Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 25
Washington Township man killed in Route 66 crash identified
Jim Sandrovich was backing out of his driveway on Sportsman Drive in Washington Township when he heard the impact. “All of a sudden, I saw smoke out there, and everyone was coming out,” the 30-year resident said. “I thought the truck hit a tree.” Instead, the tanker collided head-on with...
Attorney says Arnold police chief facing trial for theft was entrapped by integrity test
What prompted state authorities to test Arnold police Chief Joshua Stanga’s integrity remains undisclosed as a criminal case against him moves forward. Stanga, 41, of Arnold was ordered Wednesday to stand trial following a nearly two-hour preliminary hearing before Washington Township District Judge Jason Buczak. The hearing was moved there...
Construction underway on new home for Plum sports training facility
Construction on a new home for a sports training facility in Plum is underway after a delay. Crews with Pugliano Construction began work in October getting a site at the end of Sheena Drive ready for a 27,000-square-foot building for GAMA Sports Training. In May, owner Joe Fischetti thought he...
UPMC Western Psych nurses ratify contract, averting threatened strike
Nurses at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital will be the first in UPMC to have a minimum hourly pay rate over $40 under a new three-year contract, union officials say. A tentative agreement between UPMC and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania was reached Thursday, said Marah McDonald, a nurse and member of the...
New Kensington woman released from jail accused of assaulting 2 teen boys
A New Kensington woman released from the Westmoreland County jail while awaiting trial in an assault case is accused of assaulting two teenage boys on Sunday. Rita Marie Woody, 33, was released from the jail Oct. 4 after posting $10,000 bail, according to court records. New Kensington police charged her...
Exchange students contribute to fabric of Western Pennsylvania as they experience American culture
When a colleague asked Deer Lakes Spanish teacher Josh Destein if he knew anyone who could host an exchange student from Spain, he jokingly said he could. “I’m single and I have a little house,” he said. “Her face lit up. She got so excited. My little joke turned into...
Faces of the Valley: Retired Burrell teacher, Harrison couple help find lost dogs
Monica Young knows what it feels like when a dog goes missing. Fifteen years ago, while vacationing on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, her 5-year-old basset hound, Bullett, got away. Luckily, after 22 hours, he came back on his own. “I didn’t like how that felt,” she said. “It was a...
Honored alums return to Plum High School to inspire today’s students
The five graduates to join the ranks of Plum School District’s distinguished alumni this year include average students who became remarkable people. “I was a solid ‘C’ student when I went to high school,” said Jeffrey Schmeck, 66, a 1976 Plum graduate who has lived in San Antonio for 38...
Citizens Bank in New Kensington Giant Eagle slated to go virtual
Citizens will replace its bank branch inside the New Kensington Giant Eagle with a virtual assistant in January. The “interactive teller machine” includes two-way video communication, said Mark Rendulic, Pittsburgh market president for Rhode Island-based Citizens. With it, customers can do about 90% of what they would do in a...
Plum mobile home park owner continuing fight to expand facility in a flood zone
The owner of a mobile home park in Plum is continuing to fight in court for the right to expand it, over the objections and concerns of borough officials. An attorney representing Plum Creek MHC filed a notice of appeal to Commonwealth Court after an Allegheny County judge found the...
Harbor Freight plans January opening in New Kensington
Harbor Freight’s store in New Kensington will open in late January, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday. In Riverview Plaza along Tarentum Bridge Road, it will be the company’s 67th store in Pennsylvania and fourth in Westmoreland County, said Donna Walker, a spokeswoman for Harbor Freight in Calabasas, Calif. “It will...
Democratic state rep, Republican newcomer vie to replace retiring state Sen. Brewster in 45th District
Voters in the 45th state Senate race will choose between a two-term state representative from West Mifflin and a political newcomer from Plum who are vying to replace a retiring state senator. State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, 34, of West Mifflin won the Democratic primary over Makenzie White of Brentwood while...
New Kensington police use Taser, dog to arrest man who ran from fight at Sheetz
New Kensington police used a Taser and a police dog to apprehend a man who they say ran from a fight at Sheetz on Saturday. Noah Benjamin Reed, 20, of Springdale was found to be carrying a 9 mm hand gun with an extended magazine, police said in a criminal...
New Kensington’s Knead Café joins hurricane relief efforts, donating revenue from sales
Alle-Kiski Valley residents can help victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton by having lunch this week in New Kensington. Knead Community Café announced it will donate all revenue from food sales this week to World Central Kitchen, which is providing meals to those affected by the natural disasters. That will...
Plum woman returns to Arnold roots, turns ice cream stand into new cafe
April Barnes dreamed of owning her own eatery since she was 16, working her first job at a King’s restaurant in Plum. “I worked there and I loved it,” said Barnes, 38. “I loved the hustle and bustle and the running. I missed all the moving around and high-pressure service.”...
Suspect in New Kensington tried to jump out window, police say
A man tried to jump out a third-floor window of a Valley Royal Court apartment in New Kensington, where police said they later found drugs hidden inside a toilet, according to a criminal complaint. Police charged Sean Barr, 27, of New Kensington on Thursday with felony and misdemeanor drug offenses...
Plum School District working to cover costs of adding electric buses to fleet
The Plum School District needs more money for its plan to partially convert its bus fleet to electric vehicles but sees long term savings in the move. The district was one of seven in Allegheny County and 21 statewide to receive a share of federal grant dollars to replace diesel...
Plum man to face trial for sexual assault of 14-year-old girl
A Plum man will face trial on charges of sexually assaulting one of two girls he took to his home after encountering them outside a borough bar in June. John Dale Vorous, 61, was shackled and wearing prison garb when he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before...
New Kensington fire station named for city’s only firefighter to die in the line of duty
New Kensington’s only volunteer firefighter to die in the line of duty has been gone longer than he lived, but he has not been forgotten. Eric Lee Mangieri was 25 years old when he became trapped in a burning house on Freeport Road on Aug. 7, 1995. A memorial to...
Pagans member among 4 arrested in New Kensington drug bust, police say
Four people face charges after state, county and local police investigated what they say was a drug dealing ring in New Kensington involving a member of the Pagans motorcycle gang. The investigation on Friday targeted Bill Robert Rana, 44, who police say was staying in an apartment at Valley Royal...
Man suffers punctured lung in New Kensington stabbing; suspect from Arnold sought
Police are looking for an Arnold man after they say he stabbed a man Thursday night in New Kensington. New Kensington police charged Isiah Jumaane Hampton, 28, with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison...
Arnold food pantry finds new home in city to continue service
A no-questions-asked pantry that has been serving the Arnold community for two years has found a new home in the city. The Speed Family Blessing Box & Pantry will be located to Real Life Church on Freeport Road at Drey Street by Nov. 1, founder and CEO Chelsey Speed said...
Arnold parking violation turns up man wanted on federal, state warrants
An illegal parking call in Arnold netted a Pittsburgh man wanted on local and federal warrants and a supply of heroin, crystal meth, cocaine and marijuana Thursday, police say. Arnold police charged Tyriese Leon Green Saunders, 25, with felony counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without...
Arrest warrant issued in gun beating at Plum motel
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Monroeville man who police say beat a man with a pistol Wednesday at a hotel in Plum. Plum police charged Timothy Eden Bell, 30, on Thursday with two counts of felony aggravated assault. According to a criminal complaint, officers responded to the...
New Kensington-Arnold kicks off homecoming with parade, festival
The New Kensington-Arnold School District kicked off three days of homecoming activities with a parade and festival Thursday evening. The events came the day after the district shut down Valley High School, which Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said was prompted out of concerns after school-age students were involved in discharging a...
