Madasyn Czebiniak stories, Page 4
Fawn church to host event thanking first responders for their actions, sacrifice
Parishioners at Harvest Baptist Church in Fawn see first responders as real life heroes who put their lives on the line for the safety of their communities every day. For the past four years, the church has held an annual event to thank them for their service. This year will...
Surveillance system helps police nab shoplifters at Pittsburgh Mills complex
A state-of-the-art surveillance system at the Pittsburgh Mills mall complex in Frazer is helping police crack down on an increase in shoplifters caused by the opioid epidemic, police Chief Terry Kuhns said. “People who are addicted to opioids are coming up here and stealing items to support their drug habit,”...
Winning Cash 5 ticket worth $400K sold in Pittsburgh
A jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket for Monday’s drawing was sold at a Downtown Pittsburgh business. The winner will receive $400,000. The ticket was sold at Faber Coe & Gregg, 500 Grant St. The business will receive $500 for selling the winning ticket. The ticket matched all five balls drawn, 09-10-13-35-36....
CCAC to host open houses in July
The Community College of Allegheny County will host open houses at eight of its locations on Wednesday, July 17. These free events will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and are open to prospective students, their family members and friends. Attendees can take placement tests, meet with an advisor...
Just Ducky Tours won’t open in Pittsburgh for 2019 season
There will be no duck boat tours in Pittsburgh this year. Just Ducky Tours, which operates eight amphibious vehicles out of Pittsburgh’s Station Square, will not be opening for the 2019 season, according to a statement posted on its website. “We are very sad to say that Just Ducky Tours...
Tarentum barber makes impact on customers, communityVideo
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. William Tavarez is more than just a neighborhood barber....
Mosquito spraying to take place in Scottdale, East Huntingdon
Parts of Scottdale and East Huntingdon will be sprayed for mosquitoes late Monday to reduce the risk of West Nile, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. A truck-mounted sprayer will be used from 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in the area of Mt. Pleasant Road in Scottdale, and...
Pittsburgh Mills store owner could avoid trial on counterfeiting charge
A Pittsburgh Mills mall store owner accused of selling counterfeit merchandise will be able to get a misdemeanor charge against him thrown out if he completes 100 hours of community service, a judge ruled Friday. Tommy Wang, 42, of Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood had been scheduled to appear Tuesday for...
35 from Western Pa. indicted in drug trafficking ring
Federal authorities announced indictments Thursday against 37 people they say are part of a drug trafficking organization spanning three states. The indictments were handed down by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh. Thirty-five of the people involved are from Western Pennsylvania. One person is from New York, while another is...
Port Vue woman sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for involvement in heroin ring
A Port Vue woman was sentenced to six years in federal prison for her involvement in a heroin pipeline that funneled the drug from New Jersey to Western Pennsylvania, federal prosecutors said. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Krystle Barretto, 33, conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distributed...
Frazer police hire 5 new officers
Frazer hired four recent police academy graduates and a soon-to-be graduate to replace five part-timers who resigned to take jobs elsewhere over the past several months. With the new hires, Frazer now has 10 part-time officers. Chief Terry Kuhns and Sgt. Aaron Scott are the only full-timers. Police departments across...
Glow-in-the-dark ball pit pop-up bar coming to PittsburghVideo
Get ready to have a ball in September, when a pop-up bar featuring a glow-in-the-dark adult ball pit will be in Pittsburgh. The Ball Pit Party! will be in Pittsburgh on Sept. 28 and 29. For $20 to $25 , attendees can swim through the pit as many times as...
7 domesticated ducks rescued from Highland Park
Pittsburgh Animal Care and Control officers on Tuesday rescued seven ducks in need of a helping hand in Highland Park. Officers Jeff Ley and Steve Costa, acting on photos posted to Facebook, spent roughly half an hour gathering the ducks, which were let loose illegally in the park, said Cara...
Police say Arnold shooting was robbery setup
Police now believe an Arnold shooting wasn’t just a drug deal gone bad; it was a robbery setup from the start. Police believe three people were involved in the plot, including a woman who initially met the victim and two men who tried to rob him, Arnold police Sgt. Joe...
Lower Burrell man, friends chronicle bad parking in Alle-Kiski Valley
If you’ve done a poor job of parking in the Alle-Kiski Valley, odds are good that Tom Moses or one of his followers on Facebook has photographed your handiwork. “For years, I’ve been posting pictures of bad park jobs,” Moses said. “I tend to notice it. Nobody escapes me taking...
Turn Key Clean Outs and Estate Sales owners are modern-day treasure huntersVideo
Jeff Harshman was digging through the garbage one day at a Mt. Washington home when he came across a pair of ticket stubs and a program for a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs. Harshman was liquidating someone’s estate in the Pittsburgh neighborhood and checked the...
Police: Pants, shoes, $200 taken during New Kensington robbery
A New Kensington man is accused of robbing another man Friday of $200, his pants and his shoes, according to police. Lorenzo M. Pearson, 22, remained in the Westmoreland County Prison on Monday after failing to post a combined $150,000 bond. An attorney isn’t listed for him. Police said they...
Another black bear sighting — this time in South Fayette
Don’t feed the bear. That’s what South Fayette officials are telling residents after a small black bear was spotted walking around the township on Thursday. Officials said the bear was roaming and eating bird seed in the Hunting Ridge CSA and Fairview neighborhoods. A photo of the bear was shared...
1 injured when car crashes into fence, phone pole in Spring Garden
A man was seriously injured when his car struck a fence and wooden phone pole in Spring Garden early Friday morning. The crash happened around 2:40 a.m. on the 1600 block of Spring Garden Avenue. When firefighters, paramedics and police arrived, they found a heavily damaged car that had struck...
FBI searching for fourth suspect in drug sweep across Western Pa.
Federal agents Thursday announced that they are searching for a fourth suspect connected with a major drug trafficking sweep in Western Pennsylvania this week. The FBI said Michael Rose is considered armed and dangerous, and anyone who knows his whereabouts should contact police or FBI’s Pittsburgh office at 412-432-4000 immediately....
Police looking for suspects who robbed Overbrook personal care home
Two armed men robbed a personal care home in Overbrook early Thursday in pursuit of narcotics, according to Pittsburgh police. The robbery was reported shortly after 3 a.m. at a personal care home on the 2400 block of St. Norberts Street. Police didn’t provide the name of the facility. Tribune-Review...
Police: Man with stun gun steals cigarettes from Point Breeze gas station
Pittsburgh police are investigating an armed robbery at a Point Breeze gas station Wednesday night. Officers responded just after 10:30 p.m. to a call of a fight and then later a robbery in progress at the gas station in the 7500 block of Penn Avenue, according to Cara Cruz, public...
FBI arrests 30 in drug sweep across Western Pa.; 3 remain at large
Federal agents worked with local police Wednesday to arrest 30 people across Western Pennsylvania on drug charges, accusing them of trafficking heroin, cocaine, crack and marijuana, federal prosecutors said. A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh charged 33 people total in three indictments, said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady. The FBI...
Pittsburgh police help turtle found on street in Lawrenceville
Pittsburgh police on Tuesday provided a helping hand to yet another reptile found roaming the city — a large turtle. The turtle was spotted about 5:25 p.m. on the road near Butler and 47th streets in Lawrenceville. Citizens flagged down police officers, who stopped and confirmed the existence of the...
Liberty Bridge reopens after morning crash
A man suffered minor injuries when his car was pinned by a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning on the Liberty Bridge, according to Pittsburgh police. The crash was reported just before 5:40 a.m. in the outbound lanes. When emergency crews arrived on scene, they found the man’s car pinned against a jersey...
