Morning Roundup: More demolition needed in wake of Elizabeth Forward fire

Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023:

Virtual learning continues at Elizabeth Forward after fire

Fire damage to the Elizabeth Forward High School auditorium is more extensive than originally believed, district officials announced.

Superintendent Keith Konyk sent a letter to families saying that structural engineers assessed the auditorium and mechanical room Thursday and determined further demolition is necessary.

Virtual learning will continue until more information is available to district administration.

Crews will continue to assess the situation next week to determine electrical options.

“In order to provide electricity to the rest of the building, the switch gear will need to be fully operational,” Konyk wrote in his letter.

“The restoration company is working daily to make progress in cleaning and remediating the portion of the building affected by the smoke.”

Aspinwall waterline break closes road

Motorists in Aspinwall who travel along Center Avenue will need to use a detour.

A watermain break late Thursday has closed the road from Fifth to Ninth streets.

Fire breaks out at New Castle shopping plaza

Tenants of an apartment above a New Castle shopping plaza were able to escape after a fire broke out late Thursday, according to Tribune-Review new partner WPXI.

Emergency crews were called to Rigotti’s Plaza just around 11 p.m.

WPXI

Firefighters work the scene of a blaze late Thursday at a New Castle shopping plaza. Tenants of an apartment above the plaza were able to escape.

Apartments on the second floor of the plaza, in the 1200 block of Butler Avenue, were impacted.

There were no reported injuries. Tenants are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Bethel Park police search for missing woman

Bethel Park police are asking the public’s help in finding a woman who hasn’t been heard from since Feb. 7.

Kim Saravia, 56, traveled to California on Feb. 4 and arrived back Feb. 7. She called family from a phone in downtown Pittsburgh and has not been heard from since, according to police.

ENDANGERED MISSING PERSON: Kim Saravia, a 56-year-old white female with significant mental health issues. She flew to California on 2/4 and reportedly flew back to Pgh on 2/7 where she called family from a phone in Downtown Pgh. There has been no further contact from her (1/2) pic.twitter.com/YqiYj7cHIh

— Bethel Park Police Department (@bethelparkpd) February 23, 2023

She is described as having brown hair and being 5-foot-5 tall, and weighing 160 pounds. Police said Saravia struggles with mental health issues.

It is not clear what she was wearing when last seen but is known to carry a red suitcase.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 412-833-2000.

Suspect in Duquesne police shooting in jail after hospital release

The suspect accused of shooting a Duquesne police Officer this week is in Allegheny County Jail after being released from the hospital, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI.

Shyheim Cortez Berry, 28, of Duquesne, was charged with criminal attempt homicide of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, criminal trespass and terroristic threats.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 7.

Berry is accused of shooting a Duquesne police Officer on Wednesday, hitting him in the foot. The officer was in stable condition following the incident, which happened near Catherine and Savey streets.

The officer exchanged gunfire and hit Berry, who was taken to a local hospital and also listed in stable condition.

Other responding officers took Berry into custody after he entered the basement of a vacant house, police said.