James Engel stories, Page 4
Democratic slate sweeps Republican incumbents on Plum Council
Democrats carried the day in Plum, unseating incumbent Republicans to claim four seats on borough council. Unofficial results show Ryan Delaney as the top voter-getter with 14.5%, followed by James McBride with 13.9%, Raymond Rall with 13.2% and Phoebus Apollo with 12.8%. The Democratic sweep renders incumbents Paul Dern, Steve...
Democrats take all 4 Plum School Board seats, defeat incumbent candidates
A slate of Democrats swept aside a Republican majority on Plum School Board, taking all four of the open seats. Unofficial results show Jill Klipa as the top vote-getter with 14.9%, followed by Adam Hill with 14%, Tiffany Hyde with 13.6% and Geter Sloan with 13%. Among the four victors,...
Incumbents hold onto Springdale Council seats as data center debate continues
Springdale voters elected a slate of four mostly incumbent Democrats to council as hearings for the massive proposed data center in the borough carry on. Among the four victors, three are incumbents. But Deborah Piontek — who rallied the most support — will be a new face on council. According...
Victims in fatal Buffalo Township crash identified
Local authorities have identified the two people who died in a Buffalo Township crash on Saturday. Bonnie Grove, 78, died at the scene of the accident at the intersection of South Pike (Route 356) and Younkins roads. Douglas Frosch, 72, died several hours later after being airlifted to UPMC Presbyterian...
Plum students plan to thank vets, educate community with Veterans Day events
At Plum School District’s upcoming Veterans Day celebrations, Kailey Burton hopes not only to thank current and former service members but impart some history to her peers. Burton is the group commander of Plum High School’s Air Force JROTC program. She and dozens of her fellow cadets have been planning...
Plum-based Knights of Columbus offers dozens of winter coats to local students
Plum’s local council of the Knights of Columbus has kept up its annual tradition of donating dozens of winter coats to local schools. This year, local K of C Treasurer Len Manganello said the organization offered 48 coats to Plum and Riverview schools as well as Holy Family Catholic School,...
Morning Roundup: Ross firefighters help free motorists; crash briefly slows Route 28 traffic
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Oct. 31: Ross firefighters free 2 after crash on McKnight Road Crews from Seville VFC in Ross had to remove the passenger-side door of a highly damaged car Thursday evening to free two occupants following a single-vehicle crash...
Somerset County sheriff charged for alleged inappropriate incident with teen
The Pennsylvania Attorney General says Somerset County Sheriff Dustin Weir made inappropriate sexual remarks to a 15-year-old girl during a “Shop With a Cop” event last December. The allegations led Pennsylvania State Police to charge Weir, 46, on Thursday with a single misdemeanor count of corruption of minors. According to...
Harrison man arrested in FBI raid accused of threatening judge, others through voicemails
A man arrested Tuesday in a raid on a Harrison home by federal authorities is charged with two counts of making interstate threats and accused of leaving multiple menacing voicemails. Federal prosecutors say Thomas Dorn called an unidentified victim earlier this month, threatening to kill them and others — including...
Teen critically wounded after being shot in Stanton Heights
A 15-year-old boy was shot several times in Pittsburgh’s Stanton Heights neighborhood Thursday, according to authorities. Police received reports of a shooting around 7:20 a.m. at the intersection of Stanton Avenue and Woodbine Street. Officers rendered first aid and applied tourniquets to the boy, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to...
Morning Roundup: Masked men jack car in Oakland; man hospitalized after fall in Uniontown parade
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Oct. 30: Masked suspects steal car in Oakland University of Pittsburgh Police say two men in black masks and hoodies stole a delivery driver’s car in Oakland. Just before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, the driver exited his vehicle to...
3 Pittsburgh area Oak Street Health locations to close in coming months
Three Pittsburgh-area Oak Street Health facilities will close their doors by February, according to the company. Among 16 total closures nationwide, locations in Homestead, Wilkinsburg and Ingram are each set to shutter. Owned by CVS Health, Oak Street Health operates more than 200 primary care centers throughout the country, specializing...
Giant Eagle needs pennies, offers double their value in gift cards
Giant Eagle says it needs customers’ pennies, and it’s prepared to make a deal. The Cranberry-based retailer said it will exchange pennies for double their value in Giant Eagle gift cards between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Customers must provide a minimum of 50 cents in pennies, which would...
Charges held for court against Armstrong County woman accused of concealing 4 dead infants
Jessica Mauthe, the Armstrong County woman accused of concealing four dead infants in a Cadogan home she rented, is headed to court. District Judge J. Gary DeComo held her bevy of charges for trial after Mauthe appeared for her preliminary hearing in Ford City on Tuesday. Mauthe faces single counts...
Candidates say infrastructure, new families key issues in Cheswick Council election
There are six open seats on Cheswick Council, but only four of them will be contested Tuesday. But there’s a twist that could lead to the next council’s roster still up in the air after election night. Incumbents Frank Stanish and Nicholas Pollino are running for two, two-year terms, leaving...
McKeesport pedestrian fatally injured by vehicle in Oakland
A 71-year-old pedestrian died of his injuries after being struck by a vehicle Oct. 29 in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. The incident occurred around 4:45 a.m. near the intersection of Forbes and Oakland avenues, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials. First responders said they found Bobby Paige, 71, of McKeesport unconscious...
Springdale planners cite noise study as commission delays vote on data center
A decision from Springdale’s Planning Commission about a proposed data center in the borough is still weeks away. Initially set to reconvene Monday night, the commission opted for a last-minute delay. The three-member body will now meet on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. This is the third delay from the...
Steelers vs. Packers: What they’re saying in Green Bay after win
Jordan Love is the star of the show in Green Bay after his Packers rallied for a second-half victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press Gazette called the performance the “best game of (Love’s) young career” in his write-up of the game. “Love...
Morning Roundup: Overnight fires damage homes in Munhall, McKeesport
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Oct. 27: Fire scorches home in Munhall A fire early Monday morning tore through a Munhall home, leaving crews to fight the blaze for hours. The first reports of the fire, which took place near East 8th Street, came...
The Coffee Cup offers local brews to Buffalo Township
When she decided to open her own business, Danna Kienzl, 57, returned to her hometown. The Freeport Area graduate opened her new cafe, The Coffee Cup, along South Pike Road in her native Buffalo Township late last month. Now a resident of Lower Burrell, Kienzl said she always has aspired...
As data center proposal looms, 8 candidates seek seats on Springdale Council
Packed with incumbents and familiar faces, this year’s Springdale Council race is set before the backdrop of ongoing hearings about a massive proposed data center in the borough. Eight candidates — five of whom sit on council — will face off for four open seats. Two of those same candidates...
South Buffalo’s Clinton Bridge reopens after monthslong closure
The 115-year-old bridge that carries vehicles to South Buffalo’s riverside Clinton neighborhood is finally reopen. The span, which carries Clinton Road over a set of railroad tracks, was closed after an inspection in July called for “critical repairs” to its structure. The bridge is owned by Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad,...
8 candidates vie for 4 seats on Plum Council
Four seats are up for grabs on Plum Council this year, and eight candidates are seeking to win them. The incumbents — all Republicans — are hoping to retain their places in the face of four younger challengers on the Democratic slate. Both sides, however, seem to be concerned about...
Springdale Zoning Hearing Board considers data center developer’s requests
The Springdale Zoning Hearing Board has been left to mull more than a half dozen requests from developers of the proposed data center in the borough after a lengthy meeting Wednesday night. Board Solicitor Charles Clark said he expects the board to render a decision within 30 to 45 days....
4 Republicans, 4 Democrats seek open seats on Plum School Board
Plum School Board could see some new faces, as eight candidates — split evenly between Republicans and Democrats — vie for four seats. Among the candidates, three currently sit on the board, including the board president. As the district continues its large building projects at O’Block Elementary School and Plum...

