North Allegheny snags top spot in 2026 Niche ratings as best school district in Pittsburgh area
North Allegheny School District achieved the No. 1 spot as the best school district in the Pittsburgh area, and second out of 494 other districts in the state, according to the 2026 K-12 School and District Niche ratings. It also scored third in the state as the best place to...
Late Trafford Elementary teacher prioritized connection with students
Shannon Dornauer recalls how Trafford Elementary School teacher Mike Martinelli knew how to make all of his students feel welcome in his classroom. “I just remember him being very friendly and outgoing. He always made everybody feel very included and comfortable,” said Dornauer, 37, of Latrobe. “Back in elementary school,...
Scottdale man sought in alleged kidnapping
Police are looking for a Scottdale man who they said kidnapped a woman and kept her in a wooded area for about two days, according to court papers. An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Shawn Prince, 29. He is charged with kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment. Borough...
Pa. attorney general charges Pine woman for alleged forged signatures for school board election
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a Pine woman on Thursday for allegedly forging at least four signatures on primary nomination paperwork for a Pine-Richland School Board candidate. Kayla Van Blargan, 36, is charged with forgery, perjury and several other related offenses. According to the Attorney General’s Office,...
McCandless manager notes ‘majestic’-looking crew in ‘The Office’-like prank to mark work anniversary
The Town of McCandless recently had a workday that looked a little like an episode of “The Office.” Modeling prank-like humor from the popular television comedy from the 2000s, the crew in McCandless had their fun to celebrate town Manager John Schwend’s one-year work anniversary. “I was suspicious when I...
Unity fire departments to host safety event at plaza
Visitors to the Latrobe 30 Shoppes plaza in Unity will have an opportunity Saturday to learn about fire prevention while meeting local first responders and checking out their emergency vehicles. The Unity Township Bureau of Fire is hosting a Safety Saturday event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the...
2025 Halloween events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Trick-or-Treat Residents participating in trick-or-treat should turn on their porch lights. To have information included in the Stroller’s big Halloween listings online at TribLive.com and in the Valley News Dispatch, email information to cpinto-smith@triblive.com. Allegheny Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Apollo: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Arnold:...
Upper Burrell data center to be live by end of year
The TECfusions data center in Upper Burrell will be live by the end of this year, according to founder Simon Tusha. Part of the 1,395-acre site, located at the former Alcoa Research Center, already has been built out to accommodate some tenants, Tusha said. The Florida-based company is working through...
Norwin Art League exhibits 100 pieces of artwork
The Norwin Art League has more than 100 pieces of artwork on display at its its 49th Annual Art Exhibition from noon to 5 p.m. Fridayat the social hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Irwin, 617 Main St., Irwin. The art exhibit features oils, watercolor, acrylic, drawings, mixed media,...
Missing pilot found dead with crashed ultralight aircraft after search in Indiana County
A Blair County man was found dead Thursday morning after an ultralight aircraft he was piloting crashed in an Indiana County corn field. The body of David Edward Wittmer, 75, of Logan Township and his aircraft were found after 10:30 a.m. Indiana County Coroner Jerry L. Overman Jr. said the...
Three Rivers Heritage Trail gap named as state priority
A critical missing link on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail is getting some love from the state. The Millvale/Shaler/Etna gap has been designated as one of the state’s priorities by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said Kate Angell of nonprofit Friends of the Riverfront. Her group manages the...
Meijer eyes Cranberry for superstore, gas station
Midwestern grocery chain Meijer is eyeing Cranberry as it pushes into Western Pennsylvania. A proposed development would give Meijer a 159,000-square-foot supercenter in the township, according to Ron Henshaw, Cranberry’s director of planning and development services. The store would offer groceries, apparel, garden supplies, drive-through pharmacy service and curbside pickup,...
West View man charged with igniting Ross ATM as anti-government act
A West View man turned himself in connection with the firebombing of an ATM in Ross early Wednesday, telling police he wanted to make a “statement” against the federal government. Keith J. Coyne, Jr., 46, is charged with arson and criminal mischief. Police say Coyne confessed to lighting a Chase...
Man who fell at PNC Park charged with prowling at ex’s house
The man who recently made a triumphant return to PNC Park after suffering serious injuries from a 21-foot fall there in April has been charged with prowling at his ex-girlfriend’s house. Kavan Markwood, 21, of McKeesport faces a misdemeanor charge of loitering and prowling at nighttime. Markwood’s ex-girlfriend, who has...
Dark Hollow Woods Committee to host meet-and-mingle event for Oakmont community
The Dark Hollow Woods Committee wants to mingle with the Oakmont community. Leaders of the committee have been overseeing a plan to restore Dark Hollow Woods, a 40-acre nature reserve that has fallen victim to erosion and invasive species. A master plan detailing each phase of the restoration across 50...
Guided hike with rangers at Hartwood Acres Park highlights conservation efforts of women
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Hartwood Acres Park, a group of hikers followed rangers through wooded trails and grassy meadows to learn about the women who created and maintained the beautiful nature around them — from Rachel Carson’s fight against pesticides to Caren Glotfelty’s work restoring bird habitats. Hikers...
Morning Roundup: Police arrest man accused of armed robbery in Hazelwood
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Thursday, Oct. 2: Man arrested, accused of armed robbery Pittsburgh police arrested a man suspected of armed robbery in the city’s Hazelwood neighborhood Wednesday evening. Police were dispatched to the GoGo Market in the 5000 block of 2nd Avenue...
Repairs at Vandergrift’s Casino Theater set for completion by end of year
Another piece of the decades-long repair efforts at Vandergrift’s Casino Theater is set to wrap up by the end of the year, borough engineer Lucien Bove said. He said crews will complete the second phase of a restoration project that will see sections of the building’s masonry repointed, windows replaced...
Murrysville family hard at work on ‘Igor’s Fright Shack’
Last year, the Moore family of Murrysville revived “Igor’s Fright Shack,” the homemade haunted house that family patriarch Michael Moore created in his younger years. “My garage still bears the scars from when he started it,” said Moore’s father, Charles. “As a matter of fact, when they decided to start...
State lawmaker introduces legislation to prevent school bus stops near homes of registered sex offenders
At least one Pennsylvania lawmaker wants school districts to be more careful when choosing school bus stops. A proposal from state Rep. Jeremy Shaffer, R-Pine, a member of the state House Education Committee, would prohibit school bus stops from being within 300 feet of a Megan’s Law offender’s residence. The...
The Stroller, Oct. 2, 2025: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. German food to be...
Westmoreland happenings: Fall Fun Day, clothing sale, bingo, more
Church News • St. James Parish will host an intergenerational seminar series, “Receive, Believe, Transform,” on the Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 5, 12 and 26 in the church social hall, 306 St. James Lane, Salem. Families are welcome. A session for children will also be available at the...
Penn Township hosts annual fall festival
Penn Township held its annual fall festival Sept. 19 to 21 at Municipal Park. Attendees enjoyed live music performances, carnival rides and games, food and crafts. A parade marched down Route 130 in the morning on Sept. 20 and fireworks lit up the sky above Municipal Park later that evening....
Monroeville area: Council meeting change, blood drive, live music and more
Council meeting change Monroeville council’s citizens’ night and work session in November is changed to Nov. 6 because of the general election. It will be held at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 2700 Monroeville Blvd. Blood drive The Pitcairn Lions Club will host a blood drive from 1-5 p.m....
Abandoned property could help create unified area for Monroeville senior center, library, Gateway campus
An oddly shaped piece of property off Mosside Boulevard in Monroeville could be the key to creating an expanded area for use by residents, Gateway School District students and staff, and Monroeville Public Library patrons. “It’s a unique historical property,” Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said of about 4.2 acres...
