Western PA Local News category, Page 1229
Get ready for ‘Goatoberfest’ to benefit Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch
Looking for a fun fall event that helps save the lives of at-risk animals? Check out Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch’s second annual “Goatoberfest” celebration on Saturday (rain date is Sunday) at Zassick Park in Economy. The event will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. and includes Octoberfest-themed plant based...
Homeless man pleads guilty to burglary of Greensburg church
A homeless man from Oregon was ordered to serve up to six years in prison for the burglary of a Greensburg church five days before Christmas in 2020. Timothy Lansdale, 57, pleaded guilty Monday to felony charges of burglary and for failing to register with the state police as a...
Pittsburgh’s official holiday tree hails from Springdale
The city of Pittsburgh’s official holiday tree will come from the Alle-Kiski Valley. A 40-foot blue spruce will be donated by Guardian Angels Parish from its Springdale campus. It will be situated at the City-County Building, along Grant Street downtown, and will be lit Nov. 19 during the unofficial start...
Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company hosts open house
Guests at Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company Station 1’s open house tended to be smiling, whether they were trying on firefighting gear, having a close-up look at equipment or enjoying free hot dogs. During their Oct. 2 visit, they also may have gained some insight as to the extent that...
Judge: Pittsburgh officials have right to remove Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park
Two years after a group sued to try to keep the Christopher Columbus statue in Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park over city officials’ objections, an Allegheny County judge has thrown out the complaint, clearing the way for the statue’s removal. A spokeswoman for the mayor’s office said they are reviewing the opinion...
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey appoints manager for new financial empowerment office
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said Monday he is appointing Sharon Watkins as the city’s financial empowerment manager. The new office, funded through a grant from The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, was announced in July. Watkins, of the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood, will work with city leaders and Cities for...
Preschool program in West Vandergrift sees sharp decline in enrollment amid teacher’s absence
Enrollment in Valley Points YMCA’s Explorers program at the West Vandergrift Early Learning Center in Vandergrift has dropped by about 33% since rumors about the fate of the program and its teacher began swirling on social media and in the community last week. Administrators of the preschool are dispelling rumors...
‘We love our pets’: Pastor blesses dogs at Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hampton
Ken and Traci Saunders’ two long-haired Chihuahuas are an important part of their family. Riley, 11, is black and white and acts like an energetic puppy despite her age, while Rosco, 6, is light brown and more skittish. As members of the Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hampton, the couple...
Power of Music at McCandless Crossing aimed to inspire
The first-ever Power of Music event featured local musicians and speakers sharing their inspirational stories of overcoming challenges, injuries, sicknesses and addictions. Held under the tent at McCandless Crossing on Sept. 27, musicians told their stories and performed their songs. Musician and lawyer Shelley Duff organized The Power of Music,...
Allegheny County Police seek help finding Frazer woman last seen Sept. 11
Allegheny County Police are seeking help to find a Frazer woman they fear may have been kidnapped. They believe Darlene Harbison, 59, who was last seen Sept. 11, disappeared at the hands of her boyfriend, Eric Gibbs, with whom she had a volatile relationship, according to county police. Gibbs, 57,...
McKees Rocks man pleads to voluntary manslaughter, gets 3 to 6 years in February shooting
Khaream Miller had no prior criminal history and a permit to carry a concealed weapon. When he was struck following a verbal dispute on Feb. 5, Miller pulled out his handgun and started firing. Keith Glaser was struck six times. Miller, 23, returned to his McKees Rocks apartment, called 911...
‘Bright, cheerful’: Improvements continue at Aquinas Academy in Hampton
When teachers and students returned to Aquinas Academy of Pittsburgh in Hampton this academic year, they were greeted with a “bright” and “cheerful” space that’s quite different from the typical 1950s Catholic school the building used to resemble, according to Leslie Mitros, the head of school. Aquinas Academy has completed...
AAA says tight supply, increased demand main reasons for rising gas prices
Average gasoline prices are on the rise nationally and in the Pittsburgh area but are still falling across Pennsylvania, according to reports from price tracking services. According to GasBuddy, the national average increased 11 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.78, while the average in the Pittsburgh area...
Approvals sought for beer, wine sales at new Arnold convenience store
A business owner who this year received Arnold’s approval for a gas station and convenience store on Freeport Road now is seeking approvals from the city to sell beer and wine there. The first of a number of public hearings and meetings on the requests by Mike Thakkar, owner of...
Bellevue house tour highlights neighborhood’s ‘authentic sense of place’
Participants in Bellevue’s sixth Live-Worship-Shop House Tour will experience more than just eight local homes, ranging from cozy bungalows to stately mansions. At each stop, they’ll be offered samples from a local restaurant, bakery or other food purveyors. Each homeowner on the Oct. 15 tour also has chosen a scented...
Faces of the Valley: Highlands graduate Josephine Vance earns prestigious $25,000 Statler Foundation scholarship at IUP
If her dream came true, Highlands graduate Josephine Vance would someday work as a Disney wedding planner and coordinate events at the happiest place on Earth. A senior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Vance just got a major boost toward her goal, earning the prestigious Statler Foundation Scholarship of Excellence...
Hampton Township, physical therapist offer free health workshops
If you’re suffering from nagging back pain, a shoulder injury that’s making it difficult to swing a racket or tripping on the stairs, Hampton Township’s new health workshops might offer some helpful tips, according to Bill Ryder, the township’s Department of Community Services program supervisor. At the workshops, Eric Stiglmeier,...
4 with Pittsburgh ties land on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans
Four people with significant ties to Pittsburgh made the latest Forbes 400 ranking of wealthiest Americans. David Tepper tops the local connections with an appearance at No. 33 with an estimated net worth of $18.5 billion. Tepper, the president and founder of the Appaloosa Management hedge fund, was raised in...
Gateway graduate starts nonprofit to support families with medical bills
When Emaad Khan was 18, he had the idea to start Spread the Love Projects. Today, the 20-year-old Gateway High School graduate is the founder and president of the freshly launched organization. Spread the Love Projects is a nonprofit organization that helps to fund families struggling with pediatric medical bills....
Out & About: Westmoreland Children First sells out Wine and Chocolate Gala
The Westmoreland Children First Wine and Chocolate Gala was a whirlwind world tour, with guests traveling from station to station to sample wines from California, Argentina and Italy. Carolina and Adam Quatrini dubbed themselves “The Gauchos” as they donned traditional Argentinian-style attire to pour vintages from Carolina’s native Argentina. Guests...
St. Joseph High School offers clubs as way to engage students, ignite passions
A new club at St. Joseph High School in Harrison is seeking to give female students an emboldened voice. Empowering Women was spearheaded by junior Jennifer Phan, who said students can only benefit through the open dialogue created by the new club. “We thought it was something we needed,” said...
Police charge man with injuring 2 workers in construction-zone crash in Armstrong County
A Cowansville man faces a host of charges after state police say he sped through an active work zone in Armstrong County and injured two construction workers in late September. State police charged Ronald S. Wiegand Jr., 19, of Cowansville on Monday with aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangering, simple...
Arnold convenience store robbed at gunpoint
An Arnold convenience store was robbed at gunpoint late Sunday, according to one of the store’s owners. The All Seasons Mini Mart on the 700 block of Drey Street, just a block from the Arnold police station, was robbed shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday, co-owner Tom Tyborowski said. An unknown...
In brief: Farmer’s market winds down, fall festival and more around Hampton
Farmers market nears end of season The Township of Hampton Farmer’s Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 12 in the lower parking lot of the Hampton Community Center, 3101 McCully Road. Vendors for 2022 include Bates & Hayes Kettlekorn, Carlos Aviles Farms, Cindy Munchies, Cunning...
1 injured in truck crash in Cook Township
One person was flown by medical helicopter following a crash Sunday night in Cook Township, according to a Westmoreland County 911 supervisor. Emergency crews were called to Route 711 at Horseshoe Bend Road, near Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church, just after 6 p.m., for a report of an overturned truck. Additional...
