Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 150
Traffic study to begin in Oakmont within the next few months
A traffic study to examine pedestrian and automotive travel in Oakmont is expected to take place during the upcoming school year. Council plans to hire Pittsburgh-based David E. Wooster and Associates in August for the estimated $31,000 project, which includes analysis of traffic along Allegheny Avenue, Third Street and Cedar...
State officials approve Penn Hills School District’s recovery plan
State Department of Education officials gave their approval to a plan to save the financially struggling Penn Hills School District. The plan was crafted over the past several months by state-appointed recovery officer Dan Matsook with input from a special advisory committee, district officials and residents. School board members approved...
Ohio man charged with three Western Pennsylvania bank robberies
An Ohio man faces federal charges in connection with bank robberies in Erie, New Castle and Allison Park. Vernon Marquis McGhee-Luster, 33, of Akron is accused of robbing the PNC Bank at 3830 Pine Ave. in Erie on Oct. 18. The indictment also accuses McGhee-Luster of robbing the Citizens Bank...
Train and toy show to pull in to Monroeville Convention Center
Model train and locomotive enthusiasts are expected to pull in to the station that is the Monroeville Convention Center this weekend. Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show returns to the center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It’s one of the largest and longest-running model train and...
Penn Hills JROTC cadets to continue military studies at Plum High School
Cameron Bartges will enter his junior year at Penn Hills High School this year, and starting his third year of Junior ROTC at Plum High School. The latter is due to a new agreement between the districts so current Penn Hills cadets can continue their military studies. “It will mean...
Suspect arrested in Pittsburgh Fourth of July shooting
A North Side man wanted in connection with a double shooting on the Fourth of July after a fireworks show in Pittsburgh turned himself in to police Monday, officials said. Camerin Caldwell, 18, was wanted on firearms violations and two counts each of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment....
East Hills DUI Task Force to conduct roving patrols this weekend – Jul. 15, 2019
East Hills DUI Task Force will conduct roving patrols and other educational enforcement activities this weekend. The task force consists of Plum, Monroeville, White Oak, North Versailles Township, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Edgewood police departments. Project director is Plum police Lt. Lanny Conley. The enforcement/educational details will occur within the...
Brad James is totally committed to Tarentum’s Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMSVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Little things matter to emergency medical technician and deputy fire Chief Brad James. “I’ve always paid attention to the little things,” said James, of Tarentum’s Eureka Fire-Rescue-EMS. “In the...
Homestead man wanted for questioning in borough homicide apprehended
A Homestead man wanted for questioning in connection with a homicide there was taken into custody Friday after he was found hiding in an apartment, police said. Rahim Thomas, 24, was found in the rafters of a basement at an apartment at 118 W. Eighth Ave. in Homestead following a...
Carnegie man who led police on high speed Route 28 chase guilty of heroin distribution
A Carnegie man who led police on a wild high-speed chase on Route 28 in 2015 has pleaded guilty to federal drug distribution charges. William Thompson, 36, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 5 by Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti for possession with intent to distribute heroin. He...
Nadine Road in Penn Hills closed due to landslide
Nadine Road between Allegheny River Boulevard and Lincoln Road in Penn Hills is closed due to a landslide. Allegheny County Public Works officials said the slide occurred Friday afternoon. It overturned a retaining wall and caused a portion of the road to collapse. Officials plan to bring in a consultant...
Plum’s farmers market to now happen every Monday
A new farmers market program in Plum may have found its roots. The borough had its first Monday Market at Plum Creek Park along New Texas Road on July 8. At least 100 people stopped by from 3 to 7 p.m. to check out the event’s inaugural vendors, including Pappy’s...
Plum Community Center to host Harry Potter event
Plum Community Center will be transformed into the fictional school Hogwarts for a major fundraiser. Wizards and witches of all ages are welcome to grab their cloaks and head down to 499 Center New Texas Road on July 27 for Hogwarts, Honeydukes and Harry Potter. “Harry Potter” is a series...
Legendary funnyman Patton Oswalt comes to the Steel City
Actor, writer and comedian Patton Oswalt brings his stand-up act to the Carnegie Library of Homestead’s Music Hall on Sunday. The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. at 510 E. Tenth Ave. in Munhall. Oswalt has headlined comedy clubs all across the country the past 23 years and performed specials...
Assault, theft cases among recent Monroeville police investigations – Jul. 11, 2019
Monroeville police filed the following charges July 5-16 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office: • Sable Goodwin, 20, of Pittsburgh with retail theft. Charges were filed July 11 in connection with an incident along the 4000 block of Monroeville Boulevard. • Kayla Wilkes, 28, of Turtle Creek with driving...
Drug, firearms cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville – Jul. 11, 2019
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 courtRaymond Cobb, 18, of Woodbridge, VA on charges of possession of controlled substances, possession of...
DUI, theft cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum – Jul. 11, 2019
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Waived preliminary hearingsMichelle Walker, 42, of Plum on charges of driving under the influence, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license and careless driving. Charges were filed Feb. 3.Paul Brewer,...
Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with Fourth of July double shooting
Pittsburgh police issued an arrest warrant for a North Side man wanted in connection with a July 4 shooting in which two people were wounded in Downtown’s Agnes R. Katz Plaza. City police said Camerin Caldwell, 18, shot an 18-year-old man and 16-year-old boy shortly after 11 p.m. in the...
Verona residents seek to restart a borough crime watch
A shooting incident in Verona has some residents wanting to restart a crime watch program. Police Chief Ron McLemore said someone shot up an unoccupied vehicle around 2:25 a.m. June 21 along the 400 block of North Avenue. No one was injured, the incident remains under investigation and no suspect...
Driver rescued in Schenley Park after truck overturns
Pittsburgh emergency responders rescued a truck driver Wednesday after his tri-axle truck overturned onto a hillside in Schenley Park. Police, firefighters and EMS were dispatched to Serpentine Drive near Bartlett Street around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a large truck on its side with the driver still inside,...
Garbage collection in Verona scrutinized after less than 2 months of service
Several Verona residents believe the borough’s new garbage collector’s service stinks. Council inked a five-year contract — three years guaranteed with a two-year option — with County Hauling of Belle Vernon a few months ago. It took over for Waste Management, whose five-year contract expired June 1. Pete McKeating, County...
New program coordinator at Plum Community Center called ‘smart, talented, organized’
Plum Community Center programs are under new leadership. Resident Samantha Lamorte took over for former program coordinator Maria Schafer in February. Schafer, who served as program coordinator since September 2016, left the center at 499 Center-New Texas Road to pursue another job. Lamorte, 26, worked as a cook for nearly...
Ohio woman sentenced to prison for federal drug crimes and money laundering
An Ohio woman was sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to four years and four months in prison for her convictions on conspiracy to distribute heroin and money laundering. Senior U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Britny Beaver, 25, of East Liverpool. Federal authorities said Beaver...
Verona joins Allegheny County’s Live Well Allegheny initiative to promote healthy living
Verona officials are pushing for ways residents can live healthier through Allegheny County’s Live Well Allegheny campaign. The nearly half square mile town recently joined the more than 60 communities, 51 restaurants, 32 workplaces and 18 school districts already in the program designed to promote physical health, mental wellness, personal...
New housing development plans approved in Plum
Plum officials granted preliminary approval of plans for a new housing development along Renton Road. Developer Grasinger Homes wants to build 103 single-family homes on approximately 54 acres near St. Januarius Church. John Grasinger, part owner of the company, said they expect to finalize buying the land in August. He...

