Michael DiVittorio stories, Page 151
Allegheny County police searching for Crafton stabber
A Crafton man is recovering from stab wounds sustained in an alleged attack inside his home on July 4. Allegheny County police said the incident took place around 10 p.m. along the 100 block of South Emily Street. The victim, a 64-year-old man, was treated and released from a local...
5 Plum properties set to be demolished
Plum officials hired a borough-based construction company to demolish five dilapidated structures. Council voted 6-0 at the July 8 meeting to award the $31,500 contract to Cherep Construction. Councilman Dave Majernick was absent. A start date for demolition was not set. Vacant properties to be razed are at 338 Coxcomb...
3 people hospitalized after chemical leak in Mt. Lebanon
Three people were taken to UPMC Mercy with minor inhalation irritation as a result of a sulfur dioxide leak in Mt. Lebanon. An Allegheny County hazardous materials team was dispatched for a report of a smell Monday before 4 p.m. along Marlin Drive between Bower Hill Road and Jayson Avenue....
Penn Hills man postpones White House protest in lieu of federal meeting about district
A Penn Hills man who threatened to chain himself to the White House front gate to draw attention to his financially troubled school district has postponed the protest pending a meeting with federal authorities. Phil Vecchio, son of Penn Hills School Board President Erin Vecchio, was expected to go through...
Things to do in Plum and Oakmont this week
Looking for things to do in Plum and Oakmont this week? Here are some suggestions:Oakmont artist Kalen Crowell’s paintings and photography are on display all month long at the Oakmont Carnegie Library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd. Her work features portraits and nature settings among other images. Admission is free.The Oakmont...
Assault, DUI cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Jul. 8, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtMelissa Ofchinick, 44, of Butler on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under...
Tarentum pharmacist follows in his father’s footsteps of helping peopleVideo
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Lifelong Tarentum resident Chuck Blackburn, a second-generation pharmacist, grew up with the desire to help people. “I feel like I spent my career responding to needs as they popped...
Suspect surrenders in North Versailles Walmart shooting
A Penn Hills woman surrendered to police Saturday after being accused of shooting another woman Friday night in the Walmart in North Versailles. Rojanai Alston of Penn Hills turned herself in to Allegheny County Police, authorities reported. Alston was transported to the Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment on her...
Police: Pittsburgh man wanted for 2 bank robberies captured
A Pittsburgh man wanted in connection with two bank robberies in the city was apprehended by Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies. Law enforcement officials said Jaymar Henderson, 58, of the Hill District was arrested on a warrant around 2:45 p.m. Friday. He was wanted by Pittsburgh police for allegedly robbing the...
Police: Pittsburgh woman jailed after stabbing man
A Pittsburgh woman accused of stabbing a man is in jail. Rhonda Powell, 57, is charged with aggravated assault in connection with an incident 12:20 a.m. Friday along the 2500 block of Park Hill Drive in East Hills. Zone 5 officers responded to reports of a stabbing and found a...
Plum School District’s assistant superintendent’s brother hired as new facilities director
Plum School District officials have hired Assistant Superintendent Rick Walsh’s brother, John, as their new facilities director. Board members voted 7-2 at a special meeting June 18 to approve the hire with a $82,000 starting salary. Board Vice President Vicky Roessler and Steve Schlauch dissented. Board President Scott Coulson and...
Plum School Board meetings may be broadcast on public access and YouTube again
Plum School Board meetings may be recorded and broadcasted once again. High school television production class students recorded board meetings for about a decade under the direction of teacher Rick Berrott. That stopped this past school year as teacher contract negotiations heated up. The revived broadcasts would be aired on...
Theft cases among recent Monroeville police investigations
Monroeville police filed the following charges June 28 to July 2 in District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst’s office:Daniel Kelly, 18, of Clairton with criminal conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children, possession of controlled substances, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and four counts of receiving...
Drug, theft cases recently handled by Judge Herbst in Monroeville – Jul. 3, 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 courtCrystal Jordan, 52, of Pitcairn on charges of tampering with physical evidence, misbrand controlled substances,...
East Hills DUI Task Force to conduct roving patrols this weekend – Jul. 3, 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...
Decades-old gas lamps in Oakmont may be converted to LED lights
Natural gas lamps along Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont may be going out as a borough committee seeks state funding for replacements. Oakmont Boulevard Project members have been working on converting the gas lamps across from the businesses along the cobblestone road to LED lights for years. Some were converted...
Penn Hills man vows to chain himself to White House to bring attention to school district
A Penn Hills man, the son of the Penn Hills School Board president, has caught the eye of the U.S. Secret Service, with an online petition to have federal authorities help bail out his financially strapped school district. Phil Vecchio posted his plea to Change.org in June. He said he...
Penn Hills JROTC cadets could finish military studies in Plum
Penn Hills School District’s Navy Junior ROTC cadets may have a chance to finish out their military studies in a new district and new branch of service. Superintendent Nancy Hines said the board is considering a one-year agreement with the Plum School District that would allow for about 14 students...
Decades old gas lamps in Oakmont to be converted to LED lights
Gas lamps along Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont may be going out as a borough committee seeks state funding for replacements. Oakmont Boulevard Project members have been working on converting the lamps across from the businesses along the cobblestone road into LED lights for years. Some were converted in 2015...
Woman shot in Pittsburgh recovering at local hospital
A woman was shot in the leg in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. City police were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. Monday to the 2500 block of Bedford Avenue were officers found the woman with a gunshot wound. Authorities said she was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. No information about...
DUI, drug cases among those recently handled in Judge DeLuca’s Penn Hills court – Jul. 1, 2019
Penn Hills District Judge Anthony L. DeLuca handled the following cases recently. Defendants will have court dates set in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Charges were filed by Penn Hills police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtBrandon Murray, 36, of Penn Hills on charges of knowingly possess ephedrine, possession of...
Longtime pastor of Lutheran church in Harrison retires
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things that they do. Barbara Ravenstahl felt a calling to become a preacher when women weren’t allowed behind the pulpit. The Lutheran Church in America ordained its first female minister in November 1970....
Retro video game-themed pop up bar comes to Pittsburgh’s Market Square
Level Up, a retro video game-themed pop up bar, has appeared in Pittsburgh’s Market Square. It’s designed by Pittsburgh-based MW Hospitality with inspiration from arcade classics such as Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat and Super Mario Bros. “It’s pretty fun and stimulating,” said MW Hospitality beverage coordinator Shane Wilps...
Man who died after falling off a tugboat into the Ohio River identified
A man who died after falling off a tugboat in the Ohio River has been identified. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Charles Sandherr, 52, of Rockwood. Authorities said he fell into the river Wednesday, June 26 in Sewickley. A message left for Sewickley police was not...
Reminder for motorists to work around Parkway East closure this weekend
Motorists are reminded that a portion of the Parkway East (Interstate 376) is shut down this weekend. All outbound lanes are closed between the Forbes Avenue/Oakland exit and the Edgewood/Swissvale exit until 5 a.m. Monday. PennDOT also closed the following ramps for the weekend:Boulevard of the Allies ramp to outbound...
