Mary Ann Thomas stories, Page 31

CNX Resources’ grants totaling $12,200 will help two local school districts, providing one with equipment to tap free high-speed internet for students in the New Kensington-Arnold School District, where 150 homes either don’t have internet access or lack reliable service. The CNX grants, $6,500 to New Kensington-Arnold and $5,700 to...

Exemplifying that the show must go on, the Burrell High School Drama Club is taking it a step higher, donning theatrical, hand-painted masks for the upcoming play, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” While the actors will be performing live on stage, the district will present the play virtually for three shows on...

Three black bears were taken by archers in Allegheny County so far, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The black bears bagged in Allegheny County were in West Deer, Elizabeth and in the state game lands in Marshall and Franklin townships, said Zeb Campbell, game warden for Allegheny County. While...

Lower Burrell’s American Legion, Post 868, along Wildlife Lodge Road is closed until at least Monday because of a verified covid-19 case. Legion officials found out that one of their patrons tested positive for covid-19 on Monday night, said Post 868 Commander Ed Zollinger. The Legion promptly closed its facilities,...

Turkey-trot fundraisers across the region are being slowed down this year by the covid-19 pandemic, which is reducing participation and forcing many of the events to go virtual. The 29th annual Greensburg Turkey Trot has 235 runners and walkers signed up for this year’s virtual event, down from more than...

Bucking the long-run trend of declining hunting license and permit sales statewide, hunters purchased 7 % more for all hunting licenses and permits from last year. Sales of specialty licenses and permits are surging with permits for snow geese up 863%, river otters climbing 73%, and shooting range permits soaring...

While the Harmar supervisors passed its $2.7 million budget for next year with no real estate tax increase, one supervisor wants to pass a tax break to township property owners in the future. The 2021 budget includes typical increases for salaries and benefit expenses for its 17 employees, said Ian...

As the number of covid-19 cases explodes in the region, more residents are seeking tests and face a number of options. And depending on where you go, waiting for results might take longer, according to health officials. While there are a number of covid-19 testing sites in the region, many...

The state Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday lifted the drought watch for 10 counties including Armstrong and Butler. The drought was also lifted in Blair, Cambria, Clarion, Erie, Fayette, Huntingdon, Indiana, and Mifflin counties. In August, the DEP and the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, declared a drought watch for...

Penn State University will close all of its schools to in-person instruction after Friday, and students at its Upper Burrell campus are rolling with those changes. Penn State has been offering in-person and virtual classes since the beginning of the fall semester. However, the rising number of coronavirus cases caused...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on the draft of their master plan for Crooked Creek Lake in Armstrong County until Dec. 4. The Corps developed the plan with public comments collected last November. Although known for boating, camping and its adjacent horse park, the Crook...

Apollo-Ridge School District closed its high school Thursday after two staff members and a student tested positive for covid-19. The district learned of the positive cases on Monday, said Superintendent Matthew Curci. The day before, the district was alerted to a staff member at the elementary school who tested positive....

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday night that resuming the $500 million cleanup of the nuclear waste dump in Parks Township is a top priority and they are getting ready. “The time is right for it,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Andrew J. “Coby” Short said in...

The family of slain New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw attended the introduction of the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department’s new police dog. Carr was introduced to the public Tuesday night outside of the Springdale Township office. The Officer Brian Shaw Foundation provided $15,000 for the dog and its police...

Fawn supervisors voted Tuesday to fire suspended police officer Keith Lazaron II for alleged willful misconduct. Lazaron, 35, of Allegheny Township, has denied any wrongdoing and leveled his own allegations against township officials in a pending federal lawsuit. Lazaron was suspended June 1, with the township alleging Lazaron changed a...

A Brackenridge woman is accused of assaulting and trying to stab a man who police said paid her less for sex than promised. State police charged Audra Lynn Divittorio, 33, with aggravated assault, prostitution and other charges in connection with the Oct. 28 incident. She was taken to Westmoreland County...

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a virtual meeting Nov. 12 to update the public on its $500 million cleanup of the nuclear waste dump along Route 66 in Parks Township. The 44-acre dump, officially known as the Shallow Land Disposal Area, is owned by BWX Technologies (also...

Although they know their efforts might be futile, residents who live near the site of a planned Dollar General store along Route 780 near Dewey Drive, Upper Burrell, are signing a petition to stop the construction of the discount store. “It’s going to change the country feeling of the neighborhood...

The Upper Burrell supervisors will not raise property taxes for its preliminary budget of $1.2 million for 2021. The tax rate will hold at 10.5 mills. “There’s nothing special, either an increase or a decrease, in the 2021 budget,” said Ross Walker, chairman of the board of supervisors. He said...

After two budget workshops, Lower Burrell officials are looking at a possible real estate tax increase for the coming year. Specifics are not yet available as city council continues to work through city departmental budgets looking for places to cut, said Chris Fabry, the city councilman who head ups the...

Lower Burrell Council wants to raise real estate taxes by 8.7% in its 2021 budget. Council will vote on the preliminary budget at its meeting Monday, Nov. 9. The city’s proposed 2-mill real estate tax hike would translate into a nearly $40 annual increase for the average home, which is...