TribLive stories, Page 2076
‘Chernobyl’ miniseries sends curious tourists to Lithuania
An HBO miniseries featuring Soviet-era nuclear nightmares has sparked global interest in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and boosted tourism in Lithuania. The Baltic country, which served as the filming location for “Chernobyl,” has become a destination of so-called atomic tourism since the program aired earlier this year. At Ignalina nuclear...
The Birdie predicts Alle-Kiski Valley football records
The opening week of high school football is right around the corner, and The Birdie is fired up after his return trip to Pittsburgh following a long vacation. “There’s nothing better than this time of year. I’m ready for football,” he said. “But man, that trip was hard on these...
The Birdie predicts records for Westmoreland County football teams
Westmoreland County’s high school football expert spent a sizzling summer day at Kennywood Park when the TribLive High School Sports Network recognized its Top 25 preseason team. The big, wooden arrow was not pointing at him for once, so he blended in. Nobody knew who he was as he scaled...
Apollo-Ridge girls soccer aims for postseason victory
In just five years, the Apollo-Ridge girls soccer team has made major strides, including three straight trips to the WPIAL playoffs. Matt Ross has been the program’s only coach, and he’s expecting more success this season with nine starters returning. “We sure have made a lot of headway,” Ross said....
Record-setting running back Goodlin returns to lead Knoch
At the end of last season, Knoch’s Matt Goodlin was alone at the top of the school’s single-season rushing leaderboard. Goodlin set a standard with 1,461 yards for the 5-5 Knights. That’s saying something when one considers the fine tradition of Knoch running backs, from Russ Kroneberg to A.J. Pagano...
Leechburg/Apollo-Ridge boys soccer co-op readies for debut
History will be made Aug. 31. That’s the day the new Leechburg/Apollo-Ridge co-op boys soccer team makes its debut in a match against Ellwood City. It also will mark the first time all local high schools will have boys soccer in one form or another. That’s a far cry from...
David Urban: Trump has kept his promise to revive manufacturing
My late father was a lifelong steelworker at J&L Steel’s famed Aliquippa works. Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I was witness to politicians of every stripe too easily accepting the death of the American steel industry, and manufacturing in general. We were told that it was simply the way of...
G. Terry Madonna & Michael Young: Will Trump become ‘new normal’ in American politics?
Paradigms, sometimes called “world views,” are the ways we experience, think about and often measure particular ideas, subjects and institutions. Paradigms are notorious for “shifting” as described by a generations of scholars dating back to Thomas Kuhn in 1962. Paradigm shifts are fundamental changes in the way we look at,...
Monessen’s Mizerak ‘consummate student-athlete,’ earns college attention
Though his junior season doesn’t start until Friday, Monessen left tackle Mark Mizerak Jr. has been getting plenty of attention from college recruiters. The 6-foot-4, 288-pound standout has other immediate goals, such as getting the Greyhounds another conference title and keeping up his 4.0 status in the classroom. “It’s good...
Resident convinces Upper Burrell to reconsider street paving list
For those who think one person can’t affect local government decisions, Dan Myers is proof to the contrary. The Upper Burrell resident wasn’t happy when he heard township supervisors planned to seal-coat Chapeldale Drive. He said it didn’t make sense because he felt so many other township roads, including Turkey...
Outdoors notices for Aug. 18, 2019
Notices Outdoors RIFLE/TRAP LEAGUES There were 141 shooters who competed in the Twi-Night Trap League on Thursday, and 16 managed perfect 25 straights. Connellsville finished in first place with a score of 200 targets. Ruffsdale (195), East Huntingdon (190), Hecla (189) and Youngwood (187) rounded out the scoring. Connellsville (102)...
Editorial: Kudlow needs to see recession danger
Recession isn’t a blood-soaked word like murder or rape or stabbing. There will probably never be a slasher movie that starts with a dropping stock price or a devalued dollar. But that doesn’t mean recession isn’t a terrifying idea if you understand what it means. (And maybe more if you...
2 firefighters injured in 5-alarm West Oakland apartment fire
Two Pittsburgh firefighters were injured while fighting a five-alarm blaze Saturday afternoon in an apartment complex in the city’s West Oakland neighborhood, according to the city Department of Public Safety. The fire on De Ruad Street started just after 2 p.m. as a two-alarm blaze, but it went to a...
New Laurel Highlands football coach Kolesar has steep hill to climb
The goal is simple for new Laurel Highlands coach Rick Kolesar. Get to the playoffs and win a game. It’s something many schools take for granted, but the school has never won a WPIAL playoff game in 10 outings, dating to 1989. Laurel Highlands began operations in 1966 after a...
Despite losing key starters, Beaver looks to keep building
Following an adjustment period, Beaver football hopes it is more acclimated to Class 4A football. The Bobcats, which moved up a classification during last summer’s PIAA realignment, finished with a respectable 7-4 record in 2018, falling in the quarterfinals to Belle Vernon. “What we’ve found is that every (Class 4A)...
New Ambridge coach Phillips wants to boost interest, rebuild program
Don Phillips knew he was in for a challenge when he accepted the head coaching job at Ambridge. But that is what excites him. Ambridge has struggled mightily over the last three seasons, with a 1-28 record. That led to Terry George stepping down and Phillips, a well-known coaching figure...
Belle Vernon football team knows keys to playoff drive
Coaches and players at Belle Vernon agree. A few key factors kept the Leopards from becoming an elite team in WPIAL Class 4A the past couple of seasons. One is injuries. Belle Vernon was hit hard with them last season, but the Leopards persevered during the regular season, losing to...
Montour looks to erase sting of not making playoffs in 2018
The winds of change swept through the West Hills of Pittsburgh last fall, leaving one perennial WPIAL playoff team out in the cold when the postseason arrived. The 3-7 season ended a 12-year playoff run for Montour. The Spartans finished 3-4 in the Class 4A Northwest Eight Conference, tying for...
Knoch to feature similar schemes under new head coach Mowry
Those attending Knoch football games might not be aware a coaching change was made in the offseason. The offensive and defensive schemes will stay basically the same. New coach Brandon Mowry replaced Frank Whalen, but most of the assistants were retained. Even the school’s single-season rushing record-holder, Matt Goodlin, is...
After turnaround season, Blackhawk wants more
What the Blackhawk football team was able to accomplish last season was remarkable. But now the Cougars are ready to take the next step. After winning two games in 2017, Blackhawk rattled off a 10-2 record in 2018 and made an appearance in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals, snapping a...
Letter to the editor: School’s almost in session — drive safely
Shortly, school will be starting throughout Western Pennsylvania. The motoring public is reminded of the increased traffic we will experience on the highways in the morning and in the afternoon. School buses, teachers, school employees and students in personal cars will take to the roads, creating more traffic, and we...
Letter to the editor: Serving one nation under God
My family has been here before it was a country. We never owned slaves. Family members were killed and captured by native Americans. My family served in the Mexican War, Civil War, and World Wars I and II, and I served during Vietnam. I support a president who doesn’t cut...
Letter to the editor: Talk to college freshmen about alcohol
First thoughts of back-to-college season typically involve endless trips to IKEA and Target, where dorm room accoutrements are agonized over and purchased. The days and weeks before classes start should also include conversations about alcohol and the risks associated with underage drinking. Underage drinking carries significant risks far beyond its...
This weekend in Sewickley: corn roasts and pool parties
Happening this weekend around Sewickley: Saturday, Aug. 17 • Stop by the Sewickley Public Library’s Storytime room from 10:30 a.m. to noon for a block party. Infants to 6 year olds and their families are invited to play, build, read and learn together while developing hand-eye coordination and learning STEAM...
Wildbird Recovery hosts Fall Migration Festival in Valencia
Located on a 13-acre property just north of Richland Township in Valencia is Wildbird Recovery, which is licensed to take in abandoned and injured songbirds. It’s a big job and a costly one for a nonprofit organization that relies completely on donations, and every September the volunteers host the Fall...
