pike and Shady Lane....
Butler Logan Road reopens in Frazer following fuel spill
A section of Butler Logan Road was reopened Monday morning following a fuel spill on Sunday, according to emergency officials. Frazer firefighters stopped traffic just past the rear entrance to the Pittsburgh Mills shopping complex, and eventually PennDOT work crews took over. According to firefighters, a large amount of absorbent...
Convicted murderer accused of assaulting, strangling woman in Brackenridge
A man evaded police capture after assaulting his girlfriend in Brackenridge on Saturday, according to police and court records. Police were looking for Quincy B. Jones, 48. Jones pleaded guilty to murder in Philadelphia 20 years ago, court records show. According to a criminal complaint, a woman told Allegheny County...
Annual street fair returns to Brackenridge, bringing a sense of community with it
Dino Lopreiato was getting some things ready for the return of Brackenridge’s street fair when a kid asked him what he was doing it for. “I said, ‘I’m doing it for you,’ ” he said. “He ran around saying, ‘They’re making a fair for me! They’re making a fair for...
Suspect in Homewood North shooting caught after crash, foot chase
The suspect in a shooting in Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Sunday morning was caught after a crash and short foot chase, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. Officers were alerted to 10 rounds being fired around 10 a.m. in the 7000 block of Upland Street. Witnesses told officers that two men...
‘Dreams come true’ at Steel City Con as fans meet celebrities
An Ohio man’s quest to get autographs from as many members of the cast of “The Walking Dead” as he can began Saturday in Monroeville. Shawn Hubbard of Columbus said a huge poster featuring actor Andrew Lincoln was the only one he could get in time to bring with him...
Students from Shaler Area, Pine-Richland participate in Habitat for Humanity youth triathlon
After tackling the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon in May, a group of Shaler Area and Pine-Richland students steeled themselves for another challenge. More than two dozen students began preparing in June for the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual youth triathlon, which was held July 19 at North Park in...
Millvale considering zoning change for short-term rentals on Howard Street
Millvale residents will have a chance next week to voice their opinions on a proposed rezoning on Howard Street. Council will hold a public hearing on changing 127 Howard St. from residential to commercial when it meets at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 at the borough building, 501 Lincoln Ave. The...
Concern about tiny houses has Ross considering setting minimum home size
Concern about tiny houses lowering the value of neighboring homes has Ross commissioners considering setting a minimum size for single-family homes in the township. As proposed, all single-family dwellings, whether constructed or altered, would have to be at least 1,500 square feet. But when introduced at a commissioners meeting Monday,...
Exchange of gunfire leads to standoff in Scott Township, 2 arrested
Two men were arrested after an exchange of gunfire led to a standoff in Scott Township Sunday morning, according to township police. Travis Coles, 30, and Ean Strimlan, 21, will be charged with three counts of simple assault and three counts of terroristic threats, Scott police said. Coles has an...
‘Rallying for Rescues’ in Lower Burrell brings financial support, awareness to animal rescues in the region
Sometimes, it’s those who do the saving that need the help. That’s the idea behind Rallying for Rescues, first held in 2024 and brought back for a second year Sunday at Derek Kotecki Memorial Park in Lower Burrell. Proceeds from this year’s event are benefiting 16 rescues, primarily for dogs...
Families come from near, far to enjoy annual Festa Italiana at Mount St. Peter in New Kensington
Festa Italiana is a long-running tradition for the families that attend and the families that volunteer for the fundraiser at Mount St. Peter Church in New Kensington. But for the Rev. Dan Blout, who took over as pastor of Mount St. Peter four weeks ago, this year’s 44th Festa was...
New Kensington house fire displaces residents of 4 apartments
No one was hurt in a fire that severely damaged a house containing four apartments on New Kensington’s Sixth Avenue early Saturday. The fire appeared to start at the back of the three-story house at 533/535 Sixth Ave. and burned through the roof. A state police fire marshal will investigate...
Harmar riverfront fire battle without hydrants closes Freeport Road, stops train traffic
When popping sounds from her neighbor’s burning home woke Holly Bills up early Saturday morning, her fire safety training kicked in. She knew to get out and away from her home along the Allegheny River in Harmar, but it wasn’t easy. “I had difficulty opening the door because the siding...
1 of 2 victims in Lawrenceville shooting dies; gas station clerk charged
A 22-year-old convenience store clerk is accused of shooting two people at the A-Plus Sunoco gas station in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood early Saturday morning, one of whom later died, according to police. Pittsburgh police charged Randell Antonio Tate, of Pittsburgh, with homicide and aggravated assault. Tate was denied bail at...
Rising Pittsburgh-founded band November Blue headlining benefit for MS in West DeerVideo
A band of Pittsburgh-area natives that Rolling Stone recently named one of 10 new artists to watch is coming home in August to headline a long-running annual music festival benefiting multiple sclerosis research. November Blue will be one of four groups performing at Music for MS on Aug. 9 at...
2 accused of stealing gaming machine money from Marshall bar to pay restitution of $24,000
Two men accused of breaking into a Marshall bar and taking more than $24,000 from gaming machines each pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges Wednesday, July 30, according to court records. Patrick Adam O’Malley, 28, of Shaler and Ryan Joseph Stermon, 44, of Pine were each required to pay about...
Marshall OKs update of land use regulations, includes provision for townhouses on Route 910
A two-year process to update and reorganize Marshall’s land use regulations has come to an end. And the ordinances include a provision that will allow for townhouses to be built where single-family homes have long stood on a stretch of busy Route 910. No residents spoke, and there was no...
Northern Allegheny Rotary Club presents comfort bags to McCandless police
McCandless police have a new tool to help people in crisis thanks to the Northern Allegheny Rotary Club. The 21-member service club presented 20 comfort bags to McCandless police Chief Ryan Hawk and Lt. Eric Egli on July 29 at Walnut Grill in Pine, where the club meets every Tuesday...
Iron City Distilling serves those who serve: active-duty military, veterans, first responders
Iron City Distilling threw open its doors in East Deer on Sunday, welcoming active-duty military, veterans and first responders to hang out as they showed some love to those who serve and have served the country. Between 180 and 200 were expected for the first-time, free event, which featured spirit...
