Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 11
Ross approves minimum distance of 3,000 feet between medical marijuana businesses
The prospect of upwards of 19 medical marijuana businesses along McKnight Road didn’t sit well with Ross Commissioner Denise Rickenbrode. That’s why, she says, she asked her fellow commissioners to triple the minimum distance between them from 1,000 feet to 3,000 feet. All but one agreed with her and approved...
Pine-Richland employees, positions added to union representing support professionals
Several employees and classifications of employees are being added to a union representing support professionals in the Pine-Richland School District. The school board approved the agreement with the Pine-Richland Education Support Professionals Association at its July 21 meeting. The association approached the district about adding the positions to the bargaining...
Pine-Richland directors approve personnel moves ahead of coming school year
The Pine-Richland School Board has approved bringing on and letting go teachers and other employees ahead of the coming school year. Seven new hires and one reassignment are all effective Aug. 15. Pine-Richland students return to classes on Aug. 20. Lynzee Gladziszewski was hired as a health and physical education...
2 years after fire, Chili’s celebrates opening of new eatery in Ross
A Ross restaurant damaged by fire more than two years ago celebrated its reopening on Monday, July 21. Chili’s on McKnight Road was the scene of a roof fire in April 2023. The fire was caused through an issue with a hot water tank, and it was accidental, a spokeswoman...
Little pantry outside Etna food pantry will help ensure people have food when they need it
A food pantry outside a food pantry might at first seem a bit redundant, but Walter Moser sees a new little pantry serving a purpose outside the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Etna. The little pantry, an Eagle Scout project for Holden Driver, 16, of Aspinwall, was installed July...
Nearly 1-mile section of Harts Run Road in Hampton to close until late August
Part of Harts Run Road in Hampton is scheduled to close for construction at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, PennDOT announced Monday. Harts Run Road will be closed between Rosanna Drive and Woodland Road so crews with A. Liberoni can conduct wall construction, base repair and shoulder reconstruction. The nearly...
In brief: Happenings in the Pine Creek Journal area
Farmers Market continues at Pine Community Park The Farmers Market at Pine Community Park will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Oct. 5 by the splash pad. Vendors include Knock About Coffee, Pittsburgh Pastures, Arsenal Cider House, Fessides Farm & Apiary, Coffee Au Lait, Gray...
10-month-old Pittsburgh boy dies after being abused by parent’s boyfriend, police say
A 10-month-old boy died after a man said he became “aggressive” with the child because he was frustrated that the child would not stop crying, according to Pittsburgh police. Pittsburgh police on Sunday charged Dominic Pinnick, 18, of Homewood with attempted homicide and other charges. The baby was taken to...
Allegheny Valley Association of Churches stages choir performance in Tarentum
Sunny skies, a comforting breeze and a break from the rain graced a performance by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches Community Choir in Tarentum on Sunday afternoon. Members of the choir gathered at the Carl Magnetta Jr. Amphitheater in Riverview Memorial Park for the first-time, free concert. “We just...
Man riding scooter seriously hurt after colliding with SUV in South Oakland, police say
A man was seriously hurt after Pittsburgh police say he crashed his motorized scooter into the side of an SUV in the city’s South Oakland neighborhood early Sunday morning. The collision happened just before 5:45 a.m. at Bates Street and Second Avenue. According to an early investigation, the scooter rider...
Motorcyclist dies after head-on crash with pickup in Washington County
A motorcyclist died after a crash with a pickup Saturday afternoon in Washington County, state police said. State police said Zachary C. Strohmeyer, 37, of Avella was traveling east on Vance Road in Cross Creek Township on a Harley-Davidson when he became distracted and hit an oncoming pickup head-on. Strohmeyer...
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese, Muslim council decry recent vandalism to Baldwin Borough church
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations this weekend were each decrying recent vandalism to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Baldwin Borough. “The anti-Catholic and antisemitic messages left behind have wounded not only the people of this parish but every member...
2 men accused of breaking into Marshall bar, stealing $24K from gaming machines
Two men are accused of breaking into a Marshall bar and taking more than $24,000 from gaming machines. With charges filed Thursday, Northern Regional Police said they identified Patrick Adam O’Malley, 28, of Shaler and his acquaintance, Ryan Joseph Stermon, 44, of Pine as persons of interest in their investigation...
Tip from messaging app leads to child porn charges against Irwin man, authorities say
A child porn tip from a messaging application lead to state police charging an Irwin man, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Joshua David Ward, 34, faces 10 counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material and criminal use of a communication...
Lower Burrell man accused of having 2.5K child sex abuse files
A Lower Burrell man is accused of possessing more than 2,500 files of child sexual abuse material, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. State police charged Christian Nat Tominello, 29, on Thursday with 50 counts of disseminating child sexual abuse material, 100 counts of possessing child sexual abuse...
Avonmore man’s family thanks bystanders who tried to save him after fiery New Stanton crash
The family of an Avonmore man who died after a fiery crash in New Stanton thanked the bystanders who tried to save his life. Carl “Butch” Noonan Jr., 71, died Friday afternoon at UPMC Mercy in Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said. The crash happened Thursday in New...
Affordable housing builder expands in Allegheny County with $2.4M investment, creating 58 jobs
A modular home builder constructing a trio of affordable townhomes in Etna will be expanding its operations in Allegheny County. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced that his administration secured a $2.4 million investment from Module Design, which will create 58 jobs while retaining eight existing positions. Module received a $762,000...
West View considering proposal for development of 12 duplexes
A development of 12 duplexes is proposed for a wooded area off Rochester Road at the northwest tip of West View. The borough’s planning commission will discuss the proposed “Lexington” development when it meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at the borough building, 441 Perry Highway. A representative of the owner,...
Shaler Area School District getting new resource officer, security firm
The Shaler Area School District will have a new resource officer and a new security firm for the coming school year. Township Patrolman Ken Wise will replace Patrolman Frank Spiker as school resource officer, the police department and school district each announced. Meanwhile, Allied Universal will replace Capital Asset Protection...
Ross and Shaler residents learn about effort to find townships’ abandoned oil and gas wells
Curiosity and concern brought about two dozen people to a gathering Tuesday in Ross to learn more about an upcoming effort to find abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells in Ross and Shaler. Susan Pierce of Ross was curious. She said she didn’t know that such wells could be...
Reserve native remembered for work helping Pittsburgh HIV/AIDS community
After being diagnosed with HIV in Delaware in 1987, six years after graduating from Shaler Area High School, Bart Rauluk was given a book with what was known about AIDS at the time and told to get ready to die. “He refused to read the book,” said his niece, Arianne...
Parking for Millvale short-term rental property could create spaces for public use
Millvale and the developer of a proposed short-term rental property are considering an agreement that would provide parking for the building’s guests as well as the public. Amagu Homes, based in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood, wants to place 11 units in the building at 141 Evergreen Ave. Previously a care...
Etna restricts Washington Street to one-way traffic
Washington Street in Etna will temporarily become one way beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, Etna police announced Monday. According to the police department, Washington Street will become a one-way road down to Parker Street and then to Butler Street. The road is being restricted because erosion and water...
Mt. Royal Boulevard work to restrict traffic overnight in Hampton, Shaler
Work to improve Mt. Royal Boulevard in Hampton and Shaler will restrict traffic through late November, PennDOT announced Monday, July 14. Work is scheduled to begin Tuesday night, July 15, weather permitting. There will be alternating single-lane traffic from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weeknights between Route 8 and Grant...
Shaler Area students to learn how native plants benefit pollinators, people at Girty’s Woods
Shaler Area High School students will be going back to the woods in the coming new school year. Five years ago, Shaler Area students were part of the Allegheny Land Trust’s effort to protect Girty’s Woods, a 155-acre tract of undeveloped land in Reserve overlooking Millvale, two of the communities...
