Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 24
New Kensington woman accused of striking woman with SUV in Giant Eagle parking lot
A New Kensington woman is accused of hitting another woman with her SUV on Monday after arguing in the Giant Eagle parking lot. New Kensington police charged Tyonna Lashay Kirk, 29, with felony counts of aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury. She also...
Man claims he shot another in Strip District club after hearing girlfriend’s plea for help
A man told police he heard his girlfriend call for his help before shooting and critically injuring a man early Friday inside a Strip District club, according to court records. Officers went to Club Pittsburgh in the 1100 block of Penn Avenue shortly after 2 a.m. in response to a...
Morning Roundup: Paving to restrict, close Route 910 in Harmar; Allegheny Township bridge restricted
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024: Paving to restrict, close Route 910 in Harmar Traffic on part of Route 910 in Harmar will be restricted during the day Tuesday ahead of an overnight closure for paving, PennDOT announced. Traffic will be...
New Kensington cat rescue Frankie’s Friends receives new roof
Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue is having a new roof installed Monday on its Fifth Avenue building in downtown New Kensington. Frankie’s Friends provides low-cost spay and neuter services, medical facilities and rescue. It takes in about 500 sick or injured cats each year, rehabilitates them and finds them homes. Those...
Morning roundup: Firefighter funeral to close Pittsburgh roads; 1 found shot in Knoxville
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024: Funeral procession to close Pittsburgh roads Roads in Pittsburgh will be closed beginning at 8 a.m. Monday for the funeral procession and Mass for Pittsburgh fire Battalion Chief John P. Walsh. The Mass for Walsh...
Florida fire truck collector buys 1980 American LaFrance engine from New Kensington
A retired New Kensington fire truck was expected to leave the city before sunrise Saturday, beginning the first leg of a journey to its new home in Florida. Steve Vinson, 73, a retired pharmacist, bought the 1980 American LaFrance through an online auction with a bid of $6,800. He flew...
Arnold struggling to gather money to replace 30-year-old fire engine
While a collector has taken an old fire truck off New Kensington’s hands, firefighters and officials in Arnold are struggling to replace their 30-year-old engine. Arnold has $225,000 from federal grant funding set aside to buy a new truck, according to Rick Rayburg, the city’s community development director. But a...
New Kensington’s The Feisty Goblin expanding again, preparing for Star Wars game event
After less than two years in business and two expansions already, a tabletop gaming store in downtown New Kensington again needs more space while preparing for a major Star Wars event. The Feisty Goblin, opened in April 2023 by Arnold couple Christine and Jim Radeshak, will move to a new...
Slides restrict traffic on Milltown Road in Penn Hills
A section of Milltown Road in Penn Hills has been restricted to a single, alternating lane because of two slides. The affected part of the road is located between Newfield Drive, not far from Community Market, and Hulton Road, near JD Auto Body. Traffic is being controlled with temporary traffic...
Estimated building project cost comes in $10M over Plum School District’s borrowing ability
An addition and renovations at two schools are expected to cost the Plum School District nearly $10 million more than officials have said the district can borrow. The total estimated cost of the work is about $39.6 million, representatives of HDG Architects reported this month to the school board. The...
Nearly 600 fentanyl stamp bags, 7 weapons seized in search of New Kensington home
Authorities say they seized nearly 600 stamp bags of fentanyl and seven firearms while carrying out a search warrant early Monday at a home on Leishman Avenue in New Kensington. Robert Micha Whitley, 26, and Destyni Monae Compton, 24, each face several charges for drugs and weapons offenses. Agents from...
18-year-old shot dead in Glassport, suspect detained
An 18-year-old man was found shot dead Sunday afternoon in Glassport Sunday, according to Allegheny County Police. A shooting in the 500 block of Monongahela Avenue was reported to 911 at 2:45 p.m., county police said. First responders found James Macke Jr., of Glassport dead. Witnesses saw a suspect get...
St. Joseph High School marks 110th year preparing students for future success
Ask Mitch Farrell what he remembers most about being a student at St. Joseph High School, and he’ll tell you how much fun students had. Farrell, 28, of New Kensington is a 2014 graduate. He went on to Saint Vincent College in Unity and works as an accountant. The 28-year-old...
13-month-old Plum boy suffers skull fracture, mother charged with abuse
A Plum woman is accused of abusing a 13-month-old boy after the child was diagnosed with a skull fracture. Borough police said Sofia Eve Udavcak, 19, at first claimed her son had suffered the injuries in a number of falls, but later admitted to not seeking medical attention for him...
Pittsburgh crews harvest city’s Christmas tree from Springdale
You’d believe a tree could fly in Springdale on Saturday morning. Crews from the City of Pittsburgh’s Forestry Division, with help from Carl’s Tree Service and a police escort, took down a 43-foot blue spruce from the grounds of the former St. Alphonsus Church in the borough. The tree was...
New Kensington becoming a sweet spot with addition of 2 new bakeries
Historically known as the “Aluminum City,” New Kensington is on a path to becoming the sweet spot of the Alle-Kiski Valley. By the end of November, the city’s downtown will have five bakeries, all within a short walk of one another. Hailey Sabot and Daisy Lamberson will open Wildflower Bakery...
No tax increase proposed for 2025 Arnold budget as officials correct projections
Arnold’s proposed budget for 2025 carries no tax increase for city property owners. Council voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a first reading of the city’s tax rate, revenue and expenditures for 2025. Councilman Adam Zweig was absent. As presented, the city would take in and spend about $4.6 million. The...
Veterans honored, remembered at student-planned Plum High School tribute
Jennifer Killmeyer doesn’t fit into her Army uniform anymore, but her daughter does. Madison Killmeyer, 16, a junior at Plum High School, wore her mother’s uniform Monday in a showcase of military uniforms that was part of her school’s Veterans Day tribute. “I really like it. It’s cool we’re the...
Receding from view: Aging veterans organizations struggle to draw fresh recruits
U.S. Army Reserve veteran Jim Reesman practically grew up around the American Legion post in Brackenridge. His grandfather was a sailor, his father a Marine. His grandmother and aunt were bartenders. Reesman, who lives in Tarentum, enlisted in 2012, did a tour in Iraq in 2017-18, and got out in...
Hearings delayed for Pagans member, others charged in New Kensington drug, gun case
Preliminary hearings for four people accused of running drugs in New Kensington, including a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang, were delayed Thursday. Bill Robert Rana, 44, who at one time was sergeant at arms for the Pagans Pittsburgh chapter, Marc D. Farabaugh, 42, Stephanie Lynn Miller, no age available,...
Democrat Pisciottano defeats Republican Dintini to replace retiring Brewster in state Senate
A Democrat Pennsylvania State House member will step over to the state Senate to replace the retiring Jim Brewster in the 45th Senatorial District. With more than 99% all precincts in that district reporting, Nick Pisciottano, a two-term state representative, won the seat over Republican newcomer Jennifer Dintini, receiving 53%...
Proposed Plum budget carries no property tax increase after hike last year
Plum property owners would see no change in their borough property tax bills under a proposed $26.3 million 2025 budget, finance director Michael Whitico told council during a presentation last week. The tax rate was increased by nearly 40%, from 4.78 mills in 2023 to 6.63 mills in 2024, which...
No change in garbage fee for New Kensington residents after big hike this year
It won’t cost any more to throw out the trash in New Kensington next year. After a hefty increase for 2024, the annual fee for solid waste, leaf and branch collection and recycling will be unchanged for 2025. City Council on Monday voted 4-0 to approve the second year of...
National Weather Service warns against outdoor burning, game commission prohibits camp fires as dry conditions linger
Exceptionally dry weather and wind gusts have created an increased brush fire danger, the National Weather Service warned in a special weather statement. It has been nearly a month since the Pittsburgh region has seen a “wetting” rain of at least one-tenth of an inch, meteorologist Bill Modzelewski said. The...
Pit bulls were ‘relentless’ in Halloween evening attack, Tarentum mauling victim says
A pit bull’s teeth punctured Michael Shutack’s flesh to the bone during a Halloween night attack in Tarentum that felt like it lasted forever, he said. Shutack, 60, returned to his East Seventh Avenue home Friday morning after spending the night at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. He’s sore, battered,...
