Brian C. Rittmeyer stories, Page 30
New Kensington-Arnold superintendent’s contract extended despite proposal to shorten it
One board member’s effort to shorten a contract extension for New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck failed Tuesday night. The board ultimately voted 8-0 to give Superintendent Chris Sefcheck a new five-year contract that will run from Tuesday through June 30, 2029. It replaces his previous and initial five-year contract that...
Pickleball courts become highlight of improved Renton Park in Plum
On a recent morning in Plum, the pop-pop-pop of pickleball paddles could be heard emanating from Renton Park. The 2.5-acre park tucked away in the borough’s Renton neighborhood has become a destination for residents since the borough invested about $750,000 in improvements, including three courts for the popular game. Barbara...
Security guard accused of homicide in Penn Hills hookah lounge shooting
A security guard is accused of killing one of two people shot at a hookah lounge and cigar bar in Penn Hills a month ago, Allegheny County Police said Monday. Chaz Jackson, 42, of Pittsburgh was charged in connection with the death of 28-year-old Stephanie Stuart. He also was accused...
New Kensington-Arnold to consider extending superintendent’s contract
The New Kensington-Arnold School Board will vote Tuesday on extending the employment of Superintendent Chris Sefcheck. Sefcheck’s original five-year contract started July 1, 2021, and runs until June 30, 2026. The new five-year deal would start Tuesday and end on June 30, 2029 — effectively extending his employment by three...
Get your fill of fireworks in and around Pittsburgh before, on and after the Fourth
In addition to Pittsburgh, several municipalities will have fireworks displays before, on, and after the Fourth of July. Wednesday • Tarentum: 10 p.m., Dreshar Stadium, First Avenue • Hampton: 9:30 p.m., township soccer fields • Findlay: 9:45 p.m., Leopold Lake Thursday • Brentwood: 9:30 p.m., Brentwood Park • Butler: Dusk,...
Arnold reopens Roosevelt Park as city officials grapple with how to handle vandalism
While a spate of vandalism prompted Arnold officials to close Roosevelt Park this month, it won’t deter the city from moving forward with plans to improve it, officials say. The park, completely fenced in with gates on Drey and Rankin streets, was closed for about two weeks after teens dumped...
More water line work planned for Plum’s Sardis Road as part of larger list of upgrades
The Plum Borough Municipal Authority will start work later this year on the third phase of replacing water lines on Sardis Road while preparing for the fourth and final phase of the project. The authority last year received a $916,000 grant for the third phase, which will replace an 8-inch...
Tarentum police nab juvenile wanted on McKeesport warrant, recover 4 guns
Police searching for five juveniles Tuesday night in Tarentum apprehended two of them and seized four guns, all of them believed to be stolen, according to borough police. One of the two boys arrested was taken to Allegheny County Jail, where he was being held on a warrant out of...
Plum School Board advances $30M building project at O’Block Elementary, middle school
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that board member Michelle Stepnick’s vote was officially recorded as “yes,” although she said before and after the vote that her intent was to vote “no.” The Plum School Board is taking a next step toward a $30 million building project...
Organizers of Arnold’s ‘Rockin’ Roosevelt,’ New Kensington’s ‘Band Blast’ look to hand off running of events
What started as an effort to get friends off social media and together in the real world birthed a concert series that has run for a decade in Arnold and New Kensington. But with their members moving away and getting older, those who remain of the New Ken/Arnold Social in...
4 New Kensington children found sitting on couch near loaded gun during drug warrant search, police say
Authorities who forced their way into a New Kensington home during a drug investigation Friday morning found four children on a living room couch, and a loaded gun under it. New Kensington police charged Jarrell George Miller, 38, of Haser Drive in East Ken Manor with four felony counts of...
Vandergrift mother, grandparents charged after 2nd child suffers life-threatening dog bite
As a 3-year-old Vandergrift girl was seriously bleeding from a dog bite to her head, her mother said “to get her a Popsicle,” borough police allege in court papers. Vandergrift police charged the girl’s mother, Alexis Keys, 26; and grandparents, Michael Stankiewicz, 62, and Ida Stankiewicz, 68, on Thursday each...
Former North Braddock cop indicted on drug trafficking charges
Editor’s note: This story was changed to remove references to the arrest happening in Plum. Incorrect information was provided by the state police. A former police officer was indicted on drug trafficking charges. Craig William Gibson, 47, of McKeesport, a former North Braddock police officer, is accused of trafficking drugs...
Plum police ask for help identifying man at scene of burglary
Plum police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man seen at the scene of the burglary of a house of worship in May. The burglary at the Imamia Organization of Pittsburgh on Pierson Run Road happened May 21 and was reported to police May 23, police Chief...
Police say Arnold woman smeared attacker’s shirt with her blood as evidence
A 67-year-old Arnold woman smeared her own blood on the shirt of a man attacking her in her home so there would be evidence in case he killed her, according to police. Cue Anthony Freckleton, 28, is accused of forcing his way into the woman’s home Monday night and sexually...
Re:Build begins manufacturing operations in completed 1st phase of New Kensington park
A little over a year after the announcement of an $81 million investment in New Kensington, the first phase of Re:Build Manufacturing’s facility is complete. It consists of about 100,000 square feet of space in the New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park, which spans New Kensington and Arnold along the Allegheny...
Plum police arrest man who came to woman’s aid, fired shot past husband’s head
A Plum man was arrested Saturday after, police say, he hit a man over the head with a piece of wood and fired a shot past his head. Borough police charged Anthony Nicholas Carlisano, 56, with a felony count of aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly...
Plum EMS to test program aimed at preventing opioid overdose victims from using again
When a person suffering from an opioid overdose is saved with Narcan, they go into immediate withdrawal. The last thing paramedics want is for that person to use again just to get rid of those symptoms, said Brian Maloney, director of operations for Plum Emergency Medical Services. “When a person...
Arnold woman pleads for time to move before city tears down her home
An Arnold woman was sobbing as she asked city officials how much time she’d have to move out of her home before they tear it down. During a board of health hearing Tuesday, Ellen Stern said she’s been looking for a place for herself, her two sons and boyfriend to...
Boil water advisory lifted for Plum neighborhood
A boil water advisory has been lifted for Plum’s Regency Park neighborhood. The Plum Borough Municipal Authority notified residents of about 700 homes in the area on Monday that E. coli bacteria was found in their water supply on Saturday. No other areas of Plum were affected. The presence of...
Kid Vendor Day highlights young entrepreneurs at Plum’s Monday Market
If you like doing something, others might like it too. That’s what Plum’s Anna Hedeen said she learned when she started making crochet animals. What started as a hobby turned into a business as she began selling her creations to friends, and now colorful turtles and tiny ghosts are among...
Some Plum residents told to boil water after discovery of E. coli bacteria
Residents of Plum’s Regency Park neighborhood should boil their water before use because it might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Residents in the neighborhood found a state Department of Environmental Protection form contained within Plum Borough Municipal Authority envelopes left at their homes Monday. According to the letter, E....
New Kensington-Arnold selects 9 alumni as distinguished graduates
Seven Valley High School graduates and two graduates of Ken-Hi make up the second annual class of New Kensington-Arnold School District’s distinguished alumni. The Ken-Hi graduates Esther Belli Stevenson, 1947, and Michael Shamey, 1949, are being honored posthumously. The Valley High School graduates are Nancy Menk, 1973; Steven Paulovich, 1979;...
Golf tournament to benefit 4 families who lost loved ones in Rustic Ridge house explosion
An upcoming golf tournament benefiting the four families who lost loved ones in the Rustic Ridge house explosion in Plum last year is personal for Nick Davis, one of its organizers. Davis, 39, of Monroeville has known Jen Clontz since they were in kindergarten in the Gateway School District. He...
Plum’s 3-day ‘SummerFest’ to begin on first day of summer, June 20
The summer season starts June 20, and Plum will waste no time beginning to celebrating it. The borough’s annual “SummerFest” will start that Thursday and run through Saturday, June 22 at Larry Mills Park at 199 Fontana Drive. All-you-can-ride tickets will cost $20 for Thursday and $25 on Friday and...
