Western PA Local News category, Page 3046
Police investigating report of suspicious vehicle at Mammoth Park
Westmoreland County Park Police are investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant Township on Saturday, according to Chief Henry Fontana. A couple of men in a van at the park made some park-goers feel uncomfortable, but by the time officers arrived the van had...
Clothing donations to be accepted at ‘Fill a Truck’ event in Hempfield
Unwanted clothing can find a new home at a event in Hempfield this weekend through Greensburg nonprofit Feeding the Spirit. The group’s “Fill a Truck” event will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Z&M Harley Davidson parking lot along Route 30. Donations of gently used clothing, shoes, purses and...
St. Margaret Foundation provides sleep chairs for patients’ families
Families who have to spend the night at UPMC St. Margaret can rest a little more comfortably, thanks to reclining sleep chairs that can be moved into patient rooms. St. Margaret Foundation paid for 16 new chairs, with President Mary Lee Gannon saying the move is meant to make hospital...
Supreme Court mulls rule change over malpractice suits, Pa. counties where filed
More than 100 malpractice lawsuits were filed in Westmoreland County courts since 2011 that claimed improper cardiac procedures were performed at Excela Health facilities a decade ago. Many of those cases might have been filed in other counties had a proposed change to court rules being weighed by the state...
8 Westmoreland County towns to benefit from new blight demolition fund
The first structures to be torn down in Westmoreland County using money from a newly created demolition fund will include four dilapidated homes and four former commercial buildings. “This is needed to remove blight and create economic impact,” said Jason Rigone, director of Westmoreland County’s planning department. Structures in Avonmore,...
Police release updated photo of Pitcairn homicide suspect
Allegheny County police released an updated photo of a man they said is suspected in an April 7 fatal Pitcairn stabbing. Derrick Avant, 59, is wanted for an incident in which a woman was stabbed during an argument and later died from her injuries. The victim was identified as Alison...
Ben Franklin’s life one of achievement, vast interests
The Bridgeville Area Historical Society program meeting for March was an entertaining presentation on Benjamin Franklin by Jack Puglisi. Puglisi began with a disclaimer: He considers himself a history enthusiast rather than a historian. I would classify him as a history scholar; he certainly has a comprehensive knowledge of whatever...
Pick your spot at The Lot in Oakmont for upscale modern industrial diningVideo
There’s a lot to choose from at The Lot. The Lot at Edgewater in Oakmont celebrated its first anniversary in February. Patrons can lounge in a upscale cigar bar located upstairs, relax on the 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio, complete with a large gas fire pit, dine inside, mingle at the modern...
2 men hurt in 1-car crash in West Deer, power restored to more than 300 customers
Two men were hurt Sunday in a one-vehicle crash on Little Deer Creek Road in West Deer that knocked out power in the area. Power had been restored to the more than 300 affected customers in West Deer, Frazer and Fawn, according to West Penn Power. According to West Deer...
Faith-based Celebration of Life prepares party-goers for Very Special Prom
Debbie Miller hadn’t even seen herself yet in her new prom dress, but she knew she looked good. The Unity woman added a string of pearls around her neck and a ring on her right hand. As soon as she looked in the mirror, she knew the purple, strapless dress...
Longtime Oakmont manager Adeline Brown remembered for service to community, family
Adeline Brown spent her life dedicated to serving the only place she ever called home — Oakmont. As a first-generation American, she took pride in the town her parents emigrated to from Italy in the early 1900s. She served as Oakmont’s secretary beginning in 1947 at only 18 years old...
Passion outlast Cleveland to win season opener
The Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team rallied twice in the first half of Saturday’s season opener against Women’s Football Alliance foe the Cleveland Fusion. The Passion extended a lead in the third quarter and held off the Fusion challenge the rest of the way to score a 26-20 victory at...
Penn-Trafford grad pursues book on former West View Park
Mike Funyak, a 2011 Penn-Trafford High School alumnus who works in the amusement park industry, is looking for material for his proposed book about Allegheny County’s long-gone West View Park. Located in the North Hills from 1906-77, the park made an impression on Funyak through his mother, Rosanne, and her...
‘Idlewild’ author researching book on Western Pennsylvania’s lost amusement parks
Area amusement parks have provided visitors thrills and summertime memories for more than a century. Pittsburgh-based writer and historian Jennifer Sopko hopes to reclaim some of that legacy for parks that have vanished from the Western Pennsylvania landscape. She is seeking stories, photos and documents for a proposed book on...
Pa. selects pilot programs to boost support for those battling addiction
Western Pennsylvania human services agencies will play a major role in a new pilot program designed to help individuals battling opioid addiction remain in treatment and find stable housing. Gov. Tom Wolf on March 27 announced that agencies in Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties are among 16...
Take a ‘walk on the wildflower side’ now in Harrison Hills and Roaring Run
A bounty of wildflowers in April is a good reason to get out there and find those lush patches of spring beauties. Now through May is the time to see wildflowers in the Alle-Kiski Valley. “The show is spectacular with trillium and the bluebells when they are concentrated,” said Deborah...
2 houses damaged in Duquesne fire
Two houses were damaged and one person is displaced after a fire in Duquesne on Sunday. The fire was reported around 11:20 a.m. at an abandoned house at 18 South Seventh St. The fire quickly spread to a neighboring house that was occupied. Duquesne Volunteer Fire Department Chief Frank Cobb...
Somerset police believe fire victim identified
Police believe they have identified the body of person burned at the scene of a fire at a stack of poles in Somerset on Saturday, but the identity will not be released until it is forensically confirmed and next of kin has been notified, Somerset police said Monday. Police Chief...
Mt. Pleasant Councilman John Rogacki dies, remembered as community asset
John Rogacki was the type of elected official that every municipal government should have in its ranks, said Mt. Pleasant Council President Jack Caruso Jr. The lifelong Mt. Pleasant resident didn’t shy away from sharing his opinion, whether his fellow council members liked it or not. “That was one of...
Riverhounds top Louisville City for first win this season
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds scored just once in Saturday’s United Soccer League Championship matchup at Louisville City. But that was all that was needed as the Riverhounds scored a 1-0 shutout victory. The win was the first of the season for Pittsburgh, which owned a loss and two ties over its...
Latrobe man killed in Unity motorcycle crash
A Latrobe man died in motorcycle crash Saturday in Unity, according to state police. Troopers said Mark Gerard Gruss, 60, was driving a 1998 Harley Davidson Ultra at 4:40 p.m. on Saint Vincent Drive near Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve when he apparently lost control. The motorcycle crossed into the opposite...
Cassandra Gross family grapples with one-year mark of her disappearance
There is little joy left at Kathe Gross’ home. She’s gotten rid of most of her Christmas decorations. Mother’s and Father’s Day aren’t the same. “I refuse to do holidays,” she said. “There’s no holidays left in this house.” But there are still anniversaries — of the worst kind. Kathe...
Census director: 2020 count will be test of technology, public trustVideo
There’s more riding on the 2020 census than a national head count. Beyond the population numbers, demographic information and statistics the census will sort out, the process the U.S. Census Bureau will use will test the reliability of smartphone technology. “There are some concerns,” said Fernando E. Armstrong, regional director...
Hampton egg hunt slated for community park
Get the baskets and bonnets ready for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hampton Community Park. The event is for children 10 years and younger and free to Hampton residents. It has been a popular draw for the community, said Bill...
Pittsburgh Mills mall’s uncertain future worries shoppers, Frazer officials
It’s been nearly a year since a new owner bought the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer, touting plans to redevelop the struggling, 14-year-old facility. Despite the owner’s hopeful nature in May, township officials say they still haven’t met or had any communication with Long Island-based Mason Asset Management and are...
