Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 13
100th family reunion held in West Deer, but their roots came from Scotland — so did the clan’s leader
It’s in the Scottish nature to want to get together and meet up, says Madam Pauline Hunter, the 30th clan chief of Clan Hunter. Often that sees members of the clan, now scattered around the globe, returning to their roots and visiting Hunterston Castle, which is located southwest of Glasgow,...
In brief: Happenings in the Shaler Journal area
Great Gardens Tour scheduled for July Mark your calendars: The 17th annual Shaler Garden Club’s Great Gardens Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 13. Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Shaler North Hills Library. The tour offers an opportunity to walk through five spectacular...
Shaler Area to tackle building work, district’s future after approving budget with no tax hike
The Shaler Area School Board has approved a budget without a tax increase for the coming school year, but its real work may be just beginning. The board is expected to discuss a revised scope of work at the district’s middle school during a buildings and grounds committee meeting in...
Pine-Richland approves purchase of new computers, auditorium updates
Some Pine-Richland School District students and teachers will have new computers when they return to classes in the fall. The school board at its June 23 meeting approved spending about $561,200 to buy Chromebooks for students, laptops for teachers and classroom computers from Bluum and MacBooks from Apple. Money for...
Ross police issue warning over ‘check washing’ tied to McKnight Road post office
Police in Ross are warning people against leaving checks in the mail boxes outside the McKnight Road post office. In a social media post Wednesday, Ross police said they have taken several reports from residents who had personal checks they had written to various debtors cashed by other parties for...
In brief: Happenings in the Pine Creek Journal area
Richland fire station plans open house The Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department, which has been serving the community since 1948, is planning an open house from 6 to 9 p.m. July 14 at the station, 5857 Meridian Road. Attendees will be able to explore various equipment, participate in live demonstrations...
In brief: Happenings in the North Hills area
Ross schedules parade, fireworks for June 29 Ross will hold its Independence Day Parade from 2 to 3 p.m. June 29 on Perry Highway. The parade will start at St. John Church and end at Brandt’s Funeral Home. The festivities will continue from 5 to 10 p.m. on the municipal...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
McCandless Dems award 3 scholarships The McCandless Democratic Committee recently announced the winners of its Vincent and Peggy Amatanagelo annual scholarships. Three newly graduated North Allegheny students — Sophia Brunger, Abigail Peigh and Mikhaela Titus — are this year’s recipients. According to the committee, the students stood out because of...
McKeesport restaurant damaged in early morning fire
A McKeesport restaurant was damaged by fire early Sunday morning. The fire at Cal’s Cantina Bar & Grille in the 600 block of Eden Park Boulevard was reported around 3:30 a.m., according to McKeesport firefighters. The fire was quickly brought under control, firefighters said. No information about injuries or the...
Harmar police use cameras to identify, find suspect in Freeport Road hit-and-run
Police used a variety of cameras to identify and find the driver of a car that did not stop after hitting and seriously injuring a pedestrian Thursday night on Freeport Road in Harmar. Harmar police charged Richard Yost Jr., 59, of McCandless on Friday with accidents involving death or personal...
Leechburg man seriously hurt in Route 28 crash in Tarentum
A Leechburg-area man suffered life-threatening injuries in a single-vehicle crash on Route 28 in Tarentum last week, according to state police in Kittanning. The crash happened just before 10 p.m. Wednesday at Exit 14, state police said in a release issued Saturday. According to state police, Barry G. Bernard, 41,...
Scholl brothers retiring from family’s West View bike shop, making way for new borough complex
The day after graduating from North Allegheny High School in 1978, Dave Scholl went to work fixing bicycles in his parents’ shop in West View. He and his older brother, Ken, a 1973 grad, have been together there ever since. “That’s all we’ve done all of our life — fix...
Bicyclist who died after colliding with SUV in McKeesport identified
A bicyclist who died Wednesday afternoon after colliding with an SUV in McKeesport has been identified. Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Taylor Mehalcik, 29, of Versailles. Allegheny County Police said the collision in the 600 block of Eden Park Boulevard was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m....
Alerts issued for air quality, high temperatures across Pittsburgh region
Authorities have issued advisories for air quality and high temperatures Thursday in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is the primary reason for the National Weather Service issuing an air quality notice. While the smoke has recently been at high levels in the atmosphere, causing hazy skies, an inversion will...
Shaler Garden Club’s upcoming Great Gardens Tour touted as inspiring learning experience
Tucked away next to a shopping center in the middle of Ross is a garden that Sue Colaizzi has been tending for nearly 50 years. In mid-July, she’ll be welcoming guests to her home as one of five gardens on the Shaler Garden Club’s 17th annual Great Gardens Tour. “It’s...
Shaler Area seniors graduate a day late because of weather
The Shaler Area Class of 2025 had to wait an extra day before graduating. Because of the chance of bad weather, the district postponed the commencement ceremony from Friday, May 30, to Saturday, May 31, at Titan Stadium. JoAnne Townsend, interim principal of Shaler Area High School, said the class...
North Hills School Board approves 2025-26 budget with no tax increase
Property owners in the North Hills School District will not see their school district taxes increase for the 2025-26 school year. The school board on June 5 gave final, unanimous approval to the district’s $100.12 million budget, leaving the property tax rate unchanged at 20.37 mills. A property at Ross’...
Hampton School District graduates 187 students
Hampton High School celebrated commencement for the Class of 2025 on May 29 at Fridley Field. The class consists of 187 graduates. Of those, 83 graduated with honors — 32 graduated summa cum laude, 23 graduated magna cum laude and 18 graduated cum laude. In their future plans, 87% of...
Pine-Richland School Board OKs budget with no tax increase over concerns of superintendent, residents
A five-member majority of the Pine-Richland School Board approved the district’s 2025-26 budget with no tax increase over the concerns of the superintendent that the district’s finances are being politicized, and worries that future deficits could lead to severe cuts. Superintendent Brian Miller has been urging the board to consider...
Pine-Richland celebrates graduation of 374 seniors
The Pine-Richland School District graduated 374 seniors during its 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 7. The ceremony included a performance of the Pine-Richland alma mater by senior choir members followed by introductory remarks from high school Principal Frank Hernandez. The district continued its tradition of the Pine-Richland “family photo,”...
In brief: Happenings from the North Allegheny area
Children’s books sought to replenish library boxes Marshall officials are collecting children’s books to stock the free library boxes in the township’s parks. If you have extra books or ones your children have outgrown, drop them off at the municipal building, 525 Pleasant Hill Road. ‘Moana 2’ to be shown...
2 men rescued from car that crashed into Pine Creek in Etna
Two men were rescued after their car crashed into a creek Sunday morning in Etna, Mayor Robert Tunon said. The crash happened on Crescent Street near Grant Avenue around 11:30 a.m. According to Tunon, the men were traveling down Grant Avenue toward Crescent when their car left its lane, crossed...
Leechburg begins weeklong 175th anniversary celebration with worship service
As Leechburg began a weeklong celebration of its 175th anniversary with a Sunday worship service, Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick, one of its native sons, invoked the area’s original name: Friendship. “Christian friendship is more than just a politeness or a casual acquaintance,” Kulick said in his reflection. “Christian friendship is...
Dick’s closes Pittsburgh Mills location, plans grand opening at Waterworks
The Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer is one step closer to having no remaining anchor tenants. Sunday was the last day of business for the Dick’s Sporting Goods store at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, according to signs posted at the store. A store manager was not permitted to provide...
Residents, businesses in Murrysville-Export area clean up from Friday’s deluge
Kim Zannikos has seen flooding before at her Murrysville town house, but nothing like what she saw Friday. It was so bad that her SUV, parked at the far end of the property, away from Old William Penn Highway, and with Turtle Creek on the other side, was not spared....
